OpenClaw
A free, open-source AI assistant that runs on your own computer and answers you in the chat apps you already use, such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack and Discord.
01 · Introduction
What OpenClaw is
OpenClaw is an open-source AI assistant (MIT license) that you install on your own Mac, Windows or Linux computer. You talk to it in a browser page, in a desktop app, or from chat apps on your phone, and it can actually do things for you: read and write files, run commands, browse the web and use the skills and plugins you add.
It does not come with its own AI model. It borrows one you already have: a Claude Code or Codex login, an API key, or a local model.
Words you will meet:
- Gateway: the background program that is the assistant's "brain". It keeps your sessions, tools and chat connections, and listens on port 18789 of your computer.
- Control UI (dashboard): a web page where you chat with it and check its status.
- Channel: a chat app connected to it, such as Telegram or Slack. More than 20 are supported.
- Node: a device that gives the agent extra abilities, for example a phone's camera or a Windows PC's screen.
Your memory, settings and keys stay on your computer. Only your messages go to the model provider and chat apps you choose.
02 · When to use it
When it is useful
- A personal assistant in your pocket. Message it from Telegram or WhatsApp while you are away, and it works on the computer at home.
- Everyday chores. Sorting files, drafting replies, checking a web page or running a script you would otherwise run by hand.
- One assistant for many chat apps. The same memory and tools answer in Slack at work and Telegram at home.
- Keeping data at home. Nothing is stored on an OpenClaw server.
Be realistic: it acts with real access to your computer, and long unattended jobs can fail quietly. Start with small tasks you can check.
03 · Setup
How to set it up
You need a Mac, Windows or Linux computer and one working AI account (a Claude Code or Codex login, or an API key). You do not need to install Node.js yourself; the installers handle it.
Windows: download the Windows Hub installer (no admin rights needed) and choose local setup, or run one PowerShell command:
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Mac: on macOS 26.2 or newer, download OpenClaw.app from the GitHub releases page. On an older Mac, use the terminal:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
A setup wizard (onboarding) then connects your AI account and asks whether to keep it running in the background. Check it worked:
openclaw gateway status
openclaw dashboard
The second command opens the dashboard. Send a message; if it replies, you are done.
04 · How to use it
Day-to-day use
- Chat in the dashboard (
openclaw dashboard) or in the terminal (openclaw). - Connect a chat app. Telegram is the quickest: it only needs a bot token. Set up pairing so only you can give it orders.
- Change settings later with
openclaw configure. - Something broken?
openclaw doctorlists problems;openclaw triagewrites a clean diagnosis you can hand to Claude Code or Codex. - Update with
openclaw update.
If you also try Hermes Agent, it can import OpenClaw's settings, memory and skills, so you can compare them side by side.
05 · Pitfalls
Things to watch out for
- No sandbox by default. Its tools run directly on your computer. Read the security guide before giving it wide permissions.
- Lock down your channels. Use pairing and allow-lists so strangers cannot message your agent.
- Failures can be silent. A scheduled job may fail without telling you. Turn fixed, repeatable steps into scripts and check results.
- The Mac app needs macOS 26.2 or newer. Older Macs should use the terminal install.
- It changes fast. New releases come out often (version 2026.11.1 on 5 November 2026), so menus and commands may move.
06 · Resources