Get OpenClaw Running in 5 Minutes
The fastest way to get OpenClaw up and running. From zero to your first chat.
1. What You Need Before Starting
- ✓Computer — macOS, Linux, or Windows
- ✓Node.js 22+ — Install Node.js
- ✓API key — OpenAI or Anthropic (for cloud models)
2. Install OpenClaw
Install via npm, pnpm, or bun:
# npm npm install -g openclaw@latest # pnpm pnpm add -g openclaw@latest # bun bun add -g openclaw@latest
Verify installation:
openclaw --version
3. Connect a Model
Run the onboarding wizard to connect your first model:
openclaw onboard
Or set up manually:
# Set your API key export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-... # Or for Anthropic export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...
4. Start the Gateway
openclaw gateway start
This starts the OpenClaw gateway service.
5. Access the Dashboard
Open your browser to:
http://127.0.0.1:18789
From here you can configure channels, manage agents, and monitor activity.
6. Verify It Works
Start a chat session:
openclaw chat
Or connect a channel (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp):
openclaw channels login telegram