OpenClaw on Windows — Complete Installation Guide for Windows 10/11

OpenClaw on Windows

Setting up OpenClaw on Windows is straightforward — but there are a few Windows-specific quirks you should know about. I’ve tested both the native PowerShell method and the WSL2 approach, and I’ll walk you through both.

TL;DR: WSL2 is the only officially stable path. PowerShell works for quick testing but has limitations.

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Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• Windows 10 (version 1903+) or Windows 11
• PowerShell 5.1 or later (pre-installed on modern Windows)
• An API key from Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google — or use Ollama for free local models

The installer will handle Node.js for you if it’s not installed.

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Method 1: PowerShell (Quick but Limited)

⚠️ Note: PowerShell native installation is untested by the official team and may have tool compatibility issues. For production use, prefer WSL2.

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

What This Does

1. ✅ Checks for Node.js 22+ (installs via winget/Chocolatey/Scoop if missing)
2. ✅ Runs npm install -g openclaw@latest
3. ✅ Launches the setup wizard

Choose Your Install Method

The PowerShell installer supports two methods:

# Default: npm install (recommended)
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

# Alternative: Install from GitHub source
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex -InstallMethod git

# With custom directory for git install
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex -InstallMethod git -GitDir "C:\openclaw"

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Method 2: WSL2 (Recommended for Heavy Use)

If you’re planning to use OpenClaw heavily or want the most stable experience, WSL2 is the way to go. It gives you a full Linux environment inside Windows.

Step 1: Install WSL2

Open PowerShell as Administrator:

wsl --install

Restart your computer when prompted.

Step 1.5: Enable systemd (Required)

After restart, open Ubuntu and run:

# Enable systemd for OpenClaw gateway
sudo nano /etc/wsl.conf

Add these lines:

[boot]
systemd=true

Save (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X), then restart WSL:

# In PowerShell
wsl --shutdown
wsl

Step 2: Set Up Ubuntu

After restart, Ubuntu will launch automatically. Create your username and password.

Step 3: Install OpenClaw in WSL

Inside your Ubuntu terminal:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

That’s it. You now have OpenClaw running in a proper Linux environment.

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After Installation: Setup Wizard

Once installed, the setup wizard starts automatically. You’ll configure:

1. AI Model Provider

Provider	Notes
Anthropic (Claude)	Best overall, requires API key
OpenAI	Great for coding
Google Gemini	Free tier available
Ollama	100% free, runs locally

2. Chat Channel

Choose how you’ll talk to OpenClaw:

• WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or iMessage

3. Gateway Daemon

When asked, choose to install the gateway as a daemon:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

This keeps OpenClaw running in the background.

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Verify Installation

# Check version
openclaw --version

# Run diagnostics
openclaw doctor

# Open the dashboard
openclaw dashboard

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Troubleshooting Windows Issues

”openclaw is not recognized”

Your npm global bin folder isn’t in PATH.

Fix:

# Find your npm prefix
npm config get prefix

# Add the result + \bin to your PATH
# Usually: %AppData%\npm

Then reopen PowerShell.

”spawn git ENOENT” Error

Git for Windows is required for source installs.

Fix:

1. Download Git from git-scm.com/download/win
2. Install with default settings
3. Reopen PowerShell and retry

Node.js Version Issues

If you have an older Node.js:

# Using winget
winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

# Or Chocolatey
choco install nodejs-lts

# Or Scoop
scoop install nodejs-lts

Windows Defender Blocks Installation

Add an exclusion for the OpenClaw directory:

1. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection
2. Click “Manage settings” under Virus & threat protection settings
3. Scroll to “Exclusions” → Add or remove exclusions
4. Add folder: %AppData%\npm\node_modules\openclaw

Still stuck? Our AI Setup Assistant is trained on all OpenClaw documentation and can help troubleshoot your specific Windows issue in real-time.

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PowerShell vs WSL2: Which Should You Choose?

Aspect	PowerShell	WSL2
Setup time	2 minutes	10 minutes
Stability	Good	Excellent
Shell tools	Limited	Full Linux
Updates	Simple	Simple
Best for	Quick setup	Power users

My recommendation: Start with PowerShell. If you run into issues or want more control, switch to WSL2.

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What’s Next?

• General installation guide → — All platforms
• Connect Telegram → — Control from your phone
• Docker deployment → — Isolated containerized setup
• Use local AI → — Zero API costs

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Need help? Join the OpenClaw Discord or check the official docs.