Documentation

Quick Start Guide

Get your personal AI assistant running in 10 minutes.

You need to install Node.js (v22+). macOS users can use Terminal directly; Windows users are strongly recommended to use WSL2 (Ubuntu).

Run the following command in terminal to start the interactive configuration wizard:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The wizard will guide you through selecting gateway mode, configuring AI models (Anthropic Claude Pro recommended), and binding chat channels.

After installation, the service runs automatically in the background. Check status:

openclaw status

Or visit the Dashboard in browser: http://127.0.0.1:18789/

If using WhatsApp, run `openclaw channels login` to scan QR code. If using Telegram, send a message to the Bot and approve the Pairing Code.

OpenClaw has system-level permissions, please follow these best practices.

High Risk Warning

Do not expose the Gateway port (18789) directly to the public internet. Use Tailscale Serve for secure remote access.

Access Control

By default, strangers DMing the Bot need admin approval. Do not change to `open` mode.

Set `requireMention: true` in groups to prevent AI from interjecting or being triggered maliciously.

Sandbox & Isolation

For non-main sessions (like public groups), it is recommended to enable Docker sandbox mode and disable high-risk tools (like `system.run`).

// openclaw.json { "agents": { "defaults": { "sandbox": { "mode": "non-main" } } } }

OpenClaw has system-level permissions, please follow these best practices.