How to Install OpenClaw: Step-by-Step Guide

 

OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI assistant platform that can connect to LLM providers (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini) or run locally with Ollama. The installation process usually takes about 5 minutes and works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL2).

 

This guide walks through everything from system requirements to installation and configuration.

 

 

Requirements

 

Before installing OpenClaw, make sure your environment meets the following requirements.

• Node.js 22+

• NPM (Node Package Manager)

• Git

• Operating System

  macOS

  Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)

  Windows with WSL2

   

   

A stable internet connection is also required during installation.

Step 1. How to Install OpenClaw — Multiple Methods

 

Method 1: OpenClaw Install Guides via the Installer Script (Recommended)

 

The easiest installation method is the one-line installer script. Run the installation command: 

• For Terminal on Mac/Linux:

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

• For PowerShell or WSL2 terminal  on Windows:

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

 

This installer automatically:

• Checks if Node.js is installed

• Installs missing dependencies

• Downloads the latest OpenClaw version

• Builds the project

• Creates the default configuration file
  
  

The installation usually finishes in under five minutes.

 

Method 2: Install via npm

 

npm install -g openclaw@latest

This installs OpenClaw globally on your system. Then run the following code to start the configuration wizard:

openclaw onboard

 

Method 3: Install OpenClaw from Source

 

This method gives you full control over the installation.

 

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

 

Install dependencies:

npm install

 

Build the project:

npm run build

Then start OpenClaw normally.

 

Method 4: OpenClaw Docker Installation Guides

 

For containerized environments:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw
cd openclaw
docker-compose up -d

Docker installation is ideal for:

• VPS deployment

• Cloud servers

• Isolated environments

Step 2. Verify the Installation

 

After installation completes, verify that OpenClaw works. Run:

openclaw --version

If the installation succeeded, the terminal will display the installed version number. If you see “command not found”, restart your terminal or check that Node.js is in your system PATH.

Step 3. Run the Initial Setup Wizard

 

Once OpenClaw is installed, run the onboarding wizard:

openclaw onboard

The setup wizard will guide you through:

• Selecting an AI model provider

• Entering API keys

• Configuring the gateway

• Choosing default tools and plugins (AI model is required)
  
  

This interactive configuration generates the required configuration files automatically.

Step 4. Start the OpenClaw Dashboard

 

After onboarding, launch the web interface:

openclaw dashboard

Open your browser and visit:

http://127.0.0.1:18789

You can now interact with your OpenClaw assistant through the dashboard.

Optional Tools and Plugins Connection

 

1. Connect Messaging Channels

OpenClaw can integrate with messaging platforms to act as a chatbot. Supported channels include:

 

• Telegram

• WhatsApp

• Discord

• Slack
  
  

For example, to connect Telegram:

• Create a bot using BotFather in Telegram.
• Get the bot token.
• Run:

openclaw channels login telegram

• Paste the token when prompted.
  
  

After setup, messages sent to your bot will be processed by OpenClaw.

 

2. Choose an AI Model Provider

 

OpenClaw requires a backend AI model. You can choose either cloud APIs or local models.

 

Cloud API Providers

• OpenAI (GPT models)

• Anthropic Claude

• Google Gemini
  
  

These require an API key.

 

Local Models (Optional)

You can run models locally using Ollama, which enables fully offline AI.

 

Other models:

• Llama

• Mistral

• Kimi
  
  

Using local models avoids API costs but requires stronger hardware.

 

3. Connect ComPDF Skills on OpenClaw for PDF Processing

 

To enhance your OpenClaw workflow with document capabilities, you can integrate ComPDF Skills for automated PDF processing.

ComPDF is a developer-friendly PDF solution that provides APIs for:

 

• PDF conversion (PDF/images to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, RTF, CSV, JSON, HTML, etc.)

• Document merging, splitting, rotating, compressing, and adding watermarks.

• …
  
  

When connected to OpenClaw, ComPDF enables your AI assistant to handle real-world document tasks, such as converting files, extracting structured data, or generating reports.

 

Free API Access

ComPDF provides a free 200+ API usage tier, allowing developers to test and build without upfront cost.

Conclusion

Installing OpenClaw is straightforward and typically takes only a few minutes. The easiest method is the one-line installer, which automatically installs dependencies and configures the environment. After installation, you can run the onboarding wizard, launch the dashboard, and connect AI models or messaging platforms to build a powerful self-hosted AI assistant.