OpenClaw 2026.3.24: Bridge Config Removed, Heartbeat Token Savings, Loop Detection

Breaking Change: Bridge Configuration Removed

If you upgrade to OpenClaw 2026.3.24 and still have a bridge.* section in your openclaw.json file, the gateway will fail to start. The TCP bridge was previously removed from the runtime, and the configuration keys are now officially removed from the schema. To fix this, run openclaw doctor --fix to clean up the configuration automatically, or manually delete the bridge block from your JSON file.

Heartbeat Token Cost Reduction

The release introduces isolatedSession: true for heartbeat configuration. Previously, heartbeat runs accumulated session history across executions, which could increase per-run token costs to approximately 100,000 tokens. With an isolated session enabled, each heartbeat run starts fresh, reducing the token cost to around 2,000 to 5,000 tokens per run.

New Features and Configuration Options

• imageGenerationModel: Pin an explicit image generation provider with fallback support. Supported providers include OpenAI's gpt-image-1, Google Gemini image models, and fal/* models.
• tools.loopDetection: Opt-in circuit breakers for runaway tool loops. Includes three detectors: genericRepeat, knownPollNoProgress, and pingPong.
• channels.modelByChannel: Pin specific channel or topic IDs to a particular model, separate from the session's default model.
• Built-in model aliases: gpt, gpt-mini, gemini, gemini-flash, gemini-flash-lite.
• pdfModel: Route PDF tool calls to a separate model from the session's primary model.

For complete release notes with configuration examples, refer to the official upgrade guide.