OpenClaw Quick Start Guide
10 min4.9Beginner
Get your first OpenClaw gateway running in under 10 minutes
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:
- Node.js 22 or higher installed
- An API key (Anthropic recommended)
- Basic command line knowledge
- A code editor (VS Code recommended)
Step 1: Install OpenClaw
The easiest way to install OpenClaw is using npm:
```
npm install -g openclaw-gateway
```
This will install the gateway globally on your system.
Step 2: Initialize Configuration
Create a new directory for your OpenClaw setup:
```
mkdir my-openclaw-gateway
cd my-openclaw-gateway
openclaw init
```
This will create a basic configuration file.
Step 3: Configure Your API Key
Edit the generated `.openclaw/openclaw.json` file:
```json
{
"model": {
"provider": "anthropic",
"apiKey": "your-api-key-here"
}
}
```
Replace `your-api-key-here` with your actual API key.
Step 4: Start the Gateway
Start your OpenClaw gateway:
```
openclaw gateway start
```
Your gateway is now running on http://localhost:18789/
What's Next?
Congratulations! You've successfully set up your first OpenClaw gateway. Here are some things you can do next:
- Connect your first messaging channel (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord)
- Create your first AI skill
- Explore the browser control UI at http://localhost:18789/
- Read more tutorials to learn advanced features