Can I set different rules for different group chats?

Yes, you can configure per-group overrides in the Group Chat settings. Each group can have its own mention triggers, cooldown timers, and response frequency limits.

What happens if the agent is mentioned during a cooldown?

Direct mentions override the cooldown timer by default. You can change this behavior to enforce the cooldown even for mentions if you want strict rate limiting.

Does the agent read all messages in a group?

The agent receives all messages in groups it has been added to, but it only processes and responds to messages that match its configured triggers. Non-matching messages are ignored.

Channels

Group Chat Management: Participate Without Dominating

Configure intelligent group chat participation so your agent helps the conversation without overwhelming it.

Deploy OpenClaw See How It Works

What You Will Get

By the end of this guide, your OpenClaw agent will participate naturally in group conversations across WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack. It will know when to respond and when to stay silent, using mention triggers, cooldown timers, and context-aware rules.

Group chats are a unique challenge for agents. Responding to every message floods the conversation and annoys participants. Responding to nothing makes the agent useless. The key is finding the right balance where the agent adds value without dominating the discussion.

You will configure triggers that determine when the agent should speak up, cooldown periods that prevent rapid-fire responses, and context detection that helps the agent understand whether a message is directed at it or part of a separate conversation thread.

Step-by-Step Configuration

Set up smart group chat behavior for your OpenClaw agent.

Enable Group Chat Mode

Open your agent's Settings and navigate to the Group Chat section. Toggle on group chat mode, which activates the specialized response logic for multi-participant conversations. This mode adds trigger evaluation, cooldown management, and context detection to every incoming group message.

Configure Mention Triggers

Set up the primary trigger: direct mentions. When someone tags or @-mentions the agent, it should always respond. Configure the agent's trigger names for each platform. For WhatsApp, this might be the phone number. For Telegram and Discord, it is the @username. For Slack, it is the @app mention.

Add Keyword Triggers

Define keywords or phrases that should trigger a response even without a direct mention. For example, if your agent is a support bot, keywords like help, question, or how do I should activate it. Set keyword matching to case-insensitive and configure whether the keyword must be at the start of the message or anywhere in it.

Set Cooldown Timers

Configure cooldown periods between responses. After the agent sends a message in a group, it waits the specified cooldown time before responding again. A 60-second cooldown prevents the agent from dominating fast-moving conversations. Adjust the timer based on the typical pace of your group chats.

Configure Thread-Only Replies

On platforms that support threads (Slack, Discord, Telegram), configure the agent to reply in threads rather than the main channel. This keeps the main feed clean and groups the agent's interaction with the original question. Thread replies are exempt from the main channel cooldown timer.

Set Maximum Response Frequency

Define a maximum number of responses per time window. For example, limit the agent to 5 responses per hour in a given group chat. This hard cap prevents the agent from becoming overly chatty even if many triggers are activated. Once the limit is reached, the agent stays silent until the window resets.

Test in a Trial Group

Create a test group chat with a few participants. Send a mix of messages: some mentioning the agent, some with keywords, and some unrelated. Verify that the agent responds to mentions and keywords but stays quiet for unrelated messages. Check that cooldown timers work by sending multiple triggers in quick succession.

Tips and Best Practices

Let Humans Lead

Configure the agent to wait a few seconds before responding, even when triggered. This gives human participants a chance to answer first, making the agent feel like a helpful backup rather than an interruption.

Acknowledge Without Responding

On platforms that support reactions, configure the agent to react with an emoji instead of sending a full response for simple acknowledgments. A thumbs-up reaction is less intrusive than a text message.

Adapt to Group Size

Larger groups should have longer cooldowns and stricter trigger requirements. A 5-person group can tolerate more agent activity than a 100-person community channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Channel Security: Allowlists Session Routing: Multi-User Message Formatting Best Practices

Ready to get started?

Deploy your own OpenClaw instance in under 60 seconds. No VPS, no Docker, no SSH. Just your personal AI assistant, ready to work.

Deploy OpenClaw View Pricing

Starting at $24.50/mo. Everything included. 3-day money-back guarantee.