✓ Before You Install OpenClaw

Ensure you have these prerequisites before starting the OpenClaw install process.

1

Node.js 22+

OpenClaw requires Node.js version 22 or newer to run.

Check Your Version:

bash

node --version

Don't have Node.js 22+?

macOS: brew install node@22
Linux: Linux install guide
Windows: Download from nodejs.org

2

AI Model Access

Choose at least one AI model to power OpenClaw (you can add more later).

Option A: Cloud Models (Easiest)

Claude Opus 4.6 / 4.5 series
Get API key: console.anthropic.com
GPT-5 / GPT-5.3-Codex
Get API key: platform.openai.com

Option B: Local Models (Free)

Install Ollama to run local models like glm-5, qwen3-coder (no API costs).

3

Messaging Platform (Optional)

Connect OpenClaw to messaging apps to chat from anywhere. This is optional - you can use the web interface instead.

Popular Options:

Discord: Bot token from Discord Developer Portal
Telegram: Bot token from @BotFather
WhatsApp: QR code scan (no token needed)
Web Interface: No setup needed (default)

You can skip this during initial setup and add platforms later.

⏱️ OpenClaw Install Timeline (10 Minutes)

Follow these 4 steps to install OpenClaw and send your first message in under 10 minutes.

1

2 min

Install OpenClaw via npm

Open your terminal (macOS/Linux) or PowerShell (Windows) and run the following command to install OpenClaw globally:

bash

npm install -g openclaw@latest

What this does: Installs the latest version of OpenClaw (v2026.2.6) globally on your system.

Expected output: npm will download and install OpenClaw and its dependencies. This may take 1-2 minutes.

💡 Quick Troubleshooting:

Permission errors? Use sudo on macOS/Linux or run PowerShell as Administrator on Windows
Node.js not found? Install Node.js 22+ first (see prerequisites above)

2

5 min

Run OpenClaw Onboarding Wizard

Start the interactive setup wizard that will guide you through OpenClaw configuration:

bash

openclaw onboard

The wizard will ask you to:

Choose your AI model
- Select Claude (Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.5, Haiku 4.5)
- Or select GPT (GPT-5, GPT-5.3-Codex)
- Or select local models via Ollama (glm-5, qwen3-coder)
Enter your API key
- Paste your Claude or GPT API key
- Or select Ollama for local models (no API key needed)
Select messaging platforms (optional)
- Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack, etc.
- Or skip and use web interface only
Configure basic settings
- Agent name and workspace
- SOUL.md personality (optional, can customize later)

⚡ Quick Tip: You can skip optional settings during onboarding and configure them later. The only required items are AI model and API key.

3

1 min

Start OpenClaw

Launch OpenClaw and start your AI assistant:

bash

openclaw start

What happens: OpenClaw will start and display the web interface URL.

✓ OpenClaw Gateway started
✓ Web interface: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
✓ Connected to messaging platforms
✓ AI model: Claude Opus 4.6
✓ Ready to receive messages

Access your AI assistant at: http://127.0.0.1:18789/

⚠️ Important: Keep the terminal window open. OpenClaw runs as a local server and needs to stay active.

4

2 min

Send Your First Message

Open the web interface in your browser and start chatting with your AI assistant!

Example First Conversation:

You

Hello! Can you help me organize my tasks for today?

OpenClaw

Hi! I'd be happy to help you organize your tasks. To get started, could you tell me what you need to accomplish today? I can help you prioritize, set reminders, and even integrate with your calendar if you'd like.

You

I need to finish a project report, respond to emails, and prepare for tomorrow's meeting.

OpenClaw

I've created a prioritized task list for you: