Channel connection problems can appear in several ways: the bot not receiving messages, responding slowly, or going silent after working previously. Channels are connected and changed inside your agent: on OpenClaw in Settings > Channels, on Hermes Agent in your Hermes dashboard (Open my Hermes dashboard on your server page). On OpenClaw servers, your OneClickClaw dashboard shows each channel's status. Here are the most common issues for each platform and how to fix them.
Telegram issues
Bot token expired or revoked
If you regenerated your bot token in BotFather, the old token on your server is no longer valid. Open your agent, go to Settings > Channels, open Telegram and enter the new token.
Bot blocked by a user
If a user blocks your bot on Telegram, the bot can no longer send messages to that user. This does not affect other users or groups. The bot continues working normally for everyone else.
Group permissions wrong
In Telegram groups, the bot needs permission to read messages. By default, Telegram bots in groups only receive messages that mention them or start with a command. To receive all messages, disable Privacy Mode in BotFather's settings for your bot.
Discord issues
Bot removed from server
If someone removed your bot from the Discord server, you need to re-invite it using the bot's invite link from the Discord Developer Portal. Then check the Discord channel inside your agent.
Permissions changed
The bot needs "Read Messages" and "Send Messages" permissions in the Discord channel. If a server admin changed role permissions, the bot may lose access to certain channels. Check the bot's role permissions in Discord server settings.
Token invalidated
Discord tokens can be invalidated if the bot's token is reset in the Developer Portal. Enter the new token in the Discord channel inside your agent.
WhatsApp issues
Linked device logged out
On OpenClaw, WhatsApp is linked by scanning a QR code, the same way you link WhatsApp on a computer. If the link is removed on your phone (WhatsApp > Linked devices), your agent stops receiving messages. Open your agent, go to Settings > Channels, open WhatsApp and scan the new QR code from your phone (WhatsApp > Linked devices > Link a device).
Phone offline or number changed
If the phone linked to WhatsApp changes its number or the WhatsApp account is removed, the link breaks. Link WhatsApp again from inside your agent.
Pairing Required
If your dashboard shows Pairing Required for a channel, open your agent and finish the pairing step for that channel there.
Connected
Degraded / Pairing Required
Error / Disconnected
If your notification settings allow it, we email you when a channel stops working. If a channel goes up and down on purpose, use Mute disconnect alerts next to it in your dashboard.
How to reconnect a channel
Follow these steps for any platform on OpenClaw:
Open your agent's channel settings
On your server page, click Manage channels in OpenClaw, or open your agent and go to Settings > Channels.
Open the broken channel
Select the channel that is not working. Each channel has a guided setup inside your agent.
Get a fresh token or QR code
Generate a new bot token from BotFather (Telegram) or the Discord Developer Portal. For WhatsApp, scan the new QR code your agent shows. If the old token is still valid, you can reuse it.
Save it in your agent
Follow the guided setup to save the new token or finish the QR pairing.
Send a test message
Send a test message in the connected group or channel to verify the bot is receiving and responding correctly. Then press Refresh channels in your dashboard to see the new status.
Note
On Hermes Agent, channels live in your Hermes dashboard: press Open my Hermes dashboard on your server page. If messages stop arriving, the Troubleshooting card's Restart messaging action restarts the service that connects your agent to your chat apps.
Tip
You can connect multiple channels (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, and more) to the same agent simultaneously. Each platform maintains its own conversation sessions independently.
Related articles: Telegram Setup, Discord Setup, WhatsApp Setup