FAQ

General

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI agent framework. It lets you connect AI models (OpenAI, Claude, Ollama, etc.) to messaging channels (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, etc.) through a unified Gateway.

Is OpenClaw free?

Yes. OpenClaw is MIT licensed and completely free to use. However, cloud AI model providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.) charge for API usage. You can use Ollama to run models locally for free.

What are the system requirements?

• Node.js 22+
• Any OS: Windows, macOS, or Linux
• At least 2 GB RAM (more if running local models via Ollama)

Installation

How do I install OpenClaw?

The quickest way:

npm install -g openclaw@latest
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

See the full Quick Start guide for details.

Can I run OpenClaw in Docker?

Yes. See the Docker installation guide for docker run and docker compose examples.

How do I update OpenClaw?

npm install -g openclaw@latest
openclaw service restart

Configuration

Where is the config file?

The main configuration file is at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. You can also edit settings through the Control UI dashboard.

How do I change the AI model?

Edit the agents section in your config:

{
  "agents": {
    "default": {
      "provider": "anthropic",
      "model": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514"
    }
  }
}

Can I use multiple AI models?

Yes. Configure multiple agents with different providers. See Multi-Agent Routing.

Channels

Which messaging platforms are supported?

OpenClaw supports 20+ channels including WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage, IRC, Microsoft Teams, LINE, Matrix, and more. See the full list in the official docs.

Do I need a separate account for each channel?

Yes. Each channel requires its own credentials:

• Telegram — Bot token from BotFather
• WhatsApp — QR code pairing with your phone
• Discord — Bot token from Discord Developer Portal

How do I restrict who can message my bot?

Use allowlists or pairing. See Security Best Practices for detailed configuration.

Troubleshooting

The Gateway won't start

1. Check if the port is already in use: openclaw gateway --port 18790
2. Verify Node.js version: node --version (need 22+)
3. Run diagnostics: openclaw doctor --fix

My bot isn't responding

1. Check Gateway status: openclaw gateway status
2. Verify API key is set correctly
3. Check channel configuration and credentials
4. Review logs: openclaw logs --follow

How do I reset everything?

rm -rf ~/.openclaw
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Next Steps

• Quick Start — Get started
• Changelog — Version history
• Security — Secure your deployment