OpenClaw One-Line Install: Zero to AI in Under 10 Minutes
February 24, 2026 · AI Tools
OpenClaw is the open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your machine and connects to Claude, GPT-4o, or Gemini—plus Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, and more. The fastest way to get started is the official one-line installer: a single command installs OpenClaw and then you run the onboarding wizard to pick your AI provider and your first chat channel. On macOS and Linux you can go from zero to your first AI reply in under 10 minutes; on Windows, use WSL2 and the same flow. This guide walks you through the exact steps in 2026.
1 Prerequisites: Node.js 22
OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 (or at least Node 20). On macOS you can install it with Homebrew: brew install node@22 or use the official installer from nodejs.org. On Ubuntu or Debian, use the NodeSource repo: curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash - && sudo apt install -y nodejs. On Windows, install WSL2 and a Linux distro (e.g. Ubuntu), then install Node inside WSL. Verify with node -v; you should see v22.x or v20.x.
2 Run the One-Line Installer
On macOS and Linux (including WSL2), the official install script is:
The script installs OpenClaw globally (e.g. via npm) and may add the binary to your PATH. When it finishes, run openclaw --version to confirm. If the command is not found, check the script output for the install path and add it to your PATH, or use npx openclaw instead. On Windows without WSL, you can install via PowerShell with npm install -g openclaw after installing Node.js for Windows; the curl method is intended for Unix-like environments.
3 Onboarding: AI Provider and First Channel
Next, run the onboarding wizard so OpenClaw knows which AI to use and how you will chat with it:
You will be asked to choose a model provider (e.g. Claude, OpenAI, Google Gemini), enter your API key, and then add a messaging channel. For Telegram: create a bot with @BotFather, copy the token, and paste it when prompted; then open a chat with your bot and complete the pairing step the wizard shows. For Discord or WhatsApp, the wizard will guide you through the app and token setup. If you want OpenClaw to run as a background service that starts on boot, use openclaw onboard --install-daemon so it installs a systemd (Linux) or launchd (macOS) service.
4 Send Your First Message
Once onboarding is done, the gateway is running. Open Telegram (or your chosen app), find your OpenClaw bot, and send a message. The agent should reply using your configured AI. If nothing happens, check that the gateway is running: openclaw gateway status. On Linux with the daemon, run systemctl --user status openclaw. Ensure your API key is valid and that your machine can reach the AI provider’s API; in restricted networks, a VPN on the OpenClaw host often fixes timeouts or blocked requests.
Tips for a Smooth First Run
Have your API key and bot token ready before you run openclaw onboard so you are not searching mid-flow. If you are behind a corporate firewall or in a region where AI APIs are throttled, connect the host to a fast VPN before onboarding so the agent can reach Claude or OpenAI reliably. After install, explore the skill ecosystem: OpenClaw can add skills for calendar, email, smart home, and more, and the VirusTotal partnership helps keep community skills safer. For long-term 24/7 use, consider running OpenClaw on a small server or Raspberry Pi and keep it online with a stable VPN so you can message your agent from anywhere.
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FAQ
Does the one-line installer work on Windows without WSL?
The curl script is for Unix-like shells. On native Windows, install Node.js from nodejs.org, then run npm install -g openclaw in PowerShell or Command Prompt. WSL2 is still recommended for the smoothest experience and to use the same commands as on Linux.
How do I update OpenClaw after the first install?
Run npm update -g openclaw (or the equivalent for your install path). If you use a daemon, restart it after updating so the new binary is used.