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Send a fax from OpenClaw

Updated

OpenClaw can send and read faxes for you through the Fax for Agents skill on ClawHub. You describe the fax in plain words. OpenClaw prepares the page, gets a quote, sends it and checks the delivery state in one turn. By default it sends inside the limits your organization set, with no approval per fax. This guide was recorded in Sandbox mode, so nothing reached a real fax line.

Screenshots taken on .

Before you start

  • A Fax for Agents account and an API key. Create the key in the dashboard at app.faxforagents.com. Use an ffa_test_ key for the free sandbox.
  • OpenClaw with the skill installed. Run openclaw skills install @faxforagents/fax-for-agents, then openclaw config set skills.entries.fax-for-agents.apiKey --ref-provider default --ref-source env --ref-id FAXFORAGENTS_API_KEY. Export FAXFORAGENTS_API_KEY in the shell that starts OpenClaw. The config line is needed because the exec tool does not inherit the variable from your shell.
  • A model provider signed in to OpenClaw, for example openclaw onboard --auth-choice openai-api-key. The guide used gpt-5-mini.
  • A short note in the workspace AGENTS.md. Run the skill's REST calls in the same turn, never print the key, never invent an id. OpenClaw reads the workspace files on every turn.
  • The Connected apps switch in Settings is on by default. The default limits are $5.00 per fax and 20 faxes a day.

1.Check the skill

Open a terminal and look at the installed skill.

A terminal after openclaw skills info fax-for-agents: the skill name, description and the workspace source.
Run openclaw skills info fax-for-agents. The skill from ClawHub is installed in your workspace.

2.Open OpenClaw

Start the terminal UI in local mode.

The OpenClaw terminal UI in local mode: the mascot, the header line openclaw tui (local embedded, agent main), the status local ready | idle.
Run openclaw chat. The status row shows local ready | idle and the prompt waits for your message.

3.Describe the fax

Type what the fax should say and where it goes. Name Fax for Agents so the skill is used.

The prompt typed into OpenClaw: With Fax for Agents, prepare a one page fax that says: Invoice 7731 is paid. Thank you. Send it to +1 555 000 0001 with the configured key, and tell me when it is delivered.
Type what the fax should say and where it goes, then press Enter.

4.Send it

OpenClaw does the whole routine itself with the REST calls from the skill.

OpenClaw runs the REST calls with curl and reports the fax to +1 555 000 0001 as delivered with the fax id.
OpenClaw prepares the page, quotes it, sends it and polls the state. It reports delivered with the fax id.

5.Check the evidence

Ask for the delivery evidence when you want the full record.

OpenClaw lists the delivery evidence: sandbox provider, pages sent, the attempt, remote station SBX-OK, the completion time.
Ask for the delivery evidence. OpenClaw lists the pages sent, the attempt, the remote station SBX-OK and the completion time.

6.Read the inbox

Received faxes work the same way. Ask for your inbox.

OpenClaw lists the inbox and prints the text of the newest received fax from +15550000042, two pages.
Ask for your inbox. OpenClaw lists the received faxes and reads the newest one as text.

What the limits mean

Open Settings in the dashboard. The Connected apps card holds the switch "Let connected apps send without asking". Under it are two fields, "Amount per fax, at most" ($5.00) and "Faxes per day" (20). Apps like OpenClaw send inside these limits with no approval per fax. Turn the switch off and every send waits for a person. Finer limits, such as destinations or one app only, live under Policies. See the guide Your assistant sends within limits by default.

Approve every fax instead

  1. In Settings, turn off "Let connected apps send without asking" and choose Save.
  2. Ask OpenClaw to quote the fax. The quote says approval is required.
  3. Say "Ask a person to approve it." A person approves in the dashboard or with the ffa command line, then you tell OpenClaw to send.

The routine is the same as in Approve every fax from Claude Code.

Troubleshooting

  • OpenClaw asks "Shall I send this now?" or "Proceed?" before it acts. Say "Yes, go ahead." It runs the calls in the next turn.
  • OpenClaw says "Sending now" and ends the turn without a fax id. The model narrated instead of acting. Say "Run the REST calls from the skill now and report the fax id and its state." Keep the AGENTS.md line in place.
  • The evidence answer shows pages: null and attempts: null. The model read the wrong field names. Say "Read the evidence object on the fax record: pages_sent, attempt_number and remote_station_id."
  • Every call answers 401 invalid_token although the key is exported. The OpenClaw exec tool does not inherit the variable. Run the openclaw config set skills.entries.fax-for-agents.apiKey line from "Before you start" and start OpenClaw again.
  • OpenClaw asks "sandbox or live" or wants you to paste the key. Say "with the configured key" in your prompt, as in step 3. The skill then uses the configured key.
  • OpenClaw writes a draft file in the workspace instead of sending. A small model skipped the skill. Name Fax for Agents in the prompt and use a model such as gpt-5-mini or larger.
  • OpenClaw says the quote requires approval although you expect a plain send. An owner turned the Connected apps switch off, or the fax is above a limit. Check Settings, Connected apps for your environment.

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