✨ OpenClaw Setup Guide
Install and configure OpenClaw on your system
⚠️ Before You Install
- System Access: OpenClaw can read files, run terminal commands, and make changes to your computer.
- Permissions: You'll be asked to grant various permissions during setup. Review each one carefully.
- Local Models: OpenClaw uses Ollama for local AI. Your data stays on your computer when using local models.
- Cloud Models: If you connect cloud services (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.), data is sent to those providers.
- Your Responsibility: You are responsible for what OpenClaw does on your system. Review actions before confirming.
What OpenClaw Can Do
💻 System Requirements
Minimum
- 8GB RAM
- macOS 12+, Windows 10, or Linux
- 5GB free disk space
- 1-3GB models only
Recommended
- 16GB RAM
- Apple Silicon Mac or modern PC
- 10GB free disk space
- 3-7GB models
Ideal
- 32GB+ RAM
- Apple Silicon Mac or NVIDIA GPU
- 20GB+ free disk space
- All models + fast responses
🍎 Apple Silicon note: M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs run local AI very efficiently. The base 8GB Mac mini can run most models smoothly thanks to unified memory.
📥 Installation
Download OpenClaw
Download the latest macOS release from the official website:
Install the App
- Open the downloaded
.dmgfile - Drag OpenClaw to your Applications folder
- Open OpenClaw from Applications
- If you see "unidentified developer" warning:
- Go to System Preferences → Privacy & Security
- Click "Open Anyway" next to the security warning
Grant Permissions
OpenClaw will request several permissions:
- Accessibility: Required for keyboard shortcuts and automation
- Full Disk Access: Required to read/write files in your folders
- Automation: Required to control other apps
Go to System Preferences → Privacy & Security and enable these for OpenClaw.
Install Ollama (for local models)
OpenClaw uses Ollama for local AI models:
- Download Ollama from ollama.ai
- Install it like any Mac app
- Open Terminal and run:
ollama pull llama3.2
OpenClaw will detect Ollama automatically. You can also use cloud models (ChatGPT, Claude) without Ollama.
Configure & Start
- Open OpenClaw
- Choose your default model (local or cloud)
- Set up memory and preferences
- Try asking: "What can you help me with?"
Download OpenClaw
Download the Windows installer:
Run the Installer
- Run the downloaded
.exefile - Follow the installation wizard
- Choose install location (default is fine)
- Launch OpenClaw from the Start Menu
Windows may show a "Windows protected your PC" warning. Click "More info" then "Run anyway" if you downloaded from the official source.
Grant Permissions
OpenClaw may request:
- File system access: To read and write files
- Network access: To connect to AI services
- Windows Terminal: For running commands
Approve these in the Windows security dialogs that appear.
Install Ollama (for local models)
- Download Ollama from ollama.ai
- Run the installer
- Open PowerShell and run:
ollama pull llama3.2
Configure & Start
- Open OpenClaw from Start Menu
- Choose your default model
- Set up preferences
- Start chatting!
Download OpenClaw
Download the Linux package (AppImage or .deb/.rpm):
Install
For AppImage:
chmod +x openclaw-*.AppImage
./openclaw-*.AppImage For Debian/Ubuntu (.deb):
sudo dpkg -i openclaw-*.deb
sudo apt-get install -f # Fix dependencies For Fedora/RHEL (.rpm):
sudo rpm -i openclaw-*.rpm Install Ollama
curl -fsSL https://ollama.ai/install.sh | sh
ollama pull llama3.2 Run OpenClaw
Launch from your application menu or run:
openclaw ⚙️ Initial Configuration
After installation, OpenClaw will guide you through setup. Here's what to configure:
Model Selection
- Local (Ollama): Free, private, offline-capable. Choose
llama3.2for a good balance. - Cloud: More powerful but sends data to servers. Add API keys for ChatGPT, Claude, etc.
Memory Setup
OpenClaw can remember information across conversations. In settings:
- Enable "Long-term memory" to remember facts about you
- Set memory location (default is fine)
- Configure what to remember/forget
Integrations (Optional)
Connect to messaging platforms in Settings → Integrations:
- iMessage: Chat with AI via Messages app (Mac only)
- Telegram: Create a bot for Telegram chats
- Discord: Add AI to your Discord server
🔧 Troubleshooting
"Ollama not found" error
Make sure Ollama is installed and running:
# Check if Ollama is running
ollama list
# If not, start it
ollama serve "Permission denied" errors
On macOS, make sure OpenClaw has:
- Accessibility access (System Preferences → Privacy & Security)
- Full Disk Access (System Preferences → Privacy & Security)
Slow responses
- Use a smaller model (
llama3.2:1binstead ofllama3.2:3b) - Close other resource-intensive apps
- Check you have enough RAM for the model size