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.

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.

   shellCopy

   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.

   PowerShellCopy

   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.

   shellCopy

   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.

   shellCopy

   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.

   shellCopy

   openclaw update
   openclaw update --channel beta
   openclaw update --dry-run

More OpenClaw guides