OpenClaw Local Install (Mac / Linux)

⚠️ Security note: OpenClaw may have high-privilege capabilities.
Test on a spare machine, VM, or separate user account first.

What you'll achieve

Install OpenClaw on Mac or Linux
Complete onboarding and verify the first working response
Learn how to start, update, restart, and uninstall OpenClaw safely
Fix common install issues such as PATH, proxy, permission, or legacy package conflicts

Before you start

What you need

A terminal on macOS or Linux
Network access to the install script
A model API key such as Anthropic / Claude

Recommended environment

Trying it out: local is fine, ideally on a VM or spare machine
Long-running setup: continue with Docker / VPS deployment

Step 0: Quick system check

Command

uname -awhoami

Step 1: Install OpenClaw

Option A: download first, then run

Command

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.bot/install.sh -o install.shsed -n '1,120p' install.shbash install.sh

Option B: fastest install

Command

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

Verify the install

Command

openclaw --version || truewhich openclaw || true

Step 2: Fix "command not found"

Reopen the terminal

Many install scripts update PATH and need a fresh shell.

Reload your shell config

Command

source ~/.zshrc 2>/dev/null || truesource ~/.bashrc 2>/dev/null || true

Check PATH and install location

Command

echo $PATHwhich openclaw || true

Step 3: Remove legacy installs

OpenClaw was previously known as Moltbot and before that Clawdbot. Older global packages can cause conflicts.

Command

npm uninstall -g clawdbot || truenpm uninstall -g moltbot || truenpm uninstall -g openclaw || true

Then rerun Step 1.

Step 4: Run onboarding

Command

openclaw onboard --flow quickstart

Recommended defaults:

Use Telegram if you want the easiest first verification
Store secrets in your local config or .env, not in git

Verify onboarding

Config is saved under ~/.openclaw
You can complete the prompts without persistent errors

Step 5: Start OpenClaw

Foreground

Command

openclaw start

Background

Command

openclaw start --detach

Restart after config changes

Command

openclaw gateway restart || openclaw restart

Verify startup

Logs do not show recurring errors
A test message in your configured channel gets a response

Step 6: How to update OpenClaw

If you are running a local install, update the CLI or rerun the latest supported install flow, then restart the gateway.

Command

npm i -g openclaw@latestopenclaw --versionopenclaw gateway restart || openclaw restart

If you run OpenClaw in Docker or on a VPS, do not use the local update flow. Instead continue with the Docker / VPS guide.

Step 7: How to uninstall OpenClaw

If you want to remove OpenClaw from a local machine, first remove the global package, then decide whether to keep or remove your local state directory.

Command

npm uninstall -g openclaw || truewhich openclaw || true

Optional cleanup:

Command

rm -rf ~/.openclaw

Only remove ~/.openclaw if you no longer need config, history, or local state.

Step 8: Proxy or restricted network issues

If onboarding hangs, skills fail to download, or channel requests time out, try a proxy first.

Command

export https_proxy=http://127.0.0.1:7890export http_proxy=http://127.0.0.1:7890openclaw start

Step 9: Permission errors

If you see EACCES or permission denied:

Use a user-owned directory
Prefer nvm for Node management
Move to Docker / VPS deployment if you want better isolation

Common questions

Channel does not respond

Recheck your model key
Verify network or proxy access
Try Telegram as the simplest first channel

Skills or dependencies fail to download

Confirm network stability
Use a proxy in restricted regions
Review advanced configuration if the issue is plugin or skill related