How to Install OpenClaw: Complete Installation Guide

OpenClaw is the open-source, self-hosted AI agent that runs on your hardware and connects to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and 15+ messaging platforms. This hub covers every installation method-from a one-line quick install to Docker and VPS deployment-plus post-install configuration and troubleshooting.

Quick Start: Most users can install OpenClaw in under 5 minutes using the one-line installer on macOS or Linux. See Quick Start Guide for the fastest path.

1. Installation Overview

OpenClaw requires Node.js 22+ and runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL2). Choose an installation method based on your environment and goals:

Method Best For Time Difficulty
One-line installer macOS/Linux users who want the fastest setup ~5 min Easy
macOS native Mac users (Intel & Apple Silicon) ~10 min Easy
Windows (WSL2) Windows 10/11 with WSL2 ~15 min Medium
Linux Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch ~10 min Easy
Docker VPS, homelab, portable deployment ~10 min Medium
VPS (AWS, DigitalOcean, etc.) 24/7 cloud or dedicated server ~20–30 min Medium
Raspberry Pi Low-cost, always-on home server ~25 min Medium

2. Pre-Installation Checklist

Before installing, ensure you have:

  • Node.js 22+ - OpenClaw requires Node 22 or newer. Check with node -v; install from nodejs.org or your package manager.
  • OS compatibility - macOS 12+, Ubuntu 20.04+ (or equivalent Linux), or Windows 10/11 with WSL2.
  • API keys - At least one LLM provider: Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI (GPT). Optional: Google (Gemini), DeepSeek, or Ollama for local models.
  • Messaging app account - For your first channel: Telegram (easiest), Discord, WhatsApp, or another supported platform.
  • VPS (if applicable) - For cloud deployment: a droplet/instance with 2+ GB RAM and a public IP (or VPN/Tailscale for secure access). See network isolation and security best practices before exposing any service.

3. Quick Install (One-Line Installer)

On macOS or Linux, the official installer downloads OpenClaw, installs dependencies, and prepares the CLI and gateway. Run:

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

Or with npm (if Node.js 22+ is already installed):

npm install -g openclaw

You should see the installer confirm the install path and prompt you to run openclaw. After installation, run the onboarding wizard to choose your LLM provider and add your first channel. Full walkthrough: Quick Start Guide.

Quick Start Guide → Docker Guide →

4. Platform-Specific Guides

🍎 macOS

Native installation for macOS 12+ including Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3). ~10 min · Easy.

  • Homebrew integration
  • Apple Silicon optimized
macOS Guide →

🪟 Windows

Installation via WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). ~15 min · Medium.

  • WSL2 setup included
  • Windows 10/11 compatible
Windows Guide →

🐧 Linux

Native Linux for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch. ~10 min · Easy.

  • Systemd service setup
  • ARM64 compatible
Linux Guide →

🐳 Docker

Containerized deployment for any host. ~10 min · Medium.

  • Portable, isolated
  • Ideal for VPS/homelab
Docker Guide →

☁️ VPS Deployment

AWS, DigitalOcean, Linode, Hetzner. ~20–30 min · Medium.

VPS Hub →

🥧 Raspberry Pi

Run OpenClaw on Raspberry Pi 4/5. ~25 min · Medium.

  • Low-cost 24/7 hosting
  • ARM64 support
Raspberry Pi Guide →

5. Post-Installation Configuration

After OpenClaw is installed, complete these steps:

  1. Run the onboarding wizard - The first time you run openclaw, you’ll be guided to select an LLM provider (e.g. Anthropic Claude or OpenAI) and add your first messaging channel. Post-installation setup walks through this in detail.
  2. Choose your first channel - Telegram is the easiest to set up; Discord and WhatsApp are also popular. See Channel Setup Hub for all options.
  3. Test the connection - Send a message to your bot and confirm the agent responds. Check openclaw status and logs if anything fails.
  4. Security hardening - Bind the gateway to localhost only, set API spending limits, and follow our security checklist and security best practices.

Post-Installation Setup →

6. System Requirements

Component Minimum Recommended
OS macOS 12+, Ubuntu 20.04+, Windows 10+ (WSL2) macOS 14+, Ubuntu 22.04+, Windows 11
CPU 1 core 2+ cores
RAM 2 GB 4 GB
Storage 1 GB free 5 GB free
Node.js v22+ v22 LTS
Internet Required for LLM API Stable connection

7. Next Steps After Installation

  1. Run the onboarding wizard - Configure your first LLM provider and messaging channel (see post-installation setup).
  2. Connect a messaging platform - WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord (Telegram recommended for first-time setup).
  3. Configure memory and agents - Customize your config and agent settings.
  4. Install skills - ClawHub skills marketplace and top 50 skills to extend your agent.
  5. Review security - Security best practices and security checklist.
  6. Join the community - Community hub, GitHub, and Discord.

8. Common Installation Problems

If something goes wrong, run openclaw doctor first-it checks your environment and can suggest fixes. Then refer to:

  • "openclaw command not found" - Usually a PATH issue: the installer added OpenClaw to your PATH, but your shell hasn’t reloaded. Restart the terminal or run source ~/.bashrc (or equivalent). See Troubleshooting: command not found.
  • Node.js version conflicts - OpenClaw requires Node 22+. Use nvm or your system package manager to install Node 22+. Troubleshooting: Node version.
  • Gateway won’t start - Check that port 1618 is free and the gateway is bound to 127.0.0.1 (not 0.0.0.0) for security. Gateway issues.
  • Permission errors - Ensure you have write access to the install and config directories. Troubleshooting: permissions.

Full Troubleshooting Guide → · Installation errors