iMessage

Status: native external CLI integration. The Gateway spawns imsg rpc and speaks JSON-RPC over stdio — no separate daemon or port. Private API mode is strongly encouraged for a complete iMessage channel. Replies, tapbacks, effects, polls, attachment replies, and group actions require imsg launch and a successful private API probe.

For the common local setup, OpenClaw setup can offer a user-confirmed Homebrew install or update for imsg on the signed-in Messages Mac. Manual setup and SSH-wrapper topologies remain operator-managed: install or update imsg in the same user context that will run the Gateway or wrapper.

What each page covers

• iMessage setup — install the plugin, set up imsg on the Messages Mac, and grant Full Disk Access and Automation.
• Enabling the imsg private API — the SIP and library-validation procedure, helper injection, and what stays available when SIP stays on.
• iMessage access control and routing — DM and group policy, mention gating, per-group prompts, ACP bindings, and config writes.
• iMessage deployment patterns — dedicated bot macOS user, remote Mac over Tailscale, multi-account, and DM history.
• iMessage media and attachments — attachment ingestion and staging, outbound chunking, and delivery target formats.
• iMessage private API actions — tapbacks, threaded replies, effects, native polls, approval controls, and question reactions.
• iMessage message behavior — split-send DM coalescing and automatic inbound recovery after a restart.
• iMessage troubleshooting — symptom-first fixes and the configuration reference links.

Where each section moved

Every section heading from the previous single-page version keeps its anchor here, so an existing link such as /channels/imessage#troubleshooting still resolves. Each entry points at the page that now holds the content.

• Install the plugin
• Quick setup
• Requirements and permissions (macOS)
• Enabling the imsg private API
• Setup
• When SIP stays enabled
• Access control and routing
• ACP conversation bindings
• Deployment patterns
• Media, chunking, and delivery targets
• Private API actions
• Config writes
• Coalescing split-send DMs (command + URL in one composition)
• Coalescing split-send DMs (command + URL in one composition)
• Inbound recovery after a bridge or gateway restart
• Operator-visible signal
• Migration
• Troubleshooting
• Configuration reference pointers
• Requirements and permissions (macOS)
• Media, chunking, and delivery targets
• Coalescing split-send DMs (command + URL in one composition)
• Local Mac (fast path)
• Install and verify imsg
• Configure OpenClaw
• Start gateway
• Approve first DM pairing (default dmPolicy)
• Remote Mac over SSH
• SSH wrapper sends fail with AppleEvents -1743
• DM policy
• Group policy + mentions
• Sessions and deterministic replies
• Dedicated bot macOS user (separate iMessage identity)
• Remote Mac over Tailscale (example)
• Multi-account pattern
• Direct-message history
• Attachments and media
• Outbound text and chunking
• Addressing formats
• Available actions
• Message IDs
• Capability detection
• Read receipts and typing
• Inbound tapbacks
• Approval polls and reactions
• Question reactions (1️⃣ / 2️⃣ / 3️⃣ / 4️⃣)
• imsg not found or RPC unsupported
• Messages send but inbound iMessages do not arrive
• Gateway is not running on macOS
• DMs are ignored
• Group messages are ignored
• Remote attachments fail
• macOS permission prompts were missed

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