FreX By OpenClaw · Est. 2026
Setup Guide · § 01 · April 2026

Get OpenClaw running in thirty minutes.

A patient, linear walkthrough — from zero to a working personal AI that lives on your machine, speaks through your messaging apps, and runs while you don't. Written by OpenClaw.

Duration
~30 min
Platforms
Mac · Linux · Windows
Runtime
Node.js v22+
Difficulty
Beginner
§ 01 — Prerequisites

Before you start.

Four things. The first three you probably already have.

Machine
A computer
Mac, Windows, or Linux.
Runtime
Node.js v22+
Download the LTS from nodejs.org.
Provider
AI API key
Anthropic or OpenAI.
Time
~30 minutes
One-time setup.

Check your Node.js version

Open Terminal (Mac: ⌘ Space → Terminal) or Command Prompt (Windows: Win → cmd) and run:

bash
node --version

You need v22.0.0 or higher. Otherwise install the LTS from nodejs.org and re-run.

Choose your AI provider

★ Recommended
Anthropic

Claude Opus 4.5 is the smartest option. Get your key at console.anthropic.com.

Also great
OpenAI

GPT-4 and friends. Works perfectly well. Key at platform.openai.com/api-keys.

Keep it private Never share your API key, commit it to public code, or post it anywhere. It acts like a password to your AI account and billing.
§ 02 — Installation

Installation.

One command installs everything — OpenClaw, dependencies, runtime.

Mac / Linux

bash
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Windows (PowerShell)

powershell
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Tip Installation takes 2–5 minutes. You'll see lots of text — that's normal. When it stops, run openclaw --version to confirm.
§ 03 — Onboarding

The onboarding wizard.

This connects OpenClaw to your provider and sets it up to run in the background.

bash
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
  1. Name your assistant

    Anything — Jarvis, Alfred, Lobster Larry. This is just what it calls itself.

  2. Choose your provider

    Arrow keys to select Anthropic or OpenAI. Press Enter.

  3. Paste your API key

    You won't see the key as you type — this is normal. Paste and press Enter.

  4. Pick a model

    claude-opus-4.5 is best quality. claude-sonnet-4.5 is faster and cheaper.

  5. Set up messaging (optional)

    Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord. You can skip and add later.

  6. Install the daemon — say YES

    This keeps OpenClaw running in the background even after you close the terminal.

§ 04 — Verify

Make sure it works.

Check gateway status

bash
openclaw gateway status

Should print ✓ Gateway is running. If not:

bash
openclaw gateway start

Open the dashboard

bash
openclaw dashboard

This opens your browser at http://127.0.0.1:18789/. Say hello. If it responds, you're done.

Pro tip The .openclaw folder in your home directory holds everything — settings, credentials, workspace, logs. Back it up.
§ 05 — Messaging

Messaging channels.

Chat with your assistant through apps you already use. Difficulty varies:

Telegrameasy Signaleasy Discordmedium Slackmedium iMessageMac only WhatsAppharder

Telegram — start here

  1. Create a bot with BotFather

    Search @BotFather in Telegram, type /newbot, follow the prompts. Copy the token.

  2. Add token to config
    bash
    openclaw config edit

    Paste into channels:

    json
    "telegram": {
  "botToken": "paste-token-here"
}
  3. Restart and test
    bash
    openclaw gateway restart

    Say hello to your bot in Telegram — it should respond.

WhatsApp

  1. Start the login
    bash
    openclaw channels login whatsapp
  2. Scan the QR code

    On your phone: WhatsApp → ⋮ Menu → Linked Devices → Link a Device.

  3. Approve numbers

    Only approved numbers can trigger your assistant:

    bash
    openclaw pairing approve whatsapp +15555551234
Heads up WhatsApp disconnects more often than other channels. Keep your phone online and don't log out of WhatsApp. Re-scan the QR if it drops.
§ 06 — Skills

Skills & tools.

Skills give your assistant superpowers — web browsing, calendar, file management. Browse the library at clawhub.ai.

Install a skill

bash
openclaw skills install web-search

Popular ones to start with:

webweb-search
timecalendar
weatherweather
audiospotify
filesfile-organizer
devcode-helper

Customize personality

Edit SOUL.md to change how it talks and behaves:

bash
nano ~/.openclaw/workspace/SOUL.md
Tip Keep SOUL.md short. The assistant re-reads it every session — a bloated file burns API credits just saying hello. Put project-specific notes in AGENTS.md.
§ 07 — Troubleshooting

When things break.

"command not found" after install
Close your terminal completely and open a new one — PATH needs to refresh. If it still fails, run the installer again; it may print a shell-config command you need to run.
Gateway won't start
Something else may be using port 18789. Try an alternate:
bash
openclaw gateway --port 18790
AI isn't responding in the dashboard
Check your API key is correct and your account has credits. Then check logs:
bash
openclaw logs
WhatsApp keeps disconnecting
Keep your phone online. Don't log out of WhatsApp on your phone. If it drops, re-run openclaw channels login whatsapp and scan a fresh QR.
API costs are too high
Add limits to your config:
json
"limits": {
  "maxTokensPerDay": 100000,
  "alertWhenOver": 50000
}
§ 08 — Safety

Safety tips.

Never do this Share your API key publicly, commit it to code, or post it in screenshots. It's a live billing credential — anyone with it can rack up charges.
Worth knowing Using a commercial API means your messages pass through provider servers. For true local privacy, run a local model like Qwen or Llama.
Good practice Keep the pairing/approval system on so random contacts can't trigger your assistant. Review skill source before installing from third-party marketplaces. Back up .openclaw regularly.