Tutorial
Welcome to OpenClaw! This guide will take you from complete beginner to having your own AI assistant running in minutes. No prior experience required.
What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant that you run on your own computer. Unlike ChatGPT or other cloud-based AI tools, OpenClaw:
- Lives on your machine — Your data stays local and private
- Works everywhere — Connect to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, and more
- Never sleeps — Runs 24/7 as a background service
- Can take action — Not just chat, but can actually do things for you
- Is fully customizable — Add skills, change personality, create custom workflows
How OpenClaw Works: The Simple Explanation
Think of OpenClaw as a bridge between your favorite chat apps and powerful AI models. When you send a message:
- Your message arrives from WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, etc.
- OpenClaw receives it and remembers your conversation history
- It sends your message (with context) to an AI like Claude or GPT
- The AI's response comes back and is sent to your chat app
What You Need to Get Started
1A Computer
OpenClaw runs on macOS, Linux, or Windows 10+. You'll need at least 4GB of RAM (8GB+ is better) and about 500MB of free disk space[1].
2Node.js
OpenClaw requires Node.js version 22 or newer. Check if you have it:
node --version
If you see v22.0.0 or higher, you're good! If not, download from nodejs.org[1].
3An AI API Key
OpenClaw needs to connect to an AI provider. The most popular choice is Anthropic Claude, but OpenAI GPT works too[2].
Getting a Claude API key:
- Go to console.anthropic.com
- Sign up or log in
- Go to API Keys section
- Create a new key and save it somewhere safe
Installing OpenClaw
The Easy Way (One Command)
Open your terminal (Terminal on macOS/Linux, PowerShell on Windows) and run:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
The Alternative Way (Using npm)
npm install -g openclaw@latest
Setting Up OpenClaw
Run the Onboarding Wizard
After installation, start the friendly setup wizard:
openclaw onboard
The wizard will guide you through:
- Adding your API key — So OpenClaw can talk to the AI
- Choosing your chat platforms — Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, etc.
- Basic preferences — Set your AI's personality and behavior
- Starting the daemon — Enable 24/7 background operation
Start the Background Service
To make OpenClaw always available, start the daemon:
openclaw daemon start
Now OpenClaw is running in the background, waiting for your messages!
Your First Conversation
Option 1: Use the Built-in Chat
openclaw chat
Try saying:
Hello! Can you help me understand what you can do?
Option 2: Message from Your Chat App
If you connected Telegram, Discord, or another platform during setup, simply send a message to your OpenClaw bot there. It will respond just like talking to a friend!
Essential Commands
Once you're chatting, these commands are helpful to know:
/status — See your session info and API usage
/new or /reset — Start a fresh conversation
/think <level> — Set how much the AI thinks (off, minimal, low, medium, high)
/verbose on|off — Toggle detailed responses
/help — Show all available commands
Understanding "Thinking Levels"
The /think command controls how much effort the AI puts into responses. This affects both response quality and cost:
| Level | Best For |
|---|---|
off |
Quick questions, simple tasks |
minimal |
Basic queries, brief responses |
low |
Everyday conversations (default) |
medium |
Complex tasks, detailed explanations |
high |
Writing, coding, research (slower but better) |
What Makes OpenClaw Different?
Unlike ChatGPT and similar tools:
- Your data stays local — Conversations are stored on your computer, not someone else's servers
- It remembers everything — Persistent memory across all conversations
- It can take action — Run commands, browse the web, automate tasks
- Works in your existing apps — Use it in WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, iMessage, and more
- You own it — Open source, no subscription fees, no walled garden
Things You Can Do Right Now
Here are some beginner-friendly things to try with your new OpenClaw:
💬 Chat & Ask Questions
"Explain quantum computing like I'm five"
"What are the pros and cons of remote work?"
"Help me write a polite decline email"
📝 Get Help with Writing
"Write a tweet about my weekend"
"Improve this paragraph: [paste text]"
"Generate five blog post ideas about coffee"
🔍 Quick Research
"What's the difference between TypeScript and JavaScript?"
"Summarize the latest news about AI"
"What are the best restaurants in Tokyo?"
Where to Go From Here
Now that you have OpenClaw running, explore more advanced features:
- Platform Overview — Learn all features and capabilities
- CLI Commands Cheat Sheet — Master the command line
- Creating Custom Skills — Build your own extensions
- Configuration Guide — Customize settings and personality
Troubleshooting Basics
"Command not found: openclaw"
If the terminal doesn't recognize the command:
- Make sure you installed with
npm install -g openclaw@latest - Try restarting your terminal
- Check that Node.js is in your PATH
"API key error"
If OpenClaw can't connect to the AI:
- Verify your API key is correct
- Check that you have credits in your AI account
- Try running
openclaw onboardagain
"Can't connect to chat platform"
For WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord connections:
- Make sure you completed the platform setup during onboarding
- Check that the daemon is running:
openclaw daemon status - For WhatsApp, ensure the QR code was scanned successfully
Conclusion
OpenClaw puts a powerful AI assistant directly on your machine, integrated with the tools you already use every day. This guide covered the basics — installation, setup, and your first conversation — but there's much more to explore.
The best way to learn is to start using it. Chat with OpenClaw, experiment with commands, and discover what it can do for you. Welcome to the future of personal AI!
References
- OpenClaw Documentation - Getting Started Guide - Accessed February 2026
- OpenClaw Official Website - https://openclaw.ai - Accessed February 2026
- OpenClaw GitHub - https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw - Accessed February 2026
Reference Trail
External sources surfaced from the underlying article content
- nodejs.orgnodejs.org
- console.anthropic.comconsole.anthropic.com
- Getting Started Guidedocs.openclaw.ai
- https://openclaw.aiopenclaw.ai
- https://github.com/openclaw/openclawgithub.com