Deployment Beginner 15-30 min
Deploy OpenClaw on Local Computer
First Week Pack · archive First Week Pack · archive → The experiment ended on 28 Aug 2026. Sales and purchase requests are closed. This page preserves the overview and preview for reference. Free next step Install Skills yourself → Free tutorial if you only want the next click.
Deploy OpenClaw on your Windows/Mac/Linux computer for personal use and learning
#Local Deploy
#Docker
#Beginner
Path · first-week reference and free tutorials
This page only covers getting it running locally. An empty-shell agent, an exposed gateway and a runaway bill are the three most common first-week failures.
- Result pack → First Week Pack · archive（hardening + spend cap + research skill）
- Free route → Install Skills · Feishu · WeChat
- Stuck? → Local troubleshooting · FAQ
Prerequisites
- A computer (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- At least 4GB available memory (8GB recommended)
- Stable internet connection
- Node.js 22+ (if using npm installation)
Already know how to install? The experiment ended on 28 Aug 2026. Sales and purchase requests are closed. This page preserves the overview and preview for reference.
Steps
1
Install Docker Desktop
Docker is a packaging tool that lets OpenClaw run on any system.
Commands
Windows/Mac
Download and install Docker Desktop: https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop Linux
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh Tips
- • Restart computer after installation
- • Ensure Docker Desktop is running (whale icon in system tray)
- • Windows users strongly recommended to use WSL2
2
macOS Extra Setup
macOS users need to install Xcode Command Line Tools first.
Commands
macOS
xcode-select --install Tips
- • If already installed, it will show 'already installed'
- • This enables AppleScript capabilities (needed for iMessage, Apple Notes skills)
3
Prepare Config Folder
Create a folder to store OpenClaw's configuration and data.
Commands
Mac/Linux
mkdir -p ~/openclaw && cd ~/openclaw Windows (PowerShell)
mkdir C:\openclaw && cd C:\openclaw Tips
- • This folder will store your config and chat history
- • Recommended to place in user home directory for easy management
4
Pull OpenClaw Image
Download OpenClaw image from Docker Hub.
Commands
All Systems
docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest Tips
- • Image size is about 1-2GB, first download takes a few minutes
- • Ensure stable network, configure Docker mirror accelerator if slow
5
Run OpenClaw Container
Start OpenClaw service with Docker and mount data directories.
Commands
Mac/Linux
docker run -d --name openclaw -p 18789:18789 -p 3000:3000 -v ~/openclaw/.openclaw:/root/.openclaw -v ~/openclaw/workspace:/workspace openclaw/openclaw:latest Windows (PowerShell)
docker run -d --name openclaw -p 18789:18789 -p 3000:3000 -v C:\openclaw\.openclaw:/root/.openclaw -v C:\openclaw\workspace:/workspace openclaw/openclaw:latest Tips
- • Important: Must mount both directories, or config and chat history will be lost on restart
- • ~/.openclaw stores runtime state, workspace stores YAML config files
- • 18789 is Gateway WebSocket port, 3000 is Web UI port
6
Wait for Service to Start
OpenClaw needs initialization on first start, please wait patiently.
Commands
All Systems
docker logs -f openclaw Tips
- • Seeing 'Gateway started' or similar log means startup successful
- • Press Ctrl+C to exit log view (won't stop the service)
- • First startup may take 1-2 minutes
7
Access Web Interface
Open browser to access OpenClaw admin interface.
Commands
All Systems
Open your browser and visit http://localhost:3000 Tips
- • First access requires setting admin password
- • If can't access, wait 30 seconds and retry
- • If port is occupied, modify port in run command
8
Initial Configuration (Onboard)
Complete initial setup including model selection, API key config, and channel setup.
Commands
All Systems
In the Admin UI, click Settings → Model Configuration → Add Model Tips
- • Google Gemini is recommended for beginners (has free quota)
- • Claude, GPT-4, DeepSeek are also available
- • See FAQ below for how to get API Key
9
Install Daemon (Optional)
Keep OpenClaw running in background even when terminal is closed.
Commands
All Systems
Docker containers already run in the background — no extra configuration needed Tips
- • Docker's --restart always ensures auto-start: docker update --restart always openclaw
- • Mac users: run 'caffeinate -i' to prevent sleep disconnect
- • Linux servers: recommend using systemd for management
Common Issues
Port is occupied?
Change port in command, e.g., '-p 3001:3000 -p 18790:18789', then access http://localhost:3001
Docker fails to start?
Ensure Docker Desktop is running and check if there's enough memory (recommend 4GB+). Run docker logs openclaw to see error logs
Config lost after container restart?
Ensure you used -v parameter to mount data directories. If not, need to reconfigure. Recommend deleting container and recreating with proper volume mounts
Mac disconnects after sleep?
Run 'caffeinate -i' in terminal to prevent sleep disconnect. Or consider deploying to cloud server for 24/7 operation
How to view runtime logs?
Run 'docker logs -f openclaw' to view real-time logs, press Ctrl+C to exit
How to update to latest version?
Run 'docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest' to pull latest image, then 'docker rm -f openclaw' to remove old container, re-run the start command
Issues running directly on Windows?
Strongly recommend using WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Running directly on Windows native environment may have path and permission compatibility issues
Sales closed
The experiment ended on 28 Aug 2026. Sales and purchase requests are closed. This page preserves the overview and preview for reference.