How to Connect Openclaw to Zalo Personal Account

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Quick Start

Connect your Openclaw agent to Zalo Personal to enable direct messaging with your personal Zalo account. This integration uses a plugin-based approach and requires a few configuration steps.

Step 1: Install the Zalo Personal Plugin

The Zalo Personal integration ships as a plugin and is not bundled with the core install. Install it via the CLI:

Openclaw plugins install @Openclaw/zalouser

Alternatively, for a local dev checkout, use:

Openclaw plugins install ./extensions/zalouser

Step 2: Configure the Channel

Edit your ~/.Openclaw/Openclaw.json configuration file to enable the zalouser channel. Add the following block:

{
  "channels": {
    "zalouser": {
      "enabled": true,
      "dmPolicy": "pairing"
    }
  }
}

Understanding DM Policy

The dmPolicy setting controls how direct messages are handled:

pairing: Users must pair with the bot before messaging (recommended for personal accounts)
allowlist: Only specific user IDs can message the bot
open: Anyone can message the bot (use with caution)

If you are new to Openclaw channel integrations, you might also want to read about Zalo Integration for business accounts or check out VPS Deployment for production setup tips.

Step 3: Restart the Gateway

After configuration, restart your Openclaw gateway to apply the changes:

Openclaw gateway restart

Troubleshooting

Plugin not found: Ensure you are running the latest version of Openclaw CLI
Authentication errors: Verify your Zalo credentials are correctly configured
Messages not received: Check that the dmPolicy is set correctly for your use case

Best Practices

Use pairing mode for personal accounts to prevent spam
Keep your configuration file secure and never commit it to version control
Test the integration in a development environment before deploying to production