OpenClaw (Clawdbot) Tutorial

OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot, transitional name Moltbot) is an open-source personal AI assistant project that suddenly went viral in January 2026, developed by Peter Steinberger (founder of PSPDFKit).

OpenClaw is an agent that can execute tasks. When we give instructions, it not only answers but also proactively operates the system, visits web pages, processes emails, organizes files, sets reminders, and even writes code automatically.

OpenClaw is alocal computing power + large model Agent automationdeveloper productivity tool taken to the extreme.

OpenClaw's goal is to make AI not just give advice, but directly complete full engineering tasks.

Because Anthropic sent a lawyer's letter on January 27 stating that Clawd / Clawdbot was too similar to Claude, the project was urgently renamed to Moltbot (meaning molting lobster, with the mascot being little lobster Molty 🦞) that same day, but the functionality remains exactly the same, and the old command clawdbot is still compatible.

Moltbot is a transitional name thought up by the project team to address infringement risks; OpenClaw is the current final official name.

Clawbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw are actually the same open-source project. The name evolution sequence is:

Clawdbot → Moltbot → OpenClaw
Name Timeline Background/Reason Essential Relationship
Clawdbot / Clawbot Late 2025 to early January 2026 Initial project name; inspired byClaudeandclawthe (lobster claw) meme Original name; the earliest identity on GitHub
Moltbot January 27, 2026 Required to be renamed due to Anthropic trademark concerns Intermediate transitional name; functionality and code identical to Clawdbot
OpenClaw After January 30, 2026 Dropped copyright conflicts, emphasized open-source nature/long-term branding Current official name; also the unified identifier for future documentation, repositories, etc.

Installation Methods

OpenClaw's installation is designed to be extremely user-friendly, allowing even non-developers to get started quickly.

System Requirements (not necessarily Mac mini):

  • Hardware: very low; 2GB RAM is sufficient to run.
  • Environment: Supports Mac, Windows, Linux; requires Node.js (pnpm) or Docker.

1. Recommended installation (one-click script):

Run the following command directly in the terminal.

macOS/Linux systems:

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

Windows systems:

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

#CMD
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

This will automatically install Node.js (≥22) and complete basic configuration.

2. Manual installation

You needNode.js ≥22and complete basic configuration:

Using npm:

npm i -g openclaw

# 如果速度慢可以指定国内镜像
npm i -g openclaw --registry=https://registry.npmmirror.com

Or using pnpm:

pnpm add -g openclaw

After installation, initialize and install the background service (launchd / systemd user service):

openclaw onboard

3. Install from source (development mode)

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

pnpm install

pnpm ui:build   # 首次运行会自动安装 UI 相关依赖并构建前端界面
pnpm build      # 构建整个项目（包含后端与相关模块）

# 初始化 OpenClaw 并安装为系统后台服务（开机自动运行）
pnpm openclaw onboard --install-daemon

# 开发模式：监听 TypeScript 代码变更并自动重载网关服务
pnpm gateway:watch

Configuration Guide

We recommend installing using the one-click script.

macOS/Linux systems:

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

Windows systems:

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

#CMD
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd && del install.cmd

It will perform environment detection, install necessary dependencies, and launch the onboarding (setup wizard) process.

To re-enter the setup wizard later, run the following command:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Then, it will remind you that this lobster is very powerful, and of course, the risk is also high. We selectyes(no means it won't be installed) and that's it:

Next, we select Quick StartQuickStartOption:

Next, we need to configure a large model. For Model/Auth Provider, select an AI provider; both domestic and international providers are generally supported.

If you don't have an overseas account, you can also configure API keys from domestic providers like Qwen, MiniMax, and Zhipu. The authentication configuration file (OAuth + API key) is at~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/agent/auth-profiles.json, and you can modify it in this file later.

Then there will be an option to choose a chat tool. If you don't have overseas ones, you can select the last one:

Other configurations, such as port settingsGateway Port, just use the default 18789. For example, for Skills and package manager, choose npm or others; you can keep pressing Yes all the way.

Select some skills you like, or you can skip directly, and usespacekey to select:

For these API keys, if you don't have them, directly selectno：

Finally, these three hooks can be enabled, usingspacekey to select, mainly for content guidance logs and session records:

Select Open the Web UI to open it in a browser:

After installation, it will automatically accesshttp://127.0.0.1:18789/chat, and you can open the chat interface to let it start working.

For example, search for the latest tech news:

After startup, we can useopenclaw statuscommand to check the status:

openclaw status

If you installed the service during the onboarding, the Gateway should already be running:

openclaw gateway status

Manual run (foreground):

openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose

Commands that can be executed after installation:

  • Run onboarding:openclaw onboard --install-daemon
  • Quick check:openclaw doctor
  • Check Gateway health status:openclaw status + openclaw health
  • Open dashboard:openclaw dashboard

Uninstall

Use the built-in uninstaller:

openclaw uninstall

Non-interactive (automation / npx):

openclaw uninstall --all --yes --non-interactive
npx -y openclaw uninstall --all --yes --non-interactive

Using Skills

Skills are standalone folders containing a SKILL.md file. If you want to extend new features for the OpenClaw agent, ClawHub is the best choice for finding and installing skills.

ClawHub skill repository address:https://clawhub.ai/

ClawHub China mirror:https://skillhub.tencent.com/

Install ClawHub tool:

# 推荐方式（npx 无需全局安装）
npx clawhub@latest --version

# 或全局安装（方便以后直接用 clawhub 命令）
npm install -g clawhub
# 或者用 pnpm
pnpm add -g clawhub

Log in:

clawhub login

Search skills:

clawhub search "postgres backups"

Download and install new skills:

clawhub install my-skill-pack

Batch update installed skills:

clawhub update --all

Plugin Management

Plugins are lightweight code modules that can extend additional functionality for OpenClaw by adding commands, tools, and Gateway RPC capabilities.

View loaded plugins:

openclaw plugins list

Install official plugins (e.g., voice call plugin):

openclaw plugins install @openclaw/voice-call

Restart the gateway after plugin installation for changes to take effect:

openclaw gateway restart

Common Commands

OpenClaw Common Commands Quick Reference:

Category Command Description
Initialization & Installation openclaw onboard Interactive wizard (configure model, channel, gateway, workspace)
Initialization & Installation openclaw setup Initialize configuration + workspace (non-interactive)
Initialization & Installation openclaw configure Interactive configuration wizard (model, channel, skills)
Gateway Management openclaw gateway status Check gateway service status + RPC liveness probe
Gateway Management openclaw gateway start Start the gateway service
Gateway Management openclaw gateway stop Stop the gateway service
Gateway Management openclaw gateway restart Restart the gateway service
Gateway Management openclaw gateway run Run the gateway directly in the foreground (for debugging)
Gateway Management openclaw gateway health Get gateway health information
Configuration Management openclaw config file Show the full path of the current configuration file
Configuration Management openclaw config get <path> Read configuration items
Configuration Management openclaw config set <path> <value> Modify configuration items
Configuration Management openclaw config validate Validate whether the configuration file is valid
Diagnostics & Status openclaw doctor One-click health check + auto repair
Diagnostics & Status openclaw status Show session health status and recent contacts
Diagnostics & Status openclaw health Pull health data from the running gateway
Diagnostics & Status openclaw logs View gateway logs in real time
Other Frequently Used Operations openclaw dashboard Open the web control panel
Other Frequently Used Operations openclaw channels status View connected chat channels
Other Frequently Used Operations openclaw agent run Manually trigger a proxy run

After changing configuration, remember to runopenclaw gateway restartTo make changes take effect ~ 🦞

Channel Management

  • WhatsApp：openclaw channels login(or scan QR)
  • Telegram：openclaw channels add --channel telegram(requires Bot Token)
  • Discord：openclaw channels add --channel discord(requires Bot Token)
  • iMessage: native macOS bridge
  • Slack：openclaw channels add --channel slack(requires Bot Token)

Workspace Structure (Workspace Anatomy)

  • AGENTS.md: instruction description
  • USER.md: preference settings
  • MEMORY.md: long-term memory
  • HEARTBEAT.md: checklist
  • SOUL.md: personality/tone
  • IDENTITY.md: name/topic
  • BOOT.md: startup configuration
  • Root directory:~/.openclaw/workspace

In-Chat Slash Commands

  • /status: Health + Context
  • /context list: Context Contributors
  • /model <m>: Switch Model
  • /compact: Free Window Space
  • /new: New Conversation
  • /stop: Abort Current Run
  • /tts on|off: Switch Voice
  • /think: Toggle Reasoning Mode

Key Path Mapping (Essential Path Map)

  • Main Configuration:~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
  • Default Workspace:~/.openclaw/workspace/
  • Agent State Directory:~/.openclaw/agents/<cid>/
  • OAuth & API Keys:~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/agent/auth-profiles.json, if it is in the older version~/.openclaw/credentials/
  • Vector Index Storage:~/.openclaw/memory/<cid>.sqlite
  • Global Shared Skills:~/.openclaw/skills/
  • Gateway File Logs:/tmp/openclaw/*.log

Voice and TTS

  • Paid: OpenAI / ElevenLabs
  • Free: Edge TTS (No API Key Required)
  • Automatic TTS:messages.tts.auto: "always"

Memory and Models

  • Vector Search:memory search "X"
  • Model Switching:models set <model>
  • Authentication Settings:models auth setup
  • Logs:memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md

Hooks and Skills

  • ClawHub：clawhub install <slug>
  • Hook List:openclaw hooks list

Troubleshooting

  • No DM Reply → Pair List → Approve
  • Muted in Group → Check Mention Pattern Configuration
  • Authentication Expired →models auth setup-token
  • Gateway Closed →doctor --deep
  • Memory Bug → Rebuild Memory Index

Automation and Research

  • Browser:browser start/screenshot
  • Sub-agents:/subagents list/info
  • Scheduled Tasks:cron list/run <cid>
  • Heartbeat:heartbeat.every: "30m"

Install and Configure Directly via Third-Party Cloud

All major platforms now support this agent. If you don't want to install it locally, you can deploy OpenClaw on the cloud with one click:

Install using Alibaba Cloud's lightweight server:https://www.aliyun.com/activity/ecs/clawdbot。

You can use their images to install with one click:

Install using Tencent Cloud's lightweight server:https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/2624973

Common Commands

The common OpenClaw commands are as follows:

================= Basic Status / Diagnostics ================= ================= Initialization / Installation ================= ================= Configuration ================= ================= Channel Management ================= ================= Logs ================= ================= Automation / Research ================= ================= Uninstall =================
Command Purpose Remarks / Parameters
openclaw status View Gateway Current Running Status Includes Health and Context Information
openclaw health Health Check Detect Core, Dependencies, and Runtime Environment
openclaw doctor Comprehensive Diagnosis and Repair Recommendations Support--deepDeep Check
openclaw onboard Interactive Initialization Wizard Recommended for first use
openclaw onboard --install-daemon Install system daemon Run Gateway in background as a daemon
openclaw onboard --uninstall-daemon Uninstall daemon Do not delete data
openclaw configure Interactive Configuration Wizard Models, channels, credentials, etc.
openclaw config get <path> Get configuration value JSON Path
openclaw config set <path> <value> Set configuration item Supports JSON5 / raw text
openclaw config unset <path> Clear configuration item Remove a single key-value pair
openclaw channels list List logged-in channels WhatsApp / Telegram / Discord, etc.
openclaw channels login Log in to a new channel account QR code scan or authorization flow
openclaw channels add Add channel Telegram / Discord / Slack
openclaw channels status --probe Channel health check Check connection reachability
openclaw skills list List skills Installed / available skills
openclaw skills info <skill> Skill details Parameters, version info
clawhub install <slug> Install skill from ClawHub Official skill marketplace
openclaw hooks list List Hooks Event hook mechanism
openclaw plugins list List plugins View installed plugins
openclaw plugins install <id> Install plugin For example@openclaw/voice-call
openclaw plugins enable <id> Enable plugin Usually requires Gateway restart
openclaw models list List available models Includes authentication status
openclaw models status Model status Current availability
openclaw models auth setup-token Model authentication configuration Cheatsheet recommended approach
openclaw memory search "X" Search long-term memory Vector search
openclaw memory index Rebuild memory index Fix memory anomalies
openclaw logs View logs Default aggregated output
openclaw logs --follow Real-time logs --json / --plain / --limit
openclaw gateway install Install Gateway system service Register as system daemon
openclaw gateway start Start Gateway service System service mode
openclaw gateway stop Stop Gateway service
openclaw gateway restart Restart Gateway service Use after configuration changes
openclaw gateway status Gateway system service status Different fromopenclaw status
openclaw browser start Launch browser agent Automation capabilities
openclaw browser screenshot Webpage screenshot
openclaw subagents list List subagents
openclaw cron list List scheduled tasks
openclaw cron run <id> Execute scheduled tasks
openclaw uninstall Uninstall Gateway service and data Official recommendation
openclaw uninstall --all --yes --non-interactive Fully automatic uninstall Status / workspace / plugins
openclaw uninstall --state Delete state files Do not delete workspace
openclaw uninstall --workspace Delete workspace agent / workspace data
openclaw uninstall --service Uninstall system service only Do not delete data
openclaw uninstall --dry-run Simulate uninstall Display results only

Why Is It So Popular Recently?

  • It truly achieves "like JARVIS": can read/write files, run terminal commands, operate browsers, send/receive emails, calendar, write code, book flights, clear inbox...
  • Local-first + long-term memory: all conversations share context across platforms, and the USER.md and memory/ directories get smarter with use
  • Supports almost all major models: Claude, Gemini, OpenAI, Ollama local models, Pi, etc.
  • Community skills ecosystem explosion: ClawdHub already has 500+ community skills (Slack, Discord, GitHub, browser control, macOS UI automation...)
  • Installation is as simple as npm install, but the actual capabilities are quite spicy (developer's words)

Its core capabilities include:

  • Break down natural language goals into executable steps
  • Automatically invoke terminal commands
  • Create and modify project files
  • Run code and check results
  • Automatically fix based on error messages

Compared to code completion tools like Claude Code/OpenCode, OpenClaw is closer to an engineering agent with execution permissions.

  • Claude Code and OpenCode excel in code quality and understanding
  • OpenClaw excels in automatically completing the entire engineering process
Capability dimension OpenClaw Claude Code OpenCode
Task planning strong Medium Medium
Automatic execution Complete Partial Partial
Self-repair Yes None None
Engineering-level operations strong strong Medium
Local automation Native support Relatively weak Relatively weak
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