Can I run the Qwen Slack bot from my phone?

Yes — Termux makes it possible to run the Python bot on Android, as long as you keep the app awake and the environment configured correctly.

Do I still need a Slack app?

Yes. The phone is the host for the bot, but Slack still needs an app configured with Socket Mode and bot tokens.

What makes Termux different from a desktop server?

Termux runs inside Android, so you need to manage background permissions, storage access, and a wake lock to keep the phone running the bot reliably.

Run Qwen Code Slack bot on Android with Termux

This guide is similar to Run Qwen Code AI from Slack on your own machine, but it is written for using an Android phone as the server host.

Why use Android Termux?

A phone can act as a cheap local server for your Qwen Code Slack bot. It’s not a replacement for a dedicated machine, but it works well for a private automation workflow if your phone can stay awake and keep Termux running.

I tested this on an older spare phone, and the biggest surprise was how often the app would stop if the wake lock or storage prompt wasn't handled first.

Use this guide when you want:

a local bot without cloud hosting
an Android device as the host for the Python script
a lightweight, mobile-friendly server for Slack Socket Mode

What you need

An Android phone with Termux installed
A Slack app with Socket Mode enabled
Python installed in Termux
The Qwen Code Slack bot repo cloned in Termux
Wake lock permission and storage access granted

I usually do this on a spare device, not my daily driver, so the bot has a clean Termux install and there is less chance of the phone sleeping due to normal use.

Setup the Android host

Install Termux from Google Play, F-Droid, or GitHub.
Open Termux and run:

pkg update && pkg upgrade -y
pkg install python git

Allow storage access:

termux-setup-storage

Keep the phone awake while the bot is running:

termux-wake-lock

If the phone sleeps and the bot goes offline, this is usually the first thing to check. I also keep the device plugged in during long runs so the wake lock doesn't drain the battery.

Clone the bot repo

git clone https://github.com/Fr0z3nRebel/qwen-code-slack.git
cd qwen-code-slack
pip3 install -r requirements.txt
cp .env.example .env

Set QWEN_WORK_DIR in .env to the folder you want the bot to access.

Run the bot on Android

Edit .env with your Slack tokens and any environment values the script needs. Then start the bot:

python3 bot.py

Keep that Termux session open or run the process under termux-services if you want it to survive a disconnect. I often use a terminal multiplexer in Termux so I can reconnect without losing the bot session.

Android-specific troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
`qwen: command not found`	Ensure the PATH in your run script includes `/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin`.
Bot goes offline when phone sleeps	Verify WakeLock is active in the Termux notification.
Service won't start	Run `botlogs` to see if there's a Python syntax error or missing `.env` file. If `botlogs` is empty, check that `.env` is named correctly and that Termux has permission to read it.

Notes on PATH

Termux uses a different filesystem than desktop Linux. If your run script or launcher does not include /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin, the qwen or python3 command may not resolve.

Notes on wake lock

The Termux notification must show an active wake lock. If Android kills the app, the bot will stop even if the script is correct.