OpenClaw Complete Setup Guide

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We'll Handle the Entire Setup!

If all of this feels overwhelming or you just don't have the time, don't worry. We offer a done-for-you OpenClaw setup service — we'll install, configure, and connect all your channels for you.

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What is OpenClaw? 🤔

Understand first, then set it up

OpenClaw is an open-source AI gateway — in simple terms: a program that runs on your computer and turns apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack into your personal AI assistant.

It's literally like building your own Jarvis from Iron Man — except it comes in lobster form 🦞

Chat with AI through your messaging apps
Get your computer to do tasks (open programs, web search)
It remembers your conversations — gets smarter over time
Your data stays on your computer — not on any external server

What Do You Need First? ✅

Check these before installing

🖥️ Computer (Required!)

🍎Mac

🪟Windows

🐧Linux

❌Phone Only? Won't Work

📦 Node.js v22 or Above

Node.js is a tool that runs JavaScript programs — OpenClaw is built on it.

💡

How to check: Type node --version in your terminal. If you see v22.x.x or higher — you're good! If not, go to nodejs.org and download the LTS version.

🤖 AI Service Account (Pick One)

Anthropic (Claude) — Recommended ✨

Claude Opus 4.5 is incredibly smart. Sign up at anthropic.com → Get your API key from the Console.

OpenAI (ChatGPT)

This works great too. Sign up at openai.com → Get your key from platform.openai.com/api-keys.

⚠️

NEVER share your API Key! It's just like a password.

⏱️ Time: Approximately 30 Minutes

It's not difficult — just follow the steps one by one. Once the setup is done, you won't need to do it again.

Install OpenClaw 🚀

Just one command — and the magic happens

Open Terminal / Command Prompt

Mac: Command + Space → "Terminal" → Enter
Windows: Windows key → "cmd" or "PowerShell" → Enter
Linux: You already know how 😄

Run the Install Command

Copy the command below — according to your OS:

Mac / Linux

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

Windows (PowerShell)

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

ℹ️

This command downloads the installer from the internet and runs it directly. A lot of text will scroll by — that's normal, just wait 2–5 minutes.

Verify the Installation

        Terminal
        openclaw --version
      

If you see a version number like v2025.x.x — 🎉 It's installed! If not, close the terminal and reopen it, then try again.

🛠️ Our Service

Finding the Installation Complicated?

No worries! We have a dedicated setup team. Just reach out — we'll handle your complete OpenClaw setup — installation, AI connection, WhatsApp/Telegram linking, everything. You just sit back and enjoy!

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Onboarding Wizard 🧙

Personalize your AI

Start the Wizard

        Terminal
        openclaw onboard --install-daemon
      

💜

--install-daemon means: OpenClaw will keep running silently in the background — even if you close the terminal, the AI stays ready!

Q1: What Do You Want to Name Your Assistant?

Type anything — "Jarvis", "Alfred", "Lobster Larry", or any fun name you like! Hit Enter.

Q2: Select Your AI Provider

Use the arrow keys to choose: Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI. Hit Enter.

Q3: Enter Your API Key

Paste the key you copied earlier. Nothing will appear on screen — that's normal. Hit Enter.

🔐

How to get Anthropic API Key: console.anthropic.com → "API Keys" → "Create Key" → Copy

🔐

How to get OpenAI API Key: platform.openai.com/api-keys → "Create new secret key" → Copy

Q4: Select a Model

Recommended options:

claude-opus-4.5 — Smartest, slightly expensive
claude-sonnet-4.5 — Smart and affordable
gpt-4 — OpenAI option

Q5: Do You Want to Set Up Messaging Channels?

Say Yes — to connect apps like WhatsApp, Telegram. You can also add them later.

Q6: Select Your Channels

Use the space bar to pick the ones you want, then press Enter. Options: WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and more!

Q7: Install the Gateway Daemon?

Definitely say YES! This keeps OpenClaw running 24/7 in the background.

What Was Created on Your PC? 📂

Understanding what the setup did

📁 .openclaw Folder

A hidden folder has been created in your home directory:

Mac/Linux: /home/username/.openclaw
Windows: C:\Users\username\.openclaw

Inside it:

openclaw.json — all your settings
credentials/ — API keys stored securely
workspace/ — AI's workspace files
logs/ — history of everything that happened

🔌 The Gateway — Control Center

The Gateway is a background program that manages everything: AI communication, channel handling, running commands. It runs on port 18789.

Is Everything Working? 🔍

Test it before moving ahead

Gateway Status Check

        Terminal
        openclaw gateway status
      

You should see: ✓ Gateway is running ✓ Port: 18789 ✓ Status: healthy

Don't see it? Run this:

        Terminal
        openclaw gateway start
      

Open the Dashboard

        Terminal
        openclaw dashboard
      

A cool control panel will open in your browser! To go directly: http://127.0.0.1:18789/

Send Your First Message! 🎉

Type this in the dashboard chat box:

        First Message
        Hello! Can you introduce yourself?
      

If the AI replied — CONGRATULATIONS! Setup complete! 🎊

Messaging Channels Setup 📱

Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord — and more

💬 WhatsApp Setup (A Bit Tricky, But Worth It!)

Login Command

          Terminal
          openclaw channels login whatsapp
        

Scan the QR Code

A QR code will appear in the terminal. Now:

Open WhatsApp on your phone
Three dots (menu) → "Linked Devices" → "Link a Device"
Scan the QR code from the terminal using your phone camera
Wait — it will connect!

Approve Your Number

For security, only approved numbers can chat with the AI:

          Terminal
          openclaw pairing approve whatsapp +91XXXXXXXXXX
        

Test It

Send yourself a WhatsApp message: "Hey! Are you working?" — Did the AI reply? 🎉

✈️ Telegram Setup (The Easiest One!)

Create a Bot via BotFather

Open Telegram → Search for @BotFather → Type /newbot → Give it a name → Copy the token (a string of numbers).

Add the Token to Config

          Terminal
          openclaw config edit
        

In the file, add this under the channels section:

          JSON Config
          "telegram": {
  "botToken": "paste-your-token-here"
}
        

Restart and Test

          Terminal
          openclaw gateway restart
        

Find your bot on Telegram → Start it → Type "Hello!" → You'll get a reply! 🤖

🎮 Discord Setup (For the Gamers!)

Create a Bot on Discord Developer Portal

Go to discord.com/developers/applications → "New Application" → Name it → "Bot" section → "Add Bot" → "Reset Token" → Copy the token.

Turn ON these 3 settings:

Presence Intent
Server Members Intent
Message Content Intent

Add to Config

          JSON Config
          "discord": {
  "token": "your-bot-token-here"
}
        

Invite the Bot to Your Server

Developer Portal → OAuth2 → URL Generator → Check "bot" → Permissions: Send Messages, Read Messages, Read Message History → Copy the URL → Open it in your browser → Select your server → Authorize!

Restart and Test

          Terminal
          openclaw gateway restart
        

Message your bot in the Discord server — you'll get a reply!

📡 Even More Channels are Supported!

Slack Google Chat Signal iMessage (Mac) Matrix And More!

Each channel has its own setup — check the OpenClaw docs: docs.openclaw.ai

💼 Professional Service

Channel Configuration Giving You a Headache?

We understand — WhatsApp QR, Discord bot permissions, API tokens — it can all be confusing. Contact us and we'll handle the complete setup for you — one-time fee, lifetime use.

🚀 DM @techfireco on Instagram ✉️ Email Us

Make OpenClaw Even Smarter 🧠

Install skills

🎯 What are Skills?

Skills are like apps — install them and OpenClaw learns to do new things. Like web search, managing your calendar, controlling Spotify, organizing files, etc.

Browse Available Skills

Head to clawhub.ai — you'll find hundreds of skills!

Install a Skill (Example: Web Search)

        Terminal
        openclaw skills install web-search
      

Now ask the AI: "Search for information about dinosaurs" — and it will!

⭐ Top Recommended Skills

calendar weather spotify file-organizer code-helper web-search

Advanced Settings 🔧

Feeling comfortable? Now customize it

🎭 Change the AI's Personality

There's a SOUL.md file that defines the AI's behavior:

      Terminal
      cd ~/.openclaw/workspace
nano SOUL.md
    

Inside it, you can write things like:

      SOUL.md
      You are a helpful and funny AI assistant.
You love making jokes and being encouraging.
You sometimes bring up interesting tech facts.
    

Save it (Ctrl+X → Y → Enter), then:

      Terminal
      openclaw gateway restart
    

💰 Set a Spending Limit

To avoid overspending — add this to your config:

      JSON Config
      "limits": {
  "maxTokensPerDay": 100000,
  "alertWhenOver": 50000
}
    

🤖 Use Multiple AI Models

Use a smart model for important tasks, and a cheaper model for smaller ones:

      JSON Config
      "models": {
  "chat": "claude-opus-4.5",
  "quick": "claude-sonnet-4.5",
  "cheap": "gpt-3.5-turbo"
}
    

🔄 Keep OpenClaw Running 24/7

Even after your computer restarts:

      Mac / Linux
      openclaw gateway --install-daemon
    

💡

On Windows, you'll need to set up a Windows Service — full instructions are available at docs.openclaw.ai.

Having Problems? Let's Fix Them! 🛠️

Common issues and their solutions

❌ Getting "Command not found"

Close the terminal and open a new one
Run the installer again
Manually add to PATH (ask someone experienced for help)

❌ "Gateway won't start"

Another program might be using port 18789. Try this:

      Terminal
      openclaw gateway --port 18790
    

❌ "AI is not responding"

Is your API key correct? Double-check it
Do you have credits in your account? Check it
Check the logs to see what's happening:

      Terminal
      openclaw logs
    

❌ "WhatsApp keeps disconnecting"

Keep your phone connected to the internet
Don't manually log out from WhatsApp
Re-scan the QR code if needed

Cool Things to Do with OpenClaw 🌟

Ideas to get started

Get photosynthesis explained in simple language
"Remind me about the science project tomorrow at 4 PM" — set a reminder
Learn how to build a simple HTML website
Research interesting facts about Ancient Egypt
Get help writing a story — "A robot that wanted to become a chef"
Understand quadratic equations step by step
Practice a conversation in Spanish
Have a fun chat: "If you could be any animal other than a lobster, which would you pick?"

Safety Tips 🔒

Important things to keep in mind

NEVER share your API key on social media — it's like a password
Don't share your home address, phone number, or card details with the AI
Keep the pairing system ON — so only approved numbers can chat with the AI
Always double-check important information from the AI — it can make mistakes sometimes
Don't use it to copy homework — use it to learn!

Want to Learn More? 📚

Official resources

docs.openclaw.ai — Official detailed documentation
github.com/openclaw/openclaw — View the source code
clawhub.ai — Discover hundreds of skills
Advanced projects: build your own skills, set up automations, try multi-agent systems

🎯 @techfireco Service

Complete OpenClaw Setup — Leave It to Us!

Finished reading the guide? If you still find the setup difficult — or simply don't have the time — we offer a done-for-you service.

✅ Installation ✅ AI Connection ✅ All Channels ✅ Skills ✅ Personality Setup

One-time setup, lifetime use. DM us!

📩 DM @techfireco on Instagram ✉️ Email Us

OpenClaw Setup:Your AI Assistant, Right On Your Machine

We'll Handle the Entire Setup!

What is OpenClaw? 🤔

What Do You Need First? ✅

🖥️ Computer (Required!)

📦 Node.js v22 or Above

🤖 AI Service Account (Pick One)

Anthropic (Claude) — Recommended ✨

OpenAI (ChatGPT)

⏱️ Time: Approximately 30 Minutes

Install OpenClaw 🚀

Open Terminal / Command Prompt

Run the Install Command

Verify the Installation

Finding the Installation Complicated?

Onboarding Wizard 🧙

Start the Wizard

Q1: What Do You Want to Name Your Assistant?

Q2: Select Your AI Provider

Q3: Enter Your API Key

Q4: Select a Model

Q5: Do You Want to Set Up Messaging Channels?

Q6: Select Your Channels

Q7: Install the Gateway Daemon?

What Was Created on Your PC? 📂

📁 .openclaw Folder

🔌 The Gateway — Control Center

Is Everything Working? 🔍

Gateway Status Check

Open the Dashboard

Send Your First Message! 🎉

Messaging Channels Setup 📱

💬 WhatsApp Setup (A Bit Tricky, But Worth It!)

Login Command

Scan the QR Code

Approve Your Number

Test It

✈️ Telegram Setup (The Easiest One!)

Create a Bot via BotFather

Add the Token to Config

Restart and Test

🎮 Discord Setup (For the Gamers!)

Create a Bot on Discord Developer Portal

Add to Config

Invite the Bot to Your Server

Restart and Test

📡 Even More Channels are Supported!

Channel Configuration Giving You a Headache?

Make OpenClaw Even Smarter 🧠

🎯 What are Skills?

Browse Available Skills

Install a Skill (Example: Web Search)

⭐ Top Recommended Skills

Advanced Settings 🔧

🎭 Change the AI's Personality

💰 Set a Spending Limit

🤖 Use Multiple AI Models

🔄 Keep OpenClaw Running 24/7

Having Problems? Let's Fix Them! 🛠️

❌ Getting "Command not found"

❌ "Gateway won't start"

❌ "AI is not responding"

❌ "WhatsApp keeps disconnecting"

Cool Things to Do with OpenClaw 🌟

Safety Tips 🔒

Want to Learn More? 📚

Complete OpenClaw Setup — Leave It to Us!

OpenClaw Setup:
Your AI Assistant, Right On Your Machine