How to Install OpenClaw - Complete Installation Guide

System Requirements

• Node.js v18 or higher (v20+ recommended)
• npm, yarn, or pnpm package manager
• 2GB+ RAM minimum (4GB+ recommended)
• macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL2
• Git for version control

Installation Methods

Method 1: Quick Install (Recommended)

npm install -g openclaw

Method 2: Install from Source

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
npm install
npm run build
npm link

First-Time Setup

After installation, initialize your OpenClaw workspace:

openclaw init

This creates a default workspace directory at ~/.openclaw.

Configure Your First Agent

1. Run openclaw agent create my-agent
2. Edit the generated configuration file
3. Test your agent with openclaw agent run my-agent

Troubleshooting

• Permission denied: Try installing with sudo or use npx openclaw
• Node version mismatch: Update Node.js using nvm or n
• Build errors: Clear node_modules and reinstall dependencies

Next Steps

Now that you have OpenClaw installed:

• Learn about AI Skills development
• Configure your first skill
• Join the community for support