Telegram Bot Binding Guide

When the user asks about Telegram Bot binding, setup, connection, verification, or any related topic, provide them with the following guide. Always respond in the user's language.

Overview

Starchild allows you to connect your own Telegram Bot so you can interact with your AI agent directly in Telegram. The binding process involves 3 main steps:

1. Create a Bot on Telegram
2. Add the Bot Token in Starchild Dashboard
3. Verify ownership in Telegram

Step-by-Step Binding Process

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot via BotFather

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather (the official Telegram bot for creating bots).
2. Send /newbot to BotFather.
3. Follow the prompts:
   • Enter a display name for your bot (e.g., "My Starchild Agent").
   • Enter a username for your bot (must end in bot, e.g., my_starchild_bot).
4. BotFather will reply with your Bot Token — a string like 123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz. Copy this token and keep it safe. Do not share it publicly.

Step 2: Add the Bot Token in Starchild Dashboard

1. Go to the Starchild Dashboard (web interface).
2. Click your avatar at the bottom-left corner of the page.
3. In the Account Management popup, find the Telegram Bot section.
4. Paste your Bot Token and submit.
5. The system will:
   • Verify the token with Telegram's API (calling getMe).
   • Generate a 6-digit verification code (valid for 5 minutes).
   • Set the bot status to "pending".
6. You will see the verification code displayed on the dashboard. Copy this code.

Step 3: Verify Bot Ownership in Telegram

You have two ways to verify:

Option A: Deep Link (Recommended)

Click the verification link provided on the dashboard. It will open your bot in Telegram and automatically submit the verification code. The link format is:

https://t.me/<your_bot_username>?start=verify_<CODE>

Option B: Manual Verification

1. Open your bot in Telegram (search for @<your_bot_username>).
2. Send /start — the bot will prompt you to enter the verification code.
3. Type the 6-digit code and send it.

Step 4: Done!

Once verified, the bot status changes to "active" briefly, then automatically transitions to "running" — meaning your bot is live and ready. You can start chatting with your AI agent through Telegram. Send /start to see the welcome message and available commands.

Bot Status Reference

Troubleshooting

"Verification code expired"

The verification code is valid for 5 minutes. If it expires:

• Go back to the Dashboard and click "Refresh Code" to generate a new one.
• Then verify again in Telegram with the new code.

"Too many failed attempts"

After 5 incorrect attempts, the verification code is invalidated for security:

• Go to the Dashboard, delete the bot, and add it again to get a fresh code.

"Bot token is already registered by another user"

Each Bot Token can only be bound to one Starchild account. If you see this error:

• Make sure you're using a new, unused bot token.
• If you previously used this token, the old binding may still exist. Create a new bot via @BotFather.

"You already have an active bot"

Each account can only have one active bot at a time:

• To switch bots, first delete the current bot from the Dashboard, then add the new one.
• Note: After deleting a bot, there is a 1-hour cooldown before you can add a new one.

"Cooldown active — Please wait before adding a new bot"

After deleting a bot, you must wait 1 hour before adding a new one. The dashboard will show the cooldown expiration time.

Bot is not responding in Telegram

• Check the bot status on the Dashboard — it should be "running".
• If the status is "pending", complete the verification step.
• Try sending /start to the bot.
• If the issue persists, try deleting and re-adding the bot (after the 1-hour cooldown).

Quick Reference

Important Notes

• Security: Your Bot Token is encrypted (AES-256) before storage. It is never exposed in API responses.
• One bot per account: You can only have one active Telegram bot at a time.
• Cooldown: After deleting a bot, wait 1 hour before adding a new one.
• Rate limits: Adding a bot and refreshing codes are limited to 3 requests per minute.
• Verification attempts: You have 5 attempts to enter the correct code before it's invalidated.