Overview

This guide shows you how to connect OpenRouter to iMessage using OpenClaw. You'll configure the messaging channel, set up AI provider authentication, and deploy your assistant.

iMessage Capabilities

Direct messages
Group chats
Media support

OpenRouter Features

Access to 100+ models
Unified billing
Model comparison
Automatic fallbacks

Step 1: Configure iMessage

Ensure you're running macOS with Messages app
Grant Full Disk Access to Terminal/Node
Enable imessage in openclaw.json
Start the gateway
Send a test message to trigger pairing

Step 2: Configure OpenRouter

OpenRouter API key

Create account at openrouter.ai
Generate API key
Set OPENROUTER_API_KEY environment variable

Environment variable: OPENROUTER_API_KEY

Step 3: Combined Configuration

Add both configurations to your openclaw.json:

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "openrouter/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4"
      }
    }
  },
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "openrouter": {
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "openrouter": {
        "apiKey": "${OPENROUTER_API_KEY}
    }
  },
  "channels": {
    "imessage": {
      "enabled": true,
      "dmPolicy": "pairing",
      "allowFrom": ["friend@icloud.com"]
    }
  }
}
}

Step 4: Start and Test

# Start the gateway
openclaw gateway start

# Check connection status
openclaw status

# View real-time logs
openclaw logs --follow

Access Control

iMessage supports the following access control policies:

DM Policies

Policy	Description
`allowlist`	Only senders in allowFrom list are processed
`pairing`	Unknown senders receive a pairing code; admin must approve
`open`	All DMs are processed (requires allowFrom: ["*"])