---
summary: "Move one OpenClaw session's reply route between linked chat channels"
title: "Channel docking"
read_when:
  - You want replies for one active session to move from Telegram to Discord, Slack, Mattermost, or another linked channel
  - You are configuring session.identityLinks for cross-channel direct messages
  - A /dock command says the sender is not linked or no active session exists
---

Channel docking is call forwarding for one OpenClaw session. It keeps the same
conversation context, but changes where future replies for that session are
delivered. Docking only works from a direct chat; it does not run from a group
chat.

## Example

Alice can message OpenClaw on Telegram and Discord:

```json5
{
  session: {
    identityLinks: {
      alice: ["telegram:123", "discord:456"],
    },
  },
}
```

If Alice sends this from a Telegram direct chat:

```text
/dock_discord
```

OpenClaw keeps the current session context and changes the reply route:

| Before docking               | After `/dock_discord`       |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Replies go to Telegram `123` | Replies go to Discord `456` |

The session is not recreated. The transcript history stays attached to the
same session.

## Why use it

Use docking when a task starts in one chat app but the next replies should land
somewhere else.

Common flow:

1. Start an agent task from Telegram.
2. Move to Discord where you are coordinating work.
3. Send `/dock_discord` from the Telegram direct chat.
4. Keep the same OpenClaw session, but receive future replies in Discord.

## Required config

Docking requires `session.identityLinks`. The source sender and target peer
must be in the same identity group:

```json5
{
  session: {
    identityLinks: {
      alice: ["telegram:123", "discord:456", "slack:U123"],
    },
  },
}
```

The values are channel-prefixed peer ids:

| Value          | Meaning                      |
| -------------- | ---------------------------- |
| `telegram:123` | Telegram sender id `123`     |
| `discord:456`  | Discord direct peer id `456` |
| `slack:U123`   | Slack user id `U123`         |

The canonical key (`alice` above) is only the shared identity group name. Dock
commands use the channel-prefixed values to prove that the source sender and
target peer are the same person.

## Commands

OpenClaw generates one `/dock-<channel>` command for every loaded channel plugin
that supports native commands, so the list grows as plugins are added. Bundled
plugins that currently support it:

| Target channel | Command            | Alias              |
| -------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ |
| Discord        | `/dock-discord`    | `/dock_discord`    |
| Mattermost     | `/dock-mattermost` | `/dock_mattermost` |
| Slack          | `/dock-slack`      | `/dock_slack`      |
| Telegram       | `/dock-telegram`   | `/dock_telegram`   |

The underscore form is also the native command name on surfaces like Telegram
that expose slash commands directly.

## What changes

Docking updates the active session delivery fields:

| Session field   | Example after `/dock_discord`            |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `lastChannel`   | `discord`                                |
| `lastTo`        | `456`                                    |
| `lastAccountId` | the target channel account, or `default` |

Those fields are persisted in the session store and used by later reply
delivery for that session.

## What does not change

Docking does not:

- create channel accounts
- connect a new Discord, Telegram, Slack, or Mattermost bot
- grant access to a user
- bypass channel allowlists or DM policies
- move transcript history to another session
- make unrelated users share a session

It only changes the delivery route for the current session.

Dock commands are handled directly as chat commands rather than admitted model
runs. Their success or failure remains visible in the command reply, but they
do not create a run-audit selector or decision receipt.

## Troubleshooting

**The command says the sender is not linked.**

Add both the current sender and the target peer to the same
`session.identityLinks` group. For example, if Telegram sender `123` should dock
to Discord peer `456`, include both `telegram:123` and `discord:456`.

**The command says docking is only available from direct chats.**

Send the dock command from a direct chat with OpenClaw, not from a group chat.

**The command says no active session exists.**

Dock from an existing direct-chat session. The command needs an active session
entry so it can persist the new route.

**Replies still go to the old channel.**

Check that the command replied with a success message, and confirm the target
peer id matches the id used by that channel. Docking only changes the active
session route; another session may still route elsewhere.

**I need to switch back.**

Send the matching command for the original channel, such as `/dock_telegram` or
`/dock-telegram`, from a linked sender.
