How to Connect Openclaw to IRC: Step-by-Step Guide

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Quick Start

Connect your Openclaw agent to IRC in minutes. This guide walks you through configuring the IRC channel for real-time chat integration.

Configure IRC Channel

Open your ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json file and add the IRC configuration under the channels block:

{
  "channels": {
    "irc": {
      "enabled": true,
      "host": "irc.libera.chat",
      "port": 6697,
      "tls": true,
      "nick": "openclaw-bot",
      "channels": ["#openclaw"]
    }
  }
}

Note: Keep "tls": true unless you specifically need plaintext transport.

Auto-Reply Without Mentions

To make the bot respond to all messages in a channel without requiring a mention, use this group policy configuration:

{
  "channels": {
    "irc": {
      "groupPolicy": "allowlist",
      "groups": {
        "#openclaw": {
          "requireMention": false,
          "allowFrom": ["TrustedUser1", "TrustedUser2"]
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Testing Your Setup

Once configured, restart your Openclaw gateway and join the IRC channel. Send a message to test:

<You> openclaw-bot: what's the weather in Tokyo?

The bot should respond with current weather data if you have the Web Tools skill enabled.

Best Practices & Troubleshooting

NickServ: If your network requires NickServ authentication, configure it separately in your IRC client or bouncer
Firewall: Ensure port 6697 (TLS) or 6667 (plaintext) is open outbound
Rate limits: Some networks throttle connections; add a small delay between joins if connecting to many channels
Security: Use allowFrom to restrict which users can trigger your bot

For more messaging integrations, check out our guides on Slack and Discord.