Install OpenClaw on macOS
Run your personal AI assistant natively on your Mac. Works great with the macOS Companion App.
Supports both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. macOS 14+ recommended, especially if you want to use the Companion App.
Option 1 – One-liner (recommended)
Open the Terminal app and run:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
The script detects your architecture, installs Node.js (if needed), and sets up OpenClaw.
Option 2 – Install via npm
If you already have a recent Node.js installed:
npm i -g openclaw
Make sure your Node.js version meets the requirements from the official docs.
Option 3 – From source (hackable)
For developers who want full control and the ability to hack on OpenClaw itself:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git
Or manually:
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm run build
Then run pnpm run openclaw onboard to start onboarding.
After installing – Onboard
Whichever install option you used, start onboarding with:
openclaw onboard
You’ll set up your model provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, local models, etc.), API keys, and connect chat apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
macOS Companion App
For a smoother macOS experience, you can install the Companion App:
- Menubar control for starting/stopping OpenClaw
- Quick status overview
- Works alongside the CLI
Download it from the official site: OpenClaw Companion App (macOS)
Need help? Visit the Troubleshoot Center or check the official docs.