Files
openclaw/docs/platforms/macos.md
Peter Steinberger c046fbd451 fix(macos): open dashboard for existing gateways (#102677)
* fix(macos): skip onboarding for existing gateways

* chore: keep changelog release-owned

* chore(macos): refresh native i18n inventory
2026-07-09 12:17:41 +01:00

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5.4 KiB
Markdown

---
summary: "Install and use the OpenClaw macOS menu bar app"
read_when:
- Installing the macOS app
- Deciding between local and remote Gateway mode on macOS
- Looking for macOS app release downloads
title: "macOS app"
---
The macOS app is the OpenClaw **menu bar companion**: native tray UI, macOS
permission prompts, notifications, WebChat, voice input, Canvas, and
Mac-hosted node tools such as `system.run`.
Only need the CLI and Gateway? Start with [Getting started](/start/getting-started).
## Download
Get macOS app builds from [OpenClaw GitHub releases](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases).
When a release ships macOS app assets, look for:
- `OpenClaw-<version>.dmg` (preferred)
- `OpenClaw-<version>.zip`
Some releases only ship CLI, evidence, or Windows assets. If the newest release
has no macOS app asset, use the newest one that does, or build from source with
[macOS dev setup](/platforms/mac/dev-setup).
## First run
1. Install and launch **OpenClaw.app**.
2. Pick **This Mac** for a local Gateway, or connect to a remote Gateway.
3. Local mode: wait while the app installs its user-space runtime and Gateway.
4. Complete provider setup and the macOS permission checklist.
5. Send the onboarding test message.
If the app finds an existing Gateway configuration and connects successfully,
it treats that Gateway as already set up, skips provider onboarding, and opens
the dashboard. If the configured Gateway cannot connect, onboarding remains
available for recovery.
For the CLI/Gateway setup path, use [Getting started](/start/getting-started).
For permission recovery, use [macOS permissions](/platforms/mac/permissions).
## Choose a Gateway mode
| Mode | Use it when | Detail page |
| ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Local | This Mac should run the Gateway and keep it alive with launchd. | [Gateway on macOS](/platforms/mac/bundled-gateway) |
| Remote | Another host runs the Gateway; this Mac controls it over SSH, LAN, or Tailnet. | [Remote control](/platforms/mac/remote) |
Local mode needs an installed `openclaw` CLI. On a fresh Mac, the app installs
the matching CLI and runtime automatically before starting the Gateway wizard.
See [Gateway on macOS](/platforms/mac/bundled-gateway) for manual recovery.
## What the app owns
- Menu bar status, notifications, health, and WebChat.
- macOS permission prompts for screen, microphone, speech, automation, and accessibility.
- Local node tools: Canvas, camera/screen capture, notifications, and `system.run`.
- Exec approval prompts for Mac-hosted commands.
- Remote-mode SSH tunnels or direct Gateway connections.
The app does **not** replace the Gateway or general CLI docs. Gateway
configuration, providers, plugins, channels, tools, and security live in their
own docs.
## macOS detail pages
| Task | Read |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Install or debug the CLI/Gateway service | [Gateway on macOS](/platforms/mac/bundled-gateway) |
| Keep state out of cloud-synced folders | [Gateway on macOS](/platforms/mac/bundled-gateway#state-directory-on-macos) |
| Debug app discovery and connectivity | [Gateway on macOS](/platforms/mac/bundled-gateway#debug-app-connectivity) |
| Understand launchd behavior | [Gateway lifecycle](/platforms/mac/child-process) |
| Fix permissions or signing/TCC issues | [macOS permissions](/platforms/mac/permissions) |
| Connect to a remote Gateway | [Remote control](/platforms/mac/remote) |
| Read menu bar status and health checks | [Menu bar](/platforms/mac/menu-bar), [Health checks](/platforms/mac/health) |
| Use the embedded chat UI | [WebChat](/platforms/mac/webchat) |
| Use voice wake or push-to-talk | [Voice wake](/platforms/mac/voicewake) |
| Use Canvas and Canvas deep links | [Canvas](/platforms/mac/canvas) |
| Host PeekabooBridge for UI automation | [Peekaboo bridge](/platforms/mac/peekaboo) |
| Configure command approvals | [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals), [advanced details](/tools/exec-approvals-advanced) |
| Inspect Mac node commands and app IPC | [macOS IPC](/platforms/mac/xpc) |
| Capture logs | [macOS logging](/platforms/mac/logging) |
| Build from source | [macOS dev setup](/platforms/mac/dev-setup) |
## Related
- [Platforms](/platforms)
- [Getting started](/start/getting-started)
- [Gateway](/gateway)
- [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals)