Install OpenClaw on macOS, Windows & Linux in Under 10 Minutes [2026]

OpenClaw is an open-source, self-hosted AI agent gateway that acts as a bridge between large language models (LLMs) and local systems or messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. It is designed to run as a persistent background service and can be installed on macOS, Linux, or Windows, with the latter requiring WSL2 for full compatibility. The installation process involves setting up Node.js, installing the OpenClaw CLI, and completing an onboarding wizard to configure API keys, model selection, and channel setups. OpenClaw's security features are critical, given its high-privilege access; users are advised to enable consent mode for command execution, keep the software updated to mitigate vulnerabilities such as CVE-2026-25253, and avoid exposing the gateway to the internet without proper security measures. The platform supports manual installation and ongoing maintenance through health checks and diagnostics to ensure reliable operation.