Create a Telegram Bot Without Coding Using OpenClaw

Introduction

With over 900 million active users, Telegram is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. Thanks to its open Bot API, it is also one of the best platforms to run an AI chatbot on. With OpenClaw, you can set up an intelligent Telegram bot without writing a single line of code.

In this article, we walk through the process step by step: from creating your bot with Telegram to connecting it to an LLM model through the OpenClaw dashboard. All you need is a Telegram account and a server running OpenClaw.

Step 1: Create a Bot with BotFather

Every Telegram bot starts with BotFather, Telegram's official bot for managing bots. Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, and send the command /newbot. BotFather will ask you for a name and a username for your bot. The username must end in "bot" — for example, "MyCompanyAIBot".

After creation, you receive an API token. This is a long string that looks like 123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrSTUvwxYZ. Store this token carefully — it is the key that allows OpenClaw to send and receive messages through your bot. Never share this token publicly.

Step 2: Connect the Bot in OpenClaw

Log in to the OpenClaw dashboard and navigate to the "Channels" section. Click "Add Telegram" and paste the API token you received from BotFather. OpenClaw automatically validates the token and displays the name of your bot for confirmation.

Next, select which LLM model your bot should use. For a Telegram bot that needs to respond quickly, GPT-4o-mini is a solid choice due to its low latency and cost. Set a system prompt that fits the purpose of your bot, for example: "You are a helpful assistant that answers questions about our products. Always respond in English and keep your answers concise."

Click "Activate" and your bot is live immediately. Send a test message in Telegram and you should receive an AI-generated response within seconds.

Tips for an Effective Telegram Bot

Set a clear welcome message through BotFather using the /setdescription command. This is the first thing users see when they open your bot. Also use /setabouttext to add a short description that appears on your bot's profile.

Keep your system prompt concise but specific. A prompt of three to five sentences works better than a page of instructions. Give the model clear boundaries: which topics it may discuss, what language it should respond in, and who to refer to when it does not know something.

Conclusion

Setting up a Telegram bot with AI is a matter of minutes with OpenClaw, not days. You need no programming knowledge — just a Telegram account, a running OpenClaw installation, and an API key for your preferred LLM model. The result is a bot that is available 24/7 and can hold human-like conversations with your customers or team members.