How to Install OpenClaw on Windows — Step by Step Guide

OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI assistant that runs on your own machine. No cloud subscription, no data sent to third parties. Here's how to install it on Windows in under 10 minutes.

What You Need

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Node.js 20+ (LTS recommended)
• At least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
• 5 GB of free disk space

Step 1 — Install Node.js

Download Node.js from [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org) (LTS version). Run the installer and follow the prompts. Make sure you check the box that says "Add to PATH".

To verify the installation, open PowerShell and run:

node --version
npm --version

You should see version numbers like v20.x.x and 10.x.x.

Step 2 — Install OpenClaw

Open PowerShell and run:

npm install -g openclaw

This installs OpenClaw globally so you can run it from any directory.

Step 3 — Start the Gateway

The Gateway is the background service that runs OpenClaw. Start it with:

openclaw gateway start

You should see output like:

Gateway running at http://localhost:18789
OpenClaw UI: http://localhost:18792

Open your browser and go to http://localhost:18792. You'll see the OpenClaw web interface.

Step 4 — Connect a Channel (Optional)

OpenClaw supports multiple messaging channels. To connect Telegram for example:

openclaw config set channel.telegram.enabled true
openclaw config set channel.telegram.botToken YOUR_BOT_TOKEN
openclaw gateway restart

Step 5 — Install a Model

By default, OpenClaw uses the built-in MiniMax model. To switch to a local model:

openclaw models add ollama llama3
openclaw config set defaultModel ollama/llama3
openclaw gateway restart

Step 6 — Update OpenClaw

To get the latest version:

npm update -g openclaw

Troubleshooting

Port already in use

If port 18789 or 18792 is taken, specify different ports:

openclaw gateway start --port 18790 --ui 18800

Node.js not found

Restart your terminal after installing Node.js. If that doesn't work, manually add Node.js to your PATH.

Gateway won't start

Check the logs:

openclaw gateway logs

What's Next?

Once OpenClaw is running, explore plugins and skills to extend its capabilities. You can connect more channels, add memory, and integrate it with your own projects.

Full documentation at https://docs.openclaw.ai