Updating OpenClaw

Keeping OpenClaw updated ensures you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.

Check Your Current Version

First, see what version you have installed:

openclaw --version

Update to Latest Version

The update process is the same on all platforms:

openclaw update

After updating, restart the gateway to apply changes:

openclaw gateway restart

Verify the Update

openclaw --version

You should see the new version number.

Update Specific Version

If you need a specific version:

npm install -g openclaw@1.2.3

Replace 1.2.3 with the version number you need.

Troubleshooting Updates

"Permission denied" during update

On macOS/Linux:

sudo openclaw update

On Windows (run PowerShell as Administrator):

openclaw update

Update seems stuck

If the update appears to hang:

1. Press Ctrl+C to cancel
2. Clear the npm cache:

npm cache clean --force

3. Try updating again

Rollback to Previous Version

If an update causes problems:

npm install -g openclaw@previous.version.number

Uninstalling OpenClaw

If you need to remove OpenClaw from your system, follow these steps.

Step 1: Stop OpenClaw Services

First, stop all running OpenClaw processes:

openclaw gateway stop
openclaw daemon stop

Step 2: Remove the Daemon (Background Service)

If you installed the background service:

On macOS:

openclaw daemon uninstall

Or manually:

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist

On Linux (systemd):

openclaw daemon uninstall

Or manually:

systemctl --user stop openclaw
systemctl --user disable openclaw
rm ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw.service
systemctl --user daemon-reload

On Windows:

openclaw daemon uninstall

Step 3: Uninstall the Package

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Step 4: Remove Configuration Files (Optional)

Your settings and data are stored separately from the application. To remove them:

On macOS/Linux:

rm -rf ~/.openclaw

On Windows (PowerShell):

Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $env:USERPROFILE.openclaw

Step 5: Verify Removal

Confirm OpenClaw is uninstalled:

openclaw --version

Platform-Specific Cleanup

Windows (WSL2)

If you installed Node.js specifically for OpenClaw and no longer need it:

Inside WSL2
sudo apt remove nodejs npm

macOS (Homebrew)

If you installed Node.js via Homebrew for OpenClaw:

brew uninstall node@22

Docker

If you used the Docker installation:

Stop the container
docker stop openclaw
Remove the container
docker rm openclaw
Remove the image
docker rmi openclaw:local
Remove volumes (optional - deletes all data)
docker volume rm openclaw_data

Cleaning Up Messaging Platforms

After uninstalling OpenClaw, you may want to clean up on your messaging platforms.

Telegram

Your bot still exists on Telegram. To delete it:

1. Open Telegram
2. Find @BotFather
3. Send /deletebot
4. Select your bot
5. Confirm deletion

Discord

To remove your bot:

1. Go to Discord Developer Portal
2. Select your application
3. Click "Delete App" (in General Information)
4. Confirm deletion

Or just remove the bot from your server:

1. Open Server Settings
2. Go to Integrations
3. Find your bot and click "Remove"

WhatsApp

The WhatsApp connection is session-based. After stopping OpenClaw:

1. Open WhatsApp on your phone
2. Go to Linked Devices
3. Find the OpenClaw session
4. Tap "Log Out"

Reinstalling OpenClaw

If you want to install OpenClaw again in the future:

1. Follow the installation guide for your platform:

   • Windows
   • macOS
   • Linux
   • Docker

2. If you backed up your configuration, restore it:

Restore from backup
cp -r ~/openclaw-backup ~/.openclaw

3. Run the setup wizard if starting fresh:

openclaw onboard

What To Do Next

If you are leaving OpenClaw:

• Consider providing feedback to the project
• Your API keys with providers are still active (revoke them if not needed)

If you are troubleshooting:

• Command Not Found
• Gateway Connection Refused
• Permission Errors

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