--- url: /guides/use-the-telegram-bot.md description: >- Connect the Hule bot to your account, see what is due and close tasks from Telegram, and act on notifications with one tap. --- # Use the Telegram bot Use the Hule bot when you live in Telegram. It: * tells you what is due today; * completes a task with one command; * brings your [notifications](/guides/set-up-notifications) with **Done** and **Open** buttons. The bot is @hule\_the\_project\_stuff\_bot. It works for the tasks [assigned to you](/guides/assign-and-watch-tasks) in all your [workspaces](/concepts/hule-model). ## Before you start You need a Hule account and Telegram; you connect the two once, in the Hule web app. ::: warning Connect in the web app Writing to the bot doesn't connect it, and in the [desktop app](/guides/install-the-desktop-app) the Telegram row says **Connect from the web app**. Use the [**web app**](/guides/install-the-desktop-app#web-app-from-your-browser). ::: ::: warning Don't sign in with Telegram If you already have a Hule account, don't use Telegram on the sign-in page: while Telegram isn't linked, that creates a *new* account. Link it to your account as below; see [Sign-in methods](/guides/manage-your-account#sign-in-methods-add-or-remove). ::: ## Connect the bot 1. In the web app, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar. A menu opens. 2. Choose **User settings**, then open **Sign-in**. The **Telegram** row says **Not connected**. ![User settings, Sign-in: the Telegram row says Not connected and offers the Connect button](/shots/guides/use-the-telegram-bot-1.light.webp){.light-only} ![User settings, Sign-in: the Telegram row says Not connected and offers the Connect button](/shots/guides/use-the-telegram-bot-1.dark.webp){.dark-only} 3. Click **Connect**. A Telegram window asks to let the bot message you. 4. Confirm in that window. "Telegram connected" appears, and the row reads **Connected as** with your Telegram username (or your Telegram ID if you have none). ::: warning "This Telegram account is already linked to another user"? You once signed in with Telegram, which made a second account. Disconnect Telegram there (see [Sign-in methods](/guides/manage-your-account#sign-in-methods-add-or-remove)), then connect it here. ::: 5. In Telegram, open @hule\_the\_project\_stuff\_bot and send: ```text /start ``` The bot greets you, in your Hule [interface language](/guides/manage-your-account#theme-and-language), and lists its commands. ::: warning "Your account is not connected yet"? The bot doesn't know your Hule account yet. Do steps 1–4 in the web app, then send `/start` again. ::: ::: info Every workspace at once Connecting adds Telegram to every workspace you are in. The **Telegram** switch under **Channels** in each workspace's notification settings is on unless you turned it off. ::: ## Due tasks: /today, /overdue, /week Send one of these commands. Each lists the open tasks assigned to you, in all workspaces, sorted by due date: | Command | Shows | |---|---| | `/today` | tasks due today | | `/overdue` | tasks past their due date | | `/week` | tasks due from tomorrow to the end of the week (Sunday); empty on Sundays, use `/today` | Each row shows: * the title; * the due date (the time, for `/today`); * the [task ID](/reference/task-ids), such as `BT-0042`, which is what `/done` takes. The bot shows up to 20 rows; when there are more, it says "Showing the first 20 of …". ::: info A task with no ID A task in a list without task IDs appears without one. Complete it with the **✅ Done** button of its notification, or in the app. ::: ::: tip Forgot a command? Send `/start`: the bot lists every command it knows. ::: ## Complete a task 1. Send `/done` with the task ID from the list: ```text /done BT-0042 ``` The bot answers "✅ Completed:" with the title and where the task lives: its workspace and list. ::: warning Only your own tasks `/done` completes only tasks assigned to you, in a list that has a "done" status. For any other task, open it in Hule. ::: ::: warning "I could not find a task with that key"? Check the ID against the `/today`, `/overdue` or `/week` list. ::: ## Add a task from the chat 1. Send `/new` with the task's text: ```text /new Call the printer tomorrow ``` The bot asks "Where should this go?" and shows your lists as buttons. 2. Tap a list. The bot answers "Task created" with the list and workspace. A day named in the text becomes the due date; see [Add tasks from Telegram](/guides/add-tasks-from-telegram#due-days-in-the-message). ::: info Plain messages are ignored The bot acts only on commands. All of them are in [Telegram bot commands](/reference/telegram-bot-commands). ::: ## Notification buttons Notifications about a task arrive with buttons: | Button | What it does | Then reads | |---|---|---| | **✅ Done** | Marks the task done if it is assigned to you; for anyone else's task the bot answers "I could not find that task among the ones assigned to you", so use **Open**. | **✅ Completed** | | **Open** | Sends a link that opens the task in Hule. | — | | **💤 +1h** | On **Due soon** and **Overdue** notifications only: hides the notification from your Hule [**Inbox**](/guides/set-up-notifications#inbox-where-notifications-wait) for an hour. It comes back there, not in Telegram. | **💤 Snoozed** | Which events notify you, in Telegram and every other channel, is set per workspace under **Events** in [notification settings](/guides/set-up-notifications#events-what-notifies-you). ::: warning No notifications? Check that **Telegram** is on under **Channels** in that workspace's notification settings, and that [quiet hours](/guides/set-up-notifications#quiet-hours-at-night) are not on. If you blocked the bot, unblock it and send `/start`. ::: ### Example: a day in Telegram 1. Kate sends `/today` and gets three tasks, among them "Send the invoice" with the ID `BT-0042`. 2. She finishes another one on the way and sends: ```text /done BT-0041 ``` 3. At 23:30, with the default **Remind me before**, a **Due soon** message for the invoice arrives: it is still open. She sends the invoice, then taps **✅ Done** on the message. The button changes to **✅ Completed**. ## Disconnect the bot 1. Open **User settings** → **Sign-in**. 2. In the **Telegram** row, click **Disconnect**, then **Confirm disconnect**. "Telegram account disconnected" appears, and the bot stops sending messages. ::: warning "Set up email sign-in to disconnect"? Telegram is your only way to sign in. Add an email and password on the **Sign-in** page first (see [Manage your account](/guides/manage-your-account#sign-in-methods-add-or-remove)), then disconnect. ::: ::: tip Disconnect from the chat Send `/unlink` to the bot. ::: ## If it doesn't work * **The bot says "Your account is not connected yet".** Connect it in the web app: **User settings** → **Sign-in** → **Connect** next to Telegram; see [Connect the bot](#connect-the-bot). * **"Failed to open Telegram sign-in window. Please allow popups."** Allow pop-ups for Hule in your browser and click **Connect** again. * **"I do not know that command."** Send `/start` for the list, or see [Telegram bot commands](/reference/telegram-bot-commands). * **"I could not find a task with that key."** Check the ID against the `/today`, `/overdue` or `/week` list; see [Task IDs](/reference/task-ids). * **"That task lives in a list with no "done" status".** Open it in Hule to finish it; see [Statuses](/concepts/statuses). * **"That task is not assigned to you".** `/done` completes only your own tasks. Close it in the app, or ask the assignee; see [Assign and watch tasks](/guides/assign-and-watch-tasks). * **`/unlink` says Telegram is your only way to sign in, or the row says "Set up email sign-in to disconnect".** Add an email and password on the **Sign-in** page first ([Manage your account](/guides/manage-your-account#sign-in-methods-add-or-remove)), then disconnect. * **Notifications stopped after you blocked the bot.** Unblock @hule\_the\_project\_stuff\_bot in Telegram and send `/start`. * **Notifications don't arrive.** Check that **Telegram** is on under **Channels** in that workspace's [notification settings](/guides/set-up-notifications#channels-where-notifications-reach-you), and that [quiet hours](/guides/set-up-notifications#quiet-hours-at-night) are not on. * **The Telegram row says "Connect from the web app".** You are in the [desktop app](/guides/install-the-desktop-app). Open Hule in a browser and connect there; see [Web app from your browser](/guides/install-the-desktop-app#web-app-from-your-browser). ## Related * [Telegram bot commands](/reference/telegram-bot-commands) — the command list. * [Add tasks from Telegram](/guides/add-tasks-from-telegram) — capture a task with `/new`. * [Set up notifications](/guides/set-up-notifications) — choose what reaches Telegram. * [Manage your account](/guides/manage-your-account) — sign-in methods and email. * [Task IDs](/reference/task-ids) — the keys `/done` takes.