OpenClaw, farewell Telegram: native apps for iOS and Android, now also on Apple Watch

The OpenClaw Foundation has released the first official native apps for iOS and Android, presented as the intended way to reach your OpenClaw assistant from your phone. The applications act as companion nodes and require an OpenClaw Gateway already active on a PC or Mac, to which the mobile device connects.

OpenClaw is now on iOS + Android 🦞

📱 Native mobile apps, finally
💬 Agents in your pocket
🔔 Channels, tasks, replies on the go
Run agents from wherever your thumbs are.

iOS
Android
— OpenClaw🦞 (@openclaw)
June 29, 2026

The logic remains local-first, a characteristic of the open-source project from the beginning: data stays on the user's gateway, which maintains control of keys, configuration, and permissions. The apps replace the previous workaround that required using Telegram or WhatsApp to communicate with the Gateway remotely, a fallback solution that is now obsolete. One of the most interesting features of OpenClaw has been precisely the ability to access it through the messaging channels that users are accustomed to using every day.

How it works

The connection between the app and the Gateway happens via QR code or setup code. Once the device is paired, the app allows chatting with the assistant, using a real-time voice mode, approving actions that the Gateway intends to execute, and sharing content from the phone. Upon request, the assistant can access device functions: camera, screen, location, photos, contacts, calendar, and reminders. The iPhone app is also available on Apple Watch, and both versions are free on the App Store and Google Play.

OpenClaw remains agnostic to the model: the user connects their API key to the Gateway and can rely on Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, and others.

A challenging Android debut

On the Play Store, the Android app debuted with an average rating of 2.2 stars: numerous reviews describe it as full of bugs and impossible to pair, with some calling it "the worst app I've ever used in my life." The iOS version appears to be more polished.

There are still cautionary notes that have always accompanied the tool: OpenClaw is exposed to prompt injection and requires extensive system permissions on the device hosting the Gateway, an access perimeter that should be evaluated before entrusting the assistant with the keys to one's environment.

The apps are published by the OpenClaw Foundation. The founder, Peter Steinberger, joined OpenAI in February 2026; subsequently, OpenAI stated that it would provide unspecified support to the Foundation. The project, which has been discussed several times, was initiated in November 2025 as Clawdbot and then changed names twice: first to Moltbot in January 2026, after Anthropic contested the name for being too similar to Claude, and finally to OpenClaw.