Open Claw Installation | Complete Setup Guide (Under 10 Minutes)

Open Claw Installation Prerequisites

Before installing Open Claw, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Node.js 22+ - Required runtime environment (check: node --version)
npm package manager - Included with Node.js installation
AI model API keys - Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, or other provider keys
Operating system - macOS, Linux, or Windows
System resources - Minimal: can run in <10MB RAM available

Check your Node.js and npm versions:

node --version
npm --version

Open Claw Quick Installation Guide (10 Minutes)

Follow these steps to install and configure Open Claw in under 10 minutes:

Install Open Claw
~2 minutes
Install OpenClaw globally using npm:

npm install -g openclaw@latest

This downloads and installs the latest Open Claw package from npm registry.
Run Onboarding Wizard
~5 minutes
Launch the OpenClaw configuration wizard:

openclaw onboard

The wizard will guide you through:
- Selecting your AI model provider (Claude, GPT, local, etc.)
- Entering your API keys
- Choosing your default model
- Configuring your workspace
Start Open Claw
~1 minute
Launch your Open Claw agent:

openclaw start

OpenClaw will initialize and begin listening for messages. The Web UI becomes available at http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Send Your First Message
~2 minutes
Test your Open Claw installation:

openclaw agent "Hello, this is a test message"

If configured correctly, your Open Claw agent will respond to your message.

Open Claw Alternative Installation Methods

Besides npm, you can install Open Claw using these alternative methods:

Install Script (macOS/Linux)

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

Install Script (Windows PowerShell)

iwr https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 -useb | iex

Manual Installation from GitHub

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
npm install
npm link

Open Claw Platform-Specific Installation Guides

Detailed installation instructions for each operating system:

Installing Open Claw on macOS

Install Homebrew (if not already installed):
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Install Node.js via Homebrew:
brew install node@22
Verify Node.js installation:
node --version # Should show v22.x.x
Install Open Claw via npm:
npm install -g openclaw@latest

Installing Open Claw on Linux

Install Node.js via package manager (Ubuntu/Debian):
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash - sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
Verify Node.js installation:
node --version # Should show v22.x.x
Install Open Claw via npm:
npm install -g openclaw@latest
Note on permissions: If you encounter EACCES errors, consider using nvm or configuring npm permissions properly.

Installing Open Claw on Windows

Download Node.js installer: Visit nodejs.org and download the LTS version (22+)
Run the installer: Follow the installation wizard, ensuring npm is included
Verify installation in PowerShell:
node --version # Should show v22.x.x npm --version
Install Open Claw via npm:
npm install -g openclaw@latest
PowerShell note: You may need to restart PowerShell for npm to be available in PATH.

Open Claw Post-Installation Configuration

After installing Open Claw, complete these configuration steps:

Configure AI model providers - Set up your preferred AI models (Claude, GPT, local models)
Set up messaging channels - Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, etc. (optional)
Install skills - Add capabilities from ClawHub marketplace or GitHub
Customize SOUL.md - Define your Open Claw agent's personality
Enable integrations - Connect productivity tools, smart home, email, etc.

Verify Your Open Claw Installation

Confirm your Open Claw installation is working correctly:

Check Open Claw Version

openclaw --version

Should display v2026.2.6 or later

View OpenClaw Info

openclaw info

Shows configuration and status

List Available Models

openclaw models list

Shows configured AI models

List Installed Skills

openclaw skills list

Shows installed capabilities

Open Claw Web Interface Dashboard

Open Claw provides a local web interface for management and monitoring:

Access URL: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Token usage dashboard - Monitor API costs (v2026.2.6)
Workspace management - Configure and manage workspaces
Configuration interface - Adjust settings through UI

⚠️ Security Warning: Do NOT expose the web interface publicly. Keep it on localhost (127.0.0.1) only.

Open Claw Installation Troubleshooting

Common installation issues and their solutions:

Error: Node.js version too old

Symptom: "OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 or higher"

Solution: Update Node.js to version 22 or higher. Use nvm (Node Version Manager) or download from nodejs.org.

Error: EACCES permission denied

Symptom: npm install fails with permission errors

Solution: Configure npm to use a directory you own, or use nvm to manage Node.js. Never use sudo with npm.

Error: Cannot find module 'openclaw'

Symptom: Command not found after installation

Solution: Ensure npm global bin directory is in your PATH. Restart terminal or add to PATH manually.

Error: Port 18789 already in use

Symptom: OpenClaw fails to start, port conflict

Solution: Stop other services using port 18789, or configure OpenClaw to use a different port.

Error: API key configuration

Symptom: Agent doesn't respond to messages

Solution: Run openclaw onboard again to reconfigure API keys. Ensure keys are valid and have sufficient credits.

Open Claw Installation: Complete Setup Guide (10 Minutes)