iMsg — OpenClaw Skill

What This Skill Does

The iMsg skill gives your OpenClaw agent direct access to iMessage and SMS on macOS through the imsg CLI. Your agent can list recent chats, view full conversation history, watch for incoming messages in real-time, and send texts with optional file attachments. It can target recipients by phone number or Apple ID, and choose between iMessage, SMS, or auto-detection for delivery.

iMsg reads directly from the Messages.app database and sends via AppleScript automation. This makes it lightweight and fast -- there's no separate server to run, unlike BlueBubbles. It's perfect for simple use cases: "text mom I'll be late", "show me my recent messages", or "watch for new messages from this number." The agent always confirms the recipient and content before sending anything.

For more advanced iMessage features like tapback reactions, message editing, and group management, see the BlueBubbles skill. iMsg is the simpler, faster option when you just need basic send/read. For other messaging platforms, check the Discord or Slack skills.

Example Prompts

Show me my 10 most recent iMessage conversations

Text +14155551212 saying "Running late, be there in 20 minutes"

Show me the last 20 messages in my conversation with Mom

Send this photo at /tmp/receipt.jpg to my roommate's number with the message "here's the receipt"

Watch for new messages from +14155551212 and let me know when one arrives

Send "Happy birthday!" to Alex via iMessage specifically, not SMS

Requirements

Binary dependency: imsg

• macOS: brew install steipete/tap/imsg
• Platform: macOS only (requires Messages.app)
• Permissions: Full Disk Access for reading history, Automation for sending

Setup on KiwiClaw

iMsg is available on KiwiClaw plans running on macOS tenant machines. The imsg CLI is pre-installed. Messages.app must be signed in with your Apple ID. Configure permissions in the KiwiClaw dashboard and your agent can read and send iMessages immediately.

Setup Self-Hosted

1. Install iMsg: brew install steipete/tap/imsg
2. Ensure Messages.app is signed in with your Apple ID
3. Grant Full Disk Access to your terminal app (System Settings → Privacy)
4. Grant Automation permission for Messages.app when prompted on first send
5. Test: imsg chats --limit 5 --json

Related Skills

• BlueBubbles -- richer iMessage integration with reactions, edits, and groups
• Discord -- send messages to Discord channels and DMs
• Slack -- post messages to Slack workspaces
• Himalaya -- manage email alongside your messages

FAQ

What can the iMsg skill do in OpenClaw?

The iMsg skill lets your OpenClaw agent list recent chats, view message history for any conversation, watch for incoming messages in real-time, send texts with optional attachments, and choose between iMessage or SMS delivery -- all via the macOS Messages.app.

How is iMsg different from BlueBubbles?

iMsg is a simpler, lightweight alternative for basic iMessage operations. It reads directly from the Messages.app database and sends via AppleScript. BlueBubbles provides richer features like tapback reactions, message editing, and group management via a separate server. See our OpenClaw without Mac Mini guide for more context.

Does iMsg work without a Mac?

No. iMsg requires macOS with Messages.app signed in. It also needs Full Disk Access for reading chat history and Automation permission for sending messages.

Is the iMsg skill safe to use?

The iMsg skill has been security-vetted by KiwiClaw. It always confirms the recipient and message content before sending, never sends to unknown numbers without approval, and all actions are logged.