How to set up OpenClaw

Setup, step by step

1. Step 1

   Check Node.js

   OpenClaw needs a recent Node. Check yours first; the installer provisions the rest.

   node --version

2. Step 2

   Install OpenClaw

   On macOS, Linux, or WSL2, run the installer. On Windows, use the PowerShell installer instead.

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

3. Step 3

   Onboard

   Start onboarding, connect your model access, and let it verify with a real completion. Keep the gateway in the foreground until everything works.

   openclaw onboard --install-daemon

4. Step 4

   Add Locus Pro

   Send this in a new OpenClaw session. The installer selects the supported MCP or CLI adapter and installs all three Locus skills.

   Install Locus Pro by following https://paywithlocus.com/SKILL.md. Use production.

5. Step 5

   Complete authentication

   Follow the installer through browser approval or device authentication and any restart it requests.

6. Step 6

   Verify readiness

   Confirm the installer reports all three skill trees in a fresh session and passes its free readiness check before making a paid call.

What the Locus Pro step buys you

Steps 1 to 3 give you a working agent with free tools. Steps 4 and 5 add the paid layer: thousands of specialist APIs the agent discovers by outcome, each with its price shown up front, settled per call from one balance with policy controls. No per-provider accounts, keys, or subscriptions. For what to install next, see the best tools for an OpenClaw agent.

Keep going

• Best tools for an OpenClaw agent →
• How to set up Hermes →
• Paid MCP tools over one connection →