reading 'trim' | Friends of the Crustacean 🦞🤝 | Page 1

tardy bronze Apr 18, 2026, 11:21 AM

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◇ WhatsApp phone setup
│ Separate phone just for OpenClaw
│
◇ WhatsApp DM policy
│ Open (public inbound DMs)
TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'trim')

[opc@openclaw-vnic ~]$ openclaw gateway status

🦞 OpenClaw 2026.4.14 (323493f) — Your personal assistant, minus the passive-aggressive calendar reminders.

│
◇
Service: systemd (enabled)
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-04-18.log
Command: /usr/bin/node /home/opc/.npm-global/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/index.js gateway --port 18789
Service file: ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw-gateway.service
Service env: OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=18789

Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Gateway: bind=loopback (127.0.0.1), port=18789 (service args)
Probe target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Probe note: Loopback-only gateway; only local clients can connect.

Runtime: stopped (state failed, sub failed, last exit 78, reason 1)
RPC probe: failed
RPC target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
gateway closed (1006):

Service is loaded but not running (likely exited immediately).
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-04-18.log
Logs: journalctl --user -u openclaw-gateway.service -n 200 --no-pager

Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
[opc@openclaw-vnic ~]$ openclaw --version
OpenClaw 2026.4.14 (323493f)
[opc@openclaw-vnic ~]$

true helmBOT Apr 18, 2026, 11:21 AM

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narrow driftBOT Apr 18, 2026, 11:21 AM

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true helmBOT Apr 18, 2026, 11:21 AM

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rapid hollyBOT Apr 18, 2026, 11:26 AM

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This looks like a known WhatsApp setup wizard bug in 2026.4.14, not a bad config on your side. A fix landed right after that release for .trim crashes during WhatsApp setup.

Fastest path:

Update first

openclaw update
openclaw --version

If that still leaves you on 2026.4.14, use:

openclaw update --channel beta
# or
openclaw update --tag main

#

Repair and restart

openclaw doctor --fix
openclaw gateway restart

If you want a manual workaround right now, bypass the wizard:

openclaw config set channels.whatsapp.dmPolicy '"open"' --strict-json
openclaw config set channels.whatsapp.allowFrom '["*"]' --strict-json
openclaw config set channels.whatsapp.selfChatMode false --strict-json
openclaw doctor --fix
openclaw gateway restart

Then link WhatsApp again:

#reading 'trim'