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Install OpenClaw on macOS: Complete Installation Guide

This guide walks you through installing OpenClaw on macOS, including both Intel and Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get your AI assistant running in minutes.

🍎 macOS 11+ ⏱️ 10 minutes 💻 Intel & Apple Silicon

✓ Requirements for OpenClaw Install on macOS

🖥️

macOS Version

OpenClaw supports:

  • macOS 11 Big Sur or newer
  • macOS 12 Monterey
  • macOS 13 Ventura
  • macOS 14 Sonoma
  • macOS 15 Sequoia
🔧

Hardware Support

Compatible with:

  • Intel Macs - Full support
  • Apple M1 - Native support
  • Apple M2 - Native support
  • Apple M3 - Native support

Apple Silicon Macs run OpenClaw natively without Rosetta 2.

📦

Software Prerequisites

You'll need:

  • Homebrew (recommended) or
  • Node.js 22+ from nodejs.org
  • Command Line Tools for Xcode
  • Terminal app (built-in)

1 Method 1: Install OpenClaw with Homebrew (Recommended)

The recommended way to install OpenClaw on macOS is using Homebrew. This method handles all dependencies automatically.

1
Install Homebrew (if not installed)

Check if Homebrew is already installed:

bash 
brew --version

If not installed, install Homebrew:

bash 
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Follow the on-screen instructions. You may need to add Homebrew to your PATH.

2
Install Node.js 22+ via Homebrew

Install the latest Node.js version 22:

bash 
brew install node@22

Link Node.js to make it available in your PATH:

bash 
brew link node@22

Verify installation:

bash 
node --version
npm --version
3
Install OpenClaw globally

Use npm to install OpenClaw:

bash 
npm install -g openclaw@latest

This installs OpenClaw v2026.2.6 (latest version) globally.

4
Run onboarding wizard

Configure your OpenClaw installation:

bash 
openclaw onboard

Follow the interactive wizard to set up your AI model and preferences.

5
Start OpenClaw

Launch your AI assistant:

bash 
openclaw start

Access the web interface at http://127.0.0.1:18789/

✓ Installation Complete!

You've successfully installed OpenClaw on macOS using Homebrew. Your AI assistant is now ready to use.

2 Method 2: Install OpenClaw with Install Script

The official install script automates the entire installation process:

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

What this script does:

  • Checks for Node.js 22+ and installs if needed
  • Installs OpenClaw globally via npm
  • Sets up necessary permissions
  • Provides next steps for configuration

After the script completes, run the onboarding wizard:

bash 
openclaw onboard

3 Method 3: Manual Install OpenClaw from Source

For developers who want more control, you can install OpenClaw from the GitHub repository:

1
Install Node.js 22+

Download from nodejs.org or use Homebrew as shown in Method 1.

2
Clone the repository
bash 
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
3
Install dependencies
bash 
npm install
4
Start OpenClaw in development mode
bash 
npm start

For Contributors

This method is recommended if you want to contribute to OpenClaw development. The repository has 180K+ GitHub stars and 900+ active contributors.

See github.com/openclaw/openclaw for contribution guidelines.

🍎 Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Installation Notes

Native Support for Apple Silicon

OpenClaw runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs without requiring Rosetta 2. Both Node.js and OpenClaw have native ARM64 builds.

Architecture Verification

Check your Mac's architecture:

bash 
uname -m

Output:

  • arm64 - Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)
  • x86_64 - Intel Mac

Homebrew on Apple Silicon

Homebrew on Apple Silicon installs to /opt/homebrew instead of /usr/local. The install script handles this automatically.

Rosetta 2 Note

You do NOT need Rosetta 2 for OpenClaw. If you previously installed Rosetta for other apps, OpenClaw will still use native ARM64 binaries.

🔧 macOS-Specific Troubleshooting

Command Line Tools for Xcode

If you get compiler errors during install, you may need Xcode Command Line Tools:

bash 
xcode-select --install

Permission Errors

If you encounter permission errors with npm:

bash 
sudo npm install -g openclaw@latest

Gatekeeper and Security

macOS may block OpenClaw on first run. If you see a security warning:

  1. Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy
  2. Click "Allow Anyway" for OpenClaw
  3. Try running OpenClaw again

Homebrew PATH Issues

If brew command not found after installation:

bash 
echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Still Having Issues?

Check the full troubleshooting guide: OpenClaw Install Troubleshooting →

→ Next Steps After Installing OpenClaw on macOS

⚙️

Configure OpenClaw

Set up SOUL.md personality, add messaging platforms, and customize your AI assistant for macOS.

→
🎯

Best Practices

Learn macOS-specific best practices, security settings, and performance optimization tips.

→
⚡

Quick Start Guide

Get started with your first OpenClaw conversation and explore the 5,705 skills on ClawHub.

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macOS Resources