How to Install OpenClaw: Complete Step-by-Step Installation Guide 2026

Introduction

Installing OpenClaw is straightforward, with multiple methods to suit different preferences and technical comfort levels. Whether you want a quick one-liner install, prefer npm, or want to build from source, this guide covers all options.

This guide covers installation on macOS, Windows, and Linux. For platform-specific details, see our dedicated guides:

Prerequisites

Before installing OpenClaw, ensure you have:

Node.js 18+ — Required for running OpenClaw (the one-liner installer handles this automatically)
Terminal Access — Command line interface on your system
Internet Connection — For downloading packages and dependencies
2GB+ RAM — Recommended for smooth operation

The one-liner installer will automatically install Node.js if it’s not already present, so you can proceed even if you don’t have Node.js installed.

Installation Methods

Method 1: One-Liner Install (Recommended)

The fastest way to get OpenClaw running is the one-liner installer. It handles Node.js installation and all dependencies automatically.

macOS / Linux

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

This script will:

Check for Node.js (install if missing)
Install OpenClaw globally via npm
Set up necessary permissions
Verify the installation

After installation completes, you’ll see:

✓ OpenClaw installed successfully!
  Run 'openclaw onboard' to get started.

Windows (PowerShell)

irm https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Or using the npm method (see below) which works identically on Windows.

Method 2: npm Install

If you already have Node.js installed, you can install OpenClaw directly via npm:

npm i -g openclaw

This installs OpenClaw globally, making the openclaw command available system-wide.

Using pnpm:

pnpm add -g openclaw

Using yarn:

yarn global add openclaw

Method 3: Hackable Install (From Source)

For developers who want to modify the source code or contribute, you can build OpenClaw from source:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm run build

Then run OpenClaw using:

pnpm run openclaw onboard

Or link it globally:

pnpm link --global

This method gives you full control over the codebase and makes it easy to customize OpenClaw for your needs.

Method 4: macOS Companion App (Beta)

For macOS users, there’s a companion menubar app that provides a GUI interface alongside the CLI:

Download from GitHub Releases
Open the .dmg file
Drag OpenClaw to Applications
Launch from Applications or Spotlight

The companion app works alongside the CLI installation and provides:

Menubar access
Visual status indicators
Quick settings access
Log viewer

Requirements:

macOS 14+ (Sonoma or later)
Universal Binary (works on Apple Silicon and Intel)

System Requirements

macOS

macOS 13 Ventura or later
Node.js 18+ (auto-installed by one-liner)
2GB+ RAM recommended
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel processor

Windows

Windows 10 or Windows 11
Node.js 18+
PowerShell 5.1+ or Windows Terminal
WSL2 recommended for best experience

Linux

Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora 34+, or similar
Node.js 18+
2GB+ RAM
ARM64 or x86_64 architecture
Raspberry Pi 4+ supported

Post-Installation Setup

After installation, you need to configure OpenClaw before using it. Run the onboarding command:

openclaw onboard

This interactive setup will guide you through:

1. AI Model Selection

Choose your AI provider:

Anthropic Claude — Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 3 Opus, Claude 4
OpenAI GPT — GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4.1
Local Models — Ollama, LM Studio, MiniMax

You’ll need API keys for cloud models. For Claude, get your key from console.anthropic.com. For OpenAI, get your key from platform.openai.com.

2. Persona Configuration

Set up your AI’s personality:

Name (default: “Lobster”)
Tone and style
Capabilities and limitations
Response preferences

3. Memory Setup

Configure persistent memory:

Storage location
Memory retention policies
Context window size

4. Initial Skills

Select default skills to enable:

Email management
Calendar integration
Browser control
File system access

Verifying Installation

After installation, verify everything works:

openclaw --version

You should see the version number (e.g., v1.0.0).

Test the installation:

openclaw test

This runs a quick diagnostic to ensure all components are working correctly.

Connecting Chat Apps

Once OpenClaw is installed and configured, connect your chat apps:

openclaw integrations

This opens an interactive menu to set up:

WhatsApp
Telegram
Discord
Slack
iMessage
Other platforms

For detailed setup guides, see:

Starting OpenClaw

To start the OpenClaw server:

openclaw

This starts the local server and connects all configured integrations. You’ll see status messages indicating which chat apps are connected.

To run in the background:

openclaw start --daemon

Or use a process manager like pm2:

npm i -g pm2
pm2 start openclaw
pm2 save
pm2 startup

Troubleshooting

Installation Fails

If the one-liner installer fails:

Check Node.js version:
```
node --version
```
Should be v18 or higher.
Try npm install directly:
```
npm i -g openclaw
```
Check permissions:
```
sudo npm i -g openclaw
```
(macOS/Linux only)

Command Not Found

If openclaw command isn’t found:

Check npm global path:
```
npm config get prefix
```

Add to PATH (if needed):

export PATH="$PATH:$(npm config get prefix)/bin"

Restart terminal after installation

Port Already in Use

If you see “port already in use” errors:

openclaw --port 3001

Or find and kill the process using the port:

lsof -ti:3000 | xargs kill

Permission Errors

On macOS/Linux, you may need to grant permissions:

Terminal access
File system access
Network access

Check System Preferences → Security & Privacy.

Updating OpenClaw

To update to the latest version:

npm update -g openclaw

Or re-run the one-liner installer (it will update if already installed).

Check for updates:

npm outdated -g openclaw

Uninstalling OpenClaw

To remove OpenClaw:

npm uninstall -g openclaw

This removes the global installation but keeps your configuration and data. To remove everything:

rm -rf ~/.openclaw

Next Steps

Now that OpenClaw is installed:

Explore Skills — Check out available skills at /skills
Set Up Integrations — Connect your chat apps (see integrations page)
Read the FAQ — Common questions answered at /faq
Join the Community — Discord, GitHub discussions, and more

Conclusion

Installing OpenClaw is quick and straightforward. The one-liner installer handles most of the complexity, making it accessible to users of all technical levels. Once installed, the openclaw onboard command guides you through configuration.

For platform-specific tips and advanced setup options, see our detailed guides:

Ready to start using your personal AI assistant? Run openclaw onboard and begin the setup process!