---
title: "Install OpenClaw on macOS, Linux and Windows · DotsAgent"
description: "Install OpenClaw with the official script, PowerShell or npm, run onboarding, check it with openclaw doctor and switch between stable, beta and dev updates."
url: https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/install
---

OpenClaw guide · 5 steps

# Install OpenClaw

Install the openclaw CLI with the official script, the PowerShell installer or npm, then let onboarding create the config, the gateway token and the background service.

The npm route needs Node.js 24.16+ or 26.1+; the installer scripts set Node up for you. Plan for at least 1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM and 500 MB of disk.

1. Run the installer on macOS, Linux or WSL2 The script installs Node if needed (Node 26 on macOS, Node 24 LTS on Linux) and the openclaw CLI, then starts the onboarding wizard. To install without the wizard, pipe into bash -s -- --no-onboard instead of plain bash. shell`curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash`
2. Or use PowerShell on Windows On native Windows, run the PowerShell installer in a PowerShell window. The native Windows Hub app is another option, and inside WSL2 you can use the shell script from step 1 instead. PowerShell`iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex`
3. Or install with npm If you manage Node yourself, install the package globally. npm 12 and 11.16+ need --allow-scripts=openclaw; leave the flag out on npm 11.15 or older. onboard --install-daemon then runs the wizard and installs the service: a LaunchAgent on macOS, a systemd user service on Linux and WSL2, a Scheduled Task on Windows. shell`npm install -g openclaw@latest --allow-scripts=openclaw openclaw onboard --install-daemon`
4. Check the install openclaw --version prints the installed release, openclaw doctor runs the health checks, and openclaw gateway status reports whether the gateway service is running. Version numbers are date-based, in YYYY.M.N form. shell`openclaw --version openclaw doctor openclaw gateway status`
5. Stay up to date openclaw update installs the newest release. Use --channel to move between stable, extended-stable, beta and dev, and --dry-run to preview an update without applying it. openclaw update status and openclaw update repair are also available. shell`openclaw update openclaw update --channel beta openclaw update --dry-run`

Onboarding generates a gateway token and keeps the gateway on 127.0.0.1:18789. Go through the hardening guide before you connect a chat channel.

## More OpenClaw guides

[Run OpenClaw on a VPS](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/vps)

[Run OpenClaw in Docker](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/docker)

[Run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/raspberry-pi)

[Connect models to OpenClaw](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/models)

[Connect OpenClaw to Telegram](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/telegram)

[Harden your OpenClaw gateway](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/hardening)

[Remote access to OpenClaw](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/remote-access)

## Sources

1. [docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/install)/install
2. [docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/updating)/install/updating

Independent reference for people who build AI agents. Not affiliated with any vendor named here.

© 2026 DotsAgent · Facts checked October 1, 2026