01What is the OpenClaw 3.31 update?

The OpenClaw 3.31 update is a new free release of the OpenClaw AI agent platform. It focuses on making background tasks visible and controllable, adding new messaging channels, and improving security.

Before 3.31, background jobs ran without any way to see what happened. Now you can track, check, and cancel them. This update makes OpenClaw more reliable for business automation.

02Main features in OpenClaw 3.31

OpenClaw 3.31 brings several key features that improve how you work with AI agents. Here are the highlights.

  • Background task control – See and manage all background jobs in one place.
  • Blocked state persistence – When a task gets stuck, it saves its state and can resume later.
  • QQbot channel – Connect to QQ, a messaging app with over a billion users in China.
  • LINE upgrades – Send images, videos, and audio through LINE natively.
  • Security overhaul – Over a dozen fixes, including exec environment protections and plug-in scanning.
  • Matrix improvements – Room history for context and streaming updates.

03How to get started with OpenClaw 3.31

Setting up OpenClaw 3.31 is straightforward if you already have OpenClaw. Follow these steps to get the new features running.

  1. Update your OpenClaw installation to version 3.31. You can find the update on the official OpenClaw channel.
  2. After updating, check the GitHub issues page for any known problems, especially if you run a production setup.
  3. Use the new terminal commands to manage background tasks: OpenClaw flows list to see what's running, OpenClaw flows show to check a specific job, and OpenClaw flows cancel to stop any background task.
  4. If you use macOS nodes, review your exec tool configurations because some setups may need adjustments after this update.
  5. Test the new channels: connect QQbot and LINE to your agent, and try sending media through LINE.

04How to use the new background task system

The background task system is the biggest change in OpenClaw 3.31. You can now run automations overnight and see exactly what happened in the morning.

For example, if you set OpenClaw to process inbound inquiries or schedule content, you can use the terminal commands to check what worked, what stopped, and what needs your attention. The commands are simple and work both in the terminal and inside the gateway.

When a task gets blocked, it now saves its state. This means if you retry a job, it picks up exactly where it stopped, instead of restarting from scratch or losing context.

05New channel updates: QQbot and LINE

OpenClaw 3.31 adds QQbot as a bundled channel and upgrades LINE support. This is huge for reaching global audiences.

QQ is a messaging app with over a billion users, mostly in China. Now OpenClaw can plug into private chats, group chats, slash commands, and media in and out. If you run an e-commerce or service business with a Chinese audience, this opens a new door.

LINE is huge in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Before this update, LINE was limited – your agent could receive messages but sending media back was clunky. Now, your agent can send images, videos, and audio through LINE natively.

For example, a freelancer managing clients in Southeast Asia can have their agent reply with video walkthroughs automatically.

06Security fixes and what they mean

This release includes a serious number of security fixes – over a dozen. One key fix is exec environment protections. Before 3.31, when OpenClaw ran shell commands, certain variables could be overridden by external input.

Bad actors could redirect where packages get pulled from or reroute outbound traffic. That's now blocked.

Another fix is plug-in install scanning. OpenClaw now fails closed on dangerous plug-ins by default. If a plug-in install looks risky, it stops it.

You have to explicitly override that.

Gateway authentication also got tightened, including shared token configurations, proxy handling, and device session revocation. These matter if you're running OpenClaw for your team or business.

07Matrix improvements and community feedback

OpenClaw 3.31 also improves Matrix, a privacy-first messaging protocol. Now OpenClaw supports room history for context. When your agent gets triggered in a Matrix group chat, it can see the conversation history before it replies.

Plus, streaming is upgraded – instead of sending a new message for every chunk, the agent edits a single message in real time.

The community on r/OpenClaw has flagged that some existing setups may need configuration adjustments after this update, specifically around exec tools on macOS nodes. There's a known issue where updating to 3.28 or later can break node execution even after downgrading. Check the GitHub issues page before updating if you run a production setup.

If the update breaks your setup, you can ask Claw Code or Hermes to fix it – these are other agents you can install for that purpose.

08Tips, limits, and mistakes to avoid

Here are some practical tips and warnings to get the most from OpenClaw 3.31.

  • Check GitHub issues before updating – especially for production setups, to avoid known problems like macOS node execution issues.
  • Review your exec tool configurations – after the update, some setups may need adjustments on macOS nodes.
  • Use the task control commands – don't just set background tasks and forget; check them regularly with 'OpenClaw flows list' and 'show'.
  • Don't skip the security overrides – if a plug-in is blocked, assess the risk before overriding.
  • Test new channels with real scenarios – like sending media through LINE, to make sure they work for your use case.

09Who should use OpenClaw 3.31 and why it matters

OpenClaw 3.31 is for business owners, freelancers, and anyone who uses AI agents for automation. It's especially useful if you run multi-step automations like processing leads, sending reports, or managing content.

The update makes agents more trustworthy because you can now see what they do and control background tasks. With better channels for global audiences and stronger security, OpenClaw is becoming more reliable for real business use.

As Julian Goldie says, this update isn't a massive headline-grabber, but the direction is clear: making agents more dependable. The businesses that win with AI are those that learn the tools and set up automations now.