OpenClaw for iOS

iOS node app connecting to the Gateway over WebSocket. Exposes Canvas, Screen snapshot, Camera capture, Location, Talk mode, and Voice wake capabilities.

The iOS app turns your iPhone or iPad into an OpenClaw node — a mobile sensor and interaction endpoint that your agent can reach into. It connects to your Gateway over WebSocket (discovered via Bonjour on LAN or Tailscale across networks) and exposes a rich set of capabilities: Camera for on-demand photo capture, Location for GPS coordinates, Canvas for rendering interactive web views, Screen snapshot, Talk mode for voice conversations, and Voice wake for hands-free activation. Unlike using OpenClaw through a messaging channel like Telegram or WhatsApp, the iOS app provides native capabilities that no chat platform can match. Your agent can snap a photo of what's in front of you, get your precise location, or render a custom dashboard — all through node.invoke commands. Push notifications keep you connected even when the app is backgrounded, using a relay-backed APNs system that ensures reliable delivery without exposing raw APNs tokens to the Gateway. The pairing flow uses the standard Gateway device authentication: install the app, let it discover your Gateway (Bonjour for LAN, Tailscale for remote), and approve the pairing request on the Gateway host. Once paired, the app maintains a persistent WebSocket connection and reports its capabilities so the agent knows what tools are available. Currently in internal preview, the iOS app is being refined before public App Store release. Official and TestFlight builds use an external push relay that validates app authenticity via App Attest and app receipts, ensuring only genuine OpenClaw iOS builds can use the hosted relay infrastructure.

Tags: mobile, apple, push-notifications, node

Use Cases

  • Mobile AI assistant with voice — use Talk mode and Voice wake to interact with your agent hands-free while on the go
  • Location-aware automation — agent knows where you are and can trigger context-specific actions (home vs. office routines)
  • Visual input on the go — snap a photo and have your agent analyze it, extract text, or identify objects
  • Remote device monitoring — agent can capture screen state and push notifications to keep you informed
  • Canvas dashboards — render live data visualizations, weather widgets, or task boards directly on your iPhone

Tips

  • Use Tailscale for reliable cross-network connectivity — it handles NAT traversal without port forwarding
  • After pairing, verify the connection with 'openclaw nodes status' and 'openclaw gateway call node.list --params "{}'
  • Enable push notifications to stay connected even when the app is backgrounded — the relay system handles wake-ups automatically
  • Combine Location capability with cron jobs for automated location-based check-ins or geofencing workflows
  • Use Camera capability for quick visual inputs — ask your agent to analyze a document, identify a plant, or read a receipt

Known Issues & Gotchas

  • Currently in internal preview — not publicly available on the App Store yet (TestFlight access required)
  • Bonjour/mDNS discovery only works on the same LAN subnet — for cross-network use, configure Tailscale with DNS-SD
  • If the app retries pairing with changed auth details, the previous pending request is superseded — always run 'openclaw devices list' again before approving
  • Push notifications require the Gateway to have gateway.push.apns.relay.baseUrl configured for official builds
  • Background WebSocket connections may be interrupted by iOS battery optimization — ensure the app has background refresh enabled
  • iOS 17+ is required — older devices on iOS 16 or below are not supported

Community Feedback

Using OpenClaw to control iPhone via iPhone Mirroring — the key thing is making sure Screen Recording permission is granted to the node process running OpenClaw.

— Reddit r/OpenClawInstall

ClawControl on iOS is great for managing agents, cron jobs, and skills in a nicer UI. You can also connect as a node so OpenClaw can control your device.

— Reddit r/selfhosted

Bonjour discovery works flawlessly on the same LAN. For cross-network setups via Tailscale, you need to set up DNS-SD with a unicast domain — not hard but not obvious either.

— Reddit r/OpenClawInstall

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get access to the iOS app?

The iOS app is currently in internal preview. Public App Store release is planned but not yet available. Check the OpenClaw Discord or docs for TestFlight access announcements.

Does the iOS app work over cellular / outside my home network?

Yes, if you use Tailscale to connect your iPhone and Gateway host to the same tailnet. Direct Bonjour discovery only works on the same LAN. For Tailscale, configure DNS-SD with a unicast domain like openclaw.internal.

How do push notifications work?

Official builds use a relay-backed APNs system. The iOS app registers with the relay using App Attest, and the relay returns an opaque handle. The Gateway uses this handle for push delivery. No raw APNs tokens are exposed to the Gateway.

Can I use the iOS app as my primary OpenClaw interface?

The iOS app is primarily a node (sensor/capability endpoint), not a full chat interface. For primary interaction, use a messaging channel (Telegram, Discord) or the WebChat/Control UI. The iOS app adds mobile capabilities on top.

What happens if my iPhone goes to sleep or the app is backgrounded?

The app maintains a background WebSocket connection and uses push notifications for wake-ups. Enable background refresh in iOS Settings for best reliability. Battery optimization may occasionally delay reconnections.

Can the agent access my photo library or other iPhone apps?

The agent can use the Camera to take new photos on demand, but it does not have access to your photo library or other apps directly. It operates within the capabilities exposed by the node: Camera, Location, Canvas, Screen snapshot, Talk, and Voice wake.