How to install openclaw
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How to install openclaw

This guide focuses on the OpenClaw AI Assistant (formerly known as Clawdbot), an autonomous agent that runs on your Linux machine or VPS to handle tasks, manage schedules, and chat with you via Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord.

Phase 1: Check Your System Requirements

OpenClaw is a “heavy” application because it manages long-term memory and complex automations. For a smooth experience on Linux, ensure your system meets these specs:

  • Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or 24.04 LTS is highly recommended.

  • Memory (RAM):

    • Minimum: 2GB (Expect occasional crashes).

    • Recommended: 4GB – 8GB (Ideal for beginners).

  • Storage: At least 20GB of SSD space.

  • Software: You need Node.js (v22 or higher). The installer usually handles this, but it’s good to know.

Phase 2: Preparing Your Linux System

Before running the installer, you need to make sure your system is updated and has the basic tools to download the files.

  1. Open your Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).

  2. Update your packages:

    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

  3. Install Curl and Git:

    sudo apt install curl git -y

Phase 3: The One-Line Installation

The developers provide a “QuickStart” script that automatically detects your Linux version, installs Node.js if missing, and sets up the OpenClaw files.

Paste this into your terminal :

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

Note: If the script asks for your password, it is likely trying to install Node.js or system dependencies.

Phase 4: The Onboarding Wizard

Once the installation finishes, the Onboarding Wizard will automatically start in your terminal. This is where you “give life” to your assistant. Follow these steps:

  1. Security Acknowledgement: Type Yes to confirm you understand that OpenClaw has permission to interact with your system files (this is how it performs tasks).

  2. Choose an AI Provider:

    • OpenRouter (Recommended): Best for beginners because one account gives you access to every model (Claude, GPT-4, etc.).

    • Anthropic/OpenAI: Use these if you already have a direct API key.

    • Local (Ollama): Only choose this if you have a powerful GPU.

  3. Enter Your API Key: Go to your provider’s website (e.g., openrouter.ai), create a key, and paste it into the terminal.

  4. Connect a Channel: You will be asked how you want to talk to your bot.

    • Telegram: The easiest to set up. It will ask for a “Bot Token” from @BotFather.

    • WhatsApp: It will show a QR Code in your terminal. Open WhatsApp on your phone, go to “Linked Devices,” and scan it.

  5. Install the Daemon: When asked, “Install as a daemon/service?”, choose Yes. This ensures OpenClaw starts automatically when your computer turns on.

Phase 5: Managing OpenClaw

Once setup is complete, your assistant is running in the background. You can control it using these commands:

  • Open the Dashboard: View your agent’s “brain” and logs in your web browser.

    openclaw dashboard

  • Check Status: See if the gateway is running.

    openclaw gateway status

  • Restart OpenClaw: Useful if the bot stops responding.

    openclaw gateway restart

Troubleshooting Tips for Beginners

  • “Command not found”: If you type openclaw and Linux doesn’t recognize it, try restarting your terminal or running source ~/.bashrc.

  • Memory Crashes: If you are on a small 2GB RAM machine, OpenClaw might crash during the “Building” phase. If this happens, try closing other apps or adding “Swap” memory to your Linux system.

  • API Errors: Ensure your AI provider account has at least $5 of credit. Most “Free” tiers for APIs are very limited and will cause the bot to “silently” fail.

  • Updating: OpenClaw moves fast. To get the latest features, run:

    openclaw update

What’s next?
Once the bot is linked to your Telegram or WhatsApp, just send it a message like “Hey, what can you do?” or “Remind me to check the oven in 10 minutes.” to test its autonomous capabilities.

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