The OpenClaw mobile app now pairs with your instance
You can now connect the official OpenClaw app for iOS and Android directly to a managed
Lobsterland instance. Unlike Telegram or Slack, the app isn't a bot — it's a companion that pairs straight to
your instance's gateway over a secure wss:// connection. No allowlist, no bot token: generate the
connection details once, enter them in the app, and it pairs automatically.
What shipped
- Mobile app tab: a new Mobile app tab on the instance Channels page.
- One-click connection details: generate the gateway host, port, TLS setting, and token for your phone.
- Direct gateway pairing: the app connects to the instance gateway over
wss://as a paired companion device — not a chat bot. - Hands-free pairing: approval happens automatically, so the phone attaches in seconds and reconnects on its own.
- Works with both runtimes: available on OpenClaw and Hermes instances alike.
How is this different from Telegram or Slack?
Telegram, Slack, and WhatsApp connect through a bot: you create a bot, hand over a token, and manage an allowlist of who's allowed to talk to it. The mobile app is a paired node client instead. It attaches to the same gateway your instance already runs, so there's no third-party bot in the middle — the app is the client. That means less setup and a more direct, real-time connection to your agent from your pocket.
Chat with your hosted agent from your phone, over a secure connection, without creating or maintaining a bot.
How to connect the app
The whole flow takes about three minutes. You'll generate connection details in the dashboard, then enter them once in the app.
1. Install the OpenClaw app
Get the official app from the App Store or Google Play. On Android you can also install the signed APK from GitHub Releases. Setup docs live at docs.openclaw.ai/platforms/android.
2. Generate connection details
- Open your instance dashboard.
- Go to Channels → Mobile app.
- Click Generate connection details.
You'll get a host, port, TLS setting, and a token. Keep the tab open — you'll copy these into the app next.
3. Add a gateway manually in the app
In the app's Gateway settings, turn on Use Manual Gateway and enter the values from the dashboard:
- Host — the gateway host from the dashboard.
- Port — the gateway port from the dashboard.
- TLS — leave enabled; the connection uses
wss://. - Token — the generated gateway token.
4. Connect
Tap connect. Pairing is approved automatically, so the phone attaches within a few seconds and reconnects on its own after that. That's it — you're chatting with your hosted agent from your phone.
Keep the token safe
The token is your instance's gateway token — treat it like a password. Anyone who has it can control the instance. If a device is lost or you want to revoke access, rotate the token by restarting the instance, then generate fresh connection details for your devices.
Troubleshooting
- App won't connect: confirm Use Manual Gateway is on and the host, port, and token match the dashboard exactly.
- Instance must be running: generate connection details while the instance is running and ready.
- Advanced: the Mobile app tab can also copy the full WebSocket URL if your app expects a single connection string.