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Free Setup Guide

How to Set Up Claude Code Channels

Replace OpenClaw. Run on your subscription. Zero API costs. Set up iMessage, scheduled tasks, commands, skills, and memory — everything you need to run a 24/7 AI assistant directly from Claude Code.

Covers iMessage, launchd, commands, skills & memory

The Problem

OpenClaw Is Dead

Three reasons you need to migrate to Claude Code Channels now.

Subscription no longer covers it

As of April 4, OpenClaw is no longer included in the standard Claude subscription. You would need a separate plan to keep using it.

Pay-as-you-go API costs add up fast

Running a 24/7 AI assistant on the API means every iMessage, every scheduled task, every command burns tokens. Those costs compound quickly.

Third-party dependency is risky

OpenClaw is a third-party product with its own roadmap, pricing, and uptime. Claude Code Channels is built into the tool you already pay for.

The good news: Claude Code Channels gives you everything OpenClaw offered — iMessage, Slack, scheduled tasks, commands, and memory — with zero extra cost on your existing subscription.

What Is It?

What Are Claude Code Channels?

Claude Code has a built-in messaging layer that turns your Mac into a 24/7 AI assistant — accessible from iMessage and Slack, powered by your existing subscription.

What you get

iMessage integration — receive and reply from your iPhone
Slack integration — bot responds in any channel or DM
Runs on your Mac, using your Claude subscription
No API keys, no per-message billing
Persistent memory across conversations
Full access to your local filesystem and tools

Channels vs. OpenClaw

Feature	OpenClaw	Channels
iMessage support
Slack support
Scheduled tasks (launchd)
Slash commands
Included in subscription
No third-party dependency
Local tool access (MCP)

Step-by-Step

Setting Up Channels

Four steps from zero to a running iMessage-connected AI assistant.

Install the Claude Code CLI

Install Claude Code globally via npm. You need Node.js 18+ and an active Claude subscription (Max or above).

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Create your CLAUDE.md

This is your assistant's system prompt — personality, platform access, and task inventory. Place it in your home directory or a dedicated project folder.

# My AI Assistant

## Platform Access
- Email: your-email@example.com
- Server: ssh your-server.example.com

## Scheduled Tasks
This Claude instance runs scheduled tasks via launchd.
Key tasks:
- `morning-briefing` — daily briefing at 7:00 AM
- `email-check` — scans inbox every 30 min

## Instructions
Always reply in plain text when responding via iMessage.

Configure settings.json

Enable the iMessage plugin and allowlist your phone number. Settings live at ~/.claude/settings.json.

{
  "plugins": {
    "imessage": {
      "enabled": true,
      "allowFrom": ["+1XXXXXXXXXX"],
      "selfChat": true
    }
  }
}

Enable the iMessage plugin

Run claude once interactively to authorize the iMessage plugin. Grant accessibility permissions when macOS prompts you.

claude
# In Claude: /imessage:configure

Automation

Scheduled Tasks

Use launchd to run Claude on a schedule — no server required.

claude -p

The -p flag runs Claude in non-interactive (prompt) mode. Pass a task as a string and Claude executes it headlessly — perfect for cron-style automation.

launchd plists

macOS launchd is the native scheduler. Each plist defines a job label, the command to run, and a schedule. Lives in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/.

command.md files

Keep task logic out of the plist by passing a --system-prompt-file. Each command gets its own markdown file with step-by-step instructions.

com.claude.morning-briefing.plist

Place in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/, then run: launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.claude.morning-briefing.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>com.claude.morning-briefing</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>/usr/local/bin/claude</string>
    <string>-p</string>
    <string>Run the morning briefing now.</string>
    <string>--system-prompt-file</string>
    <string>~/commands/morning-briefing/command.md</string>
  </array>
  <key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
  <dict>
    <key>Hour</key><integer>7</integer>
    <key>Minute</key><integer>0</integer>
  </dict>
</dict>
</plist>

~/commands/morning-briefing/command.md

Keep task logic here — update without touching the plist.

# Morning Briefing

Run every day at 7:00 AM.

## Steps
1. Check today's calendar events
2. Summarize overnight emails
3. Flag anything urgent
4. Send summary via iMessage

Commands & Skills

Commands, Skills & Memory

The three primitives that make Claude Code a programmable AI assistant.

Slash commands

Any file in ~/.claude/commands/ becomes a /command. Create /daily-standup, /send-report, /check-inbox — anything you run regularly.

SKILL.md structure

Skills are markdown files with a YAML frontmatter block (name + description) and instructions. Claude reads the skill when you invoke it.

Memory system

CLAUDE.md acts as persistent memory across all sessions. Write facts, preferences, and platform access once — Claude reads it every time.

/clear and /compact

Manage context window actively. /clear resets for a new task. /compact summarizes and compresses — essential for long-running sessions.

~/.claude/commands/task.md

Invoke with /task from anywhere in Claude.

---
name: task
description: "Manage tasks in your project management app."
---
# Task Manager

## API
POST https://your-app.com/api/tasks
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

## Workflow
1. List open tasks
2. Create new task with title and due date
3. Mark task complete by ID

Context management tips

# /clear
Clears the current conversation context.
Use when a task is fully complete to start fresh.

# /compact
Summarizes the conversation and keeps only the
essential context — useful for long sessions.

AIA Members: Full Starter Config

20+ pre-built commands, skills, and scheduled tasks for Claude Channels — included with AI Automation Insiders.

What You Can Build

Six automation patterns you can ship in a day with Claude Code Channels.

Email Monitoring

Scan inboxes every 30 minutes. Get iMessage alerts for urgent emails. Auto-draft replies for common requests.

Calendar Management

Morning briefing with the day's agenda. Auto-accept or decline meetings based on rules. Send reminders before calls.

Infrastructure Health

Hourly server checks. Alert on errors or downtime. Weekly health reports delivered to your phone automatically.

Content Creation

Generate daily content ideas on schedule. Draft LinkedIn posts, emails, or scripts and send them for review via iMessage.

Social Media Posting

Schedule posts across platforms via API. Monitor comments and DMs. Report engagement metrics at end of day.

Team Communications

Post daily stand-up summaries to Slack. Route iMessage questions to the right team member. Bridge your channels.

Ready to Set Up Claude Code Channels?

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