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WhatsApp Setup

Connect your AI helper to WhatsApp as a linked device on your own WhatsApp number, using OpenClaw's channel setup.

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WhatsApp is an OpenClaw channel, not a BrainRoad feature. You set it up inside your helper’s own interface, and it uses your own WhatsApp number — BrainRoad does not provide one, and nothing gets connected unless you do this yourself.

How it works

Your helper connects to WhatsApp as a linked device on your existing WhatsApp account, the same mechanism WhatsApp Web uses. Your phone stays the primary device. Messages sent to your number are visible to both your phone and your helper, and the helper can reply through your number.

Because the helper replies as you, on your number, OpenClaw’s own upstream guidance is worth taking seriously: consider a separate phone number (a cheap second SIM or eSIM) for the helper instead of your personal one.

One boundary to be clear about: WhatsApp replies are sent by the helper runtime directly in the conversation. They do not go through the BrainRoad Inbox review step the way managed email replies do. Only connect WhatsApp if you are comfortable with that, and keep the sender controls narrow (see below).

What you need

  • A WhatsApp account on a phone you control (ideally a separate number for the helper).
  • Your helper running on OpenClaw (check the Helper page on the dashboard).

How to connect

WhatsApp support installs as an OpenClaw plugin the first time you select it — the guided setup handles this.

  1. Open Console from the dashboard (your helper must be running).
  2. Run the guided setup:
openclaw channels add

Select WhatsApp and follow the prompts. Or run the login step directly:

openclaw channels login --channel whatsapp
  1. A QR code appears in the terminal. On your phone, open WhatsApp, go to Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device, and scan it.

WhatsApp confirms the link within a few seconds. Login is QR-only; if the code expires before you scan it, a fresh one is generated — check the terminal for the current code.

Controlling who can reach your helper

By default, OpenClaw uses a pairing policy: an unknown sender gets a one-time pairing code and cannot talk to your helper until you approve them. You can also set a fixed allowlist of phone numbers. Group chats are allowlist-only by default.

Keep this narrow, especially on a personal number. Anyone allowed through is talking directly to your helper.

If something goes wrong

  • QR expired: a new one is generated; re-check the terminal.
  • Scan worked but the link drops: wait a few seconds and check the console output for a confirmation message, then run openclaw channels status.
  • Repeated failures: run openclaw channels login --channel whatsapp again for a fresh attempt. OpenClaw’s own channel troubleshooting docs are the deepest reference.