Get started with OpenClaw

OpenClaw runs on your computer via Node.js. Let's get it installed.

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw init

After running openclaw init, a setup wizard will guide you through the rest.

Install via npm, Docker, or build from source. All options are fully supported.

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw init
openclaw gateway start

docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest
docker volume create openclaw-config
docker run -it \
  -v openclaw-config:/home/openclaw/.openclaw \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  openclaw/openclaw:latest init

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

Fast path — install and start in one command:

npm i -g openclaw && openclaw init && openclaw gateway start

See advanced config docs to wire up env vars and custom profiles.

OpenClaw needs an AI brain. We recommend Anthropic Claude — it's fast, smart, and affordable.

1. Go to console.anthropic.com and sign up (free)
2. Create an API key and copy it
3. Paste it when openclaw init asks for your API key

Edit ~/.openclaw/config.yaml directly:

# ~/.openclaw/config.yaml
ai:
  provider: anthropic
  model: claude-sonnet-4-20250514
  apiKey: ${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}

gateway:
  host: 127.0.0.1
  port: 3000

Supports 10+ AI providers including OpenAI, Gemini, Groq, and local Ollama models.

Route different task types to different models for cost/quality optimisation:

ai:
  providers:
    anthropic:
      apiKey: ${ANTHROPIC_API_KEY}
    openai:
      apiKey: ${OPENAI_API_KEY}
  routing:
    simple: claude-3-haiku
    complex: claude-3-opus
    code: gpt-4-turbo

See model routing docs for advanced patterns.

Let's make sure everything works. Open a terminal and type:

openclaw chat

Try sending it some messages:

• What's on my agenda today?
• Summarise this article: [paste URL]
• Remind me to call mum at 5pm

Test in one-shot and interactive modes:

# One-shot test
openclaw chat "Hello! List 3 ways you can help developers."

# Interactive mode
openclaw chat

# Check status & logs
openclaw status
openclaw logs --tail 20

The REST API runs at http://localhost:3000 — see API docs for integration options.

Run a system check and verify all providers respond:

openclaw chat "System check: confirm all providers are accessible"
openclaw status --verbose

Now let's bring OpenClaw to your phone. Pick your favourite app:

We recommend starting with WhatsApp — it's the quickest to set up.

openclaw connect whatsapp

Scan the QR code that appears in your terminal and you're connected.

Each channel needs a bot token. See our channel setup guides for step-by-step instructions.

# Telegram (bot token from @BotFather)
openclaw connect telegram

# Discord (bot token from developer portal)
openclaw connect discord

# Slack (app manifest install)
openclaw connect slack

Run openclaw status to verify all channels are connected and healthy.

Configure multiple channels with per-channel personality settings in config.yaml:

channels:
  whatsapp:
    enabled: true
    personality: casual
  slack:
    enabled: true
    personality: professional
  discord:
    enabled: true
    personality: fun

You're all set! Here are some great places to go from here: