Update
CLI reference for openclaw update (secure sources + gateway auto-restart).
Safely update OpenClaw and switch between stable/beta/dev channels.
If you installed via ''npm/pnpm'' (global install, no git metadata), updates happen via the package manager flow in ''Updating''.
Usage
openclaw update openclaw update status openclaw update wizard openclaw update --channel beta openclaw update --channel dev openclaw update --tag beta openclaw update --no-restart openclaw update --json openclaw --update
Options
- ''--no-restart'': Skip restarting gateway service after successful update.
- ''--channel <stable|beta|dev>'': Set update channel (git + npm; persisted in config).
- ''--tag <dist-tag|version>'': Override npm dist-tag or version for this update only.
- ''--json'': Print machine-readable ''UpdateRunResult'' JSON.
- ''--timeout <seconds>'': Timeout per step (default 1200s).
Note: Downgrades require confirmation because older versions may break config.
`update status`
Show active update channel + git tag/branch/SHA (for source checkout) and update availability.
openclaw update status openclaw update status --json openclaw update status --timeout 10
Options:
- ''--json'': Print machine-readable status JSON.
- ''--timeout <seconds>'': Check timeout (default 3s).
`update wizard`
Interactive flow to select update channel and confirm whether to restart gateway
after update (default is to restart). If you select ''dev'' without a git checkout, it
proposes to create one.
What it does
When you explicitly switch channels (''--channel ...''), OpenClaw also keeps
install method aligned:
- ''dev'' → ensures git checkout (default: ''~/openclaw'', override with ''OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR''),
updates it, and installs global CLI from that checkout.
- ''stable''/''beta'' → install from npm using matching dist-tag.
Git checkout flow
Channels:
- ''stable'': check out latest non-beta tag, then build + doctor.
- ''beta'': check out latest ''-beta'' tag, then build + doctor.
- ''dev'': check out ''main'', then fetch + rebase.
High level:
1. Requires a clean working tree (no uncommitted changes).
2. Switch to selected channel (tag or branch).
3. Fetch upstream (dev only).
4. Dev only: pre-check lint + TypeScript build in temporary worktree; if prompt fails, back up to 10 commits to find latest clean build.
5. Rebase to selected commit (dev only).
6. Install deps (pnpm preferred; npm fallback).
7. Build + build control UI.
8. Run ''openclaw doctor'' as final "safe update" check.
9. Sync plugins to active channel (dev uses bundled extensions; stable/beta use npm) and update npm-installed plugins.
`--update` shorthand
''openclaw --update'' rewrites to ''openclaw update'' (useful for shell and launcher scripts).