General Questions

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is free software that lets you chat with AI through messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord. It runs on your computer and connects your chat apps to AI services like Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI (ChatGPT).

See: What is OpenClaw?

Is OpenClaw free?

Yes, OpenClaw is free and open-source. However, you will need to pay for AI API usage (the actual AI responses) through your chosen provider like Anthropic or OpenAI. Think of it like a free phone app that requires a phone plan.

Who makes OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is an open-source project. It is not made by Anthropic, OpenAI, or any AI company. It is a community project that lets you connect to various AI providers.

Do I need to know how to code?

No coding required. Our guides are written for complete beginners. You will use the terminal (command line), but we explain every step in detail.

Installation Questions

Which platforms does OpenClaw support?

OpenClaw runs on:

• Windows 10/11 (via WSL2)
• macOS (Ventura 13+ recommended)
• Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and more)
• Docker (any platform that supports Docker)

Does my computer need to stay on?

Yes. OpenClaw needs to run for your AI to respond. If you turn off your computer:

• Messages sent to your bot will not get AI responses
• Messages will wait until you turn OpenClaw back on

For always-on access, consider running OpenClaw on a server or Raspberry Pi.

Can I install OpenClaw on my phone?

No. OpenClaw runs on a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux). You then chat with your AI through messaging apps on your phone.

How much disk space do I need?

OpenClaw itself uses about 100-200MB. Including dependencies (Node.js, etc.), plan for about 500MB-1GB.

What are the system requirements?

Minimum:

• 2GB RAM
• 1GB disk space
• Stable internet connection

Recommended:

• 4GB+ RAM (especially if running multiple channels)
• 2GB disk space
• Wired internet connection

Account and API Questions

Which AI providers work with OpenClaw?

OpenClaw supports:

• Anthropic (Claude models)
• OpenAI (GPT models)
• Other providers may be available; check the official documentation

How much does AI usage cost?

AI providers charge per "token" (roughly per word). Typical costs:

• Casual conversation: $0.01-0.05 per exchange
• Monthly usage for personal use: $5-20

Check your provider's pricing page for exact rates.

How do I get an API key?

1. Create an account with your chosen AI provider
2. Navigate to their API or Developer section
3. Generate an API key
4. Keep it secret (treat it like a password)

Our installation guides include provider-specific instructions.

Can I use multiple AI providers?

Yes. You can configure multiple AI providers and switch between them. You can even assign different providers to different channels.

Messaging Platform Questions

Which messaging apps work with OpenClaw?

Currently supported:

• Telegram (easiest to set up)
• Discord
• WhatsApp

Can I use multiple platforms at once?

Yes. You can connect Telegram, Discord, and WhatsApp simultaneously. Each platform can even have different AI settings.

See: Use OpenClaw on Multiple Channels

Do I need a separate phone number for WhatsApp?

No. WhatsApp connection uses WhatsApp Web technology. You link your existing WhatsApp account, similar to using WhatsApp on a computer.

Can other people use my AI bot?

Only if you approve them. OpenClaw uses a "pairing" system:

1. New user messages your bot
2. They receive a pairing code
3. You approve (or reject) on your computer
4. Only approved users can chat with AI

Privacy and Security Questions

Is OpenClaw safe?

Yes, when used correctly. OpenClaw runs on your computer, giving you control over your data. Key security features:

• Local-only by default (no external access)
• Pairing system controls who can use your AI
• No OpenClaw servers see your data

See: Is OpenClaw Safe?

Where does my data go?

Your message journey:

1. You send message via Telegram/Discord/WhatsApp
2. Message arrives at OpenClaw (on your computer)
3. OpenClaw sends to AI provider (Anthropic/OpenAI)
4. AI response returns the same path

Important: Your AI provider does receive your messages. Review their privacy policy.

Can OpenClaw read my other messages?

No. OpenClaw only sees messages sent to your bot:

• Telegram: Only messages to your specific bot
• Discord: Only messages in servers where your bot is present
• WhatsApp: All messages on your linked account (by design of WhatsApp Web)

How do I keep my installation secure?

1. Install only from official sources
2. Keep API keys and bot tokens secret
3. Use the pairing system
4. Run openclaw security audit periodically

See: Avoid OpenClaw Scams

Usage Questions

How do I customize AI responses?

Create custom "agents" by editing the configuration file at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

nano ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Add an agent with a custom identity in the agents.list array. See: Your First OpenClaw Agent for detailed configuration examples.

Why is the AI not responding?

Check these common causes:

1. OpenClaw not running: Run openclaw status
2. Pairing not approved: Run openclaw pairing list
3. API key issues: Check your AI provider account
4. Connection issues: Run openclaw health

See: Troubleshooting

How do I stop the AI from responding?

Temporarily disable:

openclaw gateway stop

Or remove a specific channel:

openclaw channels remove --channel telegram

Can the AI remember previous conversations?

Yes. By default, the AI remembers the current conversation context. However:

• Memory is limited by the AI's context window
• Long conversations may "forget" early messages
• You can configure memory settings

How do I clear conversation history?

Conversation history is managed per session. You can reset sessions through the configuration or by restarting the gateway. For advanced session management, see the official documentation.

Troubleshooting Questions

"openclaw: command not found"

The terminal does not know where OpenClaw is installed.

Solutions:

1. Close and reopen your terminal
2. Check your PATH configuration
3. Reinstall OpenClaw

See: Command Not Found

Bot is offline in Discord/Telegram

1. Check if OpenClaw is running: openclaw status
2. Verify channel connection: openclaw channels status
3. Restart the gateway: openclaw gateway restart

Messages are slow

Slow responses can be caused by:

1. AI provider rate limits
2. Slow internet connection
3. Complex prompts requiring more processing

Check your AI provider's status page for any issues.

How do I update OpenClaw?

openclaw update
openclaw gateway restart

How do I completely remove OpenClaw?

Stop the service
openclaw daemon stop
Remove the package
npm uninstall -g openclaw
Remove configuration (optional)
rm -rf ~/.openclaw

Advanced Questions

Can I run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi?

Yes. OpenClaw runs on any device that supports Node.js. Raspberry Pi 4 with 2GB+ RAM works well.

Can I run OpenClaw in Docker?

Yes. Docker is great for isolated, reproducible installations.

See: Install with Docker

Can I use OpenClaw for a business?

OpenClaw is open-source and free to use commercially. However:

• Review AI provider terms for commercial use
• Consider rate limits and costs at scale
• Implement proper security measures

Can I contribute to OpenClaw?

Yes. OpenClaw is open-source. Check the GitHub repository for contribution guidelines.

Where can I get more help?

1. This website: Browse our guides and troubleshooting articles
2. Official docs: docs.openclaw.ai
3. GitHub: Report issues and check discussions
4. Community: Check for community forums and chat groups

Did Not Find Your Question?

If your question is not answered here:

1. Search our other guides using the search function
2. Check the Troubleshooting section
3. Visit the official documentation
4. Look for community discussions on GitHub

Last updated: February 3, 2026 | Found an error? Contact us