Setup Tutorial

Get Started with OpenClaw

A powerful, self-hosted AI assistant that runs 24/7 on your own hardware. Connects to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack — giving you a personal AI agent you can chat with from anywhere.

macOS, Linux, or Windows (WSL2)
API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or local Ollama
Free & open-source (you pay for LLM API usage)

Download Now

Click the button below to download. It is free and takes less than a minute to install.

Video Tutorial

Easy Setup — Just 6 Steps

Follow these simple steps. No technical knowledge needed.

1

Download OpenClaw

Click the big "Download for Mac" button above. Your browser will download a file called "OpenClaw-2026.2.6.dmg". Wait for it to finish — it may take a minute or two.

Look for the file in your "Downloads" folder if you are not sure where it went.
2

Install the App

Double-click the downloaded .dmg file. A window will pop up showing the OpenClaw icon and your Applications folder. Drag the OpenClaw icon into the Applications folder.

If your Mac says the app is "from an unidentified developer", go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click "Open Anyway".

3

Open OpenClaw

Open your Applications folder (in Finder, click "Applications" on the left side). Find "OpenClaw" and double-click it to open.

You can also search for OpenClaw using Spotlight — press Command + Space and type OpenClaw.
4

Follow the Setup Wizard

When OpenClaw opens for the first time, a friendly setup wizard will walk you through everything. It will ask you to choose an AI provider — if you are not sure, pick OpenAI (ChatGPT).

You will need an API key. The wizard will show you exactly where to get one. For OpenAI, visit platform.openai.com, sign up, and create a key. Then paste it into the wizard.

Keep your API key private — do not share it with anyone. It is like a password for your AI service.
5

Connect Your Chat App

The wizard will ask which messaging app you want to use. Pick your favorite — WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect.

For WhatsApp: you will scan a QR code with your phone (just like WhatsApp Web). For Telegram: the wizard will guide you to create a free bot. For Discord: you will add a bot to your server.

WhatsApp is the easiest option if you already use it on your phone.
6

Say Hello to Your AI Assistant!

Open your chosen chat app and send a message to your new AI assistant. Try saying "Hello!" or "What can you do?" — it should respond within a few seconds.

If it does not respond, make sure OpenClaw is still running on your computer (check the menu bar at the top of your screen for the OpenClaw icon).