# message

# `openclaw message`

Single outbound command for sending messages and channel actions
(Discord/Google Chat/Slack/Mattermost (plugin)/Telegram/WhatsApp/Signal/iMessage/MS Teams).

## Usage

```
openclaw message <subcommand> [flags]
```

Channel selection:

* `--channel` required if more than one channel is configured.
* If exactly one channel is configured, it becomes the default.
* Values: `whatsapp|telegram|discord|googlechat|slack|mattermost|signal|imessage|msteams` (Mattermost requires plugin)

Target formats (`--target`):

* WhatsApp: E.164 or group JID
* Telegram: chat id or `@username`
* Discord: `channel:<id>` or `user:<id>` (or `<@id>` mention; raw numeric ids are treated as channels)
* Google Chat: `spaces/<spaceId>` or `users/<userId>`
* Slack: `channel:<id>` or `user:<id>` (raw channel id is accepted)
* Mattermost (plugin): `channel:<id>`, `user:<id>`, or `@username` (bare ids are treated as channels)
* Signal: `+E.164`, `group:<id>`, `signal:+E.164`, `signal:group:<id>`, or `username:<name>`/`u:<name>`
* iMessage: handle, `chat_id:<id>`, `chat_guid:<guid>`, or `chat_identifier:<id>`
* MS Teams: conversation id (`19:...@thread.tacv2`) or `conversation:<id>` or `user:<aad-object-id>`

Name lookup:

* For supported providers (Discord/Slack/etc), channel names like `Help` or `#help` are resolved via the directory cache.
* On cache miss, OpenClaw will attempt a live directory lookup when the provider supports it.

## Common flags

* `--channel <name>`
* `--account <id>`
* `--target <dest>` (target channel or user for send/poll/read/etc)
* `--targets <name>` (repeat; broadcast only)
* `--json`
* `--dry-run`
* `--verbose`

## Actions

### Core

* `send`
  * Channels: WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord/Google Chat/Slack/Mattermost (plugin)/Signal/iMessage/MS Teams
  * Required: `--target`, plus `--message` or `--media`
  * Optional: `--media`, `--reply-to`, `--thread-id`, `--gif-playback`
  * Telegram only: `--buttons` (requires `channels.telegram.capabilities.inlineButtons` to allow it)
  * Telegram only: `--thread-id` (forum topic id)
  * Slack only: `--thread-id` (thread timestamp; `--reply-to` uses the same field)
  * WhatsApp only: `--gif-playback`

* `poll`
  * Channels: WhatsApp/Discord/MS Teams
  * Required: `--target`, `--poll-question`, `--poll-option` (repeat)
  * Optional: `--poll-multi`
  * Discord only: `--poll-duration-hours`, `--message`

* `react`
  * Channels: Discord/Google Chat/Slack/Telegram/WhatsApp/Signal
  * Required: `--message-id`, `--target`
  * Optional: `--emoji`, `--remove`, `--participant`, `--from-me`, `--target-author`, `--target-author-uuid`
  * Note: `--remove` requires `--emoji` (omit `--emoji` to clear own reactions where supported; see /tools/reactions)
  * WhatsApp only: `--participant`, `--from-me`
  * Signal group reactions: `--target-author` or `--target-author-uuid` required

* `reactions`
  * Channels: Discord/Google Chat/Slack
  * Required: `--message-id`, `--target`
  * Optional: `--limit`

* `read`
  * Channels: Discord/Slack
  * Required: `--target`
  * Optional: `--limit`, `--before`, `--after`
  * Discord only: `--around`

* `edit`
  * Channels: Discord/Slack
  * Required: `--message-id`, `--message`, `--target`

* `delete`
  * Channels: Discord/Slack/Telegram
  * Required: `--message-id`, `--target`

* `pin` / `unpin`
  * Channels: Discord/Slack
  * Required: `--message-id`, `--target`

* `pins` (list)
  * Channels: Discord/Slack
  * Required: `--target`

* `permissions`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--target`

* `search`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--guild-id`, `--query`
  * Optional: `--channel-id`, `--channel-ids` (repeat), `--author-id`, `--author-ids` (repeat), `--limit`

### Threads

* `thread create`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--thread-name`, `--target` (channel id)
  * Optional: `--message-id`, `--auto-archive-min`

* `thread list`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--guild-id`
  * Optional: `--channel-id`, `--include-archived`, `--before`, `--limit`

* `thread reply`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--target` (thread id), `--message`
  * Optional: `--media`, `--reply-to`

### Emojis

* `emoji list`
  * Discord: `--guild-id`
  * Slack: no extra flags

* `emoji upload`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--guild-id`, `--emoji-name`, `--media`
  * Optional: `--role-ids` (repeat)

### Stickers

* `sticker send`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--target`, `--sticker-id` (repeat)
  * Optional: `--message`

* `sticker upload`
  * Channels: Discord
  * Required: `--guild-id`, `--sticker-name`, `--sticker-desc`, `--sticker-tags`, `--media`

### Roles / Channels / Members / Voice

* `role info` (Discord): `--guild-id`
* `role add` / `role remove` (Discord): `--guild-id`, `--user-id`, `--role-id`
* `channel info` (Discord): `--target`
* `channel list` (Discord): `--guild-id`
* `member info` (Discord/Slack): `--user-id` (+ `--guild-id` for Discord)
* `voice status` (Discord): `--guild-id`, `--user-id`

### Events

* `event list` (Discord): `--guild-id`
* `event create` (Discord): `--guild-id`, `--event-name`, `--start-time`
  * Optional: `--end-time`, `--desc`, `--channel-id`, `--location`, `--event-type`

### Moderation (Discord)

* `timeout`: `--guild-id`, `--user-id` (optional `--duration-min` or `--until`; omit both to clear timeout)
* `kick`: `--guild-id`, `--user-id` (+ `--reason`)
* `ban`: `--guild-id`, `--user-id` (+ `--delete-days`, `--reason`)
  * `timeout` also supports `--reason`

### Broadcast

* `broadcast`
  * Channels: any configured channel; use `--channel all` to target all providers
  * Required: `--targets` (repeat)
  * Optional: `--message`, `--media`, `--dry-run`

## Examples

Send a Discord reply:

```bash
openclaw message send --channel discord \
  --target channel:123 --message "hi" --reply-to 456
```

Create a Discord poll:

```bash
openclaw message poll --channel discord \
  --target channel:123 \
  --poll-question "Snack?" \
  --poll-option Pizza --poll-option Sushi \
  --poll-multi --poll-duration-hours 48
```

Send a Teams proactive message:

```bash
openclaw message send --channel msteams \
  --target conversation:19:abc@thread.tacv2 --message "hi"
```

Create a Teams poll:

```bash
openclaw message poll --channel msteams \
  --target conversation:19:abc@thread.tacv2 \
  --poll-question "Lunch?" \
  --poll-option Pizza --poll-option Sushi
```

React in Slack:

```bash
openclaw message react --channel slack \
  --target C123 --message-id 456 --emoji "check"
```

React in a Signal group:

```bash
openclaw message react --channel signal \
  --target signal:group:abc123 --message-id 1737630212345 \
  --emoji "check" --target-author-uuid 123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000
```

Send Telegram inline buttons:

```bash
openclaw message send --channel telegram --target @mychat --message "Choose:" \
  --buttons '[ [{"text":"Yes","callback_data":"cmd:yes"}], [{"text":"No","callback_data":"cmd:no"}] ]'
```