🦞OpenClaw Guide
📖 Installation Guide

OpenClaw Mac Mini Setup

Get OpenClaw running on a Mac Mini in about 30 minutes. Works for cloud-hosted or self-hosted setups.

📋 Prerequisites
  • ✓Mac Mini (M1/M2/M4 recommended) or cloud-hosted Mac
  • ✓macOS 13 (Ventura) or later
  • ✓Claude or OpenAI API key (for AI capabilities)
  • ○Telegram bot token (optional, for mobile access)

Installation Steps

1
Get Your Mac Mini
Cloud-hosted or your own hardware — either works.
5-15 min

Option A: Cloud Hosted (Recommended)

Get a Mac Mini from HostMyApple — ready in minutes, no hardware to manage.

  • Starting at $21.24/mo with code OPENCLAW15
  • SSH and VNC access included
  • 24/7 uptime, no maintenance

Option B: Self-Hosted

Use your own Mac Mini at home. You'll need reliable internet and be prepared to handle maintenance, updates, and power management yourself.

Get HostMyApple — 15% Off
2
Connect to Your Mac Mini
Access your Mac Mini remotely via SSH or Screen Sharing.
2 min

Via SSH (Terminal)

ssh username@your-mac-mini-ip

Via Screen Sharing (GUI)

On your Mac: Finder → Go → Connect to Server → vnc://your-mac-mini-ip

Your hosting provider will give you the IP address and credentials. HostMyApple sends these via email after signup.

3
Install OpenClaw
One command installs everything you need.
5 min

Run this in Terminal:

# Install OpenClaw
curl -fsSL https://get.openclaw.ai | bash

# Verify installation
openclaw --version

This installs OpenClaw and all dependencies (Node.js, etc.) automatically.

4
Run the Setup Wizard
Configure your AI provider and messaging channels.
10 min
openclaw setup

The wizard will ask for:

  • AI Provider: Your Claude or OpenAI API key
  • Messaging: Telegram bot token (optional)
  • Personality: Give your AI a name and style
  • Working Directory: Where OpenClaw stores its data
5
Start OpenClaw
Launch your AI assistant.
1 min
# Start in foreground (for testing)
openclaw start

# Or install as a service (recommended for 24/7)
openclaw service install
openclaw service start

# Check status
openclaw service status

The service mode ensures OpenClaw restarts automatically after reboots or crashes.

6
Test Your Setup
Make sure everything works.
2 min
# Send a test message via CLI
openclaw chat "Hello! What can you help me with?"

# Or message your Telegram bot if configured

If OpenClaw responds, you're all set! Your AI assistant is now running 24/7.

Total Setup Time

From zero to running AI assistant

~30 min

Common Issues

"Command not found: openclaw"

Close and reopen Terminal, or run: source ~/.zshrc

Connection refused when SSHing

Enable Remote Login in System Settings → General → Sharing → Remote Login

API key errors

Double-check your Claude/OpenAI API key. Make sure you have credits/quota available.

OpenClaw won't start after reboot

Run: openclaw service install — this sets up auto-start

Next Steps

Run 24/7 Guide
Monitoring, auto-restart, and reliability tips
Explore Features
See everything OpenClaw can do