Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant that runs locally on your machine and connects to various messaging platforms. It provides a unified interface to interact with AI models through your preferred communication channels.

Is OpenClaw free?

OpenClaw is open-source and free to use. However, you need API keys from AI providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.) which may have associated costs.

What platforms does OpenClaw support?

OpenClaw runs on:

• macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Linux (x64 and ARM64)
• Windows (via WSL2)

What messaging channels are supported?

• WhatsApp
• Telegram
• Discord
• Slack
• Signal
• iMessage (macOS only)
• And more...

Setup & Installation

How do I install OpenClaw?

The recommended method is using the installer script:

curl -fsSL https://get.openclaw.ai | bash

See the Installation Guide for more options.

How do I update OpenClaw?

openclaw update

Can I run OpenClaw in Docker?

Yes! See the Docker Guide for instructions.

Configuration

Where is the configuration file?

The main configuration file is located at:

• macOS/Linux: ~/.config/openclaw/config.json5
• Windows (WSL): ~/.config/openclaw/config.json5

How do I add API keys?

openclaw models add anthropic
# Follow the prompts to enter your API key

How do I change the default model?

openclaw models default claude-3-5-sonnet

Privacy & Security

Does OpenClaw send my data anywhere?

OpenClaw only sends messages to the AI providers you configure. No data is sent to OpenClaw servers.

Where is my data stored?

All data is stored locally on your machine in ~/.config/openclaw/.

Is my data encrypted?

Sensitive data like API keys are encrypted at rest.

Troubleshooting

Why isn't the gateway starting?

Run openclaw doctor to diagnose issues. Common causes:

• Port already in use
• Missing API keys
• Configuration errors

Why am I not receiving messages?

Check channel status with openclaw channels status. You may need to re-authenticate.

How do I reset everything?

openclaw reset --all

Warning: This will delete all configuration, sessions, and memory.