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125 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
125 lines
3.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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summary: "Get OpenClaw installed and run your first chat in minutes."
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read_when:
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- First time setup from zero
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- You want the fastest path to a working chat
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title: "Getting Started"
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---
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# Getting Started
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Goal: go from zero to a first working chat with minimal setup.
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<Info>
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Fastest chat: open the Control UI (no channel setup needed). Run `openclaw dashboard`
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and chat in the browser, or open `http://127.0.0.1:18789/` on the
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<Tooltip headline="Gateway host" tip="The machine running the OpenClaw gateway service.">gateway host</Tooltip>.
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Docs: [Dashboard](/web/dashboard) and [Control UI](/web/control-ui).
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</Info>
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## Prereqs
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- Node 24 recommended (Node 22 LTS, currently `22.16+`, still supported for compatibility)
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- An API key from a model provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.) — onboarding will prompt you for this
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<Tip>
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Check your Node version with `node --version` if you are unsure.
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Windows users: WSL2 is strongly recommended. See [Windows](/platforms/windows).
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</Tip>
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## Quick setup (CLI)
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<Steps>
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<Step title="Install OpenClaw (recommended)">
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<Tabs>
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<Tab title="macOS/Linux">
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```bash
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curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
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```
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<img
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src="/assets/install-script.svg"
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alt="Install Script Process"
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className="rounded-lg"
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/>
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</Tab>
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<Tab title="Windows (PowerShell)">
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```powershell
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iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
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```
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</Tab>
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</Tabs>
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<Note>
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Other install methods and requirements: [Install](/install).
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</Note>
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</Step>
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<Step title="Run onboarding">
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```bash
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openclaw onboard --install-daemon
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```
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Onboarding configures auth, gateway settings, and optional channels.
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See [Onboarding (CLI)](/start/wizard) for details.
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</Step>
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<Step title="Check the Gateway">
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If you installed the service, it should already be running:
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```bash
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openclaw gateway status
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```
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</Step>
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<Step title="Open the Control UI">
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```bash
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openclaw dashboard
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```
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If the Control UI loads, your Gateway is ready.
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</Step>
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<Step title="Send your first message">
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The fastest way to chat is directly in the Control UI browser tab.
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Type a message and you should get an AI reply.
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Want to chat from a messaging app instead? The fastest channel setup
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is usually [Telegram](/channels/telegram) (just a bot token, no QR
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pairing). See [Channels](/channels) for all options.
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</Step>
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</Steps>
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## Useful environment variables
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If you run OpenClaw as a service account or want custom config/state locations:
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- `OPENCLAW_HOME` sets the home directory used for internal path resolution.
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- `OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR` overrides the state directory.
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- `OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH` overrides the config file path.
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Full environment variable reference: [Environment vars](/help/environment).
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## Go deeper
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<Columns>
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<Card title="Onboarding (CLI)" href="/start/wizard">
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Full CLI onboarding reference and advanced options.
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</Card>
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<Card title="macOS app onboarding" href="/start/onboarding">
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First run flow for the macOS app.
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</Card>
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</Columns>
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## What you will have
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- A running Gateway
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- Auth configured
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- Control UI access or a connected channel
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## Next steps
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- DM safety and approvals: [Pairing](/channels/pairing)
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- Connect more channels: [Channels](/channels)
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- Advanced workflows and from source: [Setup](/start/setup)
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