Update version to 0.1.41 and enhance integration with voice mode fixes, gateway connection status, and updated documentation

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 All notable changes to the OpenClaw Home Assistant Integration will be documented in this file.
 
+## [0.1.41] - 2026-02-20
+
+### Fixed
+- Fixed voice-mode option sync so wake-word enabled/disabled changes are reloaded before toggling voice mode.
+- Removed legacy always-on voice mode behavior that could force sticky voice-mode state.
+- Added live gateway connection badge to the chat card header using existing OpenClaw status entities.
+
+### Changed
+- Removed "Always-on voice mode" option from integration options UI and translations.
+
 ## [0.1.40] - 2026-02-20
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -28,15 +28,17 @@ OpenClaw is a Home Assistant custom integration that connects your HA instance t
   - `openclaw_message_received`
   - `openclaw_tool_invoked`
 - **Sensors / status entities** for model and connection state
+  - Includes tool telemetry sensors (`Last Tool`, `Last Tool Status`, `Last Tool Duration`, `Last Tool Invoked`)
 
 ---
 
 ## Requirements
 
-- Home Assistant with Supervisor support for addon discovery
+- Home Assistant Core `2025.1.0+` (declared minimum)
+- Supervisor is optional (used for auto-discovery)
 - OpenClaw Assistant addon installed and running
 
-The integration auto-detects the addon. You do not need to manually set an API base URL.
+The integration can auto-detect the addon when Supervisor is available. You can always configure host/port/token manually.
 
 ---
 
@@ -73,6 +75,8 @@ The integration auto-detects the addon. You do not need to manually set an API b
 
 The card is registered automatically by the integration.
 
+The card header shows live gateway state (`Online` / `Offline`) using existing OpenClaw status entities.
+
 ```yaml
 type: custom:openclaw-chat-card
 title: OpenClaw Chat
@@ -125,7 +129,6 @@ When enabled, OpenClaw tool-call responses can execute Home Assistant services.
 
 - **Wake word enabled**
 - **Wake word** (default: `hey openclaw`)
-- **Always voice mode** (continuous listening while card is open)
 - **Voice input provider** (`browser` or `assist_stt`)
 
 ### Voice provider usage
@@ -138,7 +141,7 @@ When enabled, OpenClaw tool-call responses can execute Home Assistant services.
 - **`assist_stt`**
   - Uses Home Assistant STT provider via `/api/stt/<provider>`.
   - Intended for manual mic input (press mic, speak, auto-stop, transcribe, send).
-  - Continuous voice mode is not used in this provider.
+  - If continuous Voice Mode is enabled while this provider is selected, the card uses browser speech for continuous listening.
 
 For `assist_stt`, make sure an STT engine is configured in **Settings → Voice assistants**.
 
@@ -291,6 +294,11 @@ action:
 - For `browser`: open browser console for `OpenClaw: Speech recognition error`; repeated `network` usually means browser speech backend failure
 - For `assist_stt`: check network calls to `/api/stt/<provider>` and verify Home Assistant Voice/STT provider is configured
 
+### Tool sensors show `Unknown`
+
+- `Last Tool*` sensors stay `Unknown` until at least one `openclaw.invoke_tool` service call has executed.
+- `Session Count` remains `0` if gateway policy blocks `sessions_list` for `/tools/invoke`.
+
 ### Responses do not appear after sending
 
 - Verify `openclaw_message_received` is being fired in Developer Tools → Events

custom_components/openclaw/__init__.py

@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ from .const import (
     CONF_INCLUDE_EXPOSED_CONTEXT,
     CONF_WAKE_WORD,
     CONF_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED,
-    CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
     CONF_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,
     CONF_VOICE_PROVIDER,
     CONTEXT_STRATEGY_TRUNCATE,
@@ -67,7 +66,6 @@ from .const import (
     DEFAULT_INCLUDE_EXPOSED_CONTEXT,
     DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD,
     DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED,
-    DEFAULT_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
     DEFAULT_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,
     DEFAULT_VOICE_PROVIDER,
     DOMAIN,
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ _CARD_PATH = Path(__file__).parent / "www" / _CARD_FILENAME
 # URL at which the card JS is served (registered via register_static_path)
 _CARD_STATIC_URL = f"/openclaw/{_CARD_FILENAME}"
 # Versioned URL used for Lovelace resource registration to avoid stale browser cache
-_CARD_URL = f"{_CARD_STATIC_URL}?v=0.1.40"
+_CARD_URL = f"{_CARD_STATIC_URL}?v=0.1.41"
 
 OpenClawConfigEntry = ConfigEntry
 
@@ -802,10 +800,6 @@ def _async_register_websocket_api(hass: HomeAssistant) -> None:
                     DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED,
                 ),
                 CONF_WAKE_WORD: options.get(CONF_WAKE_WORD, DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD),
-                CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE: options.get(
-                    CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
-                    DEFAULT_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
-                ),
                 CONF_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH: options.get(
                     CONF_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,
                     DEFAULT_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,

custom_components/openclaw/config_flow.py

@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ from .const import (
     CONF_INCLUDE_EXPOSED_CONTEXT,
     CONF_WAKE_WORD,
     CONF_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED,
-    CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
     CONF_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,
     CONF_VOICE_PROVIDER,
     CONTEXT_STRATEGY_CLEAR,
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ from .const import (
     DEFAULT_INCLUDE_EXPOSED_CONTEXT,
     DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD,
     DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED,
-    DEFAULT_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
     DEFAULT_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,
     DEFAULT_VOICE_PROVIDER,
     DOMAIN,
@@ -462,13 +460,6 @@ class OpenClawOptionsFlow(OptionsFlow):
                             DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD,
                         ),
                     ): str,
-                    vol.Optional(
-                        CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
-                        default=options.get(
-                            CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
-                            DEFAULT_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE,
-                        ),
-                    ): bool,
                     vol.Optional(
                         CONF_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH,
                         default=options.get(

custom_components/openclaw/const.py

@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ CONF_CONTEXT_STRATEGY = "context_strategy"
 CONF_ENABLE_TOOL_CALLS = "enable_tool_calls"
 CONF_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED = "wake_word_enabled"
 CONF_WAKE_WORD = "wake_word"
-CONF_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE = "always_voice_mode"
 CONF_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH = "allow_brave_webspeech"
 CONF_VOICE_PROVIDER = "voice_provider"
 
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@ DEFAULT_CONTEXT_STRATEGY = "truncate"
 DEFAULT_ENABLE_TOOL_CALLS = False
 DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD_ENABLED = False
 DEFAULT_WAKE_WORD = "hey openclaw"
-DEFAULT_ALWAYS_VOICE_MODE = False
 DEFAULT_ALLOW_BRAVE_WEBSPEECH = False
 DEFAULT_VOICE_PROVIDER = "browser"
 

custom_components/openclaw/manifest.json

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   "iot_class": "local_polling",
   "issue_tracker": "https://github.com/techartdev/OpenClawHomeAssistant/issues",
   "requirements": [],
-  "version": "0.1.40",
+  "version": "0.1.41",
   "dependencies": ["conversation"],
   "after_dependencies": ["hassio", "lovelace"]
 }

custom_components/openclaw/strings.json

@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
           "enable_tool_calls": "Enable tool calls (execute services)",
           "wake_word_enabled": "Require wake word",
           "wake_word": "Wake word",
-          "always_voice_mode": "Always-on voice mode",
           "allow_brave_webspeech": "Allow Web Speech in Brave (experimental)",
           "voice_provider": "Voice input provider (browser or HA STT)"
         }

custom_components/openclaw/translations/en.json

@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
           "enable_tool_calls": "Enable tool calls (execute services)",
           "wake_word_enabled": "Require wake word",
           "wake_word": "Wake word",
-          "always_voice_mode": "Always-on voice mode",
           "allow_brave_webspeech": "Allow Web Speech in Brave (experimental)",
           "voice_provider": "Voice input provider (browser or HA STT)"
         }

custom_components/openclaw/www/openclaw-chat-card.js

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  * + subscribes to openclaw_message_received events.
  */
 
-const CARD_VERSION = "0.3.4";
+const CARD_VERSION = "0.3.5";
 
 // Max time (ms) to show the thinking indicator before falling back to an error
 const THINKING_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000;
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
     this._historySyncRetryTimer = null;
     this._wakeWordEnabled = false;
     this._wakeWord = "hey openclaw";
-    this._alwaysVoiceMode = false;
     this._voiceStatus = "";
     this._voiceRetryTimer = null;
     this._voiceRetryCount = 0;
@@ -123,8 +122,24 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
       this._subscribeToEvents();
       this._syncHistoryFromBackend();
       this._loadIntegrationSettings();
-      this._render();
     }
+    this._render();
+  }
+
+  _getGatewayConnectionState() {
+    const statusEntity = this._hass?.states?.["sensor.openclaw_status"];
+    const binaryEntity = this._hass?.states?.["binary_sensor.openclaw_connected"];
+    const status = String(statusEntity?.state || "").toLowerCase();
+    const connected = String(binaryEntity?.state || "").toLowerCase() === "on";
+
+    if (connected || status === "online") {
+      return { label: "Online", css: "online" };
+    }
+    if (status === "offline" || String(binaryEntity?.state || "").toLowerCase() === "off") {
+      return { label: "Offline", css: "offline" };
+    }
+
+    return { label: "Unknown", css: "unknown" };
   }
 
   getCardSize() {
@@ -321,7 +336,7 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
     }
   }
 
-  async _loadIntegrationSettings() {
+  async _loadIntegrationSettings(includePipeline = true) {
     if (!this._hass) return;
 
     try {
@@ -336,7 +351,6 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
 
       this._wakeWordEnabled = !!result?.wake_word_enabled;
       this._wakeWord = (result?.wake_word || "hey openclaw").toString().trim().toLowerCase();
-      this._alwaysVoiceMode = !!result?.always_voice_mode;
       this._allowBraveWebSpeechIntegration = !!result?.allow_brave_webspeech;
       this._voiceProviderIntegration =
         result?.voice_provider === "assist_stt" ? "assist_stt" : "browser";
@@ -344,7 +358,8 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
         ? this._normalizeSpeechLanguage(result.language)
         : null;
 
-      try {
+      if (includePipeline) {
+        try {
         let pipelineResult;
         if (typeof this._hass.callWS === "function") {
           pipelineResult = await this._hass.callWS({ type: "assist_pipeline/pipeline/list" });
@@ -372,13 +387,9 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
         if (ttsLanguage) {
           this._integrationTtsLanguage = this._normalizeSpeechLanguage(ttsLanguage);
         }
-      } catch (pipelineErr) {
+        } catch (pipelineErr) {
-        console.debug("OpenClaw: assist pipeline language detection skipped:", pipelineErr);
+          console.debug("OpenClaw: assist pipeline language detection skipped:", pipelineErr);
-      }
+        }
-
-      if (this._alwaysVoiceMode && !this._isVoiceMode) {
-        this._isVoiceMode = true;
-        this._startVoiceRecognition();
       }
       this._render();
     } catch (err) {
@@ -1162,7 +1173,8 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
     }, delayMs);
   }
 
-  _toggleVoiceMode() {
+  async _toggleVoiceMode() {
+    await this._loadIntegrationSettings(false);
     this._isVoiceMode = !this._isVoiceMode;
     if (this._isVoiceMode) {
       this._startVoiceRecognition();
@@ -1303,6 +1315,7 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
       .join("");
 
     const voiceActive = this._recognition !== null;
+    const gatewayState = this._getGatewayConnectionState();
 
     this.shadowRoot.innerHTML = `
       <style>
@@ -1332,6 +1345,24 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
           font-weight: 500;
           color: var(--oc-text);
         }
+        .header-title {
+          display: flex;
+          align-items: center;
+          gap: 10px;
+        }
+        .gateway-status {
+          font-size: 11px;
+          border: 1px solid var(--oc-border);
+          border-radius: 999px;
+          padding: 2px 8px;
+          color: var(--oc-text-secondary);
+        }
+        .gateway-status.online {
+          color: #10b981;
+        }
+        .gateway-status.offline {
+          color: #ef4444;
+        }
         .header-actions {
           display: flex;
           gap: 8px;
@@ -1503,7 +1534,10 @@ class OpenClawChatCard extends HTMLElement {
 
       <ha-card>
         <div class="header">
-          <h3>${this._escapeHtml(config.title)}</h3>
+          <div class="header-title">
+            <h3>${this._escapeHtml(config.title)}</h3>
+            <span class="gateway-status ${gatewayState.css}">Gateway: ${gatewayState.label}</span>
+          </div>
           <div class="header-actions">
             ${
               config.show_voice_button

www/openclaw-chat-card.js

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 (async () => {
   try {
     if (!customElements.get("openclaw-chat-card")) {
-      const src = "/openclaw/openclaw-chat-card.js?v=0.1.40";
+      const src = "/openclaw/openclaw-chat-card.js?v=0.1.41";
       console.info("OpenClaw loader importing", src);
       await import(src);
     }