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Guide

How to Install and Set Up OpenClaw in Under 15 Minutes

Installation guide.

Step-by-step OpenClaw install guide for macOS, Linux, and Windows. From zero to a working chat in under 15 minutes.

By Liyam Flexer, Founder & EditorPublished Last reviewed
At a glance
Type
Guide
Topics
OpenClaw, Installation, Setup
Evidence
Editorial interpretation
Written by
Liyam Flexer

The short answer

Install OpenClaw in under 15 minutes with Node.js 24+ by running the official install script (`curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash` on macOS/Linux or PowerShell on Windows). Select Quick Start, connect your model credentials (API key, Claude Code, Codex, or Ollama), verify with a test prompt, and start the Gateway background service.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 24.16+ or 26.1+ (Node 26 recommended)
  • Model access: Claude Code login, Codex login, API key, or local Ollama

Installation Steps

macOS / Linux / WSL2:

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

Windows (PowerShell):

powershell
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

The installer starts onboarding. Choose Quick Start if you already have credentials. It verifies them with a real completion and opens the dashboard.

After Install

bash
openclaw gateway status
openclaw dashboard

Install the Gateway as a background service so it keeps running when you close the terminal. Connect Telegram for the fastest mobile path.

Evidence in this article Editorial interpretation Our reading of what the evidence means. Judgment, clearly separated from the evidence itself.

Frequently asked questions

What are the system requirements for OpenClaw?

OpenClaw requires Node.js 24.16+ or Node 26, plus credentials for a frontier model API (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini) or a local runtime like Ollama.

How do I keep OpenClaw running when I close the terminal?

Configure the OpenClaw Gateway as a persistent background daemon using `openclaw gateway install` or systemd/launchd services.

Which chat channel is fastest to connect?

Telegram provides the fastest mobile onboarding path via a Telegram bot token configured in the OpenClaw dashboard.

Sources

  1. OpenClaw Getting Started Guide OpenClaw Foundation, accessed .
  2. OpenClaw Official Site OpenClaw Foundation, accessed .