Integrating OpenClaw with Slack enables your team to access AI capabilities directly from your workspace. This intermediate guide covers Slack app creation, OAuth configuration, event subscriptions, slash commands, and handling Slack's 3-second response limit.
Why This Is Hard to Do Yourself
These are the common pitfalls that trip people up.
Slack app creation maze
OAuth scopes, event subscriptions, slash commands, and interactivity URLs all need correct configuration
OAuth token management
Bot tokens, user tokens, and signing secrets all serve different purposes and expire differently
Thread handling
Slack threads have unique IDs. Maintaining conversation context across threaded replies requires careful mapping.
3-second response limit
Slack expects a response within 3 seconds. Longer AI responses need deferred replies via response_url.
Step-by-Step Guide
Create a Slack App
# 1. Go to api.slack.com/apps
# 2. Create New App → From scratch
# 3. Name: "OpenClaw AI"
# 4. Select your workspaceConfigure OAuth scopes
# Under OAuth & Permissions, add Bot Token Scopes:
# - chat:write
# - app_mentions:read
# - channels:history
# - im:history
# - commands
# Install the app to your workspace
# Save the Bot User OAuth Token (xoxb-...)Set up event subscriptions
# Under Event Subscriptions:
# Request URL: https://your-domain.com/webhooks/slack/events
# Subscribe to bot events:
# - app_mention
# - message.im
# - message.channels (if you want channel monitoring)Configure OpenClaw for Slack
# In config/channels/slack.yaml:
slack:
enabled: true
bot_token: "xoxb-YOUR-BOT-TOKEN"
signing_secret: "YOUR_SIGNING_SECRET"
app_token: "xapp-YOUR-APP-TOKEN" # For Socket Mode
response_mode: deferred # Required for AI responses > 3 secondsAdd slash commands (optional)
# Under Slash Commands:
# /ask - Request URL: https://your-domain.com/webhooks/slack/commands
# /summarize - Request URL: https://your-domain.com/webhooks/slack/commands
# /help - Request URL: https://your-domain.com/webhooks/slack/commandsWarning: Slash command responses are visible only to the user by default. Use `response_type: in_channel` in your configuration to make responses visible to everyone.
Test the integration
# In Slack, try:
# @OpenClaw AI What's on my calendar today?
# Or DM the bot directly
# Check logs:
tail -f ~/.openclaw/logs/channels.log | grep slackSlack Integration Done Right
OAuth scopes, event subscriptions, slash commands, deferred responses, thread handling — our Slack integration experts configure everything so your team can start using OpenClaw from Slack immediately.
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