---
summary: "Slash commands: text vs native, config, and supported commands"
read_when:
  - Using or configuring chat commands
  - Debugging command routing or permissions
title: "Slash Commands"
---

# Slash commands

Commands are handled by the Gateway. Most commands must be sent as a **standalone** message that starts with `/`.
The host-only bash chat command uses `! <cmd>` (with `/bash <cmd>` as an alias).

There are two related systems:

- **Commands**: standalone `/...` messages.
- **Directives**: `/think`, `/fast`, `/verbose`, `/reasoning`, `/elevated`, `/exec`, `/model`, `/queue`.
  - Directives are stripped from the message before the model sees it.
  - In normal chat messages (not directive-only), they are treated as “inline hints” and do **not** persist session settings.
  - In directive-only messages (the message contains only directives), they persist to the session and reply with an acknowledgement.
  - Directives are only applied for **authorized senders**. If `commands.allowFrom` is set, it is the only
    allowlist used; otherwise authorization comes from channel allowlists/pairing plus `commands.useAccessGroups`.
    Unauthorized senders see directives treated as plain text.

There are also a few **inline shortcuts** (allowlisted/authorized senders only): `/help`, `/commands`, `/status`, `/whoami` (`/id`).
They run immediately, are stripped before the model sees the message, and the remaining text continues through the normal flow.

## Config

```json5
{
  commands: {
    native: "auto",
    nativeSkills: "auto",
    text: true,
    bash: false,
    bashForegroundMs: 2000,
    config: false,
    mcp: false,
    plugins: false,
    debug: false,
    restart: false,
    allowFrom: {
      "*": ["user1"],
      discord: ["user:123"],
    },
    useAccessGroups: true,
  },
}
```

- `commands.text` (default `true`) enables parsing `/...` in chat messages.
  - On surfaces without native commands (WhatsApp/WebChat/Signal/iMessage/Google Chat/Microsoft Teams), text commands still work even if you set this to `false`.
- `commands.native` (default `"auto"`) registers native commands.
  - Auto: on for Discord/Telegram; off for Slack (until you add slash commands); ignored for providers without native support.
  - Set `channels.discord.commands.native`, `channels.telegram.commands.native`, or `channels.slack.commands.native` to override per provider (bool or `"auto"`).
  - `false` clears previously registered commands on Discord/Telegram at startup. Slack commands are managed in the Slack app and are not removed automatically.
- `commands.nativeSkills` (default `"auto"`) registers **skill** commands natively when supported.
  - Auto: on for Discord/Telegram; off for Slack (Slack requires creating a slash command per skill).
  - Set `channels.discord.commands.nativeSkills`, `channels.telegram.commands.nativeSkills`, or `channels.slack.commands.nativeSkills` to override per provider (bool or `"auto"`).
- `commands.bash` (default `false`) enables `! <cmd>` to run host shell commands (`/bash <cmd>` is an alias; requires `tools.elevated` allowlists).
- `commands.bashForegroundMs` (default `2000`) controls how long bash waits before switching to background mode (`0` backgrounds immediately).
- `commands.config` (default `false`) enables `/config` (reads/writes `openclaw.json`).
- `commands.mcp` (default `false`) enables `/mcp` (reads/writes OpenClaw-managed MCP config under `mcp.servers`).
- `commands.plugins` (default `false`) enables `/plugins` (plugin discovery/status plus install + enable/disable controls).
- `commands.debug` (default `false`) enables `/debug` (runtime-only overrides).
- `commands.allowFrom` (optional) sets a per-provider allowlist for command authorization. When configured, it is the
  only authorization source for commands and directives (channel allowlists/pairing and `commands.useAccessGroups`
  are ignored). Use `"*"` for a global default; provider-specific keys override it.
- `commands.useAccessGroups` (default `true`) enforces allowlists/policies for commands when `commands.allowFrom` is not set.

## Command list

Text + native (when enabled):

- `/help`
- `/commands`
- `/tools [compact|verbose]` (show what the current agent can use right now; `verbose` adds descriptions)
- `/skill <name> [input]` (run a skill by name)
- `/status` (show current status; includes provider usage/quota for the current model provider when available)
- `/allowlist` (list/add/remove allowlist entries)
- `/approve <id> allow-once|allow-always|deny` (resolve exec approval prompts)
- `/context [list|detail|json]` (explain “context”; `detail` shows per-file + per-tool + per-skill + system prompt size)
- `/btw <question>` (ask an ephemeral side question about the current session without changing future session context; see [/tools/btw](/tools/btw))
- `/export-session [path]` (alias: `/export`) (export current session to HTML with full system prompt)
- `/whoami` (show your sender id; alias: `/id`)
- `/session idle <duration|off>` (manage inactivity auto-unfocus for focused thread bindings)
- `/session max-age <duration|off>` (manage hard max-age auto-unfocus for focused thread bindings)
- `/subagents list|kill|log|info|send|steer|spawn` (inspect, control, or spawn sub-agent runs for the current session)
- `/acp spawn|cancel|steer|close|status|set-mode|set|cwd|permissions|timeout|model|reset-options|doctor|install|sessions` (inspect and control ACP runtime sessions)
- `/agents` (list thread-bound agents for this session)
- `/focus <target>` (Discord: bind this thread, or a new thread, to a session/subagent target)
- `/unfocus` (Discord: remove the current thread binding)
- `/kill <id|#|all>` (immediately abort one or all running sub-agents for this session; no confirmation message)
- `/steer <id|#> <message>` (steer a running sub-agent immediately: in-run when possible, otherwise abort current work and restart on the steer message)
- `/tell <id|#> <message>` (alias for `/steer`)
- `/config show|get|set|unset` (persist config to disk, owner-only; requires `commands.config: true`)
- `/mcp show|get|set|unset` (manage OpenClaw MCP server config, owner-only; requires `commands.mcp: true`)
- `/plugins list|show|get|install|enable|disable` (inspect discovered plugins, install new ones, and toggle enablement; owner-only for writes; requires `commands.plugins: true`)
  - `/plugin` is an alias for `/plugins`.
  - `/plugin install <spec>` accepts the same plugin specs as `openclaw plugins install`: local path/archive, npm package, or `clawhub:<pkg>`.
  - Enable/disable writes still reply with a restart hint. On a watched foreground gateway, OpenClaw may perform that restart automatically right after the write.
- `/debug show|set|unset|reset` (runtime overrides, owner-only; requires `commands.debug: true`)
- `/usage off|tokens|full|cost` (per-response usage footer or local cost summary)
- `/tts off|always|inbound|tagged|status|provider|limit|summary|audio` (control TTS; see [/tts](/tools/tts))
  - Discord: native command is `/voice` (Discord reserves `/tts`); text `/tts` still works.
- `/stop`
- `/restart`
- `/dock-telegram` (alias: `/dock_telegram`) (switch replies to Telegram)
- `/dock-discord` (alias: `/dock_discord`) (switch replies to Discord)
- `/dock-slack` (alias: `/dock_slack`) (switch replies to Slack)
- `/activation mention|always` (groups only)
- `/send on|off|inherit` (owner-only)
- `/reset` or `/new [model]` (optional model hint; remainder is passed through)
- `/think <off|minimal|low|medium|high|xhigh>` (dynamic choices by model/provider; aliases: `/thinking`, `/t`)
- `/fast status|on|off` (omitting the arg shows the current effective fast-mode state)
- `/verbose on|full|off` (alias: `/v`)
- `/reasoning on|off|stream` (alias: `/reason`; when on, sends a separate message prefixed `Reasoning:`; `stream` = Telegram draft only)
- `/elevated on|off|ask|full` (alias: `/elev`; `full` skips exec approvals)
- `/exec host=<sandbox|gateway|node> security=<deny|allowlist|full> ask=<off|on-miss|always> node=<id>` (send `/exec` to show current)
- `/model <name>` (alias: `/models`; or `/<alias>` from `agents.defaults.models.*.alias`)
- `/queue <mode>` (plus options like `debounce:2s cap:25 drop:summarize`; send `/queue` to see current settings)
- `/bash <command>` (host-only; alias for `! <command>`; requires `commands.bash: true` + `tools.elevated` allowlists)

Text-only:

- `/compact [instructions]` (see [/concepts/compaction](/concepts/compaction))
- `! <command>` (host-only; one at a time; use `!poll` + `!stop` for long-running jobs)
- `!poll` (check output / status; accepts optional `sessionId`; `/bash poll` also works)
- `!stop` (stop the running bash job; accepts optional `sessionId`; `/bash stop` also works)

Notes:

- Commands accept an optional `:` between the command and args (e.g. `/think: high`, `/send: on`, `/help:`).
- `/new <model>` accepts a model alias, `provider/model`, or a provider name (fuzzy match); if no match, the text is treated as the message body.
- For full provider usage breakdown, use `openclaw status --usage`.
- `/allowlist add|remove` requires `commands.config=true` and honors channel `configWrites`.
- In multi-account channels, config-targeted `/allowlist --account <id>` and `/config set channels.<provider>.accounts.<id>...` also honor the target account's `configWrites`.
- `/usage` controls the per-response usage footer; `/usage cost` prints a local cost summary from OpenClaw session logs.
- `/restart` is enabled by default; set `commands.restart: false` to disable it.
- Discord-only native command: `/vc join|leave|status` controls voice channels (requires `channels.discord.voice` and native commands; not available as text).
- Discord thread-binding commands (`/focus`, `/unfocus`, `/agents`, `/session idle`, `/session max-age`) require effective thread bindings to be enabled (`session.threadBindings.enabled` and/or `channels.discord.threadBindings.enabled`).
- ACP command reference and runtime behavior: [ACP Agents](/tools/acp-agents).
- `/verbose` is meant for debugging and extra visibility; keep it **off** in normal use.
- `/fast on|off` persists a session override. Use the Sessions UI `inherit` option to clear it and fall back to config defaults.
- Tool failure summaries are still shown when relevant, but detailed failure text is only included when `/verbose` is `on` or `full`.
- `/reasoning` (and `/verbose`) are risky in group settings: they may reveal internal reasoning or tool output you did not intend to expose. Prefer leaving them off, especially in group chats.
- **Fast path:** command-only messages from allowlisted senders are handled immediately (bypass queue + model).
- **Group mention gating:** command-only messages from allowlisted senders bypass mention requirements.
- **Inline shortcuts (allowlisted senders only):** certain commands also work when embedded in a normal message and are stripped before the model sees the remaining text.
  - Example: `hey /status` triggers a status reply, and the remaining text continues through the normal flow.
- Currently: `/help`, `/commands`, `/status`, `/whoami` (`/id`).
- Unauthorized command-only messages are silently ignored, and inline `/...` tokens are treated as plain text.
- **Skill commands:** `user-invocable` skills are exposed as slash commands. Names are sanitized to `a-z0-9_` (max 32 chars); collisions get numeric suffixes (e.g. `_2`).
  - `/skill <name> [input]` runs a skill by name (useful when native command limits prevent per-skill commands).
  - By default, skill commands are forwarded to the model as a normal request.
  - Skills may optionally declare `command-dispatch: tool` to route the command directly to a tool (deterministic, no model).
  - Example: `/prose` (OpenProse plugin) — see [OpenProse](/prose).
- **Native command arguments:** Discord uses autocomplete for dynamic options (and button menus when you omit required args). Telegram and Slack show a button menu when a command supports choices and you omit the arg.

## `/tools`

`/tools` answers a runtime question, not a config question: **what this agent can use right now in
this conversation**.

- Default `/tools` is compact and optimized for quick scanning.
- `/tools verbose` adds short descriptions.
- Native-command surfaces that support arguments expose the same mode switch as `compact|verbose`.
- Results are session-scoped, so changing agent, channel, thread, sender authorization, or model can
  change the output.
- `/tools` includes tools that are actually reachable at runtime, including core tools, connected
  plugin tools, and channel-owned tools.

For profile and override editing, use the Control UI Tools panel or config/catalog surfaces instead
of treating `/tools` as a static catalog.

## Usage surfaces (what shows where)

- **Provider usage/quota** (example: “Claude 80% left”) shows up in `/status` for the current model provider when usage tracking is enabled.
- **Per-response tokens/cost** is controlled by `/usage off|tokens|full` (appended to normal replies).
- `/model status` is about **models/auth/endpoints**, not usage.

## Model selection (`/model`)

`/model` is implemented as a directive.

Examples:

```
/model
/model list
/model 3
/model openai/gpt-5.2
/model opus@anthropic:default
/model status
```

Notes:

- `/model` and `/model list` show a compact, numbered picker (model family + available providers).
- On Discord, `/model` and `/models` open an interactive picker with provider and model dropdowns plus a Submit step.
- `/model <#>` selects from that picker (and prefers the current provider when possible).
- `/model status` shows the detailed view, including configured provider endpoint (`baseUrl`) and API mode (`api`) when available.

## Debug overrides

`/debug` lets you set **runtime-only** config overrides (memory, not disk). Owner-only. Disabled by default; enable with `commands.debug: true`.

Examples:

```
/debug show
/debug set messages.responsePrefix="[openclaw]"
/debug set channels.whatsapp.allowFrom=["+1555","+4477"]
/debug unset messages.responsePrefix
/debug reset
```

Notes:

- Overrides apply immediately to new config reads, but do **not** write to `openclaw.json`.
- Use `/debug reset` to clear all overrides and return to the on-disk config.

## Config updates

`/config` writes to your on-disk config (`openclaw.json`). Owner-only. Disabled by default; enable with `commands.config: true`.

Examples:

```
/config show
/config show messages.responsePrefix
/config get messages.responsePrefix
/config set messages.responsePrefix="[openclaw]"
/config unset messages.responsePrefix
```

Notes:

- Config is validated before write; invalid changes are rejected.
- `/config` updates persist across restarts.

## MCP updates

`/mcp` writes OpenClaw-managed MCP server definitions under `mcp.servers`. Owner-only. Disabled by default; enable with `commands.mcp: true`.

Examples:

```text
/mcp show
/mcp show context7
/mcp set context7={"command":"uvx","args":["context7-mcp"]}
/mcp unset context7
```

Notes:

- `/mcp` stores config in OpenClaw config, not Pi-owned project settings.
- Runtime adapters decide which transports are actually executable.

## Plugin updates

`/plugins` lets operators inspect discovered plugins and toggle enablement in config. Read-only flows can use `/plugin` as an alias. Disabled by default; enable with `commands.plugins: true`.

Examples:

```text
/plugins
/plugins list
/plugin show context7
/plugins enable context7
/plugins disable context7
```

Notes:

- `/plugins list` and `/plugins show` use real plugin discovery against the current workspace plus on-disk config.
- `/plugins enable|disable` updates plugin config only; it does not install or uninstall plugins.
- After enable/disable changes, restart the gateway to apply them.

## Surface notes

- **Text commands** run in the normal chat session (DMs share `main`, groups have their own session).
- **Native commands** use isolated sessions:
  - Discord: `agent:<agentId>:discord:slash:<userId>`
  - Slack: `agent:<agentId>:slack:slash:<userId>` (prefix configurable via `channels.slack.slashCommand.sessionPrefix`)
  - Telegram: `telegram:slash:<userId>` (targets the chat session via `CommandTargetSessionKey`)
- **`/stop`** targets the active chat session so it can abort the current run.
- **Slack:** `channels.slack.slashCommand` is still supported for a single `/openclaw`-style command. If you enable `commands.native`, you must create one Slack slash command per built-in command (same names as `/help`). Command argument menus for Slack are delivered as ephemeral Block Kit buttons.
  - Slack native exception: register `/agentstatus` (not `/status`) because Slack reserves `/status`. Text `/status` still works in Slack messages.

## BTW side questions

`/btw` is a quick **side question** about the current session.

Unlike normal chat:

- it uses the current session as background context,
- it runs as a separate **tool-less** one-shot call,
- it does not change future session context,
- it is not written to transcript history,
- it is delivered as a live side result instead of a normal assistant message.

That makes `/btw` useful when you want a temporary clarification while the main
task keeps going.

Example:

```text
/btw what are we doing right now?
```

See [BTW Side Questions](/tools/btw) for the full behavior and client UX
details.
