| Auto-start on login | Manual | ✅ |
|---|
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Installation
Method 1: Homebrew Cask (Recommended)
brew install --cask openclaw
Method 2: Direct Download
- Visit openclaw.dev/download
- Download
OpenClaw-macOS-universal.dmg
- Open the DMG and drag OpenClaw to Applications
- Launch from Applications or Spotlight
Method 3: From Source
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/companion-macos.git
cd companion-macos
npm install
npm run build:mac
# Built app will be in dist/
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First Launch
Initial Setup
On first launch, the Companion App will:
- Request permissions: Accessibility (for global hotkey), Notifications
- Detect existing CLI config: If you already have
~/.openclaw/config.yaml, it uses that
- Run setup wizard: If no config exists, guides you through configuration
🦞 OpenClaw Companion
Permissions needed:
✅ Notifications — to alert you when tasks complete
⚠️ Accessibility — required for global hotkey (⌥Space)
[Grant in System Settings → Privacy & Security]
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Menu Bar Agent
Quick Access
The menu bar icon (🦞) provides instant access:
🦞 ▾
├── Quick Chat (⌥Space)
├── ──────────────
├── Recent Conversations
│ ├── Docker deployment help
│ ├── Weekly report
│ └── Meeting notes
├── ──────────────
├── Skills
│ ├── Daily Briefing
│ ├── Email Summary
│ └── Quick Note
├── ──────────────
├── Status: Connected (OpenAI)
├── Memory: 1,523 entries
├── ──────────────
├── Preferences...
└── Quit OpenClaw
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Global Hotkey
⌥Space — Instant Access
Press Option + Space from any application to open the OpenClaw chat overlay:
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🦞 OpenClaw │
│ ┌───────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Ask anything... │ │
│ └───────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Suggested: │
│ • Summarize clipboard │
│ • Create a meeting note │
│ • Quick translation │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
Customizing the Hotkey
Preferences → Keyboard → Global Hotkey
Current: ⌥Space
[Record New Shortcut]
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macOS Integrations
Spotlight Integration
Type "Ask OpenClaw" in Spotlight to start a quick query.
Share Sheet
Share text, images, or files to OpenClaw from any app:
- Select text or file
- Click Share → OpenClaw
- Choose action: Summarize, Translate, Analyze, Save to Memory
Notifications
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🦞 OpenClaw │
│ Daily briefing ready │
│ You have 3 meetings today and │
│ 5 unread important emails. │
│ [View] │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
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Configuration
App Preferences
| Setting | Options | Default |
|---|
| Start on login | On/Off | On |
|---|
| Menu bar icon | 🦞 / Minimal / Hidden | 🦞 |
|---|
| Global hotkey | Customizable | ⌥Space |
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| Notifications | All / Important / Off | Important |
|---|
| Theme | System / Light / Dark | System |
|---|
Syncing with CLI
The Companion App shares the same config file as the CLI:
# Both use:
~/.openclaw/config.yaml
~/.openclaw/memory.db
~/.openclaw/skills/
Changes made in the app are immediately reflected in the CLI and vice versa.
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Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|
| Global hotkey not working | Grant Accessibility permission in System Settings |
|---|
| App not in menu bar | Check if it's running in Activity Monitor |
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| "Damaged app" warning | Run: xattr -cr /Applications/OpenClaw.app |
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| Notifications not showing | Enable in System Settings → Notifications |
|---|