> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://openclaw.veiseule.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agent Send

# `openclaw agent` (direct agent runs)

`openclaw agent` runs a single agent turn without needing an inbound chat message.
By default it goes **through the Gateway**; add `--local` to force the embedded
runtime on the current machine.

## Behavior

* Required: `--message <text>`
* Session selection:
  * `--to <dest>` derives the session key (group/channel targets preserve isolation; direct chats collapse to `main`), **or**
  * `--session-id <id>` reuses an existing session by id, **or**
  * `--agent <id>` targets a configured agent directly (uses that agent's `main` session key)
* Runs the same embedded agent runtime as normal inbound replies.
* Thinking/verbose flags persist into the session store.
* Output:
  * default: prints reply text (plus `MEDIA:<url>` lines)
  * `--json`: prints structured payload + metadata
* Optional delivery back to a channel with `--deliver` + `--channel` (target formats match `openclaw message --target`).
* Use `--reply-channel`/`--reply-to`/`--reply-account` to override delivery without changing the session.

If the Gateway is unreachable, the CLI **falls back** to the embedded local run.

## Examples

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"min-light","dark":"min-dark"}}
openclaw agent --to +15555550123 --message "status update"
openclaw agent --agent ops --message "Summarize logs"
openclaw agent --session-id 1234 --message "Summarize inbox" --thinking medium
openclaw agent --to +15555550123 --message "Trace logs" --verbose on --json
openclaw agent --to +15555550123 --message "Summon reply" --deliver
openclaw agent --agent ops --message "Generate report" --deliver --reply-channel slack --reply-to "#reports"
```

## Flags

* `--local`: run locally (requires model provider API keys in your shell)
* `--deliver`: send the reply to the chosen channel
* `--channel`: delivery channel (`whatsapp|telegram|discord|googlechat|slack|signal|imessage`, default: `whatsapp`)
* `--reply-to`: delivery target override
* `--reply-channel`: delivery channel override
* `--reply-account`: delivery account id override
* `--thinking <off|minimal|low|medium|high|xhigh>`: persist thinking level (GPT-5.2 + Codex models only)
* `--verbose <on|full|off>`: persist verbose level
* `--timeout <seconds>`: override agent timeout
* `--json`: output structured JSON