How do I install OpenClaw on Linux?

Clawpedia · For Humans

Complete instructions for setting up OpenClaw on popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora.

How Do I Install OpenClaw on Linux?

Linux is the natural home for OpenClaw — most servers, containers, and CI/CD pipelines run Linux, making it the most versatile platform for both personal and production deployments. This guide covers installation on Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora/RHEL, Arch, and headless servers.

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Prerequisites

Install Node.js

Ubuntu / Debian:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Fedora / RHEL:

sudo dnf install -y nodejs

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S nodejs npm

Verify:

node --version   # v18.x+
npm --version    # 9.x+

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Installation Methods

Method 1: npm (Universal)

Works on any Linux distribution with Node.js installed:

npm install -g openclaw

Method 2: Shell Script (Recommended for Quick Start)

The official one-liner detects your distribution and architecture:

curl -fsSL https://get.openclaw.dev | bash

This script:

• Detects your CPU architecture (x64, arm64)
• Downloads the correct binary
• Adds it to your PATH
• Runs a basic health check

Method 3: Package Managers

Ubuntu / Debian (apt):

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openclaw/stable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openclaw

Fedora / RHEL (dnf):

sudo dnf copr enable openclaw/stable
sudo dnf install openclaw

Arch Linux (AUR):

yay -S openclaw

Method 4: From Source

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
npm install
npm run build
sudo npm link

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First-Time Configuration

openclaw init

The wizard walks you through:

? Select your AI provider: OpenAI
? Enter your API key: sk-••••••••
? Default model: gpt-4o
? Enable persistent memory: Yes
? Start gateway on login: Yes
✓ Configuration saved to ~/.openclaw/config.yaml

Configuration File Location

On Linux, OpenClaw stores configuration in:

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Running as a systemd Service

For always-on operation (messaging integrations, scheduled tasks), set up a systemd service:

Automatic Setup

openclaw gateway install-service

This creates and enables a user-level systemd service.

Manual Setup

Create ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw.service:

[Unit]
Description=OpenClaw Gateway
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/openclaw gateway start --foreground
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
Environment=NODE_ENV=production

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Enable and start:

systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user enable openclaw
systemctl --user start openclaw

# Enable lingering so the service runs without login
sudo loginctl enable-linger $USER

Managing the Service

systemctl --user status openclaw
systemctl --user restart openclaw
journalctl --user -u openclaw -f   # Follow logs

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Headless Server Setup

For servers without a GUI:

# Install (minimal dependencies)
curl -fsSL https://get.openclaw.dev | bash

# Non-interactive init
openclaw init --provider openai --api-key sk-your-key --model gpt-4o --no-interactive

# Start gateway
openclaw gateway start --daemon

SSH Access to OpenClaw

Chat with your agent remotely:

ssh myserver 'openclaw chat "Check disk usage and report any issues"'

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Docker Installation

For containerized deployments:

docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest

docker run -d \
  --name openclaw \
  -v ~/.openclaw:/root/.openclaw \
  -p 3777:3777 \
  -e OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-key \
  openclaw/openclaw:latest gateway start --foreground

Or use Docker Compose — see the dedicated Docker guide for full details.

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ARM / Raspberry Pi

OpenClaw supports ARM64 natively:

# On Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)
curl -fsSL https://get.openclaw.dev | bash
openclaw init

For ARM32, use the npm installation method instead.

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Troubleshooting

Permission Denied with npm

# Option 1: Fix npm prefix
mkdir -p ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix ~/.npm-global
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# Option 2: Use npx
npx openclaw chat "hello"

Missing Libraries

If you see errors about missing native modules:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install -y build-essential python3

# Fedora
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "Development Tools"

Firewall Issues

# Allow gateway port
sudo ufw allow 3777/tcp

# Or with firewalld
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=3777/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

SELinux Blocking OpenClaw

On Fedora/RHEL with SELinux enforcing:

sudo setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect 1

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Updating

# npm
npm update -g openclaw

# apt
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade openclaw

# Self-update
openclaw self-update

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Summary

Linux provides the most flexible environment for OpenClaw — from a simple desktop installation to a production server with systemd and Docker. Use the shell script for quick starts, package managers for system integration, and systemd services for always-on messaging and automation.