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guide · Feb 1, 2026 · 8 min read

How to Configure OpenClaw: Complete Setup Guide for 2026

Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring OpenClaw on your machine, from source build to cloud deployment.

How to Configure OpenClaw: Complete Setup Guide for 2026

OpenClaw (formerly Moltbot/Clawdbot) is the viral open-source AI assistant with 100,000+ GitHub stars. This guide walks you through installation and configuration.

What You'll Need

  • Node.js 18+ and pnpm package manager
  • An API key from your preferred LLM provider (Anthropic recommended)
  • A messaging platform account (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or Slack)

Installation Methods

Method 1: Build from Source (Recommended)

Clone and build the official repository:
bash
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm ui:build  # auto-installs UI deps on first run
pnpm build

Method 2: DigitalOcean One-Click Deploy

DigitalOcean offers a pre-configured droplet with OpenClaw version 2026.1.24-1 and all dependencies. Perfect for cloud deployment without manual setup.

Method 3: Docker Compose

For containerized deployment:
bash
docker-compose up -d
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Running the Onboarding Wizard

After installation, run the interactive setup:
bash
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
The wizard guides you through:
  1. Model Provider Setup: Select your LLM (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter, etc.)
  2. API Key Entry: Paste your API key or authenticate via OAuth
  3. Messaging Channels: Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or other platforms
  4. Daemon Configuration: Set up background service for 24/7 operation

Accessing the Control UI

After setup, access the web dashboard:
code
http://127.0.0.1:18789/?token=YOUR-GENERATED-TOKEN
Replace 
code
YOUR-GENERATED-TOKEN
with the token displayed at the end of the wizard.

Platform-Specific Notes

macOS

  • Install Xcode Command Line Tools if building native apps
  • For CLI + gateway only, Node.js is sufficient

Windows

  • WSL2 (Ubuntu) is strongly recommended
  • Native Windows is untested and has poorer tool compatibility

Linux

  • Ubuntu 24.04+ works best
  • Ensure you have sudo privileges for daemon installation

Security Best Practices

Running an AI agent with access to your computer raises security concerns. Recommended approaches:
  1. Dedicated Machine: Run OpenClaw on a separate device, not your main workstation
  2. Cloud Deployment: Use a cloud server to isolate OpenClaw from personal data
  3. Credential Isolation: Don't connect production accounts during testing
  4. Docker Hardening: Use containerization for additional isolation

Cost Considerations

OpenClaw itself is free, but you'll pay for API usage. Expect approximately $30/month for moderate automation tasks using Claude or GPT-4 class models.

Next Steps

Once configured, explore:

Resources

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