OpenClaw Companion App: Mac Menubar Access to Your AI Assistant

If you run OpenClaw on a Mac, the Companion App (Beta) adds a native menubar icon that puts your AI assistant one click away. No need to open Terminal or a browser—you can check gateway status, open WebChat, trigger quick actions, use the voice overlay, or jump into Canvas from the menu bar. The app works alongside the CLI and is available as a Universal Binary for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. This guide covers download, installation, and how to get the most out of the menubar experience.

1 Prerequisites: OpenClaw CLI Already Running

The Companion App connects to your existing OpenClaw gateway. You need OpenClaw installed and configured first—either via the one-line installer (curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash) or Homebrew (brew install openclaw-cli). Run openclaw onboard if you have not yet set up your AI provider and messaging channels. The Companion App reads your config from ~/.openclaw and talks to the gateway over the local network. Your Mac must be running macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.

2 Download the Companion App

Go to the OpenClaw GitHub Releases page and download the latest macOS app. It is packaged as a Universal Binary, so it runs natively on both M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs and Intel Macs. The file is typically named something like OpenClaw-macos-universal.dmg or similar. Double-click the DMG, drag the app to your Applications folder, and launch it. On first run, macOS may ask for permissions: Notifications, Accessibility, Screen Recording, Microphone, and Speech Recognition. Grant these so the app can manage the gateway, show status, and use voice features.

3 Menubar Features: What You Get

The menubar icon shows your current work state—idle, running a tool, editing files, or reading. Click it to open a dropdown with:

Quick Actions — Common tasks (e.g., start a task, check status) without opening a chat app
Gateway Status — See if the gateway is running, connected, or has issues
Canvas — Open the visual workspace where OpenClaw can browse, edit, and organize
WebChat — Built-in chat interface so you can talk to your lobster without Telegram or Discord
Voice Overlay — Visual voice interface for hands-free interaction
Voice Wake — Always-on voice activation (if enabled)

The icon changes based on activity type, so you can tell at a glance whether OpenClaw is busy or waiting for input.

4 Using WebChat and Canvas From the Menubar

WebChat gives you a browser-like chat window right from the menubar—useful when you do not want to switch to Telegram or Discord. Canvas is OpenClaw's visual workspace: your AI can browse the web, fill forms, and extract data. Opening Canvas from the menubar is faster than navigating through a chat app. For remote access (e.g., from another room or your phone), ensure your gateway is reachable on your LAN. If you run OpenClaw on a headless Mac Mini or server, you can still use the Companion App on your MacBook to monitor and control it—as long as both are on the same network and the gateway is exposed.

Tips for the Best Experience

Keep the Companion App in your Login Items so it starts with macOS. If your OpenClaw host is behind a firewall or in a region where AI APIs are throttled, connect it to a fast VPN so the gateway can reach Claude or OpenAI reliably—the menubar status will stay green and responsive. The app is still in Beta, so expect occasional updates; check the GitHub releases page for new versions. For 24/7 use, consider running the gateway on an always-on Mac Mini and using the Companion App on your laptop to check status and send quick commands when you are at your desk.

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FAQ

Does the Companion App work on Windows or Linux?

Currently the Companion App is macOS only (macOS 14+). Windows and Linux users can use the CLI, WebChat via browser, or connect through Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp.

Can I use the Companion App if OpenClaw runs on a different machine?

Yes. The app connects to the gateway over the network. As long as your Mac can reach the gateway (same LAN or via port forwarding), you can use the menubar to monitor and control it.