OpenClaw Installer Scripts: install.sh, install-cli.sh, and install.ps1
Learn how OpenClaw's installer scripts work on macOS, Linux, WSL, and Windows. Covers flags, automation, and Node version requirements for fresh installs.
Read this when
- You want to understand `openclaw.ai/install.sh`
- You want to automate installs (CI / headless)
- You want to install from a GitHub checkout
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, can run onboarding. |
install-cli.sh | macOS / Linux / WSL | Installs Node + OpenClaw into a local prefix (~/.openclaw) via npm or git. No root required. |
install.ps1 | Windows (PowerShell) | Installs Node if needed, installs OpenClaw via npm (default) or git, can run onboarding. |
All three support Node 22.22.3+, 24.15+, or 25.9+; Node 24 is the default target for fresh installs.
Quick commands
install.sh
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --help
install-cli.sh
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --help
install.ps1
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -Tag beta -NoOnboard -DryRun
Note
If install succeeds but
openclawis 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
Works on macOS and Linux (including WSL).
Ensure Node.js 24 by default
Checks the Node version and installs Node 24 when missing (Homebrew on macOS, NodeSource setup scripts on Linux apt/dnf/yum). On macOS, Homebrew is only installed if the installer requires it for Node or Git. Supported versions are Node 22.22.3+, Node 24.15+, and Node 25.9+. Node 23 is not supported.
On Alpine/musl Linux, the installer uses apk packages instead of NodeSource and checks the actual linked SQLite version. Current stable Alpine package streams can provide a new enough Node with vulnerable system SQLite. In that case, use an official node:24-alpine container or a glibc-based host instead.
Ensure Git
Installs Git when missing using the detected package manager, including Homebrew on macOS and apk on Alpine.
Install OpenClaw
npmmethod (default): global npm installgitmethod: clone or update repo, install dependencies with pnpm, build, then install wrapper at~/.local/bin/openclaw
Post-install tasks
- Resolves the just installed
openclawbinary for follow up commands - For an unconfigured install, starts onboarding before doctor or gateway probes. With
--no-onboardor no TTY, it prints the command to finish setup later. - For a configured install, refreshes and restarts a loaded gateway service best effort and runs doctor. Upgrades update plugins when possible, or print the manual command in a headless prompt enabled run.
- When
--verifyruns, it checks the installed version and checks gateway health only after configuration exists.
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
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
Skip onboarding
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-onboard
Git install
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git
GitHub main checkout
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git --version main
Dry run
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --dry-run
Verify after install
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-onboard --verify
Flags reference
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--install-method | --method npm|git | Choose install method (default: npm) |
--npm | Shortcut for npm method |
--git | --github | Shortcut for git method |
--version <version|dist-tag|spec> | npm version, dist-tag, or package spec (default: latest) |
--beta | Use beta dist-tag if available, else fall back to latest |
--git-dir | --dir <path> | Checkout directory (default: ~/openclaw) |
--no-git-update | Skip git pull for existing checkout |
--no-prompt | Disable prompts |
--no-onboard | Skip onboarding |
--onboard | Enable onboarding |
--verify | Run a post-install smoke verify (--version, gateway health if loaded) |
--dry-run | Print actions without applying changes |
--verbose | Enable debug output (set -x, npm notice-level logs) |
--help | -h | Show usage |
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_VERIFY_INSTALL=1 | Run the post-install smoke verify |
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 (default: error, hides npm deprecation noise) |
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, default 24.15.0) to <prefix>/tools/node-v<version> and verifies SHA-256.
Linux ARMv7 uses Node 22.22.3 because official Node 24+ ARMv7 binaries are unavailable.
On Alpine/musl Linux, where Node does not publish compatible tarballs for the pinned runtime, installs nodejs and npm with apk, then verifies both Node and the actual linked SQLite library. Current stable Alpine package streams may still link vulnerable SQLite even with a new enough Node. Use an official node:24-alpine container or a glibc-based host when the safety check rejects the package.
Ensure Git
If Git is missing, attempts install via apt/dnf/yum/apk on Linux or Homebrew on macOS.
Install OpenClaw under prefix
npmmethod (default): installs under the prefix with npm, then writes wrapper to<prefix>/bin/openclawgitmethod: clones or 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, which activates the replacement service,
and then probes gateway health best effort.
Examples (install-cli.sh)
Default
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash
Custom prefix + version
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --prefix /opt/openclaw --version latest
Git install
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git --git-dir ~/openclaw
Automation JSON output
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --json --prefix /opt/openclaw
Run onboarding
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 | --method npm|git | Choose install method (default: npm) |
--npm | Shortcut for npm method |
--git | --github | Shortcut for git method |
--git-dir | --dir <path> | Git checkout directory (default: ~/openclaw) |
--version <ver> | OpenClaw version or dist-tag (default: latest) |
--node-version <ver> | Node version (default: 24.15.0; 22.22.3 on Linux ARMv7) |
--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 | -h | Show usage |
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 (default: error) |
Note
openclaw@mainand other GitHub source specs are not valid--versiontargets for npm installs. Use--install-method git --version maininstead.
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 24 Windows zip into %LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenClaw\deps\portable-node and adds it to the current process and user PATH. Node 22.22.3+, Node 24.15+, and Node 25.9+ are supported. Node 23 is not supported.
Install OpenClaw
npmmethod (default): global npm install using the selected-Tag, run from a writable installer temp directory so shells opened in protected folders likeC:\still functiongitmethod: clone or update repo, install and build with pnpm, then place a wrapper at%USERPROFILE%\.local\bin\openclaw.cmd. If Git is missing, the script bootstraps a user-local MinGit under%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenClaw\deps\portable-gitand adds it to both the current process and user PATH.
Post-install tasks
- Adds the required bin directory to user PATH when possible
- Attempts to refresh a loaded gateway service (
openclaw gateway install --force, then restart) - Runs
openclaw doctor --non-interactiveon 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 with a non-zero code for automation.
Examples (install.ps1)
Default
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex
Git install
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git
GitHub main checkout
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git -Tag main
Custom git directory
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git -GitDir "C:\openclaw"
Dry run
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -DryRun
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 gitis used and Git is missing, the script attempts a user-local MinGit bootstrap before showing the Git for Windows link.
CI and automation
Use non-interactive flags or env vars for predictable runs.
install.sh (non-interactive npm)
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-prompt --no-onboard
install.sh (non-interactive git)
OPENCLAW_INSTALL_METHOD=git OPENCLAW_NO_PROMPT=1 \
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
install-cli.sh (JSON)
curl -fsSL --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 https://openclaw.ai/install-cli.sh | bash -s -- --json --prefix /opt/openclaw
install.ps1 (skip onboarding)
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -NoOnboard
Troubleshooting
Why is Git required?
Git is required for the git install method. For npm installs, Git is still checked or installed to prevent spawn git ENOENT failures when dependencies use git URLs.
Why does npm hit EACCES on Linux?
Some Linux setups point npm's global prefix to root-owned paths. install.sh can switch the prefix to ~/.npm-global and append PATH exports to shell rc files (when those files exist).
Windows: "npm error spawn git / ENOENT"
Rerun the installer so it can bootstrap user-local MinGit, or install Git for Windows and reopen PowerShell.
Windows: "openclaw is not recognized"
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 expose a -Verbose switch.
Use PowerShell tracing for script-level diagnostics:
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.