# 📱 Channel Support Guide > Complete documentation for Smart Follow-ups across all OpenClaw channels --- ## Overview Smart Follow-ups works on **every OpenClaw channel**, with adaptive formatting: | Channel | Mode | Format | Interaction | |---------|------|--------|-------------| | **Telegram** | Interactive | Inline buttons | Tap to ask | | **Discord** | Interactive | Inline buttons | Click to ask | | **Slack** | Interactive | Inline buttons | Click to ask | | **Signal** | Text | Numbered list | Reply with 1-3 | | **WhatsApp** | Text | Numbered list | Reply with 1-3 | | **iMessage** | Text | Numbered list | Reply with 1-3 | | **SMS** | Text | Numbered list | Reply with 1-3 | | **Matrix** | Text | Numbered list | Reply with 1-3 | | **Email** | Text | Numbered list | Reply with number | --- ## Interactive Mode (Buttons) ### Telegram **Best experience** — full inline button support with callbacks. ``` 💡 What would you like to explore next? [⚡ How do I install Docker? ] ← tap [🧠 Explain Docker's architecture ] ← tap [🔗 Compare Docker to Kubernetes ] ← tap ``` **Requirements:** - `capabilities: ["inlineButtons"]` in channel config - Bot must have inline button permissions **Callback handling:** When user taps a button, the question is sent as a new message automatically. --- ### Discord Full button component support. ``` 💡 What would you like to explore next? [⚡ How do I install Docker?] [🧠 Explain Docker's architecture] [🔗 Compare Docker to Kubernetes] ``` **Requirements:** - Bot must have `Send Messages` and `Use Buttons` permissions - Application commands enabled --- ### Slack Block Kit button support. ``` 💡 What would you like to explore next? [⚡ How do I install Docker?] [🧠 Explain Docker's architecture] [🔗 Compare Docker to Kubernetes] ``` **Requirements:** - Slack app with `chat:write` scope - Interactive components enabled --- ## Text Mode (Fallback) For channels without button support, a numbered list is displayed: ### Signal ``` 💡 Smart Follow-up Suggestions ⚡ Quick 1. How do I install Docker? 🧠 Deep Dive 2. Explain Docker's architecture 🔗 Related 3. Compare Docker to Kubernetes Reply with 1, 2, or 3 to ask that question. ``` **How to use:** Simply reply with the number (1, 2, or 3). --- ### WhatsApp ``` 💡 Smart Follow-up Suggestions ⚡ Quick 1. How do I install Docker? 🧠 Deep Dive 2. Explain Docker's architecture 🔗 Related 3. Compare Docker to Kubernetes Reply 1, 2, or 3 ``` **How to use:** Reply with the number. **Note:** WhatsApp has limited button support for business accounts. The skill uses text mode for reliability. --- ### iMessage ``` 💡 Smart Follow-up Suggestions ⚡ Quick 1. How do I install Docker? 🧠 Deep Dive 2. Explain Docker's architecture 🔗 Related 3. Compare Docker to Kubernetes Reply with 1, 2, or 3 ``` **How to use:** Reply with the number. --- ### SMS ``` Smart Follow-ups 1. How do I install Docker? 2. Explain Docker's architecture 3. Compare Docker to Kubernetes Reply 1, 2, or 3 ``` **Note:** Simplified formatting for SMS character limits. Emojis may be stripped depending on carrier. --- ### Matrix ``` 💡 Smart Follow-up Suggestions ⚡ Quick 1. How do I install Docker? 🧠 Deep Dive 2. Explain Docker's architecture 🔗 Related 3. Compare Docker to Kubernetes Reply with 1, 2, or 3 ``` --- ### Email ``` Subject: Re: Your conversation 💡 Smart Follow-up Suggestions ⚡ Quick 1. How do I install Docker? 🧠 Deep Dive 2. Explain Docker's architecture 🔗 Related 3. Compare Docker to Kubernetes Reply with the number of your choice (1, 2, or 3). ``` --- ## Channel Detection Logic The handler automatically detects the channel and formats appropriately: ```javascript // Channels with button support const BUTTON_CHANNELS = ['telegram', 'discord', 'slack']; // Check channel capability function supportsButtons(channel, capabilities) { return BUTTON_CHANNELS.includes(channel) && capabilities?.includes('inlineButtons'); } ``` **Priority:** 1. Check if channel is in `BUTTON_CHANNELS` list 2. Verify `inlineButtons` capability is enabled 3. Fall back to text mode if either check fails --- ## Configuration Per Channel You can override settings per channel in `openclaw.json`: ```json { "skills": { "smart-followups": { "channels": { "telegram": { "mode": "buttons", "showCategory": true }, "signal": { "mode": "text", "compact": false }, "sms": { "mode": "text", "compact": true, "stripEmoji": true } } } } } ``` | Option | Default | Description | |--------|---------|-------------| | `mode` | auto | `buttons`, `text`, or `auto` | | `compact` | false | Use compact formatting | | `showCategory` | true | Show category labels (⚡🧠🔗) | | `stripEmoji` | false | Remove emojis (for SMS) | --- ## Reply Handling ### Button Channels When a user clicks a button: 1. Button sends `callback_data` containing the question 2. OpenClaw receives it as a new user message 3. OpenClaw answers the question normally ### Text Channels When a user replies with a number: 1. OpenClaw receives "1", "2", or "3" 2. Handler maps number to the corresponding question 3. OpenClaw processes as if user typed the full question **Implementation Note:** The handler stores recent suggestions in session context to map numbers back to questions. --- ## Troubleshooting ### Buttons not appearing on Telegram 1. Check channel config has `capabilities: ["inlineButtons"]` 2. Verify bot has inline button permissions 3. Try restarting OpenClaw ### Numbers not working on Signal 1. Make sure you're replying with just the number (1, 2, or 3) 2. Don't include other text 3. Check OpenClaw logs for errors ### Wrong formatting on WhatsApp WhatsApp formatting is limited. If buttons don't work: 1. Check if you have a WhatsApp Business account 2. The skill defaults to text mode for reliability ### Emojis broken on SMS Some carriers strip emojis. Enable `stripEmoji: true` in SMS channel config: ```json { "skills": { "smart-followups": { "channels": { "sms": { "stripEmoji": true } } } } } ``` --- ## Adding New Channels To add support for a new channel: 1. **Check button support** — Does the platform support interactive buttons? 2. **Add to handler** — Update `BUTTON_CHANNELS` array if supported 3. **Test formatting** — Verify text/button output looks correct 4. **Document** — Add section to this file Pull requests welcome! See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md). --- ## Channel Feature Matrix | Feature | Telegram | Discord | Slack | Signal | WhatsApp | iMessage | SMS | |---------|:--------:|:-------:|:-----:|:------:|:--------:|:--------:|:---:| | Inline buttons | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ⚠ | ❌ | ❌ | | Emoji support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠ | | Markdown | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | | Number replies | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Rich formatting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠ | ⚠ | ⚠ | ❌ | **Legend:** ✅ Full support | ⚠ Partial/limited | ❌ Not supported --- **Last updated:** January 20, 2026