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TroubleshootingFAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI agent that connects Claude (Anthropic’s AI) to messaging platforms like Slack, Discord, and Telegram. It provides a unified interface for AI-powered conversations across multiple channels.

How is OpenClaw different from using Claude directly?

  • Multi-platform: Works across Slack, Discord, Telegram, and Web
  • Self-hosted: Your data stays under your control
  • Persistent context: Conversations and preferences are stored
  • Custom tooling: Extend with your own tools and integrations

Is OpenClaw free?

OpenClaw is open source, but you need:

  • Anthropic API key: Pay-per-use (~$10-50/mo depending on usage)
  • Hosting: Cloudflare Workers (~$5/mo) or VPS ($6-24/mo)

Deployment

Cloudflare Workers vs VPS - which should I choose?

Choose Cloudflare Workers if:

  • You want minimal maintenance
  • You primarily use Slack or Discord
  • You want the cheapest option (~$5/mo base)

Choose VPS if:

  • You need reliable Telegram integration
  • You want persistent storage and SSH access
  • You prefer traditional server management

Why doesn’t Telegram work well on Cloudflare Workers?

Cloudflare Workers use containers that hibernate when idle. Telegram relies on long-polling which requires persistent connections. When the container hibernates, the polling connection breaks and can’t be re-established until the container wakes up.

Workaround: Deploy on VPS for reliable Telegram support.

Can I use my own domain?

Yes! Both deployment methods support custom domains.

Cloudflare Workers: Add a custom domain through the Cloudflare dashboard.

VPS: Use Cloudflare Tunnel or configure nginx/Caddy with Let’s Encrypt.

How do I update OpenClaw?

Cloudflare Workers:

git pull origin main
npm run build
npx wrangler deploy

VPS:

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Security

Is my data secure?

Your data is stored:

  • Cloudflare Workers: In R2 storage (Cloudflare’s S3-compatible storage)
  • VPS: On your server’s disk

In both cases, you control the data. For maximum privacy, use a VPS and don’t enable cloud backups.

How is authentication handled?

Cloudflare Workers: Uses Cloudflare Access for authentication. You can configure email OTP, SAML SSO, or other identity providers.

VPS: Use Cloudflare Tunnel with Access, or configure your own authentication.

What about my Anthropic API key?

Your API key is stored as an encrypted secret:

  • Cloudflare Workers: Stored as a Wrangler secret
  • VPS: Stored as an environment variable

Never commit API keys to version control.

Cost

How much does it cost to run OpenClaw?

ComponentMonthly Cost
Cloudflare Workers$5
VPS (alternative)$6-24
Anthropic API$10-50 (usage-based)
Total~$15-75/mo

How is Anthropic API cost calculated?

Claude pricing is per token:

  • Input: ~$3 per million tokens
  • Output: ~$15 per million tokens

Average conversation: ~2,000 tokens = ~$0.03

Light usage (~50 conversations/day): ~$30-50/mo

Can I use my own model?

Yes, OpenClaw supports AI Gateway which allows you to use other Claude-compatible APIs or custom endpoints. Configure AI_GATEWAY_BASE_URL and AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY.

Integrations

How do I add Slack?

  1. Create a Slack App at api.slack.com/apps 
  2. Enable Event Subscriptions with URL: https://YOUR-WORKER.workers.dev/slack/events
  3. Add OAuth scopes: chat:write, channels:history, im:history
  4. Install to workspace and add bot token as secret

See Cloudflare Workers Deployment for detailed steps.

How do I add Discord?

  1. Create application at discord.com/developers 
  2. Set Interactions Endpoint URL: https://YOUR-WORKER.workers.dev/discord/interactions
  3. Add bot to server
  4. Add bot token as secret

How do I add Telegram?

Telegram is only reliable on VPS deployments due to container hibernation on Cloudflare Workers.

  1. Message @BotFather  to create a bot
  2. Add bot token as secret
  3. (VPS only) Telegram will work automatically

Can I use multiple messaging platforms at once?

Yes! OpenClaw supports Slack, Discord, and Telegram simultaneously. Each platform is independent and you can enable/disable them individually.

Troubleshooting

My bot isn’t responding

  1. Check if the container is running (cold starts take 1-2 minutes)
  2. Verify your API key is correct
  3. Check logs for errors
  4. Ensure webhooks are reaching your endpoint

See Troubleshooting for detailed debugging steps.

How do I reset everything?

Cloudflare Workers:

# Delete stored data
npx wrangler r2 object delete moltbot-data/clawdbot/clawdbot.json --remote
 
# Increment migration tag in wrangler.jsonc
# Redeploy
npm run deploy

VPS:

docker compose down -v  # Removes volumes
docker compose up -d    # Fresh start

Where can I get help?

  1. Troubleshooting Guide
  2. GitHub Issues 
  3. Done-For-You Setup  - We’ll handle it for you
Common Errors