OpenClaw Setup Guide 2026: Complete Walkthrough

So you’ve seen the viral OpenClaw demos and you’re ready to have your own AI assistant. Excellent choice. But if you’re like most people, you opened the documentation and immediately felt overwhelmed.

Don’t worry. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant that can interact with your computer, browse the web, manage files, send messages, and automate tasks. Think of it as having a capable assistant that lives on your machine.

Quick note on the name: You might see this project referred to as Clawdbot, Moltbot, or OpenClaw. They’re all the same thing! The project went through a couple of name changes due to trademark considerations. OpenClaw is the current and final name.

Prerequisites

Before you start, you’ll need:

1. A computer - Mac (M1/M2/M3 or Intel), Windows PC, or Linux machine
2. Node.js 22+ - The runtime that powers OpenClaw
3. API keys - From Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI, or other AI providers
4. Terminal access - You’ll be running commands in your terminal

Installation Methods

There are three main ways to install OpenClaw:

Option 1: npm (Recommended)

The simplest method for most users:

npm install -g openclaw

Option 2: Homebrew (Mac only)

If you’re on a Mac and prefer Homebrew:

brew install openclaw

Option 3: From Source

For developers who want to modify the code:

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

Initial Configuration

After installation, run the setup wizard:

openclaw setup

This will guide you through:

1. API key configuration - Enter your Anthropic or OpenAI API keys
2. Model selection - Choose your default AI model
3. Permissions - Set what OpenClaw can access on your system

Setting Up Messaging Channels

One of OpenClaw’s killer features is the ability to connect to messaging platforms. You can chat with your AI assistant through:

• Telegram - Most popular choice
• Discord - Great for communities
• WhatsApp - Via WhatsApp Web
• Slack - For work integration
• Signal - For privacy-focused users

To connect a channel:

openclaw channels connect telegram

Follow the prompts to authenticate. Each channel has its own setup process.

Security Best Practices

This is where many people get into trouble. Please don’t skip this section.

1. Never Expose Your Dashboard Publicly

If you’re running OpenClaw with a web dashboard, make sure it’s only accessible locally or behind authentication. We’ve seen hundreds of exposed dashboards leaking API keys.

2. Set Spending Limits

AI API calls cost money. Without limits, a runaway loop could cost you hundreds of dollars in a single day.

openclaw config set budget.daily 10
openclaw config set budget.monthly 100

3. Review Permissions Regularly

OpenClaw can access files, run commands, and browse the web. Periodically review what permissions you’ve granted:

openclaw permissions list

Common Issues and Solutions

”Command not found: openclaw”

Your PATH isn’t configured correctly. Try:

export PATH="$PATH:$(npm bin -g)"

Or reinstall with:

npm install -g openclaw --force

API Key Errors

Make sure your API key is valid and has the correct permissions. You can verify with:

openclaw doctor

Connection Issues

If channels won’t connect, check your firewall settings and ensure outbound connections are allowed.

Next Steps

Once you have OpenClaw running, you might want to:

1. Explore the documentation at docs.openclaw.ai
2. Join the community on Discord
3. Set up automations for your daily tasks

Need Help?

Setup taking longer than expected? Our team can get you up and running in a single Zoom call. We handle everything - installation, configuration, security hardening, and cost management.

Book a setup session starting at just $79.

---

Last updated: January 2026