Guide
OpenClaw on iPhone
There is now an official OpenClaw iOS app — it launched on June 29, 2026 for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. This guide covers installing the native app and pairing it to a gateway, plus the messaging-channel alternatives (Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, Safari) that still work great on iOS.
The Short Answer
Install the official OpenClaw app from the App Store, then pair it to a running OpenClaw gateway. The app is a free, native client; the gateway is the brain that does the reasoning, runs your skills, and holds your keys. If you don't want to run a server, deploy a managed gateway on OpenClaw Launch and pair the app to it in about a minute.
The Official iOS App
The OpenClaw iOS app is a thin client — a “node.” It does not run a gateway on your phone (iOS sandboxing makes that impossible anyway). Instead it connects to your gateway over a secure WebSocket and gives your agent a presence on your phone: chat, hands-free voice, camera and screen access, device permissions, action approvals, and push notifications. Everything stays on your gateway — the local-first design means nothing routes through a vendor cloud.
What the iOS app gives you:
- Chat with full history synced from the gateway
- Talk Mode — push-to-talk and continuous hands-free voice
- Camera & screen so the agent can see what you point it at
- Device access — location, photos, contacts, calendar, reminders, each gated by iOS permissions you grant individually
- Approvals — approve or deny sensitive agent actions from your phone
- Share extension — send links, text, and media into your agent from any app
- Apple Watch app and an Activity widget
Install & Pair (Native App)
- Get a gateway running. Deploy a managed instance on OpenClaw Launch (30 seconds, comes with HTTPS and an auth token), or self-host your own.
- Install the app from the App Store.
- Connect to your gateway. Open the Connect screen. On the same Wi-Fi as the gateway, it appears automatically; otherwise choose manual entry and paste your URL (for example
https://your-instance.openclawlaunch.com). - Approve the pairing with the setup code / auth token from your dashboard. The app shows Connected and your iPhone is now a node on your agent.
For the full cross-platform picture, see the OpenClaw Mobile App overview.
Alternative: Reach Your Agent Through Messaging Apps
The native app is not the only way to use OpenClaw on iPhone. Because OpenClaw is channel-first, your agent can also live inside messaging apps you already have. These are great when you want the agent in your normal chat flow rather than a dedicated app.
Telegram on iPhone
Telegram is the smoothest messaging path on iOS — reliable push, voice messages, and images out of the box. Create a bot via @BotFather, paste the token into your instance's Telegram channel, and message the bot to pair. Full walkthrough: OpenClaw Telegram guide. Always use dmPolicy: “pairing” so strangers can't spam your bot.
WhatsApp on iPhone
Enable the WhatsApp channel, then scan the QR code from the dashboard via Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device in WhatsApp. See the OpenClaw WhatsApp guide.
Discord on iPhone
Best when you want a group or community agent. Create a bot in the Discord Developer Portal, add the token to your instance, and DM it from the Discord iOS app. See the OpenClaw Discord guide.
Safari + Gateway Web UI (PWA)
Every gateway exposes a web chat UI. Open your gateway URL in Safari, sign in with your auth token, then tap Share → Add to Home Screen to install it as a progressive web app. Useful as a lightweight option, though the native app is the better full-featured experience now that it exists.
Which Should You Use?
- Full-featured agent surface (voice, camera, approvals, Watch): the native iOS app.
- Agent inside your everyday chat app: Telegram (personal), WhatsApp (if that's your default), or Discord (group/community).
- All of the above: one gateway can power the native app and every messaging channel at once — same agent, same memory. See the multi-channel assistant guide.
Getting a Gateway Running (the Part iPhone Can't Do)
Every option here assumes a gateway is live somewhere — an iPhone can't host one itself. Two realistic choices:
- Self-host on a server: a VPS, home Linux box, or Mac mini. See the OpenClaw install guide. You own uptime and upgrades.
- Managed with OpenClaw Launch: one click, 30 seconds, always online. No servers, Docker, or SSH — the recommended path for iPhone-first users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official OpenClaw iOS app?
Yes. OpenClaw released an official native iOS app on June 29, 2026, free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. There is also an official Android app.
Do I need my own server to use the iOS app?
You need a gateway, but not necessarily your own server. Pair the app to a managed instance and skip server setup entirely, or self-host if you prefer full control of the box.
Can I run the OpenClaw gateway on my iPhone?
No. iOS sandboxing prevents background servers and the filesystem access OpenClaw needs. The gateway runs on a real server or PC; your iPhone is the client.
Will voice and Talk Mode work on iPhone?
Yes. The native app includes push-to-talk and continuous Talk Mode with on-device speech recognition. Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord also support voice messages that your agent can transcribe.
Will I get push notifications on iPhone?
Yes. The native app pushes workflow completions, channel replies, and node-status alerts. Messaging channels (Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord) also have excellent iOS push.
Can I use OpenClaw on an iPad?
Yes — the native app supports iPad, and all the messaging-channel options work identically.
Related Guides
- OpenClaw Mobile App overview — iOS + Android, explained
- OpenClaw Android App — the Android client
- OpenClaw + Telegram setup
- OpenClaw + WhatsApp setup
- How to install OpenClaw