SMS via Twilio: Programmable SMS/MMS
Connect to Twilio for text-based interactions with your own phone number, supporting both SMS and MMS messaging.
What You Will Get
After completing this guide, your OpenClaw agent will send and receive SMS and MMS messages through a Twilio-provisioned phone number. This gives your agent the ability to reach anyone with a mobile phone, regardless of whether they use a smartphone app or have internet access.
SMS remains one of the most universally accessible communication channels. With Twilio as the gateway, your agent gets reliable delivery, carrier-grade infrastructure, and support for multimedia messages including images and short videos. You own the phone number and can port it if needed.
This integration is perfect for appointment reminders, two-factor authentication, customer notifications, and any scenario where you need to reach people who may not use messaging apps. The Twilio channel works alongside your other channels so you can run SMS in parallel with WhatsApp, Telegram, or any other integration.
Step-by-Step Setup
Configure Twilio as an SMS/MMS channel for your OpenClaw agent.
Get Your Twilio Credentials
Log into your Twilio console and locate your Account SID and Auth Token on the dashboard. You will also need a Twilio phone number capable of sending SMS. If you do not have a number yet, purchase one from the Phone Numbers section of the Twilio console.
Add the Twilio Channel
In your RunTheAgent dashboard, navigate to Channels and select Twilio SMS. Enter your Account SID, Auth Token, and the Twilio phone number you want to use. The system will validate your credentials and confirm the connection is active.
Configure the Webhook URL
Copy the webhook URL provided by RunTheAgent after adding the channel. Go to your Twilio console, navigate to your phone number's settings, and paste this URL in the Messaging webhook field for incoming messages. Set the HTTP method to POST. This routes all incoming SMS to your agent.
Set Up MMS Support
Enable MMS in the channel settings to allow your agent to send and receive images, GIFs, and other media. Configure the maximum media size and supported formats. Note that MMS availability depends on the destination carrier and country. Test with a simple image to verify media delivery works.
Configure Reply Behavior
Set up how your agent handles incoming texts. You can configure automatic replies, time-based responses, or keyword-triggered actions. Define a fallback message for cases where the agent cannot process the request. Keep SMS replies concise since the 160-character limit applies per segment.
Enable Delivery Status Tracking
Configure a status callback URL in Twilio to track message delivery. This lets your agent know if a message was delivered, failed, or is still in transit. Use this information to retry failed messages or alert you to delivery issues.
Test the Full Flow
Send an SMS to your Twilio number from any mobile phone. Verify the message appears in your RunTheAgent logs and the agent replies correctly. Test MMS by sending an image. Check delivery status in both the RunTheAgent dashboard and Twilio console to confirm everything is working end to end.
Tips and Best Practices
Keep Messages Short
SMS messages over 160 characters are split into multiple segments, each billed separately. Configure your agent to keep replies concise and within a single segment when possible.
Handle Opt-Outs
Twilio automatically handles STOP and HELP keywords for compliance. Make sure your agent does not send messages to numbers that have opted out, as this can result in carrier penalties.
Use Alphanumeric Sender IDs
In supported countries, you can use an alphanumeric sender ID instead of a phone number. This displays your brand name as the sender, improving recognition and trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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