OpenClaw supports voice interaction through voice wake and talk mode, allowing you to interact naturally using speech. Voice features are available on macOS, iOS, and Android platforms.

Voice Wake

Voice wake enables always-on speech recognition:

  • Always Listening - Continuously monitors for wake words
  • Hands-Free - Activate Moltbot without typing
  • macOS/iOS/Android - Available on supported platforms
  • Privacy-Focused - Processing happens locally when possible

macOS Voice Wake

On macOS, voice wake integrates with the system:

  • Uses macOS speech recognition
  • Accessible via menu bar app
  • Configurable wake words
  • Background processing

Talk Mode

Talk mode provides two-way voice conversation:

  • Speech Input - Speak your requests naturally
  • Audio Output - Hear responses as speech
  • ElevenLabs Integration - High-quality text-to-speech
  • Natural Conversation - Feels like talking to a person

Platform Support

  • macOS - Full voice wake and talk mode support
  • iOS - Voice features via iOS node
  • Android - Voice features via Android node

Audio Handling

Moltbot handles audio in multiple ways:

  • Voice Notes - Send and receive voice messages
  • Transcription - Automatic transcription of audio
  • Audio Processing - Extract information from audio
  • Media Pipeline - Handles audio files efficiently

Transcription Hooks

Configure transcription hooks to process voice notes:

  • Automatic transcription of incoming audio
  • Process transcribed text as regular messages
  • Support for multiple transcription services
  • Configurable per channel

Configuration

Voice Wake Configuration

Enable voice wake in your configuration:

Voice Wake Config
{
  "voice": {
    "wake": {
      "enabled": true,
      "wakeWord": "hey openclaw"
    }
  }
}

Talk Mode Configuration

Talk Mode Config
{
  "voice": {
    "talk": {
      "enabled": true,
      "provider": "elevenlabs",
      "voice": "default"
    }
  }
}

Use Cases

  • Hands-Free Operation - Control Moltbot while driving or cooking
  • Quick Interactions - Ask questions without typing
  • Accessibility - Voice interaction for users who prefer speech
  • Multitasking - Interact while doing other tasks

Platform-Specific Features

macOS

  • Menu bar integration
  • System-wide voice wake
  • Native speech recognition
  • Background processing

iOS

  • Voice features via iOS node
  • iPhone/iPad support
  • Native iOS speech APIs

Android

  • Voice features via Android node
  • Android speech recognition
  • Background voice processing

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