How to Set Up OpenClaw: Complete Beginner's Guide

OpenClaw is the open-source AI agent platform that went viral in early 2026. It connects AI models to your apps, browser, and system tools — letting you automate workflows, manage files, send emails, and control APIs with simple chat commands. Over 100,000 GitHub stars and counting.

This guide walks you through setup from zero to your first working agent.

What You’ll Need

• A computer (Mac, Linux, or Windows)
• Node.js 18+ installed
• An OpenAI API key (or other supported AI model)
• 30 minutes

Step 1: Install OpenClaw

Open your terminal and run:

npm install -g openclaw

Verify installation:

openclaw --version

You should see a version number. If not, check your Node.js installation with node --version.

Step 2: Initial Setup

Run the setup wizard:

openclaw setup

This will:

1. Create a config directory at ~/.openclaw/
2. Ask for your AI model API key
3. Set up default permissions

Enter your OpenAI API key when prompted. If you don’t have one:

1. Go to platform.openai.com
2. Create an account or sign in
3. Go to API Keys → Create new key
4. Copy and paste it into OpenClaw

Step 3: Start the Gateway

The gateway is OpenClaw’s background service:

openclaw gateway start

Check that it’s running:

openclaw gateway status

You should see: Gateway is running ✓

Step 4: Your First Command

Try a simple command to test everything works:

openclaw ask "What files are in my Documents folder?"

OpenClaw will use its file system skill to look at your Documents folder and answer.

Step 5: Connect Skills

OpenClaw’s power comes from skills — pre-built integrations. Install some useful ones:

# Web search
openclaw skills install web-search

# Email (Gmail)
openclaw skills install gmail

# Calendar
openclaw skills install google-calendar

# File management
openclaw skills install filesystem

Each skill adds new capabilities. After installing, you can ask things like:

openclaw ask "Search the web for the latest AI news and summarize it"
openclaw ask "Do I have any meetings tomorrow?"
openclaw ask "Draft an email to john@example.com about our project update"

Step 6: Automate Something Real

Now let’s automate a real task. Create a simple workflow:

openclaw workflow create morning-briefing

Add steps to your workflow:

openclaw workflow add morning-briefing "Check my calendar for today's meetings"
openclaw workflow add morning-briefing "Search for news in my industry"
openclaw workflow add morning-briefing "Compile a summary with meetings and news"

Run it:

openclaw workflow run morning-briefing

You’ll get a compiled morning briefing with your schedule and relevant news.

Step 7: Set Up Chat Interface (Optional)

OpenClaw includes a web chat interface:

openclaw ui start

Open your browser to http://localhost:3000 and chat with your AI agent instead of using the terminal.

What You Can Do Now

Now that OpenClaw is running, here are some ideas:

Troubleshooting

“Command not found” Make sure Node.js is installed and npm global bin is in your PATH.

“API key invalid” Double-check your OpenAI API key at platform.openai.com.

“Gateway not running” Run openclaw gateway restart and check status.

Next Steps

• Explore skills: Browse available skills at the OpenClaw skill marketplace
• Create workflows: Automate your most repetitive tasks
• Connect more tools: Slack, Notion, HubSpot — the ecosystem grows daily
• Join the community: Discord server has tips and workflow examples

Final Thoughts

OpenClaw is free, open-source, and backed by a massive community. The initial setup takes 30 minutes, but the time savings compound daily. Start with one workflow, add more as you get comfortable.

The AI agent revolution isn’t coming — it’s here. OpenClaw is your entry point.