Getting Started with OpenClaw: Complete Setup Guide for 2025

Introduction

OpenClaw is a powerful multi-platform AI assistant that connects to your favorite chat applications to autonomously handle real tasks. This guide will walk you through the complete installation and initial setup process.

System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your system meets these requirements:

Node.js 22+ (or Bun 1.1+)

macOS, Linux, or Windows (WSL2)

2GB RAM minimum (4GB recommended)

Stable internet connection

Installation Methods

Quick Install (Recommended)

The fastest way to get started is our one-line installer:

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

This script detects your platform and installs OpenClaw with the recommended configuration.

Alternative: npm Global Install

If you prefer manual control:

npm install -g openclaw

Alternative: Docker

For containerized deployments:

docker pull openclaw/gateway
docker-compose up -d

First-Time Setup Wizard

After installation, run the onboarding wizard:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

This wizard will:

Configure your AI model provider (Anthropic Claude recommended)

Set up your first messaging channel

Install the gateway as a background service

Verify everything is working

Starting the Gateway

Launch the OpenClaw gateway:

openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose

You can access the web dashboard at http://127.0.0.1:18789/

Verifying Your Installation

Run a quick health check:

openclaw status

You should see all services showing green status.

Next Steps

Now that OpenClaw is running, you can:

Connect WhatsApp

Set up Telegram bot

Configure Discord integration

Learn about security hardening

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

Run openclaw doctor for diagnostics

Check our troubleshooting guides

Contact our team for professional setup assistance