OpenClaw setup guide

OpenClaw runs an AI agent on your computer and connects it to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord and iMessage. You message it like a contact. It replies, does the task, and can set up its own integrations when you ask.

That last part is what makes it worth the install. Once it is running you can ask it to do the rest of the setup. Want it reading Gmail? Ask. Calendar events? Ask. It installs the skill and walks you through the config. You do not need to learn the commands below by heart.

What you need

• A Claude subscription. This is the brain. Get the $100 or higher plan at claude.ai. The $20 plan runs out too fast for automation. No API key needed. OpenClaw signs in with your account.
• Node.js 22 or newer. Installed in the next step.
• A terminal. Mac and Linux have one. Windows needs WSL2 first.

Install it

Open a terminal

• Mac: Cmd Space, type Terminal, press Enter.
• Linux: Ctrl Alt T.
• Windows: open PowerShell as administrator, run wsl --install, restart, then open Ubuntu from the Start menu and continue there. OpenClaw does not run well on native Windows.

Install Node.js

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash - && sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

On a Mac with Homebrew: brew install node@22.

Install OpenClaw and run the wizard

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The wizard asks you to:

1. Pick Anthropic as the provider.
2. Choose Use existing subscription and sign in.
3. Connect a messaging app (next section).
4. Decide who is allowed to talk to it.

The --install-daemon flag keeps OpenClaw running in the background so it is there when you message it.

Check it is running

openclaw gateway status

If it is not, start it with openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose. The control panel is at http://127.0.0.1:18789.

Connect a messaging app

Easiest first.

Telegram

OpenClaw shows up as its own contact, you get notifications when it replies, and setup is one bot token.

1. Message @BotFather on Telegram.
2. Send /newbot and give it a name.
3. Copy the token BotFather gives you into the wizard.

Discord

More steps, but good if you want it in a server with a team.

1. Open the Discord developer portal and create a new application.
2. Under Bot, add a bot and copy its token.
3. Use the OAuth2 URL generator to make an invite link and add it to your server.

WhatsApp

openclaw channels login

Scan the QR code from WhatsApp: Settings, Linked devices, Link a device.

Approve the pairing

New conversations need approval before OpenClaw will talk to them. Send your first message, then approve the code it replies with.

openclaw pairing list whatsapp
openclaw pairing approve whatsapp <code>

Never approve a code from a number you do not recognise.

Start asking

Message it on whichever app you connected. A good first message:

I just installed you. Help me:
- set up my first automation
- install a few useful skills
- show me what you can do

Explain each step. I'm new to this.

Things it can do once the right skills are installed:

• “Summarise my unread email.”
• “What is on my calendar tomorrow?”
• “Remind me at 9am to call Sam.”
• “Set up a morning briefing every weekday.”

Skills

Out of the box OpenClaw can chat. Skills let it do things: read email, add calendar events, search the web, control lights. Like apps on a phone, you install the ones you want. Tell it “install the gog skill” and it handles the rest.

Config and commands

Settings live in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. The two you are most likely to touch: who can message it, and whether it needs an @mention in group chats.

{
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "allowFrom": ["+61400000000"],
      "groups": { "*": { "requireMention": true } }
    }
  },
  "messages": {
    "groupChat": {
      "mentionPatterns": ["@openclaw", "@assistant"]
    }
  }
}

openclaw health              # is everything wired up
openclaw status --all        # detailed status
openclaw security audit --deep
npm update -g openclaw@latest

If something breaks

Docs

• docs.openclaw.ai
• github.com/openclaw/openclaw