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Guide · Open source

How to use OpenClaw: install, onboard and chat with it

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant that runs on your own computer and connects to chat apps you already use, such as Telegram, Slack, Discord and WhatsApp. This guide walks through installing it, running onboarding, checking that the Gateway works and sending your first message. It is written for readers who are comfortable with a terminal but are not experts in AI infrastructure.

OpenClawopenclaw/openclaw · ★ 394k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Choose your install method. Use the installer script for macOS, Linux, WSL2 or Windows, or install the npm package if you already manage Node.js 24.22.1+ or 26.12.1+.
  2. 2Run onboarding. Complete the wizard the installer opens, or run openclaw onboard --install-daemon after a direct npm, pnpm or Bun install.
  3. 3Check the Gateway. Run openclaw gateway status to confirm the Gateway is running.
  4. 4Open the Control UI. Run openclaw dashboard and send a message to confirm the assistant responds.
  5. 5Connect a channel. Follow the getting started guide to connect a messaging service such as Telegram or Slack.
  6. 6Approve senders. Approve pairing requests from unknown senders with openclaw pairing approve <channel> <code>.

What OpenClaw is and who it suits

OpenClaw runs a central Gateway process on your own hardware. The Gateway handles sessions, tools and channel connections, and you can choose which model provider or agent harness it uses. State, memory and credentials stay on your machine.

It suits people who want an assistant on their own device rather than a hosted service, and developers comfortable with Node.js and the command line. The project says there is no hosted tier, so you run it yourself.

  • Best for: people who want a self-run assistant, developers comfortable with Node.js, teams wanting a shared Gateway deployment, and users who want to talk to an assistant through messaging apps.
  • Not for: people wanting a no-setup hosted service, or anyone who cannot safely lock down inbound messages.

Install OpenClaw on macOS, Linux, WSL2 or Windows

The installer supports macOS, Linux and Windows, and provisions a supported Node.js runtime when needed. On macOS, Linux or WSL2, run the shell installer. On Windows, use PowerShell.

If you already manage Node.js yourself, you can install the npm package instead. The README lists Node 24.22.1 or later, or 26.12.1 or later, with Node 26 recommended.

  • Requires Node.js 24.22.1+ or 26.12.1+ if installing via npm (Node 26 recommended).
  • On npm 11.15 and earlier, omit the --allow-scripts=openclaw flag.
# macOS / Linux / WSL2 curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash # Windows PowerShell iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex # If you already manage Node.js npm install -g openclaw@latest --allow-scripts=openclaw

Run onboarding and start the Gateway

On a fresh install, the installer scripts start onboarding automatically; complete the wizard they open. If you installed the package directly with npm, pnpm or Bun, run the onboarding command yourself.

Onboarding verifies model access, creates the workspace and configures the Gateway. Then check the Gateway status and open the Control UI.

  • Onboarding verifies model access.
  • Onboarding creates the workspace.
  • Onboarding configures the Gateway.
openclaw onboard --install-daemon openclaw gateway status openclaw dashboard

Send your first message to confirm it works

The openclaw dashboard command opens the Control UI. Send a message there to confirm the assistant is responding.

The Control UI, the CLI and the TUI all connect to the same Gateway, so they share its sessions and tools.

  • Control UI: the web interface opened by openclaw dashboard.
  • CLI and TUI: other ways to connect to the Gateway.

Connect a messaging channel

Channels bring the assistant to services such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, Google Chat, Signal and iMessage. Channel setup is covered in the getting started guide, which also has troubleshooting notes.

The README lists Discord, iMessage, Slack, Teams, Telegram, WhatsApp and more than 20 other channels, along with native apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows and Linux.

  • Read the channels documentation at docs.openclaw.ai/channels.
  • Expect to follow the getting started guide for each service.

Lock down inbound messages before you share access

Treat inbound messages as untrusted input. DM-capable channels pair unknown senders by default. You approve a pairing request with the pairing command, using the channel name and the code shown.

Tools run on the host for the main session unless you configure sandboxing. Read the security guide, exposure runbook and sandboxing guide before connecting other users or exposing the Gateway remotely.

  • Approve a pairing request with openclaw pairing approve <channel> <code>.
  • Read the security guide before exposing the Gateway to anyone else.
openclaw pairing approve <channel> <code>

What people use it for

  • A personal assistant that runs on your laptop and answers you in Telegram or Slack.
  • A shared Gateway for a small team, using the team deployment option described in the README.
  • Talking to an assistant through WhatsApp or iMessage without a separate app.
  • Running a local or hosted model behind one Gateway by swapping model providers.

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenClaw free?

The README says OpenClaw has no paid tier, hosted service or token. The software is released under the MIT licence. Model providers and chat platforms you connect may have their own costs, which the source does not cover.

What are the requirements to run OpenClaw?

You need Node.js 24.22.1 or later, or 26.12.1 or later, with Node 26 recommended, if you install the npm package. The installer script provisions a supported Node.js runtime for you when needed.

How do I install OpenClaw on Windows?

Run the PowerShell installer command from the README in a Windows PowerShell window. The installer supports Windows and provisions Node.js if needed.

Does OpenClaw send my data to someone else?

According to the README, your prompts go to the model provider and chat platforms you configure, plus any diagnostics export you enable. By default OpenClaw checks for a daily version update, and anonymous feature statistics are opt-in. Setting update.checkOnStart to false disables both.

Is OpenClaw safe to expose to other people?

The README says to treat inbound messages as untrusted and to read the security guide, exposure runbook and sandboxing guide before connecting other users or exposing the Gateway remotely. Tools run on the host unless sandboxing is configured.

What should I do if I cannot get OpenClaw running?

The getting started guide at docs.openclaw.ai covers channel setup and troubleshooting. The FAQ page at docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq is also linked from the README.

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Our verdict

OpenClaw suits developers and technical users who want an AI assistant running on their own machine and reachable through chat apps they already use. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a no-setup hosted service or who cannot lock down inbound messages before sharing access.

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