What You Will Achieve
By following this guide, you will install OpenClaw on your Mac. OpenClaw lets you chat with AI through apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes, and you do not need any programming experience.
What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is like a bridge between your chat apps and AI. Once installed, you can send a message on WhatsApp or Telegram, and an AI will reply to you. Everything runs on your own Mac, so your conversations stay private.
Why macOS Is Easier
Good news! Installing OpenClaw on macOS is simpler than on Windows because:
- No extra software needed: macOS already has everything we need built-in
- Native Terminal: Your Mac has a powerful command-line tool ready to use
- Unix-based: macOS and OpenClaw speak the same language
Estimated Time
Most people complete this installation in 15-20 minutes. If you have a fast internet connection, it may be even quicker.
Check If Your Mac Is Ready
Before we begin, let us make sure your Mac meets the requirements.
Check your macOS version:
- Click the Apple menu (the apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen)
- Click "About This Mac"
- Look at the version number
Expected Result
macOS Ventura (13.0) or newer, such as:
- macOS Ventura 13.x
- macOS Sonoma 14.x
- macOS Sequoia 15.x
Older macOS Version?
If you have macOS Monterey (12.x) or older, the installation may still work, but you might encounter some issues. We recommend updating to a newer version through System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
What else you need:
- You must be able to install programs on your Mac (administrator access)
- At least 2GB of free space on your hard drive
- A working internet connection
Understanding the Terminal
Before we start, let me explain what the Terminal is, since we will use it throughout this guide.
What is Terminal?
Terminal is an app on your Mac that lets you control your computer by typing commands. Think of it like texting your computer. Instead of clicking buttons, you type instructions. It looks intimidating at first, but we will guide you through every step.
Where to find Terminal:
- Press Command (⌘) + Space on your keyboard (this opens Spotlight search)
- Type
Terminal - Press Enter or click on Terminal in the results
Expected Result
A window opens with a white or black background. You will see something like: yourname@Your-MacBook ~ %
What Does That Text Mean?
The text you see (like yourname@Your-MacBook ~ %) is called a "prompt". It shows your username, your computer's name, and a % symbol. The % means Terminal is ready and waiting for you to type a command.
Keep Terminal open! We will use it for the entire installation process.
Step-by-Step Installation
Install Homebrew (The Easy Way to Get Software)
First, we need to install something called Homebrew. Homebrew is a tool that makes it easy to install other programs on your Mac.
What is Homebrew?
Think of Homebrew as an app store for your Terminal. Instead of going to a website, downloading a file, and double-clicking to install, Homebrew lets you install programs with a single command. It is trusted by millions of Mac users and is completely free.
Copy and paste this command into Terminal:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
How to copy and paste:
- Move your mouse over the command above
- Click the copy button (or select the text and press Command+C)
- Click inside the Terminal window
- Press Command (⌘) + V to paste
- Press Enter to run the command
What happens next:
-
The installer will ask: "Press RETURN to continue or any other key to abort"
- Press Enter (also called Return on Mac keyboards)
-
It will ask for your Mac password
- Type your Mac login password (the one you use to unlock your computer)
- Important: You will NOT see any characters as you type. This is normal! Just type your password and press Enter.
-
Wait for the installation to complete (this takes 2-5 minutes)
Expected Result
==> Installation successful! ==> Next steps: Run these commands in your terminal to add Homebrew to your PATH...
Important: Follow the 'Next Steps'!
After installation, Homebrew will show you some commands to run. These commands look like:
echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
You MUST run these commands, or Homebrew will not work. Copy and paste each command exactly as shown, then press Enter.
After running the "Next steps" commands, close Terminal and open it again.
Verify Homebrew is installed:
brew --version
Expected Result
Homebrew 4.x.x
If you see a version number, Homebrew is installed correctly!
Install Node.js
OpenClaw needs a program called Node.js to run. We will use Homebrew to install it.
What is Node.js?
Node.js is a tool that lets programs written in JavaScript run on your computer. OpenClaw is built using JavaScript, so we need Node.js to run it. You do not need to learn JavaScript. We just need Node.js installed.
Type this command in Terminal and press Enter:
brew install node@22
Wait for the installation to complete (about 1-2 minutes).
After installation, you may see a message about linking. Run this command:
brew link node@22
If it says the node is already linked, that is fine!
Verify Node.js is installed:
node --version
Expected Result
v22.x.x
The number should start with v22 (like v22.1.0 or v22.5.1). The exact numbers after v22. do not matter.
Got a Different Number?
If you see a number lower than 22 (like v18.x.x or v20.x.x), try running:
brew unlink node && brew link node@22
Then check the version again.
Install OpenClaw
Now we can finally install OpenClaw!
Type this command in Terminal and press Enter:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
What Does This Command Do?
This command downloads the OpenClaw installer from the internet and runs it. The curl part downloads the file, and bash runs it. It is like downloading and double-clicking an installer, but done through Terminal.
Wait for the installation to complete (about 1-2 minutes).
Expected Result
Downloading OpenClaw... Installing OpenClaw... openclaw@1.x.x installed successfully Run 'openclaw onboard' to get started
Important: Close Terminal and open it again!
This step is necessary so that your Mac recognizes the new openclaw command.
Verify OpenClaw is installed:
openclaw --version
Expected Result
openclaw/1.x.x darwin-arm64 node-v22.x.x
Almost There!
OpenClaw is installed! Now we need to set it up.
Run the OpenClaw Setup Wizard
OpenClaw includes a setup wizard that helps you configure everything. This is like going through the setup screens when you first install a new app.
Type this command and press Enter:
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
What is --install-daemon?
The --install-daemon part tells OpenClaw to set itself up to run in the background automatically. On macOS, this uses a system called "launchd" to start OpenClaw whenever your Mac turns on.
The wizard will ask you several questions. Here is what to choose:
1. Gateway mode
- Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select "local"
- Press Enter
- This means OpenClaw will run on your Mac only
2. Authentication
- The wizard will ask how you want to authenticate with AI services
- Follow the prompts to enter your API key or set up OAuth
- This is how OpenClaw connects to AI services like Anthropic or OpenAI
3. Channels
- Select which chat apps you want to use (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, etc.)
- Use arrow keys to move, Space to select, Enter to confirm
- You can change this later, so do not worry if you are unsure
4. Runtime
- Choose "Node" (not Bun)
- This is important for WhatsApp and Telegram to work correctly
5. Background service
- Choose "Yes" to install the background service
- This keeps OpenClaw running even when you close Terminal
You Need an API Key
To make OpenClaw work with AI, you need an API key from an AI provider (like Anthropic or OpenAI). The wizard will explain how to get one. Without an API key, OpenClaw cannot respond to your messages.
Check That OpenClaw Is Running
Let us make sure everything is working correctly.
Type these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
openclaw status
Expected Result
Gateway: running Port: 18789 Auth: configured Channels: none connected
openclaw health
Expected Result
Health: OK
What Do These Results Mean?
- Gateway: running = OpenClaw is active and working
- Port: 18789 = OpenClaw is listening on port 18789 (like a door number for connections)
- Auth: configured = Your API key is set up correctly
- Channels: none connected = You have not connected WhatsApp/Telegram yet (we will do this next)
- Health: OK = Everything is working normally
Open the OpenClaw Dashboard
OpenClaw has a web page where you can see everything that is happening and change settings.
Open this address in Safari, Chrome, or any web browser:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/
What is 127.0.0.1?
127.0.0.1 is a special address that means "this computer". Port 18789 is where OpenClaw is listening. Together, this address takes you to the OpenClaw dashboard running on your own Mac.
You should see the OpenClaw dashboard in your browser. From here you can:
- Chat with AI directly (without connecting any channels)
- See the status of your connections
- View message logs
- Change settings
Installation Complete!
Congratulations! OpenClaw is now installed and running on your Mac.
Common Problems and Solutions
"brew: command not found"
This means Homebrew is not installed correctly.
Solution:
- Go back to Step 1 and run the Homebrew install command again
- Make sure to run the "Next steps" commands that Homebrew shows after installation
- Close Terminal and open it again
"openclaw: command not found"
This means Terminal does not know where OpenClaw is installed.
Solutions to try in order:
- Close Terminal completely (Command+Q) and open it again
- Run the install command again:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash - Check if OpenClaw is in your PATH by running:
echo $PATH - See our detailed guide: OpenClaw Command Not Found
Password not working when I type it
Remember: when typing passwords in Terminal, no characters appear on screen. This is a security feature, not a bug. Just type your password and press Enter, even though you cannot see what you are typing.
"Permission denied" error
This is a permissions problem.
Solution: Run this command, then try installing again:
sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/.npm
When asked for your password, type your Mac login password and press Enter.
"No auth configured" message
This means you need to set up your API key.
Solution: Run the setup wizard again:
openclaw onboard
OpenClaw stops when I close Terminal
This means the background service (daemon) is not installed.
Solution: Run this command to install it:
openclaw daemon install
"Gateway: stopped" when I check status
The gateway is not running.
Solution: Start it manually:
openclaw gateway --daemon
Or restart the background service:
openclaw daemon restart
macOS-Specific Features
Menu Bar App (Optional)
OpenClaw has an optional menu bar app for macOS that gives you quick access to controls. Visit the official documentation for installation instructions.
Voice Wake (Optional)
On macOS, you can set up voice activation to wake OpenClaw with a spoken command. See the official docs for details on this advanced feature.
Keeping OpenClaw Updated
To get the latest features and security updates, run this command occasionally:
openclaw update
How Often Should I Update?
We recommend checking for updates every few weeks, or whenever you see a new version announced. Updates often include bug fixes and new features.
Keeping OpenClaw Safe
Security Tips
Follow these practices to keep your installation secure.
-
OpenClaw only runs locally: By default, only your Mac can access OpenClaw. Other devices on your network cannot see it.
-
Keep your control token secret: If you set up a control token during setup, do not share it with anyone. Anyone with this token can control your OpenClaw.
-
Run security audits: Periodically check your installation:
openclaw security audit --deep
- Never share auth-profiles.json: This file contains your API keys. Keep it private.
What To Do Next
Now that OpenClaw is installed, you are ready to connect it to your chat apps:
- Connect to Telegram - Send AI messages through Telegram
- Connect to WhatsApp - Use AI through WhatsApp
- Connect to Discord - Add AI to your Discord server
- Your First Agent - Learn how to start chatting with AI
Stuck?
If you run into problems not covered here, check our Troubleshooting guide or visit the official OpenClaw documentation.
Last updated: February 2, 2026 | Found an error? Contact us