- Groups are restricted (`groupPolicy: "allowlist"`).

- Replies require a mention unless you explicitly disable mention gating.

- Normal final replies in groups/channels are private by default. Visible room output uses the `message` tool.

- Visible replies in groups/channels use the `message` tool by default.

Translation: allowlisted senders can trigger OpenClaw by mentioning it.

For group/channel rooms, OpenClaw defaults to `messages.groupChat.visibleReplies: "message_tool"`.

`openclaw doctor --fix` writes this default into configured-channel configs that omit it.

That means the agent still processes the turn and can update memory/session state, but its normal final answer is not automatically posted back into the room. To speak visibly, the agent uses `message(action=send)`.

That means the agent still processes the turn and can update memory/session state, and it should speak visibly with `message(action=send)` when it has a room reply. If the model misses that tool and returns substantive final text, OpenClaw keeps that final text private instead of posting it to the room.

This default depends on a model/runtime that reliably calls tools. If logs show

assistant text but `didSendViaMessagingTool: false`, the model answered

privately instead of calling the message tool. That is not a

Discord/Slack/Telegram send failure. Use a tool-call-reliable model for

group/channel sessions, or set

`messages.groupChat.visibleReplies: "automatic"` to restore legacy visible

final replies for group requests.

privately instead of calling the message tool. The room stays silent, and the

gateway verbose log records the suppressed final payload metadata. That is not

a Discord/Slack/Telegram send failure, but a tool-discipline signal. Use a

tool-call-reliable model for group/channel sessions, or set

`messages.groupChat.visibleReplies: "automatic"` when you want all visible group

replies to use the legacy final-reply path.

If the message tool is unavailable under the active tool policy, OpenClaw falls

back to automatic visible replies instead of silently suppressing the response.

This replaces the old pattern of forcing the model to answer `NO_REPLY` for most lurk-mode turns. In tool-only mode, doing nothing visible simply means not calling the message tool.

Typing indicators are still sent for direct group requests. Ambient always-on room events, when enabled, stay quiet unless the agent calls the message tool.

Typing indicators are still sent for direct group requests. Ambient always-on room events, when enabled, stay strict and quiet unless the agent calls the message tool.

To submit always-on ambient group chatter as quiet room context instead of legacy user requests: