OpenClaw ships three installer scripts, served from openclaw.ai.
| Script | Platform | What it does |
|---|---|---|
install.sh | macOS / Linux / WSL | Installs Node if needed, installs OpenClaw via npm (default) or git, and can run onboarding. |
install-cli.sh | macOS / Linux / WSL | Installs Node + OpenClaw into a local prefix (~/.openclaw) with npm or git checkout modes. No root required. |
install.ps1 | Windows (PowerShell) | Installs Node if needed, installs OpenClaw via npm (default) or git, and can run onboarding. |
Quick commands
install.sh
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
```
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --help
```
install-cli.sh
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash
```
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --help
```
install.ps1
```powershell
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -Tag beta -NoOnboard -DryRun
```
Note
If install succeeds but openclaw is not found in a new terminal, see Node.js troubleshooting.
install.sh
Tip
Recommended for most interactive installs on macOS/Linux/WSL.
Flow (install.sh)
Detect OS
Supports macOS and Linux (including WSL).
Ensure Node.js 24 by default
Checks Node version and installs Node 24 if needed (Homebrew on macOS, NodeSource setup scripts on Linux apt/dnf/yum). On macOS, Homebrew is installed only when the installer needs it for Node or Git. OpenClaw still supports Node 22 LTS, currently `22.19+`, for compatibility.
On Alpine/musl Linux, the installer uses apk packages instead of NodeSource; the configured Alpine repositories must provide Node `22.19+` (Alpine 3.21 or newer at the time of writing).
Ensure Git
Installs Git if missing using the detected package manager, including Homebrew on macOS and apk on Alpine.
Install OpenClaw
- `npm` method (default): global npm install
- `git` method: clone/update repo, install deps with pnpm, build, then install wrapper at `~/.local/bin/openclaw`
Post-install tasks
- Refreshes a loaded gateway service best-effort (`openclaw gateway install --force`, then restart)
- Runs `openclaw doctor --non-interactive` on upgrades and git installs (best effort)
- Attempts onboarding when appropriate (TTY available, onboarding not disabled, and bootstrap/config checks pass)
Source checkout detection
If run inside an OpenClaw checkout (package.json + pnpm-workspace.yaml), the script offers:
- use checkout (
git), or - use global install (
npm)
If no TTY is available and no install method is set, it defaults to npm and warns.
The script exits with code 2 for invalid method selection or invalid --install-method values.
Examples (install.sh)
Default
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
```
Skip onboarding
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-onboard
```
Git install
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git
```
GitHub main checkout
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git --version main
```
Dry run
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --dry-run
```
Flags reference
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--install-method npm|git | Choose install method (default: npm). Alias: --method |
--npm | Shortcut for npm method |
--git | Shortcut for git method. Alias: --github |
--version <version|dist-tag|spec> | npm version, dist-tag, or package spec (default: latest) |
--beta | Use beta dist-tag if available, else fallback to latest |
--git-dir <path> | Checkout directory (default: ~/openclaw). Alias: --dir |
--no-git-update | Skip git pull for existing checkout |
--no-prompt | Disable prompts |
--no-onboard | Skip onboarding |
--onboard | Enable onboarding |
--dry-run | Print actions without applying changes |
--verbose | Enable debug output (set -x, npm notice-level logs) |
--help | Show usage (-h) |
Environment variables reference
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
OPENCLAW_INSTALL_METHOD=git|npm | Install method |
OPENCLAW_VERSION=latest|next|<semver>|<spec> | npm version, dist-tag, or package spec |
OPENCLAW_BETA=0|1 | Use beta if available |
OPENCLAW_HOME=<path> | Base directory for OpenClaw state and default git/onboarding paths |
OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR=<path> | Checkout directory |
OPENCLAW_GIT_UPDATE=0|1 | Toggle git updates |
OPENCLAW_NO_PROMPT=1 | Disable prompts |
OPENCLAW_NO_ONBOARD=1 | Skip onboarding |
OPENCLAW_DRY_RUN=1 | Dry run mode |
OPENCLAW_VERBOSE=1 | Debug mode |
OPENCLAW_NPM_LOGLEVEL=error|warn|notice | npm log level |
install-cli.sh
Info
Designed for environments where you want everything under a local prefix (default ~/.openclaw) and no system Node dependency. Supports npm installs by default, plus git-checkout installs under the same prefix flow.
Flow (install-cli.sh)
Install local Node runtime
Downloads a pinned supported Node LTS tarball (the version is embedded in the script and updated independently) to `<prefix>/tools/node-v<version>` and verifies SHA-256.
On Alpine/musl Linux, where Node does not publish compatible tarballs for the pinned runtime, installs `nodejs` and `npm` with `apk` and links that runtime into the prefix wrapper path. The Alpine repositories must provide Node `22.19+`; use Alpine 3.21 or newer if older repositories only provide Node 20 or 21.
Ensure Git
If Git is missing, attempts install via apt/dnf/yum/apk on Linux or Homebrew on macOS.
Install OpenClaw under prefix
- `npm` method (default): installs under the prefix with npm, then writes wrapper to `<prefix>/bin/openclaw`
- `git` method: clones/updates a checkout (default `~/openclaw`) and still writes the wrapper to `<prefix>/bin/openclaw`
Refresh loaded gateway service
If a gateway service is already loaded from that same prefix, the script runs
`openclaw gateway install --force`, then `openclaw gateway restart`, and
probes gateway health best-effort.
Examples (install-cli.sh)
Default
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash
```
Custom prefix + version
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --prefix /opt/openclaw --version latest
```
Git install
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git --git-dir ~/openclaw
```
Automation JSON output
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --json --prefix /opt/openclaw
```
Run onboarding
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --onboard
```
Flags reference
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--prefix <path> | Install prefix (default: ~/.openclaw) |
--install-method npm|git | Choose install method (default: npm). Alias: --method |
--npm | Shortcut for npm method |
--git, --github | Shortcut for git method |
--git-dir <path> | Git checkout directory (default: ~/openclaw). Alias: --dir |
--version <ver> | OpenClaw version or dist-tag (default: latest) |
--node-version <ver> | Node version (default: 22.22.0) |
--json | Emit NDJSON events |
--onboard | Run openclaw onboard after install |
--no-onboard | Skip onboarding (default) |
--set-npm-prefix | On Linux, force npm prefix to ~/.npm-global if current prefix is not writable |
--help | Show usage (-h) |
Environment variables reference
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
OPENCLAW_PREFIX=<path> | Install prefix |
OPENCLAW_INSTALL_METHOD=git|npm | Install method |
OPENCLAW_VERSION=<ver> | OpenClaw version or dist-tag |
OPENCLAW_NODE_VERSION=<ver> | Node version |
OPENCLAW_HOME=<path> | Base directory for OpenClaw state and default git/onboarding paths |
OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR=<path> | Git checkout directory for git installs |
OPENCLAW_GIT_UPDATE=0|1 | Toggle git updates for existing checkouts |
OPENCLAW_NO_ONBOARD=1 | Skip onboarding |
OPENCLAW_NPM_LOGLEVEL=error|warn|notice | npm log level |
install.ps1
Flow (install.ps1)
Ensure PowerShell + Windows environment
Requires PowerShell 5+.
Ensure Node.js 24 by default
If missing, attempts install via winget, then Chocolatey, then Scoop. If no package manager is available, the script downloads the official Node.js Windows zip into `%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenClaw\deps\portable-node` and adds it to the current process and user PATH. Node 22 LTS, currently `22.19+`, remains supported for compatibility.
Install OpenClaw
- `npm` method (default): global npm install using selected `-Tag`, launched from a writable installer temp directory so shells opened in protected folders such as `C:\` still work
- `git` method: clone/update repo, install/build with pnpm, and install wrapper at `%USERPROFILE%\.local\bin\openclaw.cmd`. If Git is missing, the script bootstraps user-local MinGit under `%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenClaw\deps\portable-git` and adds it to the current process and user PATH.
Post-install tasks
- Adds needed bin directory to user PATH when possible
- Refreshes a loaded gateway service best-effort (`openclaw gateway install --force`, then restart)
- Runs `openclaw doctor --non-interactive` on upgrades and git installs (best effort)
Handle failures
`iwr ... | iex` and scriptblock installs report a terminating error without closing the current PowerShell session. Direct `powershell -File` / `pwsh -File` installs still exit non-zero for automation.
Examples (install.ps1)
Default
```powershell
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
```
Git install
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git
```
GitHub main checkout
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git -Tag main
```
Custom git directory
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git -GitDir "C:\openclaw"
```
Dry run
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -DryRun
```
Debug trace
```powershell
# install.ps1 has no dedicated -Verbose flag yet.
Set-PSDebug -Trace 1
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -NoOnboard
Set-PSDebug -Trace 0
```
Flags reference
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
-InstallMethod npm|git | Install method (default: npm) |
-Tag <tag|version|spec> | npm dist-tag, version, or package spec (default: latest) |
-GitDir <path> | Checkout directory (default: %USERPROFILE%\openclaw) |
-NoOnboard | Skip onboarding |
-NoGitUpdate | Skip git pull |
-DryRun | Print actions only |
Environment variables reference
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
OPENCLAW_INSTALL_METHOD=git|npm | Install method |
OPENCLAW_GIT_DIR=<path> | Checkout directory |
OPENCLAW_NO_ONBOARD=1 | Skip onboarding |
OPENCLAW_GIT_UPDATE=0 | Disable git pull |
OPENCLAW_DRY_RUN=1 | Dry run mode |
Note
If -InstallMethod git is used and Git is missing, the script tries a user-local MinGit bootstrap before printing the Git for Windows link.
CI and automation
Use non-interactive flags/env vars for predictable runs.
install.sh (non-interactive npm)
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-prompt --no-onboard
```
install.sh (non-interactive git)
```bash
OPENCLAW_INSTALL_METHOD=git OPENCLAW_NO_PROMPT=1 \
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
```
install-cli.sh (JSON)
```bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --json --prefix /opt/openclaw
```
install.ps1 (skip onboarding)
```powershell
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -NoOnboard
```
Troubleshooting
Why is Git required?
Git is required for `git` install method. For `npm` installs, Git is still checked/installed to avoid `spawn git ENOENT` failures when dependencies use git URLs.
Why does npm hit EACCES on Linux?
Some Linux setups point npm global prefix to root-owned paths. `install.sh` can switch prefix to `~/.npm-global` and append PATH exports to shell rc files (when those files exist).
Details
Rerun the installer so it can bootstrap user-local MinGit, or install Git for Windows and reopen PowerShell.
Details
Run `npm config get prefix` and add that directory to your user PATH (no `\bin` suffix needed on Windows), then reopen PowerShell.
Windows: how to get verbose installer output
`install.ps1` does not currently expose a `-Verbose` switch.
Use PowerShell tracing for script-level diagnostics:
```powershell
Set-PSDebug -Trace 1
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -NoOnboard
Set-PSDebug -Trace 0
```
openclaw not found after install
Usually a PATH issue. See [Node.js troubleshooting](/en/install/node#troubleshooting).