How to install OpenClaw on macOS

OpenClaw on macOS is quickest to set up with the official installer script, then openclaw onboard --install-daemon, then a gateway health check and dashboard open. That is the same path the official quickstart recommends for a first local install.

Who this is for

• You want a local OpenClaw install on a Mac.
• You want the browser dashboard first, before adding channels or automation.
• You want the fastest official path instead of a source build.

What you need before you start

• A Mac with terminal access.
• Node.js 22 or newer, because the official quickstart requires Node 22+.
• A model provider credential ready for the onboarding wizard.

Step-by-step setup

Step 1: Confirm Node.js is available

Expected result: a version string that starts with v22 or newer.

Step 2: Run the official OpenClaw installer

Expected result: the installer finishes without errors and the openclaw command becomes available in your shell.

Step 3: Run the onboarding wizard and install the background service

During the wizard, use the local gateway path unless you already know you want a remote gateway. The wizard is the recommended setup flow on macOS and it configures auth, workspace defaults, optional channels, and the background service.

Step 4: Check that the gateway is running

Expected result: the service is running and the probe does not show a broken local gateway.

Step 5: Open the dashboard

Expected result: the browser opens the Control UI. If the CLI cannot open a browser, use the local URL printed by the command.

Verify it worked

1. Run openclaw gateway status again and confirm the gateway is still healthy.
2. Open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ if openclaw dashboard did not launch a browser automatically.
3. If the dashboard loads, your macOS install is complete.

Common problems and fixes

openclaw command is not found

Open a new terminal session and run the installer again if needed:

The service installed but does not stay up

Use the gateway troubleshooting commands from the official docs:

The dashboard says unauthorized

Get a fresh link from the CLI:

Then open the printed URL. The dashboard docs note that the UI stores the token locally after the first successful load.

FAQ

Should I use openclaw onboard or openclaw onboard --install-daemon?

Use openclaw onboard --install-daemon for the first install. The quickstart uses that form because it both configures OpenClaw and installs the background service.

Do I need WhatsApp or another channel before the dashboard works?

No. The official onboarding docs explicitly call out the dashboard as the fastest first chat path, even without channel setup.

Can I reconfigure the install later without reinstalling?

Yes. The wizard docs recommend openclaw configure for later changes, and openclaw agents add <name> when you want to add more isolated agents.

Official sources

• Quickstart
• Onboarding Wizard
• Gateway CLI
• Dashboard