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Runway Video Generation Setup in OpenClaw

Learn how to set up and use the Runway provider for hosted video generation in OpenClaw. This guide covers API key configuration, default provider setup, and supported models.

Read this when

  • You want to use Runway video generation in OpenClaw
  • You need the Runway API key/env setup
  • You want to make Runway the default video provider

OpenClaw includes a built-in runway provider for hosted video generation. It is enabled by default and registered against the videoGenerationProviders contract.

PropertyValue
Provider idrunway
Pluginbundled, enabledByDefault: true
Auth env varsRUNWAYML_API_SECRET (canonical) or RUNWAY_API_KEY
Onboarding flag--auth-choice runway-api-key
Direct CLI flag--runway-api-key <key>
APIRunway task-based video generation (GET /v1/tasks/{id} polling)
Default modelrunway/gen4.5

Getting started

Set the API key

openclaw onboard --auth-choice runway-api-key

Set Runway as the default video provider

openclaw config set agents.defaults.mediaModels.video.primary "runway/gen4.5"

Generate a video

Ask the agent to generate a video. Runway will be used automatically.

Supported modes and models

The provider exposes seven Runway models split across three modes. A single model id can serve more than one mode. For example, gen4.5 works for both text-to-video and image-to-video.

ModeModelsReference input
Text-to-videogen4.5 (default), veo3.1, veo3.1_fast, veo3None
Image-to-videogen4.5, gen4_turbo, gen3a_turbo, veo3.1, veo3.1_fast, veo31 local or remote image
Video-to-videogen4_aleph1 local or remote video

Local image and video references are supported through data URIs.

Aspect ratiosAllowed values
Text-to-video16:9, 9:16
Image and video edits1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 3:4, 4:3, 21:9

Warning

Video-to-video currently requires runway/gen4_aleph. Other Runway model ids reject video reference inputs.

Note

Selecting a Runway model id from the wrong column produces an explicit error before the API request leaves OpenClaw. The provider validates model against the mode's allowlist (TEXT_ONLY_MODELS, IMAGE_MODELS, VIDEO_MODELS) in extensions/runway/video-generation-provider.ts.

Configuration

{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      videoGenerationModel: {
        primary: "runway/gen4.5",
      },
    },
  },
}

Advanced configuration

Environment variable aliases

OpenClaw recognizes both RUNWAYML_API_SECRET (canonical) and RUNWAY_API_KEY. Either variable authenticates the Runway provider.

Task polling

Runway uses a task-based API. After submitting a generation request, OpenClaw polls GET /v1/tasks/{id} until the video is ready. No additional configuration is needed for the polling behavior.