Channel troubleshooting

Use this page when a channel connects but behavior is wrong.

Command ladder

Run these in order first:

fluffbuzz status
fluffbuzz gateway status
fluffbuzz logs --follow
fluffbuzz doctor
fluffbuzz channels status --probe

Healthy baseline:

Runtime: running
Connectivity probe: ok
Capability: read-only, write-capable, or admin-capable
Channel probe shows transport connected and, where supported, works or audit ok

WhatsApp failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Connected but no DM replies	`fluffbuzz pairing list whatsapp`	Approve sender or switch DM policy/allowlist.
Group messages ignored	Check `requireMention` + mention patterns in config	Mention the bot or relax mention policy for that group.
Random disconnect/relogin loops	`fluffbuzz channels status --probe` + logs	Re-login and verify credentials directory is healthy.

Full troubleshooting: WhatsApp troubleshooting

Telegram failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
`/start` but no usable reply flow	`fluffbuzz pairing list telegram`	Approve pairing or change DM policy.
Bot online but group stays silent	Verify mention requirement and bot privacy mode	Disable privacy mode for group visibility or mention bot.
Send failures with network errors	Inspect logs for Telegram API call failures	Fix DNS/IPv6/proxy routing to `api.telegram.org`.
Polling stalls or reconnects slowly	`fluffbuzz logs --follow` for polling diagnostics	Upgrade; if restarts are false positives, tune `pollingStallThresholdMs`. Persistent stalls still point to proxy/DNS/IPv6.
`setMyCommands` rejected at startup	Inspect logs for `BOT_COMMANDS_TOO_MUCH`	Reduce plugin/skill/custom Telegram commands or disable native menus.
Upgraded and allowlist blocks you	`fluffbuzz security audit` and config allowlists	Run `fluffbuzz doctor --fix` or replace `@username` with numeric sender IDs.

Full troubleshooting: Telegram troubleshooting

Discord

Discord failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Bot online but no guild replies	`fluffbuzz channels status --probe`	Allow guild/channel and verify message content intent.
Group messages ignored	Check logs for mention gating drops	Mention bot or set guild/channel `requireMention: false`.
DM replies missing	`fluffbuzz pairing list discord`	Approve DM pairing or adjust DM policy.

Full troubleshooting: Discord troubleshooting

Slack

Slack failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Socket mode connected but no responses	`fluffbuzz channels status --probe`	Verify app token + bot token and required scopes; watch for `botTokenStatus` / `appTokenStatus = configured_unavailable` on SecretRef-backed setups.
DMs blocked	`fluffbuzz pairing list slack`	Approve pairing or relax DM policy.
Channel message ignored	Check `groupPolicy` and channel allowlist	Allow the channel or switch policy to `open`.

Full troubleshooting: Slack troubleshooting

iMessage and BlueBubbles

iMessage and BlueBubbles failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
No inbound events	Verify webhook/server reachability and app permissions	Fix webhook URL or BlueBubbles server state.
Can send but no receive on macOS	Check macOS privacy permissions for Messages automation	Re-grant TCC permissions and restart channel process.
DM sender blocked	`fluffbuzz pairing list imessage` or `fluffbuzz pairing list bluebubbles`	Approve pairing or update allowlist.

Full troubleshooting:

Signal

Signal failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Daemon reachable but bot silent	`fluffbuzz channels status --probe`	Verify `signal-cli` daemon URL/account and receive mode.
DM blocked	`fluffbuzz pairing list signal`	Approve sender or adjust DM policy.
Group replies do not trigger	Check group allowlist and mention patterns	Add sender/group or loosen gating.

Full troubleshooting: Signal troubleshooting

QQ Bot

QQ Bot failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Bot replies “gone to Mars”	Verify `appId` and `clientSecret` in config	Set credentials or restart the gateway.
No inbound messages	`fluffbuzz channels status --probe`	Verify credentials on the QQ Open Platform.
Voice not transcribed	Check STT provider config	Configure `channels.qqbot.stt` or `tools.media.audio`.
Proactive messages not arriving	Check QQ platform interaction requirements	QQ may block bot-initiated messages without recent interaction.

Full troubleshooting: QQ Bot troubleshooting

Matrix

Matrix failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Logged in but ignores room messages	`fluffbuzz channels status --probe`	Check `groupPolicy`, room allowlist, and mention gating.
DMs do not process	`fluffbuzz pairing list matrix`	Approve sender or adjust DM policy.
Encrypted rooms fail	`fluffbuzz matrix verify status`	Re-verify the device, then check `fluffbuzz matrix verify backup status`.
Backup restore is pending/broken	`fluffbuzz matrix verify backup status`	Run `fluffbuzz matrix verify backup restore` or rerun with a recovery key.
Cross-signing/bootstrap looks wrong	`fluffbuzz matrix verify bootstrap`	Repair secret storage, cross-signing, and backup state in one pass.

Full setup and config: Matrix

Overview

Messaging platforms

Configuration

Channel troubleshooting

Command ladder

WhatsApp

WhatsApp failure signatures

Telegram

Telegram failure signatures

Discord

Discord failure signatures

Slack

Slack failure signatures

iMessage and BlueBubbles

iMessage and BlueBubbles failure signatures

Signal

Signal failure signatures

QQ Bot

QQ Bot failure signatures

Matrix

Matrix failure signatures

​Command ladder

​WhatsApp

​WhatsApp failure signatures

​Telegram

​Telegram failure signatures

​Discord

​Discord failure signatures

​Slack

​Slack failure signatures

​iMessage and BlueBubbles

​iMessage and BlueBubbles failure signatures

​Signal

​Signal failure signatures

​QQ Bot

​QQ Bot failure signatures

​Matrix

​Matrix failure signatures

​Related

Command ladder

WhatsApp

WhatsApp failure signatures

Telegram

Telegram failure signatures

Discord

Discord failure signatures

Slack

Slack failure signatures

iMessage and BlueBubbles

iMessage and BlueBubbles failure signatures

Signal

Signal failure signatures

QQ Bot

QQ Bot failure signatures

Matrix

Matrix failure signatures

Related