Introduction to OpenClaw

OpenClaw is a groundbreaking open-source platform for deploying personal AI agents that run entirely on your own hardware, giving you full control over your data, keys, and actions. Launched in November 2025 by developer Peter Steinberger as Clawdbot (later Moltbot), it quickly exploded in popularity, amassing over 200,000 GitHub stars by early 2026 due to its seamless integration with everyday messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and more. Unlike cloud-based assistants, OpenClaw operates as a local "Gateway" control plane, routing commands through large language models (LLMs) like Anthropic's Claude Opus while executing real-world tasks via tools such as browser control, voice interaction, and custom skills. It embodies the mantra "Your assistant. Your machine. Your rules," enabling autonomous workflows from simple queries to complex automations like managing emails, booking meetings, or even trading stocks.

The project's lobster-themed branding (🦞) stems from its evolution—molting from one name to another like a growing crustacean—and reflects its adaptive, resilient design. By February 2026, OpenClaw had been adopted by developers, businesses, and hobbyists worldwide, with integrations for everything from iMessage to Chinese apps like Zalo. However, its power comes with responsibility: security is paramount, as misconfigurations can expose sensitive data. This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial for installation, setup, basic and advanced usage, troubleshooting, and best practices, drawing from official docs and community resources. Whether you're a beginner hatching your first agent or an expert building multi-agent fleets, you'll master OpenClaw in no time.

Prerequisites and Requirements

Before installing OpenClaw, ensure your system meets the basics. It requires Node.js version 22 or higher—download from nodejs.org if needed. Package managers like npm, pnpm (recommended), or bun are used for global installation. Platforms include macOS, Linux (best experience), and Windows via WSL2 (strongly recommended; native Windows support is experimental).

You'll need API keys for LLMs: Anthropic's Claude Pro/Max (Opus 4.6 preferred for long-context and injection resistance) is ideal, but it supports OpenAI GPT, DeepSeek, KIMI K2.5, and others via OpenRouter or direct providers. Sign up at console.anthropic.com for Claude. Budget $20-50/month for heavy use, as agents can rack up tokens quickly.

For channels:

• Telegram: Create a bot via @BotFather.
• Discord/Slack: Bot tokens from developer portals.
• WhatsApp: No token needed (uses Baileys multi-device).
• iMessage: BlueBubbles server or legacy.

Hardware: A modern laptop (M1+ Mac, recent Intel/AMD PC) suffices; Raspberry Pi works for light use. Docker for sandboxing/servers. Run openclaw doctor post-setup to verify configs.

Installing OpenClaw on macOS and Linux

Installation is a breeze with the one-liner script. Open Terminal and run:

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

This installs the latest via pnpm globally and launches the onboard wizard. Alternatively:

npm install -g openclaw@latest
# or pnpm add -g openclaw@latest

Then: openclaw onboard --install-daemon. The wizard guides API key entry, channel selection, and daemon setup (launchd on macOS, systemd on Linux) for always-on operation.

For development/source build:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm ui:build
pnpm build
pnpm openclaw onboard --install-daemon
pnpm gateway:watch  # Auto-reload dev mode

Start the Gateway: openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose. Access the UI at http://localhost:18789 (WebSocket-based).

On Raspberry Pi or VPS (Hetzner/Oracle): Use Docker images from docs.openclaw.ai/install/docker. Tailscale integration enables remote access securely.

Installing on Windows and Docker

Windows users: Install WSL2 (Ubuntu) via Microsoft Store, then follow Linux steps. Native Windows is via PowerShell:

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

Docker for all platforms (secure sandbox):

docker run -d --name openclaw -p 18789:18789 -v ~/.openclaw:/root/.openclaw openclaw/openclaw:latest

Edit mounted config.json for persistence. Ideal for servers; expose via Tailscale Funnel for mobile access.

Onboarding and Initial Configuration

Post-install, openclaw onboard runs interactively:

1. Enter LLM API key (e.g., ANTHROPIC_API_KEY).
2. Select channels (e.g., enable Telegram bot).
3. Set DM policy: "pairing" (default, secure) requires approval for new chats.
4. Install daemon for boot-start.

Config lives in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Minimal example:

{
  "agent": {
    "model": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"
  },
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "botToken": "123456:ABC-DEF..."
    }
  },
  "gateway": {
    "tailscale": { "mode": "serve" }
  }
}

Full reference: docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/configuration. Restart Gateway after edits: openclaw gateway restart.

Pair channels: For Telegram, message your bot; approve via openclaw pairing approve telegram .

Test: openclaw message send --to +1234567890 --message "Hello from OpenClaw!"

Basic Usage and Interactions

Interact via messaging apps or CLI. In Telegram/Discord: @mention your bot or use /commands like /status, /think high (verbose reasoning), /verbose on.

CLI example:

openclaw agent --message "Create a ship checklist for my startup" --thinking high

The agent responds in-channel, using tools like Canvas (visual workspace) or browser for research. Voice mode (macOS/iOS/Android): Wake with "Hey Claw" via ElevenLabs TTS.

Key interactions:

• Sessions: Persistent context; /session new for isolation.
• Skills: Install from ClawHub: openclaw skill install browser. Bundled: cron, webhooks, Gmail.
• Nodes: Camera/screen/location via companion apps.

Health check: openclaw doctor flags issues like open DMs or missing keys.

Channel-Specific Setup and Tips

WhatsApp: Auto-pairs via QR scan in app. Telegram: Bot token; enable groups with activation: "mention". Slack/Discord: App tokens; owner-only commands in groups. iMessage: Install BlueBubbles (bluebubbles.app), set serverUrl/password. Advanced: Zalo for Asia; Matrix/WebChat for web.

Config snippet for Slack:

"channels": {
  "slack": {
    "botToken": "xoxb-...",
    "appToken": "xapp-..."
  }
}

Advanced Features: Tools, Skills, and Automation

OpenClaw shines with tools:

• Browser Control: skill browser automates Chrome CDP for scraping/booking.
• Canvas/A2UI: Live visual editing; canvas new for diagrams.
• Cron Jobs: Schedule: openclaw cron add "daily report" "0 9 * * *".
• Webhooks: Inbound triggers for events.
• Multi-Agent: Route tasks: agents: { research: {model: "deepseek"}, code: {model: "claude"} }.

Custom Skills: Develop in TS, publish to ClawHub. Example: GitHub PR reviewer via webhook.

Voice Calls: Plugin for telephony. Nodes: system.run (macOS scripts).

Memory: Local storage for adaptive behavior; prune via /memory clear.

Security Best Practices

Security is non-negotiable. Defaults: Sandbox non-main sessions in Docker (allowlist: bash/read/write). DM pairing blocks untrusted inputs.

Run openclaw doctor weekly. Set dmPolicy: "pairing", avoid "open". Use strong models vs. prompt injection.

Community tools: ClawBands (human controls), ClawGuard (scanning). Vet skills—malware found in wild. For VPS: Tailscale + auth.

Exposed instances: Tens of thousands misconfigured; use loopback + VPN.

Use Cases and Examples

Productivity: "Monitor competitors daily" → Cron + browser skill. DevOps: "Review PRs on GitHub" → Webhook automation. Personal: "Book dentist via email" → Gmail + browser. Advanced: Multi-agent research: Orchestrator delegates to specialists.

From community: 261+ workflows like social media posting, trading bots.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Gateway won't start: Check Node version, ports; openclaw logs.
• No response in channel: Verify pairing, tokens; /status.
• High costs: Monitor openclaw costs; set budgets.
• Sandbox errors: Whitelist tools in config.
• macOS permissions: Sign app or use dev mode.

Docs: docs.openclaw.ai; Discord community; Awesome-OpenClaw GitHub.

Contributing, Modding, and Community

Fork GitHub, PR via CONTRIBUTING.md. Vibe-code welcome; pnpm format:fix.

Extensions: 1700+ skills repo. Community: Discord, Moltbook (agent social net).

Conclusion

OpenClaw revolutionizes personal AI, turning your machine into a proactive assistant. From 15-minute setup to enterprise automations, its local-first design empowers users. Stay secure, experiment boldly, and join the Claw Crew. Happy agenting!