Michael Limberger

Installing Openclaw

Installing OpenClaw

OpenClaw is the agent framework that sits on top of your model. Ollama is the engine. OpenClaw handles conversations, tool execution, memory, sessions, and optional messaging platforms. Three install methods all produce the same binary result.

The one-liner

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curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

This is the simplest path. The script detects your system, installs Node.js 22.12+ if needed, and installs the latest OpenClaw release with dependencies.

After it finishes, verify:

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openclaw --version

npm, if you already have Node

If you already have Node.js 22.12 or newer:

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npm install -g openclaw@latest

Check your Node version first:

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node -v

Below 22.12 will not work. The one-liner handles the Node upgrade for you, which is why it is the recommended path.

Homebrew cask

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brew install --cask openclaw

This installs OpenClaw as a native macOS app and requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or newer. On Sonoma, use the one-liner or npm instead.

Gatekeeper

With the Homebrew cask you may see: "OpenClaw cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software." That is the usual Gatekeeper warning for apps outside the App Store.

Fix 1: Right-click the app, click Open, then click Open again on
        the confirmation dialog.
        
        Fix 2: Remove the quarantine attribute from the command line:
        
          xattr -cr /Applications/OpenClaw.app

Both clear the quarantine flag so the app can open.

The onboarding wizard

After install, run:

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openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The wizard walks through:

1. AI Provider: Select "Ollama". Do not enter cloud API keys
           (Anthropic, OpenAI, OpenRouter). We want fully local.
        
        2. Gateway settings: Accept defaults or customize the port. The
           gateway is the local web server for OpenClaw's UI and API.
        
        3. Messaging platforms: Skip for now. Built-in interfaces need no
           WhatsApp or Telegram.
        
        4. Daemon: --install-daemon sets a background service so the gateway
           starts automatically. You can skip and start manually if you prefer.

It creates ~/.openclaw/ and an initial openclaw.json.

ollama launch openclaw

On Ollama v0.17.0 or newer:

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ollama launch openclaw

That can install and pre-wire Ollama in one step. For learning and demos, the manual config in the next part is easier to debug.

Verify the install

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openclaw --version
        openclaw doctor

doctor checks config validity, provider connectivity, gateway status, and dependency versions. Run it first when something feels off.

+----------------------------------------------------------+
|  After installing, do NOT send your first message yet.   |
|  The default configuration may try to reach cloud APIs.  |
|  Configure local-only operation first (next section).    |
+----------------------------------------------------------+

If install and doctor look clean, configure local-only Ollama next so OpenClaw does not phone home to a cloud provider.