SetupAdvanced

Add Channels to OpenClaw: Plugins Setup

Extend OpenClaw with plugins. Voice calls, Matrix, Nostr, Teams, and custom plugins.

5 min readLast updated Feb 19, 2026

Stuck?Check the troubleshooting index or ask in Discord.

Overview

Plugins and tools extend OpenClaw's capabilities. Plugins add channels, auth, and optional features. Tools give your AI the ability to take actions - run code, browse the web, send messages, and more.

Tools are what your AI uses to accomplish tasks. Plugins add integrations. Both are essential for a powerful AI assistant.

Quick Start

1. List plugins

bash

openclaw plugins list

2. List tools

bash

openclaw tools list

3. Install a plugin

bash

openclaw plugins install @openclaw/voice-call

4. Restart Gateway

bash

openclaw gateway restart

Official Plugins

OpenClaw includes several official plugins for additional channels and features:

Voice Call

@openclaw/voice-call - Voice call support

Matrix

@openclaw/matrix - Decentralized messaging

Nostr

@openclaw/nostr - Nostr protocol support

Zalo

@openclaw/zalo - Vietnam messaging platform

Microsoft Teams

@openclaw/msteams - Teams integration

Auth plugins (enable in config):

google-antigravity-auth - Google authentication
google-gemini-cli-auth - Gemini CLI auth
qwen-portal-auth - Qwen portal auth
copilot-proxy - GitHub Copilot proxy

Built-in Tools

OpenClaw includes powerful tools your AI can use. These are enabled based on your profile:

Code Execution

Run code in a sandbox. Python, Node.js, Bash, and more. View stdout, stderr, and return values.

Web Fetch

Fetch web pages and extract readable content. Supports HTML, PDF, and extracts content intelligently.

Web Search

Search the web via Brave API. Returns titles, URLs, and snippets for research.

Browser Control

Control a headless browser. Take screenshots, fill forms, click elements, navigate pages.

File Operations

Read, write, edit files in your workspace. Glob patterns, directory listing, and safe path handling.

Process/Exec

Run shell commands. Background processes, PTY support, process management.

Message Sending

Send messages via configured channels. Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, Slack, and more.

Cron/Wake

Schedule recurring tasks. Cron expressions, interval-based, one-shot schedules.

MCP Servers

Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers extend your AI with additional capabilities. Configure them in your config:

json5

{
  "mcp": {
    "servers": {
      "puppeteer": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "@openclaw/mcp-puppeteer"],
        "env": {}
      },
      "filesystem": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed"]
      }
    }
  }
}

Popular MCP servers:

Filesystem - Read/write local files
Puppeteer - Browser automation
Git - Git operations
PostgreSQL - Database queries
Slack - Slack integration
Google Maps - Location services

Plugin Profiles

Profiles control which tools are available. Choose based on your security needs:

minimal

Only safe, read-only tools. No code execution, no file writes. Good for shared/hosted instances.

messaging (default)

All messaging tools + web fetch + search. Balance of capability and safety.

all

Every tool including code execution, file operations, and shell commands. For trusted local use.

Set profile:

json5

{
  "tools": {
    "profile": "messaging"
  }
}

Configuration

Configure plugins and tools:

json5

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "voice-call": {
        "enabled": true,
        "config": {}
      }
    }
  },
  "tools": {
    "profile": "messaging",
    "allowList": ["bash", "read"],
    "denyList": ["rm", "del"]
  }
}

Custom Plugins

Load custom plugins from:

Config paths: plugins.load.paths
Workspace: <workspace>/.openclaw/extensions/*.ts
Global: ~/.openclaw/extensions/*.ts

Plugin manifest (openclaw.plugin.json required):

json5

{
  "id": "my-plugin",
  "name": "My Plugin",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "My custom plugin",
  "tools": [...],
  "commands": [...]
}

See official docs for full plugin development guide.