How to Connect Openclaw to Tlon

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Quick Start

Connect Openclaw to Tlon (Urbit's messaging platform) to enable AI-powered interactions in your Tlon chats. This guide walks you through installing the plugin and configuring your ship.

Prerequisites

An active Urbit ship with Tlon installed
Openclaw Gateway running on your host
Your ship's +code for authentication

Step 1: Install the Tlon Plugin

Tlon support ships as a plugin and is not bundled with the core Openclaw install. Install it using the CLI:

Openclaw plugins install @Openclaw/tlon

Note: If you are running Openclaw from a git repository, use ./extensions/tlon instead:

Openclaw plugins install ./extensions/tlon

Step 2: Configure Your Ship

Open your ~/.Openclaw/Openclaw.json file and add the Tlon configuration under the channels block. It is highly recommended to set an ownerShip (your personal ship) so that you are always authorized to interact with the bot:

{
  "channels": {
    "tlon": {
      "enabled": true,
      "ship": "~sampel-palnet",
      "url": "https://your-ship-host",
      "code": "lidlut-tabwed-pillex-ridrup",
      "ownerShip": "~your-main-ship"
    }
  }
}

Configuration Parameters

ship: Your bot's ship name (e.g., ~sampel-palnet)
url: The URL where your ship is hosted
code: Your ship's +code for authentication
ownerShip: Your personal ship for guaranteed access

Step 3: Restart the Gateway

After configuring, restart your Openclaw Gateway to apply the changes:

Openclaw gateway restart

Testing Your Setup

Send a direct message to your bot's ship from your ownerShip. The bot should respond to your queries. Try asking:

What can you help me with?

Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Connection failures: Verify your ship URL is accessible and the +code is correct
Authorization issues: Ensure ownerShip is set to your main ship
Plugin not loading: Check that the plugin installed correctly with Openclaw plugins list
Keep your ship's +code secure—treat it like a password
Use HTTPS for your ship URL in production environments

For more messaging integrations, check out our guide on Matrix Integration or learn about Elevated Mode for advanced permissions.

Last updated: March 2026