# Carbon Voice + OpenClaw

## Overview

Carbon Voice is the [best interface](../concepts/why-carbonvoice.md) for talking to AI agents on the go.

[OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai) is an AI that actually does things for you — install it on your machine and give it access to your tools, files, and workflows.

Connect Carbon Voice and OpenClaw so you can **talk** to your OpenClaw agent like you would a chief of staff or other team member.

## Features of this Integration

- **Talk to it with swipe of a button** — Record voice messages to trigger OpenClaw tasks instantly while on-the-go with the mobile app
- **Talk to it with a desktop shortcut** — Start talking to your agent with a single keyboard shortcut
- **Send even when agent is offline and recovers** — Your messages are queued and delivered when OpenClaw comes back online
- **Control who can talk to your agent** — Set up permissions to control who can send messages to your OpenClaw agent

---

# What You'll Need

* Create a Carbon Voice "AI Agent" account with API Access
* OpenClaw installed on your machine
* About 5 minutes

# How it works under the hood

![Carbon Voice agent message flow](../../config/images/cv_agent_message_flow_v2.svg)

The purple boxes are your agent. Carbon Voice handles the rest.

---

# **Step 1** **Install the Carbon Voice Extension**

OpenClaw uses a plugin system to extend its capabilities. Install the Carbon Voice extension to enable voice messaging integration.

```bash
openclaw plugins install npm:@carbonvoice/openclaw-extension
```

---

# **Step 2** **Enable the Carbon Voice Plugin**

Once installed, enable the Carbon Voice plugin in OpenClaw:

```bash
openclaw plugins enable carbonvoice
```

---

# **Step 3** **Configure the Channel**

Add the Carbon Voice channel to OpenClaw. You'll be prompted for your Personal Access Token (PAT) during this step.

```bash
openclaw channels add
```

When prompted, enter your Carbon Voice PAT. You can get this from the developer portal:

1. Go to [https://developer.carbonvoice.app](https://developer.carbonvoice.app)
2. Click "Agents" on the left side
3. Select your agent or create a new one
4. Scroll down to the "Personal access tokens" section
5. Click "Create token" and save it — **this cannot be retrieved again**

---

# **Step 4** **Restart the Gateway**

After configuring the channel, restart the OpenClaw gateway to apply the changes:

```bash
openclaw gateway restart
```

---

# **Step 5** **Test the Integration**

1. Open the Carbon Voice app on your phone
2. Send a message to your OpenClaw agent
3. You should receive a response from OpenClaw

Try a simple test like:
- "What files are in my current directory?"
- "Check my system status"
- "What's the weather today?" (if you have weather tools configured)

---

# Troubleshooting

| Problem | Solution |
| ----- | ----- |
| Plugin install fails | Make sure you have npm installed and have internet connectivity |
| Channel add prompts for PAT again | Verify your PAT is correct and hasn't expired |
| No response from OpenClaw | Check that the gateway is running with `openclaw gateway status` |
| Gateway won't start | Check OpenClaw logs for errors, ensure no port conflicts |
| Messages not received | Verify the PAT has the correct permissions for your agent |

---

# Security Notes

- Your Carbon Voice PAT is stored in OpenClaw's configuration. Keep your machine secure.
- Never commit your PAT to version control
- If you suspect your PAT has been compromised, revoke it immediately from the developer portal and create a new one
- OpenClaw runs locally on your machine, giving it access to your files and tools. Only install OpenClaw from trusted sources

---

# Advanced Configuration

### **Custom Channel Settings**

You can customize the Carbon Voice channel behavior by modifying the OpenClaw configuration files. Check the OpenClaw documentation for channel-specific settings.

### **Multiple Agents**

If you have multiple Carbon Voice agents, you can configure multiple channels by running `openclaw channels add` multiple times with different PATs.

### **Logging and Debugging**

To enable detailed logging for the Carbon Voice integration, check the OpenClaw logs:

```bash
openclaw logs
```

This can help diagnose connection issues or message delivery problems.