OpenClaw Home Assistant Integration: The Complete Guide

Meta Description (158 chars): "Set up OpenClaw Home Assistant integration in 2026. Voice control, automation, WhatsApp & Telegram support. Step-by-step guide for beginners."

Primary Keyword: openclaw home assistant integration
Secondary Keywords: openclaw smart home, home assistant AI agent, openclaw voice control, home automation AI

Introduction

Who this is for: This guide is for Home Assistant users who want to add conversational AI capabilities to their smart home setup. Whether you're running Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi, NAS, or dedicated server, you'll learn how to integrate OpenClaw's AI agent for natural language control.

If you've ever wished you could just tell your smart home what to do in plain English, this integration is exactly what you need.

OpenClaw's Home Assistant add-on, released in January 2026, brings an AI agent directly into your home automation ecosystem. Unlike traditional automations that require rigid rule-writing, OpenClaw lets you describe what you want—as naturally as you'd ask a human houseguest.

In this guide, you'll learn:

How the OpenClaw Home Assistant integration works
Step-by-step installation methods
Voice control setup via WhatsApp and Telegram
Practical automation examples you can use today
Troubleshooting common setup issues

Let's get your AI-powered smart home running.

What Is the OpenClaw Home Assistant Integration?

The OpenClaw Home Assistant integration is a custom add-on that runs OpenClaw as a native Home Assistant integration. It was developed by the community and published to the Home Assistant add-on store in January 2026.

Key Capabilities

This integration gives Home Assistant users access to several powerful features:

Assist Pipeline Support — OpenClaw works as a conversation agent via Home Assistant's Assist pipeline, allowing you to use voice commands through any Assist-compatible interface (microphones, voice assistants, the Home Assistant app).

Entity Context Awareness — OpenClaw can include Home Assistant entity context based on what you've exposed to Assist. This means when you ask "turn off the lights in the living room," OpenClaw knows exactly which devices you're referring to.

Browser Automation — The add-on includes Chromium for web scraping and automation skills, enabling OpenClaw to interact with web-based services as part of your automations.

Persistent Storage — Your OpenClaw skills, configuration, and workspace survive add-on updates, so you won't lose your setup when Home Assistant updates.

Multi-Channel Control — Once configured, you can control your home through WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or any other OpenClaw channel—not just voice.

Why Use OpenClaw Instead of Home Assistant's Built-in AI?

Home Assistant has built-in conversation agents (like the OpenAI integration), but OpenClaw offers distinct advantages:

Feature	Home Assistant Built-in	OpenClaw Integration
Multi-channel control	No	Yes (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.)
Persistent workspace	No	Yes
Community skills ecosystem	Limited	50+ pre-built skills
Browser automation	No	Yes
Self-hosted option	Yes	Yes

If you want AI control that's tied exclusively to Home Assistant's native interfaces, the built-in options work. But if you want flexible, multi-channel AI control with a growing skill ecosystem, OpenClaw is the better choice.

Prerequisites

Before installing the OpenClaw Home Assistant integration, ensure you have:

Home Assistant OS or Supervised (version 2024.6 or later recommended)
OpenClaw Gateway running (can be on the same machine or a different device)
Git installed (for manual installation method)
Basic familiarity with Home Assistant add-ons and YAML configuration

System Requirements

For the add-on to run smoothly:

2GB RAM minimum (4GB recommended)
4GB available storage
Network access for API calls (OpenAI/Anthropic/OpenRouter)
Any device exposed to Home Assistant via the Assist pipeline

Installation Methods

You have two options for installing the OpenClaw Home Assistant integration: the add-on store (easiest) or manual Git installation.

Method 1: Add-on Store (Recommended)

The community add-on appears in Home Assistant's add-on store under "Custom repositories."

Step 1: In Home Assistant, go to Settings → Add-ons → Add-on Store

Step 2: Click the three-dot menu and select Repositories

Step 3: Add this repository URL:

https://github.com/techartdev/OpenClawHomeAssistant

Step 4: After refreshing, you'll see "OpenClaw Assistant" in the add-on list

Step 5: Click Install, then Start once installation completes

Step 6: Configure your API keys in the add-on configuration tab (more on this below)

Method 2: Manual Git Installation

For users who want bleeding-edge updates or prefer manual control:

# SSH into your Home Assistant machine
cd /config
git clone https://github.com/techartdev/OpenClawHomeAssistant.git
cd OpenClawHomeAssistant

Then copy the openclaw folder to your /config/custom_components/ directory and restart Home Assistant.

Configuration

After installation, you'll need to configure the add-on to connect OpenClaw with your Home Assistant instance.

Required Configuration

In the add-on configuration screen, you'll need to set:

# Your Home Assistant URL (use https://homeassistant.local:8123 for local)
ha_url: "http://homeassistant:8123"

# Long-lived access token (generate in Home Assistant Profile)
ha_token: "YOUR_LONG_LIVED_ACCESS_TOKEN"

# OpenAI-compatible API endpoint (OpenRouter, OpenAI, etc.)
api_endpoint: "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"

# Your API key
api_key: "YOUR_API_KEY"

# Model to use (e.g., openai/gpt-4o, anthropic/claude-3-sonnet)
model: "anthropic/claude-3-sonnet"

Generating a Long-Lived Access Token

Step 1: In Home Assistant, go to your profile (click your name in the sidebar)

Step 2: Scroll down to Long-Lived Access Tokens

Step 3: Click Create Token, give it a name like "OpenClaw Integration"

Step 4: Copy the token immediately—you won't be able to see it again

Recommended Optional Settings

# Enable debug logging for troubleshooting
debug: true

# Proxy settings if needed
http_proxy: "http://your-proxy:8080"
https_proxy: "http://your-proxy:8080"

# Session persistence
session_id: "default"

After saving configuration, restart the add-on and check the logs to confirm successful connection.

Voice Control Setup

One of the most compelling reasons to use OpenClaw with Home Assistant is voice control. Here's how to set it up.

WhatsApp Voice Control

To control your home via WhatsApp voice messages:

Step 1: Configure WhatsApp channel in OpenClaw (see our OpenClaw Voice Commands guide for detailed WhatsApp setup)

Step 2: In Home Assistant, expose entities to Assist:

Go to Settings → Voice Assistant
Select your assistant
Add the entities you want controllable via voice

Step 3: Test by sending a WhatsApp message like:

"Turn off the bedroom lights and set thermostat to 72"

OpenClaw will interpret your request and execute the corresponding Home Assistant actions.

Telegram Voice Control

For Telegram, the setup is similar:

Step 1: Set up the Telegram channel in OpenClaw (our OpenClaw Getting Started Guide covers this)

Step 2: Expose Home Assistant entities to your assistant (same process as WhatsApp)

Step 3: Send voice messages directly to your Telegram bot—just speak what you want!

Testing Your Voice Control

Try these example commands to verify everything works:

"What's the temperature in the living room?"
"Turn off all lights"
"Lock the front door"
"Is the garage door open?"
"Set the living room lights to 50% brightness, blue color"

If commands fail, check the OpenClaw logs for interpretation errors and verify your entities are properly exposed to Assist.

Automation Examples

Here are five practical automations you can create once OpenClaw is integrated with Home Assistant.

Example 1: Morning Routine Voice Command

Use case: One voice command to start your morning.

Create a routine like "Good morning" that triggers:

Lights turn on gradually (Living room → Kitchen)
Thermostat adjusts to comfortable temperature
Coffee maker starts (if smart plug connected)
Home Assistant announces the time and weather

Example 2: Security Check Command

Use case: Before bed, ask OpenClaw to verify your home is secure.

Command: "Check home security"

OpenClaw reports:
- Front door: Locked ✓
- Back door: Locked ✓
- Garage door: Closed ✓
- All motion sensors: No activity in past 6 hours ✓
- Arming alarm system in 5 minutes unless cancelled

Example 3: Movie Night Scene

Use case: Set the perfect ambiance with one phrase.

Command: "Movie night"

- Living room lights dim to 15%
- TV turns on, input set to HDMI 1
- Surround sound activates
- blinds close
- Thermostat adjusts to 72°F

Example 4: Energy Savings Automation

Use case: Let OpenClaw suggest and implement energy savings.

OpenClaw monitors your usage patterns and can suggest:

"I noticed you left the garage lights on. Want me to turn them off?"
"It's sunny outside—shall I close the blinds to reduce AC usage?"
"Your HVAC has been running constantly. I can optimize the schedule for your schedule."

Example 5: Voice-Controlled Scene Activation

Use case: Trigger complex scenes with natural language.

Instead of remembering scene names like "Evening Relax," just say what you want:

"I'm going to read in the study" → OpenClaw creates appropriate lighting, adjusts thermostat, silences unnecessary notifications

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are solutions to the most common problems users encounter with the OpenClaw Home Assistant integration.

Issue: Add-on Fails to Start

Symptoms: Add-on shows "Unhealthy" status or crashes immediately

Solutions:

Check logs: Add-ons → OpenClaw → Logs
Verify your ha_url is correct (use http://homeassistant:8123 for container networking)
Confirm your access token hasn't expired—regenerate if needed
Ensure you have at least 2GB RAM available

Issue: Commands Not Affecting Home Assistant

Symptoms: OpenClaw responds but doesn't control devices

Solutions:

Verify entities are exposed to Assist (Settings → Voice Assistant → Exposed entities)
Check that the entity IDs match what you're referencing in commands
Test entity control directly in Home Assistant first
Look for permission issues in OpenClaw logs

Issue: Voice Messages Not Working in Telegram/WhatsApp

Symptoms: Text works but voice messages fail

Solutions:

For WhatsApp: Ensure ElevenLabs or your TTS provider is configured
For Telegram: Bot must have access to voice messages—check bot settings
For both: Audio files must be served on a reachable URL (local media server may be required)
See Dan Malone's guide to OpenClaw with Home Assistant for detailed audio setup

Issue: API Rate Limiting

Symptoms: OpenClaw responds with "rate limit exceeded" or stops responding

Solutions:

Check your API provider's rate limits (OpenRouter: 100 requests/min on free tier)
Implement caching for frequent status queries
Consider upgrading your API plan
Add delays between rapid-fire voice commands

Issue: Entity Context Not Available

Symptoms: OpenClaw says it doesn't know which device you mean

Solutions:

Re-expose entities in Assist settings
Use more specific commands: "Turn off bedroom light" instead of just "Turn off light"
Assign friendly names to ambiguous entities
Check that the OpenClawHomeAssistantIntegration repository is up to date

FAQ: OpenClaw Home Assistant Integration

Is the OpenClaw Home Assistant integration free?

Yes, the add-on itself is free. However, you'll need an API key for the AI model (OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, etc.). OpenRouter offers a free tier with limited requests. See our OpenClaw Security Setup guide for tips on securing your API keys.

Can I use OpenClaw with Home Assistant Cloud (Nabu Casa)?

Currently, the integration requires a direct Home Assistant connection rather than the Nabu Casa cloud link. You can still use OpenClaw's own cloud channels (WhatsApp, Telegram) independently.

Will this work with Home Assistant Green or Yellow devices?

Yes, as long as you're running Home Assistant OS or Supervised. The Home Assistant Green and Yellow devices are fully supported.

How is this different from Home Assistant's built-in ChatGPT/Claude integration?

The built-in integrations are conversation agents within Home Assistant. OpenClaw brings its own ecosystem—skills, multi-channel support, persistent workspace, and browser automation—that extends beyond Home Assistant's native capabilities.

Can I control Home Assistant when I'm away from home?

Yes! As long as your OpenClaw Gateway is accessible (through your channel apps like WhatsApp or Telegram), you can control your home from anywhere. For remote access, consider setting up Tailscale or a similar VPN.

Does OpenClaw work with all Home Assistant entities?

OpenClaw works with any entity exposed to Home Assistant's Assist pipeline. If an entity appears in your voice assistant settings, OpenClaw can control it.

Conclusion

The OpenClaw Home Assistant integration brings conversational AI to your smart home in a way that traditional automations can't match. With natural language control, multi-channel access (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord), and a growing ecosystem of skills, it's a powerful addition to any Home Assistant setup.

Key takeaways: