/install imessage-claw-messenger
@emotion-machine/claw-messenger
iMessage, RCS & SMS channel plugin for OpenClaw — no phone or Mac Mini required.
| Publisher | Emotion Machine |
| Homepage | clawmessenger.com |
| Source code | github.com/emotion-machine-org/claw-messenger |
| npm | @emotion-machine/claw-messenger |
| Issues | GitHub Issues |
| Privacy policy | clawmessenger.com/privacy |
| Pricing | clawmessenger.com/pricing |
How It Works
Claw Messenger routes messages between your OpenClaw agent and iMessage/RCS/SMS networks. The plugin connects to the Claw Messenger relay server over a WebSocket and authenticates with your API key. The relay server handles carrier-level delivery and inbound routing, then forwards messages back to your agent in real time.
OpenClaw Agent ←→ Plugin (local) ←→ Relay Server (WSS) ←→ iMessage / RCS / SMS
Required Credentials
This plugin requires one credential: a Claw Messenger API key.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Key format | cm_live_{tag}_{secret} |
| Obtain from | clawmessenger.com/dashboard |
| Sensitivity | Secret — treat like a password. Do not commit to version control. |
| Storage location | Stored locally in .openclaw.json at channels.claw-messenger.apiKey |
| Rotation | Revoke and rotate at any time from the dashboard |
| Scope | Authorizes sending and receiving messages on your account only |
No other credentials, environment variables, or secrets are required.
Required Config Path
All plugin configuration is stored in a single location:
.openclaw.json → channels.claw-messenger
This is the only file the plugin reads or writes. The full config schema is documented in the Configuration Reference below and declared in the plugin manifest (openclaw.plugin.json → configSchema).
External Connections
The plugin makes exactly one external connection:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | claw-messenger.onrender.com |
| Protocol | wss:// (TLS-encrypted WebSocket) |
| Purpose | Relay server that bridges OpenClaw to iMessage/RCS/SMS carrier networks |
| Hosting | Hosted on Render (managed cloud platform) by Emotion Machine. The onrender.com subdomain is standard for Render deployments. |
| Data handling | Stateless bridge — message content passes through in transit but is not persisted on the relay server. Message metadata (sender, recipient, timestamps) is logged for delivery tracking and billing per the Privacy Policy. |
| Custom domain | If your organization requires a custom domain or self-hosted deployment, contact [email protected] |
No other external connections are made.
Plugin Manifest Summary
The plugin's openclaw.plugin.json manifest declares the following (reproduced here for transparency):
- Required credentials:
apiKey(markedsensitive: true, placeholdercm_live_...) - Config path:
.openclaw.json→channels.claw-messenger - External connection:
wss://claw-messenger.onrender.com(relay server) - Config schema:
apiKey(required string),serverUrl(optional string),preferredService(optional enum),dmPolicy(optional enum),allowFrom(optional array)
All credentials and config paths used at runtime are declared in the manifest. There are no undeclared secrets, env vars, or config files.
Install
openclaw plugins install @emotion-machine/claw-messenger
The package is published to npm as @emotion-machine/claw-messenger. You can verify the package contents before installing:
npm pack @emotion-machine/claw-messenger --dry-run
Configuration
After installing, add the plugin to your OpenClaw config (.openclaw.json) under channels:
{
"channels": {
"claw-messenger": {
"enabled": true,
"apiKey": "cm_live_XXXXXXXX_YYYYYYYYYYYYYY", // required — your API key
"serverUrl": "wss://claw-messenger.onrender.com", // default relay server
"preferredService": "iMessage", // "iMessage" | "RCS" | "SMS"
"dmPolicy": "pairing", // "open" | "pairing" | "allowlist"
"allowFrom": ["+15551234567"] // only used with "allowlist" policy
}
}
}
Configuration Reference
| Field | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
apiKey |
Yes | — | Your cm_live_* API key. Stored locally in .openclaw.json. |
serverUrl |
No | wss://claw-messenger.onrender.com |
WebSocket relay server URL. |
preferredService |
No | iMessage |
Default delivery service (iMessage, RCS, or SMS). |
dmPolicy |
No | pairing |
Inbound DM policy: open, pairing, or allowlist. |
allowFrom |
No | [] |
Phone numbers to accept when using allowlist policy. |
Security & Privacy
- Your
cm_live_*API key is a secret credential. Add.openclaw.jsonto.gitignoreto avoid committing it to version control. - You can revoke and rotate API keys at any time from the dashboard. We recommend starting with a scoped or test key.
- All connections use TLS-encrypted WebSockets (
wss://). Message content is not stored on the relay server. - Message metadata (sender, recipient, timestamps) is logged for delivery tracking and billing. See the Privacy Policy.
- Billing is based on monthly message volume. See Pricing for plans and limits.
Features
- Send & receive text messages and media (images, video, audio, documents)
- iMessage reactions — love, like, dislike, laugh, emphasize, question (tapback)
- Group chats — send to existing groups or create new ones
- Typing indicators — sent and received
- DM security policies — open, pairing-based approval, or allowlist
Agent Tools
The plugin registers two tools your agent can call:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
claw_messenger_status |
Check connection status, server URL, and preferred service |
claw_messenger_switch_service |
Switch the preferred messaging service at runtime |
Slash Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/cm-status |
Show connection state, server URL, and preferred service |
/cm-switch \x3Cservice> |
Switch preferred service (iMessage, RCS, or SMS) |
Getting Started
- Sign up at clawmessenger.com
- Create an API key from the dashboard
- Install the plugin:
openclaw plugins install @emotion-machine/claw-messenger - Add the config above with your API key (keep
.openclaw.jsonout of version control) - Start a conversation — your agent can now send and receive messages
Support
- Issues: github.com/emotion-machine-org/claw-messenger/issues
- Email: [email protected]
- Docs: clawmessenger.com/docs
License
UNLICENSED
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install imessage-claw-messenger - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/imessage-claw-messenger - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
What is Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac?
Connect OpenClaw agents to iMessage, RCS, and SMS without a Mac or phone using Claw Messenger's relay server and API key authentication. It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 272 downloads so far.
How do I install Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac?
Run "/install imessage-claw-messenger" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac free?
Yes, Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac is completely free, licensed under MIT-0. You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac support?
Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created Claw Messenger - iMessage without a Mac?
It is built and maintained by demegire (@demegire); the current version is v1.0.0.