How to Set Up OpenClaw: Complete 2026 Guide

Note: This project has gone through several name changes. It started as Clawdbot, became Moltbot on January 27, 2026 after Anthropic requested a trademark change, then finally settled on OpenClaw on January 30, 2026. The name highlights its open-source nature while keeping the lobster heritage. Same lobster soul, final shell. 🦞

OpenClaw went from a side project to the most talked about AI tool in weeks. Mac Minis are selling out. Developers are automating their entire workflows. And people keep asking the same question: how do I actually set this thing up?

This guide walks you through the complete OpenClaw installation process. Whether you're running macOS, Linux, or Windows, you'll have a working personal AI assistant in about 30 minutes.

What Is OpenClaw and Why Should You Care?

OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot) is an open-source personal AI assistant created by Peter Steinberger. Unlike ChatGPT or Claude's web interface where you visit a website, OpenClaw lives inside the messaging apps you already use.

Send it a message on WhatsApp at 2 AM. Get a response. Ask it to check your email, browse the web, or write code. It does the work while you sleep.

The key differences from traditional chatbots:

Persistent memory. It remembers conversations from last week, your preferences, and ongoing projects. No more starting from scratch every session.

Proactive behavior. It can reach out to you first. Morning briefings, deadline reminders, stock alerts. You define what matters.

Full computer access. Browse websites, fill forms, run terminal commands, manage files. If you can do it on a computer, OpenClaw can do it too.

Self-hosted. Everything runs on hardware you control. Your data stays private.

If you're looking for personal assistants that actually work independently, OpenClaw stands apart from most options on the market.

What You Need Before Starting

Let's cover the requirements before diving into OpenClaw installation.

Hardware Requirements

The specs are surprisingly modest:

• 1GB RAM minimum (2GB recommended)
• 500MB disk space
• Any computer made in the last decade

A dusty laptop from 2018 works fine. A Raspberry Pi 4 handles it well. The popular choice right now is a Mac Mini because it's quiet, energy efficient, and supports iMessage, but it's absolutely not required.

Software Requirements

• Node.js 22 or newer (the runtime that powers OpenClaw)
• Git (for version control, especially on Windows)
• A terminal/command line (Terminal on Mac, WSL2 on Windows, any terminal on Linux)

AI Model Access

You need access to an AI model. Here are your options:

Anthropic API Key (recommended): Pay per token. Opus 4.5 costs $5 input / $25 output per million tokens. Get your key at console.anthropic.com.

Claude Pro or Max Subscription: $20/month (Pro) or $100/month (Max). OpenClaw can authenticate through Claude Code CLI OAuth.

OpenAI API: Works as an alternative, though most users prefer Claude for OpenClaw.

Local Models: Run through LM Studio if you want everything offline. Quality varies compared to cloud models.

For the best experience, the OpenClaw creator recommends Claude Max with Opus 4.5 for long context handling and stronger prompt injection resistance.

Step 1: Install Node.js

OpenClaw runs on Node.js 22 or higher. Here's how to install it on each platform.

macOS Installation

The easiest approach uses Homebrew:

brew install node@22
node --version
npm --version

You should see version 22.x or higher.

Alternatively, use nvm (Node Version Manager):

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
source ~/.zshrc
nvm install 22
nvm use 22

Linux Installation

For Ubuntu/Debian, use NodeSource:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
node --version

Windows Installation

Important: Native Windows support is limited. WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is strongly recommended.

Open PowerShell as Administrator:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

After restart, open Ubuntu from your Start menu and follow the Linux instructions above.

If you must use native Windows, install Node.js from nodejs.org, but expect more issues and less support.

Step 2: Install the OpenClaw CLI

With Node.js ready, installing OpenClaw takes one command.

Option A: One-Line Install Script

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.com/install.sh | bash

This handles everything automatically.

Option B: Manual npm Install

npm install -g openclaw@latest

Or with pnpm:

pnpm add -g openclaw@latest

Verify the installation:

openclaw --version

You should see something like 2026.1.30 or similar.

Step 3: Run the Onboarding Wizard

This is where the magic happens. The OpenClaw setup guide centers around one command:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The --install-daemon flag sets up a background service so OpenClaw keeps running even when you close the terminal.

The wizard walks you through:

1. Gateway configuration (local vs remote)
2. Model and authentication setup
3. Workspace directory (defaults to ~/openclaw)
4. Channel selection (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, etc.)
5. Skills configuration
6. Daemon installation

Let's break down each step.

Authentication Method

You'll see options like:

? Authentication method:
❯ Anthropic API Key (recommended)
  OpenAI API Key
  OAuth (Claude Pro/Max subscription)
  OpenAI Code (Codex subscription)

For API key: Enter your key starting with sk-ant-...

For Claude subscription: Choose OAuth and follow the browser authentication flow.

Model Selection

? Default model:
❯ anthropic/claude-opus-4-5 (best quality)
  anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5 (balanced)
  openai/gpt-4-turbo
  openai/gpt-4o

Opus 4.5 gives the best results but costs more. Sonnet 4.5 is a solid middle ground for everyday use.

Channel Selection

? Which channels do you want to enable?
◉ WhatsApp
◯ Telegram
◯ Discord
◯ Slack
◯ Signal

Select the channels you want to use. You can add more later.

Step 4: Connect WhatsApp (Most Popular Channel)

WhatsApp is the most popular channel for OpenClaw. The setup mirrors how you'd link WhatsApp Web.

Start the WhatsApp Login

openclaw channels login

A QR code appears in your terminal.

Scan the QR Code

1. Open WhatsApp on your phone
2. Go to Settings → Linked Devices
3. Tap "Link a Device"
4. Scan the terminal QR code

That's it. Your OpenClaw WhatsApp setup is complete.

Phone Number Considerations

Recommended: Use a separate phone number for OpenClaw. Get an eSIM or use a spare phone. This keeps your personal WhatsApp separate and avoids any accidental messages.

Alternative: Use WhatsApp Business with a different number on the same device.

Quick testing: You can use your main number, but be careful. Message yourself (the "Message yourself" feature in WhatsApp) for testing instead of accidentally messaging contacts.

Security: The Pairing System

By default, OpenClaw uses a pairing system to prevent unauthorized access.

When an unknown number messages your OpenClaw:

1. They receive a pairing code (like 24K923HX)
2. Their message is NOT processed
3. You approve with: openclaw pairing approve whatsapp [code]
4. Now they're on the allowlist

Check pending requests:

openclaw pairing list whatsapp

This prevents random people from using your assistant.

Step 5: Verify Everything Works

Check the gateway status:

openclaw gateway status

You should see something like:

✅ Gateway listening on ws://127.0.0.1:18789
✅ Model: anthropic/claude-opus-4-5
✅ WhatsApp: connected

Send a test message from your phone:

You: Hello!
OpenClaw: Hello! I'm your personal AI assistant. How can I help you today? 🦞

If it responds, you're done with the basic setup.

Alternative Channels: Telegram, Discord, Slack

Not everyone wants WhatsApp. Here's how to set up other channels.

Telegram Setup

Telegram is often easier than WhatsApp because it has proper bot support.

1. Message @BotFather on Telegram
2. Send /newbot and follow the prompts
3. Copy your bot token
4. During onboarding, select Telegram and paste your token

Or configure manually in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "botToken": "123456:ABCDEF..."
    }
  }
}

Discord Setup

1. Go to discord.com/developers/applications
2. Create a new application
3. Navigate to Bot → Reset Token
4. Copy the token
5. Enable these intents: MESSAGE CONTENT INTENT (required), SERVER MEMBERS INTENT (optional), PRESENCE INTENT (optional)

Enter the token during onboarding or add to config:

{
  "channels": {
    "discord": {
      "token": "your-bot-token"
    }
  }
}

Other Supported Channels

OpenClaw also supports Slack, Signal, iMessage (Mac only), Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, Matrix, and several others. Check the official docs for specific setup instructions.

Running OpenClaw 24/7

For OpenClaw to message you proactively, send morning briefings, or always be available, it needs to run continuously.

Option 1: Mac Mini Setup (Popular Choice)

The OpenClaw Mac Mini setup has become the standard approach. A base Mac Mini ($599) runs silently, uses minimal power, and handles everything OpenClaw needs.

Configure your Mac to:

• Disable sleep in System Preferences
• Enable automatic login
• Start OpenClaw on boot (the daemon handles this)

Some users have gone further, with one developer setting up 12 Mac Minis for different agents.

Option 2: VPS Hosting ($5/month)

Don't have spare hardware? A Virtual Private Server works great.

Providers like Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or Linode offer servers starting at $4 to 5 per month. The cheapest tier with 2GB RAM handles basic chat. For browser automation skills, choose 4GB or more.

After creating your VPS, SSH in and follow the standard installation steps.

Option 3: Old Hardware

That dusty laptop from 2018? Perfect. A Raspberry Pi 4? Also works.

Set it to:

• Disable sleep
• Auto-login on boot
• Keep it plugged in

You get iMessage support on old Macs, which isn't available on Linux or VPS.

Essential Commands Reference

Here are the commands you'll use most often:

# Gateway management
openclaw gateway status          # Check if running
openclaw gateway restart         # Restart the gateway
openclaw gateway stop            # Stop the gateway
openclaw logs --follow           # View live logs

# Channel management
openclaw channels status         # List all channels
openclaw channels login          # Login to WhatsApp
openclaw channels logout         # Logout from WhatsApp

# Pairing
openclaw pairing list whatsapp   # See pending approvals
openclaw pairing approve whatsapp [code]  # Approve a request

# Health and diagnostics
openclaw doctor                  # Run diagnostics
openclaw status --all            # Full status report
openclaw health                  # Quick health check

# Configuration
openclaw configure               # Open config wizard
openclaw configure --section web # Configure web search

Configuration Files Explained

After setup, you'll have these files in ~/.openclaw/:

~/.openclaw/
├── openclaw.json           # Main configuration
├── credentials/
│   ├── oauth.json          # OAuth tokens
│   └── whatsapp/
│       └── default/
│           └── creds.json  # WhatsApp session
└── agents/
    └── main/
        └── agent/
            └── auth-profiles.json  # API keys

Your workspace lives in ~/openclaw/ by default, containing:

• SOUL.md (your bot's personality)
• MEMORY.md (persistent memory)
• Skills folders

Installing Skills

Skills extend what OpenClaw can do. The skills marketplace is called MoltHub.

Popular skills include:

• Web research: Summarize articles, pull data from sites
• Browser automation: Control headless Chrome, fill forms
• Email and calendar: Check schedule, draft emails
• Developer tools: Run commands, check logs

During onboarding, you'll see eligible skills:

│ ◇ Skills status ────────────╮
│ │                           │
│ │ Eligible: 10              │
│ │ Missing requirements: 39  │
│ │ Blocked by allowlist: 0   │
│ │                           │
├────────────────────────────╯

Choose "Yes" to configure skills, or add them later.

Want to explore other tools that complement OpenClaw? Browse our AI tools directory to find automation tools, productivity assistants, and integrations that work with your personal AI setup.

Common Issues and Fixes

"Gateway closed (1006 abnormal closure)"

The gateway failed to start. Check:

openclaw logs --follow

Common causes:

• Missing auth configuration
• Port already in use
• Missing Control UI assets

Try:

openclaw gateway restart

WhatsApp QR Code Keeps Refreshing

Make sure you're scanning quickly. The QR expires in 60 seconds.

If it keeps failing:

openclaw channels logout
openclaw channels login

"npm error spawn git / git not found" (Windows)

Install Git for Windows and ensure it's on your PATH. Close and reopen PowerShell, then try again.

"openclaw is not recognized" (Windows)

Your npm global bin folder isn't on PATH. Find it:

npm config get prefix

Add the bin folder to your system PATH.

Discord Error 4014

Your bot needs privileged intents enabled. Go to:

1. discord.com/developers/applications
2. Select your app → Bot
3. Enable MESSAGE CONTENT INTENT

Slow Responses

Try a faster model. Switch from Opus to Sonnet for quicker replies on less complex tasks:

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5"
      }
    }
  }
}

Memory Keeps Forgetting

Check your MEMORY.md file in the workspace. OpenClaw stores extracted information there. If it's empty or getting reset, verify workspace permissions and that the agent has write access.

Security Best Practices

OpenClaw has shell access to your computer. This is powerful but requires caution.

Run on dedicated hardware. Don't run it on your main work machine with sensitive files.

Use pairing mode. Keep dmPolicy: "pairing" so unknown contacts can't access your assistant.

Sandbox when possible. Enable sandbox mode for non-main sessions:

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "sandbox": {
        "mode": "non-main"
      }
    }
  }
}

Keep credentials separate. Don't give OpenClaw access to accounts with saved payment methods unless absolutely necessary.

Regular backups. Back up your ~/.openclaw folder and workspace before major updates.

Enable authentication. Make sure your web dashboard has authentication enabled, and consider running behind a firewall or VPN.

What Can You Do With OpenClaw?

Once running, the possibilities are substantial. Here's what people are actually building:

Morning briefings: Calendar summary, important emails, relevant news, all delivered at 8 AM without asking.

Inbox automation: Unsubscribe from newsletters, categorize emails, draft responses.

Flight check-in: Automatic check-in when the window opens.

Research assistant: Summarize articles, pull data from multiple sources, compile reports.

Code companion: Review pull requests, debug issues, write documentation.

Smart home control: Integrate with Home Assistant, control devices via conversation.

Memory vault: One user transcribed 1,000+ voice messages from WhatsApp and made them searchable.

The common thread: if a human can do it on a computer, you can probably describe it to OpenClaw and it will figure it out.

Updating OpenClaw

The project moves fast. Updates happen almost daily.

Check your version:

openclaw --version

Update to latest:

openclaw update --channel stable

For beta features:

openclaw update --channel beta

After updating, run diagnostics:

openclaw doctor

Cost Breakdown

Here's what OpenClaw actually costs:

Hardware: $0 (existing computer) to $599+ (new Mac Mini)

VPS alternative: $4 to 5 per month

AI model: This is your main ongoing cost

• Anthropic API: Pay per use, typically $20 to 200 per month depending on usage
• Claude Max subscription: $100/month (essentially unlimited for most users)
• Claude Pro subscription: $20/month (with usage limits)

Heavy users like Federico Viticci burned through 180 million tokens in the first week of experimenting. Light users might spend $10 to 20 per month.

Learning More

The OpenClaw tutorial you just read covers the fundamentals. For deeper learning:

Official Website: openclaw.com

GitHub Repository: github.com/openclaw/openclaw

Discord Community: Active community with OpenClaw instances answering questions. Bugs often get fixed while you're still reporting them.

SOUL.md: Your bot's personality file. Edit this to change how it responds and behaves.

MoltHub: Skills marketplace for extending capabilities.

Getting Started Today

You now know how to set up OpenClaw from scratch. The whole OpenClaw getting started process takes about 30 minutes for basic functionality.

Here's your action plan:

1. Install Node.js 22+
2. Run curl -fsSL https://openclaw.com/install.sh | bash
3. Run openclaw onboard --install-daemon
4. Get your Anthropic API key at console.anthropic.com
5. Connect WhatsApp by scanning the QR code
6. Send your first message

That's it. You have a personal AI assistant that lives in your messaging apps, remembers your conversations, and actually gets things done.

The install OpenClaw process might seem technical, but the wizard handles most complexity. And once it's running, you control it through natural conversation, the same way you'd text a friend.

Welcome to 2026. Your personal AI assistant is waiting.