Install OpenClaw in 5 Minutes: Smooth First Launch Guide
Most tutorials lose people at this exact step. The goal of this one is simple: help you succeed on the first try.
What You'll Learn
- Check the required prerequisites before installation
- Install OpenClaw
- Finish onboarding and create your first assistant
- Open the dashboard successfully
Two Things to Check Before Installing
You do not need much, but these two are non-negotiable:
1. Node.js (LTS version)
node --version
# If you see a version number, you are good2. An API key for your AI model
If you want to use cloud models such as Anthropic Claude or OpenAI, you need an API key. If you want to stay fully offline, you can use a local model instead. This series assumes a cloud model by default.
💡 Not sure how to get an API key? Search for something like "Anthropic API key" and you can usually get it done in a few minutes.
Install OpenClaw
The official docs recommend the git-based installation method, because it is easier to update and debug later.
macOS / Linux
# Follow the Quick Start commands from docs.openclaw.ai
# In most cases this is a one-line curl scriptWindows
# First make sure Git is installed and added to PATH
git --version
# Then follow the Windows installation guide on docs.openclaw.ai⚠️ Stuck on "git not found" or "openclaw is not recognized"? Add Git to your system PATH, then restart the terminal and try again.
First Launch: Hatch Your Assistant
After installation, run:
openclaw gatewayThe first run opens the onboarding wizard, which asks a few simple questions:
- Which AI model do you want to use?
- What is your API key?
- Where should the workspace live?
Fill those in and OpenClaw will hatch your first assistant for you.
💡 Stuck for a long time at "wake up my friend"? Double-check the API key, your internet connection, and any error messages printed in the terminal.
What Do You Get After Onboarding?
- A token for dashboard login
- A base config file at
~/.openclaw/openclaw.json - Your first AI assistant, already running
Open the Dashboard
With the gateway still running, open your browser:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Common situations
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
pairing required |
Run openclaw devices list, then openclaw devices approve <id> |
| Token prompt | Paste the token from onboarding |
| No response | Make sure openclaw gateway is still running |
Next Up
Your assistant is now at home. Next, we will make the login flow and dashboard UI feel a lot less mysterious.