How to Get Started with OpenClaw: A Beginner's Guide

March 20, 2026 • 10 min read

Everything a beginner needs to know to install OpenClaw, choose an LLM model, find secure skills, and run your first autonomous AI agent.

What You'll Need

Before you start, make sure you have:

1. A Computer

Mac, Linux, Windows, or even a Raspberry Pi. OpenClaw runs anywhere. For production workloads, a dedicated machine is recommended, but you can start on your laptop.

2. An LLM API Key

OpenClaw needs an AI model. You can use Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, DeepSeek, or others. You'll need an API key from your chosen provider. This costs money (pay-as-you-go), but it's typically $0.01-$0.10 per request.

3. Internet Connection

OpenClaw needs internet to call your LLM API and optionally to connect to messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, etc.).

4. Basic Command-Line Skills

OpenClaw installation involves running terminal commands. If you've used a terminal before, you're fine. If not, the steps are straightforward and well-documented.

Step 1: Install OpenClaw

OpenClaw's official repository is on GitHub. The installation process varies by OS, but the general approach is:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/claw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run OpenClaw
python openclaw.py

For detailed OS-specific instructions, check the official documentation on GitHub. Installation typically takes 10-15 minutes.

Tip: For your first time, install on your development machine. Once you get comfortable, you can run it on a dedicated server.

Step 2: Configure Your LLM

Once OpenClaw is installed, you need to tell it which AI model to use. Create a config file (usually config.yaml or .env):

# config.yaml
llm:
  provider: "anthropic" # or "openai", "google", "deepseek"
  model: "claude-3-opus-20250219"
  api_key: "your-api-key-here"

memory:
  storage: "sqlite" # local database

Choose whichever model fits your budget and needs:

  • Claude (Anthropic) — Most capable, good for complex reasoning
  • GPT-4 (OpenAI) — Very capable, widely used
  • Gemini (Google) — Good balance of price and capability
  • DeepSeek — Cheaper alternative, good for simple tasks

You can switch models anytime by editing the config file. OpenClaw doesn't lock you in.

Step 3: Connect a Messaging Channel (Optional)

By default, you can talk to OpenClaw through the terminal. But it's much nicer to message your agent through an app you already use. OpenClaw supports:

  • Slack (for teams)
  • Discord (for communities)
  • Telegram (simple and lightweight)
  • WhatsApp (most people already use it)
  • Signal (privacy-focused)

To connect a channel, you typically:

  1. Create a bot/webhook with the service (Slack bot, Discord bot, etc.)
  2. Add the webhook URL/token to your OpenClaw config
  3. Restart OpenClaw

Each service has slightly different setup steps, but they're all documented. Expect 10-15 minutes per service.

Step 4: Find and Install Skills on ClawGrid

This is where your agent gains superpowers. Skills are plugins that extend what OpenClaw can do. You can install skills from ClawHub (the official registry).

Start by browsing ClawGrid's directory:

  1. 1. Go to clawgrid.dev/skills
  2. 2. Browse by category or search (web browsing, email, code generation, etc.)
  3. 3. Check the security score — ClawGrid scores each skill 1-10 for safety
  4. 4. Read the description and permissions — Understand what the skill does
  5. 5. Copy the installation command — Each skill has a one-line install

For your first agent, pick 3-5 skills that complement each other:

Example Starting Skills:

  • ✓ Web Browsing (search and read the internet)
  • ✓ Email (send and read messages)
  • ✓ File Management (create/edit files)
  • ✓ Summary Writer (condense information)

Install via command line:

openclaw install web-browser
openclaw install email
openclaw install file-manager
openclaw install summarizer

Security Best Practices

Since skills can access files, send messages, and call APIs, security is critical. Follow these practices:

1. Always Check Security Scores

Before installing a skill, check its score on ClawGrid. We score each skill 1-10 across five criteria. Aim for 7+ for most use cases.

2. Trust the Publisher

Is the publisher a known name? Do they have other skills in the registry? Skills from unknown publishers should be treated with suspicion.

3. Review Permissions

Each skill declares what permissions it needs. If a web browsing skill asks for email access, that's suspicious. Only install skills that need the permissions they request.

4. Keep Skills Updated

Security vulnerabilities are discovered regularly. Run openclaw update weekly to get the latest skill versions.

5. Test in Isolation First

Before installing a new skill to your production agent, test it in isolation first. Make sure it does what it claims.

6. Rotate API Keys

If a skill is compromised, it could have access to your API keys. Rotate keys regularly and use read-only keys where possible.

Step 5: Run Your First Agent

With OpenClaw installed, configured, and skills installed, you're ready to run your first agent:

# Start OpenClaw
openclaw start

# You should see output confirming:
# - Skills loaded ✓
# - LLM connected ✓
# - Messaging gateway ready ✓

Try some simple commands:

  • "What's the weather today?"
  • "Search for the latest OpenClaw news"
  • "Create a file with today's summary"
  • "Send me a daily briefing email"

Watch the logs to see what's happening under the hood. OpenClaw will show you:

  • Which skill it's using
  • What data it's accessing
  • How long each operation takes
  • Any errors or warnings

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

"API key not working" error

Check that your API key is correct and still active. Test it directly with the LLM provider. Make sure the key is in your config file with the right format.

"Skill installation failed"

Check your internet connection. If it's a networking issue, try again. If it persists, check the skill's requirements (dependencies, Python version, etc.).

"Messaging gateway won't start"

Check that your webhook URL/token is correct. Make sure the bot/app is properly created with the messaging service. Test the webhook manually.

"Agent is slow or timing out"

Too many skills running at once or complex queries. Start with fewer skills. Check if your LLM API is responding slowly. Check your internet speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OpenClaw send my data to the cloud?

OpenClaw runs entirely on your hardware. Your data stays local. The only data that leaves your machine is the API requests to your chosen LLM (Claude, GPT, etc.) — and only what you explicitly ask for.

Can I run multiple agents on one machine?

Yes. You can run separate OpenClaw instances, each with different configurations and skills. Just make sure each instance has its own config and messaging gateway.

How much does it cost?

OpenClaw itself is free (MIT licensed). You pay for the LLM API (typically $0.01-$0.10 per request with Claude or GPT). Messaging services are free.

Next Steps

Once you have your first agent running, explore:

  • More skills — Browse ClawGrid and add capabilities as you discover what you need
  • Custom skills — Write your own skills to extend OpenClaw for your specific use case
  • Production setup — Move your agent to a dedicated server for 24/7 uptime
  • Advanced features — Explore memory management, custom instructions, multi-agent workflows

Ready to get started?

Head to the official OpenClaw GitHub repository for the latest installation instructions, or explore ClawGrid's 11,215+ security-scored skills.

OpenClaw on GitHub Browse Skills Security Methodology