← Back to Blog

How to Install OpenClaw: Turn Your Phone into an AI Superpower (Complete Guide)

By Faysal

You've read about the 156,000 GitHub stars. You've seen the Moltbook phenomenon. Now let's get you set up.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a personal AI agent that you can control from your phone, that works in the background, that remembers everything you tell it, and that can build its own capabilities. Sound ambitious? It takes 15-20 minutes.

Let's do this.

What You Need Before We Start

OpenClaw isn't a website or an app. It's infrastructure that runs on your computer. Think of it like installing your own mini-Jarvis. Here's what you need:

System Requirements

Operating System:

  • macOS (native support, recommended)
  • Linux (Ubuntu/Debian preferred)
  • Windows via WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Software Prerequisites:

  • Node.js version 22 or higher (mandatory)
  • npm, pnpm, or bun for package management
  • 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
  • 2GB disk space for base install plus skills

Optional but Recommended:

  • A WhatsApp or Telegram account (for mobile control)
  • Claude Pro/Max or OpenAI API subscription
  • Basic command line knowledge (we'll walk you through it)

Time estimate: 15-20 minutes from start to finish.

Skill level: If you've ever copied and pasted terminal commands, you're good. We'll explain every step.

Step 1: Install Node.js

Node.js is the runtime that powers OpenClaw. Think of it as the engine. You need version 22 or newer.

On macOS (via Homebrew)

# Install Node.js 22
brew install node@22

# Verify it worked
node -v

You should see v22.x.x or higher.

On Linux (via nvm)

# Install nvm (Node Version Manager)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash

# Close and reopen your terminal, then:
nvm install 22
nvm use 22

# Verify
node -v

On Windows (via WSL2)

OpenClaw works best on Windows through WSL2. If you don't have it set up:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator
  2. Run: wsl --install
  3. Restart your computer
  4. Install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store
  5. Open Ubuntu terminal and follow the Linux instructions above

What this does: Installs the JavaScript runtime that OpenClaw needs to operate.

Troubleshooting: If node -v shows a version lower than 22, you're using an old version. Uninstall it first, then reinstall using the commands above.

Step 2: Install OpenClaw

Now for the main event. One command installs everything:

npm install -g openclaw@latest

What this does: Downloads and installs the openclaw command-line tool globally on your system. This gives you access to the openclaw command from anywhere in your terminal.

Expected output: You'll see npm downloading packages. Takes about 30-60 seconds depending on your internet speed. When it finishes, you should be back at your terminal prompt.

Verify it worked:

openclaw --version

You should see a version number like 1.x.x.

Troubleshooting: If you get command not found: openclaw, Node.js might not be in your PATH. Try closing and reopening your terminal, or running source ~/.bashrc (Linux) or source ~/.zshrc (macOS).

Step 3: Run the Onboarding Wizard

This is where OpenClaw sets up shop on your computer. The wizard handles everything:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

What this does:

  • Creates a workspace directory at ~/.openclaw/
  • Sets up a system service (so OpenClaw can run in the background)
  • Generates a secure gateway token
  • Walks you through configuration

Interactive prompts you'll see:

1. "Which model would you like to use?"

Choose Claude Pro/Max or OpenAI. If you have a Claude subscription, that's recommended. If not, OpenAI works great too.

2. "Connect WhatsApp?"

Say yes. The wizard will display a QR code in your terminal. Open WhatsApp on your phone, go to Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device, and scan it.

What just happened: Your OpenClaw agent can now receive messages you send to that WhatsApp number. This is how you'll talk to it from your phone.

3. "Connect Telegram?"

Optional, but powerful. If you want Telegram support:

  1. Open Telegram on your phone
  2. Message @BotFather
  3. Type /newbot and follow the prompts
  4. Copy the token (looks like 123456:ABC-DEF...)
  5. Paste it into the wizard

4. "Install recommended skills?"

Say yes. This installs common capabilities like web browsing, GitHub integration, and calendar support.

Expected duration: 2-5 minutes depending on how many channels you connect.

Step 4: Start the Gateway

The gateway is OpenClaw's control center. It handles messages, runs your agent, and serves the dashboard.

openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose

What this does: Starts the OpenClaw server on your computer. The --verbose flag shows you detailed logs so you can see what's happening.

Expected output:

OpenClaw Gateway v1.x.x
Listening on http://127.0.0.1:18789
Gateway token: gateway_xxxxxxxxxxxxx
WhatsApp connected
Agent ready

What you should see: Confirmation that WhatsApp (or Telegram) connected successfully, and that your agent is online.

Keep this terminal open. OpenClaw needs to run continuously to respond to messages. If you close it, your agent goes offline.

Pro tip: The onboarding wizard already configured OpenClaw to run as a system service (daemon), so it auto-starts when your computer boots. To control it manually:

# Check status
openclaw gateway status

# Stop
openclaw gateway stop

# Restart
openclaw gateway restart

Troubleshooting: If you get Port 18789 already in use, another process is using that port. Either kill that process or choose a different port with --port 18790.

Step 5: Test Your Agent

Time for the magic moment. Open WhatsApp on your phone and send a message to the number you connected:

Hello! What can you do?

What should happen: Within a few seconds, your agent responds with its capabilities, available skills, and current status.

Try these commands to see what it can do:

What's the weather today?
Remind me to deploy the website at 3pm
Search for news about OpenClaw

What you're seeing: Your personal AI agent, running on your computer, responding to natural language commands via WhatsApp. It has memory (remembers past conversations), skills (can perform actions), and autonomy (can work in the background).

If it doesn't respond:

  • Check that the gateway terminal is still running
  • Look for error messages in the terminal
  • Verify WhatsApp connected successfully (you should have seen "WhatsApp connected" in the logs)
  • Try restarting the gateway: openclaw gateway restart

Step 6: Access the Dashboard

OpenClaw also has a web interface. Open your browser and go to:

http://127.0.0.1:18789

First-time login: The dashboard will ask for your gateway token. This is a security measure so only you can access your agent.

Where to find your token:

# Option 1: Check the terminal when gateway started
# Look for: "Gateway token: gateway_xxxxxxxxxxxxx"

# Option 2: Get the full dashboard URL with token
openclaw dashboard --no-open

Copy the token and paste it into the dashboard login.

What you'll see:

  • Real-time message history
  • Active skills and their status
  • Agent memory and context
  • Configuration settings
  • Logs and debugging info

Pro tip: Bookmark the dashboard URL with the token included. Then you can access it instantly without logging in each time.

Common Installation Issues (And How to Fix Them)

Here are the issues people run into most often, with solutions:

Issue: "command not found: openclaw"

Cause: Node.js isn't in your PATH, or you're using an old version.

Fix:

# Check Node version
node -v

# Should show v22.x.x or higher
# If not, reinstall Node 22 using Step 1

# Then close and reopen your terminal

Issue: "unauthorized: gateway token missing"

Cause: Trying to access the dashboard without authentication.

Fix:

# Get the full URL with token included
openclaw dashboard --no-open

# Copy the entire URL and paste it in your browser

Issue: "Cannot connect to WhatsApp"

Cause: Session expired or multi-device limit reached.

Fix:

# Delete old session
rm -rf ~/.openclaw/credentials/whatsapp

# Reconnect
openclaw channels login

# Scan the new QR code with WhatsApp

Issue: "health check failures" or "gateway not responding"

Cause: Gateway isn't running.

Fix:

# Check gateway status
openclaw gateway status

# If not running, start it
openclaw gateway restart

# Check logs for errors
openclaw gateway --verbose

Issue: "Model failover: all models exhausted"

Cause: No valid API keys configured, or you've hit rate limits.

Fix:

# Check your Claude/OpenAI subscription is active
# Wait 60 seconds if you hit rate limits
# Add your API key to config:

# Edit config file
nano ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

# Add under "agent":
"model": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5"

Issue: Permission denied (macOS only)

Cause: macOS privacy settings blocking OpenClaw.

Fix:

Go to System Preferences > Privacy & Security > grant permissions for Automation and Screen Recording (if you plan to use browser automation skills).

What You Can Do Now

Your agent is running. Now what? Here are real things people are using OpenClaw for right now:

Personal Productivity

Send me a morning briefing with my calendar and unread emails

Remind me to leave for my appointment when traffic looks bad

Check my favorite subreddits and summarize the top posts

Development Workflows

Check if any of my GitHub PRs have new comments

Run the test suite and let me know if anything fails

Generate release notes from my last 20 commits

Home Automation

Turn on the living room lights when I get home

Alert me if the air purifier detects poor air quality

Tell me when the International Space Station is passing overhead

Content Creation

Generate three tweet variations for this blog post

Create a meditation audio with background music

Build me a landing page for this product idea

Research and Learning

Summarize today's arXiv papers on machine learning

Track mentions of "OpenClaw" on Twitter and send me a digest

Explain this research paper in simple terms

Real testimonial: "Named him Jarvis. Daily briefings, calendar checks, reminds me when to leave for pickleball based on traffic." - @BraydonCoyer

Another: "Just got my Winix air purifier, Claude code discovered and confirmed controls working within minutes." - @antonplex

Installing Additional Skills

OpenClaw has a skill marketplace called ClawHub. Browse it at clawhub.com or search GitHub for "openclaw skills".

To install a skill:

npx clawhub@latest install [skill-name]

For example:

# Install GitHub integration
npx clawhub@latest install github

# Install Spotify control
npx clawhub@latest install spotify

# Install smart home controls
npx clawhub@latest install home-assistant

How it works: Skills are just markdown files with instructions your agent reads. When you install a skill, it downloads to ~/.openclaw/skills/ and your agent automatically has those capabilities.

Build your own skills: You can even ask your agent to build custom skills:

Create a skill that checks my course assignments and reminds me of deadlines

People have reported their agents successfully building and deploying custom skills autonomously. The agent writes the skill file, tests it, and starts using it - all from a single message.

Next Steps: Making Your Agent Yours

Now that your agent is running, here's how to customize it:

1. Configure Memory and Personality

Your agent's personality lives in text files in ~/.openclaw/workspace/:

# Edit your agent's identity
nano ~/.openclaw/workspace/SOUL.md

# Add information about yourself
nano ~/.openclaw/workspace/USER.md

# Configure what it does automatically
nano ~/.openclaw/workspace/HEARTBEAT.md

Example SOUL.md:

# Who you are
You are Jarvis, a helpful AI assistant.

# Your personality
- Professional but friendly
- Proactive about solving problems
- Ask clarifying questions when unsure

Example HEARTBEAT.md:

# What to check every 30 minutes
- Unread emails (only flag urgent ones)
- Calendar events in next 2 hours
- GitHub notifications on my repos

2. Set Up Remote Access

Want to access your agent from anywhere? Use Tailscale (free VPN):

# Install Tailscale
# Follow instructions at tailscale.com

# Then access your gateway from any device:
https://your-machine.tailscale.net:18789

3. Join the Community

OpenClaw has an active community:

  • Discord: discord.gg/clawd ("Friends of the Crustacean")
  • Reddit: r/OpenclawBot for technical support
  • GitHub Discussions: Feature requests and bug reports
  • ClawHub: Skill marketplace and examples

4. Explore Advanced Features

Once you're comfortable, try:

  • Multi-agent setups: Run multiple agents for different roles
  • Custom integrations: Connect to APIs your agent doesn't support yet
  • Browser automation: Give your agent a browser so it can interact with websites
  • Voice control: Integrate with ElevenLabs for voice responses
  • Proactive monitoring: Have your agent watch things and notify you autonomously

You're Now Living in the Future

If you've followed this guide, you now have what 156,000 GitHub stars say is the most exciting personal AI infrastructure project since ChatGPT launched.

You have an agent that:

  • Runs on your hardware (privacy and control)
  • Works from your phone (WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord)
  • Remembers everything (persistent memory)
  • Extends itself (builds its own skills)
  • Works proactively (doesn't wait to be asked)

The 156,000 stars aren't hype. This is genuinely different.

What makes OpenClaw special isn't better AI models - it's the better interface to AI. Instead of opening a website and typing prompts, you have an always-on teammate that lives in your messaging apps and works in the background.

Start small. Ask it simple things. Test commands. Install a skill or two. Give it a week.

People keep saying the same thing: "This is the first time since ChatGPT launched that I feel like I'm living in the future."

Now you'll see what they mean.

Resources and Links

Now go build something interesting. And when your agent surprises you by solving a problem you didn't know you had, welcome to the club.

That's what 156,000 people are excited about.

← Back to all articles