OpenClaw Discord proxy fix for REST API timeout issues
If your OpenClaw Discord bot appears connected but can't send messages or run commands, you might be experiencing a proxy configuration issue where WebSocket connections work but REST API calls don't.
The Problem
A user on r/openclaw reported their Discord channel suddenly stopped working. Running openclaw doctor showed "Discord failed" and logs were spamming: "fetch failed UND_ERR_CONNECT_TIMEOUT".
The issue wasn't a broken proxy, but rather that the proxy setting in OpenClaw was sufficient for Discord WebSocket connections but not for REST API requests. This created a situation where the bot looked half-connected but couldn't actually function.
The Solution
Here's what fixed it:
- Keep the Discord proxy configuration in your OpenClaw JSON file
- Create a file at
~/.openclaw/proxy-preload.cjs - Set a global undici proxy in that file
- Start OpenClaw with
NODE_OPTIONS=--require=...to load the proxy configuration
Important Notes
- Use an HTTP proxy, not SOCKS5
- If you update OpenClaw, check whether the bundled undici path has changed
This specific configuration issue can cause Discord to appear connected while REST calls fail silently, preventing message sending and command execution.
📖 Read the full source: r/openclaw
👀 See Also
Workaround for Claude Mobile App Microphone Feedback Loop Error
A Reddit user shares a working workaround for the microphone feedback loop error in the Claude mobile app: installing the web version as a standalone Progressive Web App via Google Chrome, which bypasses the issue and provides access to different Claude models.
5 Patterns for Getting Better Results from Claude (Non-Technical Users)
Practical scaffolding, example-based prompting, negative instructions, persistent context, and source grounding — five patterns that consistently improve output quality from Claude, backed by six months of field experience.
9 Practical Claude Tips from 8 Months of Daily Use (Non-Coding)
A Reddit user shares 9 hard-won lessons from 8 months of daily Claude use for writing and research—not code—covering editing, context management, style setup, and using Claude as a thinking partner.
Essential Custom Instructions for Claude to Prevent Common Annoyances
A Reddit user shares three specific custom instructions to address common Claude annoyances: requiring warnings before destructive commands, preventing mid-answer plan changes, and keeping code blocks exclusively for functional code.