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Installation Reference

Comprehensive guide covering all installation methods including CLI, Docker, and Source.

New to OpenClaw?

For a hands-on, beginner-friendly tutorial with step-by-step guidance, check out our Getting Started Tutorial. This page is a comprehensive reference guide covering all installation methods.
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Requirements

  • Runtime: Node.js ≥22 (npm, pnpm, or bun)
  • Platforms: macOS, Linux, Windows (via WSL2; strongly recommended)
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Recommended Installation (Onboarding Wizard)

The preferred setup is to run the onboarding wizard. It walks through gateway, workspace, channels, and skills. The CLI wizard is the recommended path and works on macOS, Linux, and Windows (via WSL2).

Installation Command

Terminal
npm install -g openclaw@latest
# or: pnpm add -g openclaw@latest
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The wizard installs the Gateway daemon (launchd/systemd user service) so it stays running.

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Quick Start (TL;DR)

Quick Start Commands

Terminal
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose
# Send a message
openclaw message send --to +1234567890 --message "Hello from OpenClaw"
# Talk to the assistant
openclaw agent --message "Ship checklist" --thinking high

One-Liner Installation

macOS / Linux

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

Works on macOS, Windows & Linux. The one-liner installs Node.js and everything else for you.

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From Source (Development)

Prefer pnpm for builds from source. Bun is optional for running TypeScript directly.

Development Setup

Terminal
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm ui:build  # auto-installs UI deps on first run
pnpm build
pnpm openclaw onboard --install-daemon
# Dev loop (auto-reload on TS changes)
pnpm gateway:watch

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pnpm openclaw ... runs TypeScript directly (via tsx). pnpm build produces dist/ for running via Node / the packaged openclaw binary.
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Docker Installation

OpenClaw supports Docker-based installations. You can run OpenClaw in a Docker container for isolated execution.

Docker installation is particularly useful for:

  • Running OpenClaw on servers or cloud instances
  • Isolated execution environments
  • Easy deployment and scaling
  • Unraid and other container platforms

Quick Docker Install:

Docker Install
docker run -d --name openclaw \
  -v ~/.openclaw:/root/.openclaw \
  -p 18789:18789 \
  ghcr.io/openclaw/openclaw:latest

For detailed Docker setup instructions, Docker Compose examples, and Unraid configuration, see the Docker deployment guide.

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Serverless Deployment (OpenClaw Worker)

For users who prefer not to manage hardware or servers, OpenClaw Worker enables you to run OpenClaw on Cloudflare Workers without any physical infrastructure.

Moltworker is ideal for:

  • Running AI agents without hardware requirements
  • Automatic scaling and serverless architecture
  • Pay-per-use pricing model
  • Global edge distribution for low latency

Learn more about deploying OpenClaw with OpenClaw Worker on Cloudflare Workers.

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Development Channels

OpenClaw offers different release channels:

  • Stable: Tagged releases (vYYYY.M.D), npm dist-tag latest.
  • Beta: Prerelease tags, npm dist-tag beta (macOS app may be missing).
  • Dev: Moving head of main, npm dist-tag dev (when published).

Switch channels:

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The CLI command is openclaw. Make sure to use the latest version to access all features.
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Updating

To update OpenClaw to the latest version:

Update Command

Terminal
openclaw update

After updating, run openclaw doctor to check for issues and verify your configuration.