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OpenClaw supports Slack as a chat channel. Using E2B you can run OpenClaw in a sandbox, attach Slack tokens, and approve user pairing from the terminal. Official OpenClaw Slack channel docs: docs.openclaw.ai/channels/slack

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Prerequisites

  • Slack app tokens from the same Slack app:
    • SLACK_APP_TOKEN (xapp-..., Socket Mode)
    • SLACK_BOT_TOKEN (xoxb-...)
  • OPENAI_API_KEY (this guide uses openai/gpt-5.2)
  • E2B API key configured locally

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Quick start

import { Sandbox } from 'e2b'

const GATEWAY_PORT = 18789
const GATEWAY_TOKEN = process.env.OPENCLAW_APP_TOKEN || 'my-openclaw-token'

const sandbox = await Sandbox.create('openclaw', {
  envs: {
    OPENAI_API_KEY: process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY,
    SLACK_APP_TOKEN: process.env.SLACK_APP_TOKEN,
    SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: process.env.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN,
  },
  timeoutMs: 3600_000,
})

await sandbox.commands.run('openclaw config set agents.defaults.model.primary openai/gpt-5.2')
await sandbox.commands.run('openclaw config set plugins.entries.slack.enabled true')
await sandbox.commands.run(
  'openclaw channels add --channel slack --app-token "$SLACK_APP_TOKEN" --bot-token "$SLACK_BOT_TOKEN"'
)

await sandbox.commands.run(
  `openclaw gateway --allow-unconfigured --bind lan --auth token --token ${GATEWAY_TOKEN} --port ${GATEWAY_PORT}`,
  { background: true }
)

for (let i = 0; i < 45; i++) {
  const probe = await sandbox.commands.run(
    `bash -lc 'ss -ltn | grep -q ":${GATEWAY_PORT} " && echo ready || echo waiting'`
  )
  if (probe.stdout.trim() === 'ready') break
  await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 1000))
}
For Slack setup, you do not need to open the gateway URL in a browser. The gateway process is used as a long-running channel runtime.

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Configure your Slack app

Before testing messages, make sure Slack app settings are complete:
  • Socket Mode enabled (xapp-... token with connections:write)
  • Bot scopes include:
    • app_mentions:read
    • chat:write
    • channels:history
    • im:history (for DMs)
  • Event Subscriptions enabled with bot events:
    • app_mention
    • message.im (for DMs)
  • App reinstalled to workspace after scope/event changes
  • Bot invited to target channel (/invite @your-bot)

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Pair your Slack user

On first message, Slack may return: 
OpenClaw: access not configured.
Your Slack user id: ...
Pairing code: XXXXXXXX
Ask the bot owner to approve with:
openclaw pairing approve slack XXXXXXXX
Approve that code: 
const PAIRING_CODE = 'XXXXXXXX' // from Slack
await sandbox.commands.run(`openclaw pairing approve slack ${PAIRING_CODE}`)

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Verify channel status

const channels = await sandbox.commands.run('openclaw channels list --json')
const status = await sandbox.commands.run('openclaw channels status --json --probe')
const logs = await sandbox.commands.run('openclaw channels logs --channel slack --lines 200')

console.log(channels.stdout)
console.log(status.stdout) // may print text instead of JSON when gateway is unreachable
console.log(logs.stdout)
Healthy Slack logs should show a connected provider, then incoming events and replies after you message the bot.

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Troubleshooting

  • Slack logs show only slack socket mode connected and nothing else
    • Slack is connected but events are not being delivered.
    • Recheck Event Subscriptions (app_mention, message.im), reinstall app, and invite bot to channel.
  • OpenClaw: access not configured
    • Pairing is required for this Slack user. Approve the pairing code.
  • No API key found for provider ...
    • This guide uses openai/gpt-5.2. Set OPENAI_API_KEY in sandbox envs.
  • Sending messages to this app has been turned off
    • In Slack App Home, enable users sending messages to the app, then reinstall.

OpenClaw gateway

Run OpenClaw’s web gateway with token auth

OpenClaw Telegram

Connect OpenClaw to Telegram and approve pairing