Complete OpenClaw Installation & Setup Guide

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw (formerly known as MoltBot / ClawDBot) is an open-source AI Agent framework that enables you to chat with AI through instant messaging platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, and more. Unlike simple chatbots, OpenClaw can execute complex tasks, manage files, call APIs, truly becoming your personal digital assistant.

All data is stored on your own server, without passing through any third-party platforms, giving you complete control over your privacy.

Why Do You Need a Cloud Server?

Compared to running on your local computer, cloud servers offer these advantages for your OpenClaw setup:

• 24/7 Online - Your AI assistant responds to messages anytime, even when your computer is off
• Publicly Accessible - No port forwarding or NAT traversal needed, simpler OpenClaw install configuration
• Stable & Reliable - Professional data center operations, 99.9% uptime guarantee
• Data Security - Automatic backups protect against data loss from hardware failures
• Isolated Environment - OpenClaw has terminal access, running on a separate server is more secure

Supported AI Models

OpenClaw supports multiple mainstream AI models. Choose according to your needs for your OpenClaw setup:

Supported Chat Platforms

OpenClaw supports multiple chat platforms. Use your favorite app to chat with AI after OpenClaw install:

• Telegram - Recommended for beginners, simplest setup
• WhatsApp - Connect via WhatsApp Web QR code
• Discord - Perfect for communities and teams
• Slack - Top choice for enterprise collaboration
• Signal - Preferred by privacy-focused users
• iMessage - Requires additional configuration

System Requirements

Before starting the OpenClaw install process, ensure you have:

Cost Estimate

OpenClaw Installation & Setup Tutorial

Let's complete the OpenClaw deployment step by step. The entire OpenClaw install process takes approximately 15-20 minutes.

Step 1: Get a Cloud Server

First, you need a cloud server for your OpenClaw setup. If you already have one, skip to step 2.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

After purchasing a server, you need to connect via SSH to begin OpenClaw setup.

Recommended Tools for Windows Users:

• Windows Terminal (Built-in on Windows 10/11)
• PuTTY - Classic SSH client
• Termius - Cross-platform, beautiful interface

macOS / Linux Users: Just open the terminal.

# Login with password
ssh root@your_server_ip

# Login with SSH key (more secure)
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your_key root@your_server_ip

Step 3: Create Dedicated User (Recommended)

For security, it's recommended to create a non-root user to run OpenClaw:

# Create new user
adduser openclaw

# Grant sudo privileges
usermod -aG sudo openclaw

# Switch to new user
su - openclaw

Step 4: Update System

Update system packages and install necessary dependencies for OpenClaw setup:

# Update package list and upgrade
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install necessary tools
sudo apt install -y curl git unzip

Step 5: Install Node.js

OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 or higher. We recommend using nvm for installation:

# 1. Install nvm
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.3/install.sh | bash

# 2. Reload configuration
source ~/.bashrc

# 3. Install Node.js 22
nvm install 22

# 4. Set as default version
nvm alias default 22

# 5. Verify installation
node -v  # Should show v22.x.x
npm -v   # Should show 10.x.x or higher

Step 6: Install OpenClaw

Method 1: One-Click Installation Script (Recommended)

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

Method 2: Install via npm

npm install -g moltbot@latest

Reload shell after installation completes:

exec bash

Verify installation:

clawdbot --version

Step 7: Run Setup Wizard

Run the OpenClaw setup wizard to complete initial configuration:

clawdbot onboard --install-daemon

The setup wizard will guide you through:

Setup Telegram Bot

Telegram is the most recommended platform for beginners with the simplest OpenClaw setup.

Create Telegram Bot

1. Search for @BotFather in Telegram
2. Send /newbot command to create a new bot
3. Follow prompts to set bot name and username
4. Copy the Token returned by BotFather

Add to OpenClaw

# Add Telegram channel
clawdbot channel add telegram

Paste the Bot Token when prompted.

Authorize Users

Send a message to your bot, then:

# View pending authorization requests
clawdbot pairing list telegram

# Approve authorization (replace CODE with actual code)
clawdbot pairing approve telegram CODE

Setup WhatsApp

WhatsApp requires authorization by scanning a QR code:

# Add WhatsApp channel
clawdbot channel add whatsapp

# Start WhatsApp service
clawdbot channel start whatsapp

A QR code will be displayed in the terminal:

1. Open WhatsApp on your phone
2. Go to Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device
3. Scan the QR code in the terminal

Setup Discord

Discord requires creating an application on the developer platform first:

1. Visit Discord Developer Portal
2. Click "New Application" to create a new app
3. Go to Bot page, click "Add Bot"
4. Copy the Bot Token
5. Invite the bot to your server

# Add Discord channel
clawdbot channel add discord

# Start Discord service
clawdbot channel start discord

Follow prompts to enter Bot Token, Guild ID and Channel ID.

Access Web Control Panel

OpenClaw provides a web control panel for viewing chat history and managing settings. The panel runs on 127.0.0.1:18789 and needs to be accessed via SSH tunnel:

# Run on local computer terminal (not on server)
ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 openclaw@your_server_ip

# Then open in browser
http://127.0.0.1:18789

The control panel provides multiple functional pages:

Common Commands Reference

Service Management

# Check status
clawdbot gateway status

# Restart service
clawdbot gateway restart

# Stop service
clawdbot gateway stop

# Start service
clawdbot gateway start

Logs & Diagnostics

# View real-time logs
clawdbot logs --follow

# View historical logs
clawdbot logs

# Diagnostic check
clawdbot doctor

Channel Management

# List all channels
clawdbot channel list

# Add channel
clawdbot channel add telegram

# View pending authorization list
clawdbot pairing list telegram

Skill Plugins

# List all skills
clawdbot skills list

# Install skill
clawdbot skills install github

Personalization Configuration

# Edit AI personality settings
nano ~/clawd/SOUL.md

# Edit user information
nano ~/clawd/USER.md

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)