Free Setup Guide
The complete beginner's guide to setting up OpenClaw - from buying hardware to chatting with your AI. Follow along step by step, at your own pace.
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The Complete Setup Journey
From an empty desk to a running AI assistant. Choose your operating system and follow along.
Get Your Computer
You need a computer that will run OpenClaw 24/7. Our top recommendation is the Mac Mini M4 - it starts at $499, is whisper-quiet, tiny, and powerful enough to run AI all day long. But any computer works - Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine.
| Option | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Mac Mini M4 (16GB) | ~$499 | Best value - our top pick |
| Mac Mini M4 Pro (24GB) | ~$1,399 | Power users, multiple AI agents |
| Windows PC (8GB+ RAM) | Varies | Already own one? Use it! |
| Linux Machine (8GB+ RAM) | Varies | Servers, Raspberry Pi 5, old laptops |
Already have a computer? Skip to Step 3. Any machine from the last 5 years with 8GB+ RAM will work.
Unbox & Power On
If you just bought a Mac Mini, here is what to do right out of the box:
The Mac will walk you through its own setup: choose your language, connect to WiFi, create (or sign into) your Apple ID, and set a password. Just follow the on-screen prompts - it takes about 5 minutes.
Important: After setup, go to System Settings → General → Software Update and install any available updates.
Meet the Terminal
The Terminal (or Command Prompt) is an app that lets you type commands to your computer. It looks like a dark screen with text - and it is completely safe to use. Think of it as texting your computer instead of clicking buttons.
1. Press Command (⌘) + Space on your keyboard
2. A search bar appears - type Terminal
3. Press Enter
A window with a dark background and a blinking cursor will appear. You will paste commands into this window for the rest of the guide. Do not close it until we are done.
Pro tip: To paste a command, press Command (⌘) + V.
Install Homebrew
Homebrew is like an app store for developer tools - but instead of clicking "Download," you type a command. We need it to install other things. Copy and paste this command into your Terminal and press Enter:
It will ask for your Mac password (the one you set during setup). When you type your password, nothing will appear on screen - that is normal and a security feature. Just type it and press Enter.
It may also ask you to install "Command Line Tools." Press Enter to agree. The whole installation takes 2-5 minutes.
After it finishes: Homebrew may tell you to run two more commands to add it to your PATH. If you see lines starting with echo and eval, copy and paste those into Terminal too.
Install Node.js
Node.js is the engine that OpenClaw runs on. Think of it like the operating system for OpenClaw. You need version 22 or newer.
This takes about 1-2 minutes. When it is done, verify it worked:
You should see something like v22.x.x (the exact number does not matter, as long as it starts with 22 or higher). If you see that, you are golden.
Install OpenClaw
This is the big one - but it is just one command. Copy and paste this into your Terminal:
This downloads and installs OpenClaw on your computer. It takes 1-2 minutes. If you see a "permission denied" error, try this instead:
What is "sudo"? It means "run this as an administrator." It will ask for your password again (remember, the characters will not show while you type).
Get Your AI Provider API Key
An API key is like a password that lets OpenClaw talk to an AI brain (like Claude or ChatGPT). You need one from an AI provider. We recommend Anthropic (Claude) for the best experience.
1. Go to console.anthropic.com and create a free account
2. Add a payment method (you will only pay a few cents per conversation)
3. Click Settings → API Keys in the left sidebar
4. Click Create Key and name it "openclaw"
5. Copy the key immediately - it is only shown once!
| Provider | Sign Up | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic | console.anthropic.com | Best overall (recommended) |
| OpenAI | platform.openai.com | Great for coding tasks |
| OpenRouter | openrouter.ai | Try multiple AI models |
Save your API key somewhere safe (like in the Notes app). You will need it in the next step.
Launch OpenClaw & Say Hello!
This is the final step - the magic command that connects everything together. Paste this into your Terminal:
The wizard will ask you a few simple questions:
Or skip the questions entirely with this one-liner (replace YOUR-API-KEY-HERE with your actual key):
Now open your AI dashboard:
Your browser will open to http://127.0.0.1:18789 - that is your personal OpenClaw dashboard. Type a message and start chatting with your AI assistant!
Congratulations!
You went from an empty desk to a personal AI assistant. Welcome to the future.
Ready-to-Go Presets
Skip the configuration headache. Pick a preset that matches your use case, copy the files into your OpenClaw directory, and your AI assistant is instantly customized. Each preset includes a personality (SOUL.md), identity (IDENTITY.md), and user profile (USER.md).
Pro tip: You can mix and match! Start with a preset, then edit the files to add your own personality touches. The USER.md file has placeholder fields - fill those in with your actual info for the best experience. Files go in your ~/.openclaw/ directory.
Something Went Wrong?
Do not panic. These are the most common issues and they all have simple fixes.
Why this happens: Your Terminal does not know where OpenClaw is installed.
How to fix it:
Close your Terminal completely (Command + Q), then reopen it and try the command again. If it still does not work, run: echo 'export PATH="$(npm prefix -g)/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc && source ~/.zshrc
Why this happens: Your computer is blocking the installation because it needs admin access.
How to fix it:
Add "sudo" before the command. For example: sudo npm install -g openclaw@latest It will ask for your password - remember, the characters will not show while you type.
Why this happens: You have an older version of Node.js installed.
How to fix it:
Run: node --version If it shows anything below v22, update Node by running: brew install node Or download the latest version from nodejs.org.
Why this happens: This is normal! macOS hides your password for security.
How to fix it:
Just type your password normally and press Enter. Even though you cannot see the characters, they are being entered. This is a security feature, not a bug.
Why this happens: Another program is using the same port as OpenClaw.
How to fix it:
Start OpenClaw on a different port: openclaw gateway --port 18790 Or close the other program that is using port 18789.
Why this happens: On Apple Silicon Macs, Homebrew needs to be added to your PATH.
How to fix it:
Copy and paste the exact commands Homebrew shows you - they usually start with "echo" and "eval". Then close and reopen Terminal.
Common Questions
You do not need a Mac Mini - any computer from the last 5 years with at least 8GB of RAM will work. We recommend the Mac Mini M4 because it is affordable ($499), silent, tiny, and powerful enough to run 24/7 as a dedicated AI server. But if you already have a Mac, Windows PC, or Linux machine, you can absolutely use that instead. Just skip Steps 1 and 2 in the guide.
Absolutely! This guide was specifically designed for people who have never opened a terminal in their life. Every single command is copy-and-paste - you do not need to memorize or understand anything. We explain what each command does in plain English, and we warn you about the tricky parts (like your password being invisible when you type it).
OpenClaw itself is 100% free and open-source. The only cost is the AI provider API usage (like Anthropic or OpenAI), which is pay-per-use. For typical personal use, expect to spend $1-10 per month - that is a few cents per conversation. Many providers offer free trial credits for new accounts, so you can try it before spending anything.
The most common issues are: (1) 'command not found' - usually means you need to restart your Terminal after installing something, (2) permission errors - add 'sudo' before the command, (3) wrong Node.js version - make sure it is v22 or higher. If you are still stuck, the OpenClaw Discord community is incredibly helpful and welcoming to beginners.
OpenClaw runs entirely on your own computer. Your conversations never leave your machine unless you explicitly send them to an AI provider for processing. The dashboard only works on your computer (localhost) - nobody else can access it. You are in full control of your data at all times.
Yes! OpenClaw supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage (macOS only), and more. After completing the basic setup, you can add messaging channels through the configuration. WhatsApp is the most popular option and connects via QR code, just like WhatsApp Web. Pro tip: use a separate phone number for your AI assistant.
Yes to both! On Windows 10 or 11, you can use WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or install Node.js directly and use PowerShell. On Linux, the setup is very similar to macOS - install Node.js through your package manager and follow the same OpenClaw installation steps. This guide focuses on macOS but the core steps (5-8) are identical on all platforms.
Think of it as a personal AI assistant that can: browse the web and research topics for you, read and write documents, organize your files, help with coding, answer questions with full context of your previous conversations, send you proactive reminders, and much more. It is like having ChatGPT but it actually does things on your computer instead of just talking.
Too complicated? We'll do it for you.
Skip the terminal commands and let our automated system handle everything - from installation to security hardening.
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