How to Uninstall OpenClaw

Two paths: stop temporarily (keep installed) or remove completely. Pick the one that fits.

→ Just stop it (temporary)→ Full uninstall → Clawdbot (old name)

Option A: Stop OpenClaw (keep installed)

Use this if you want to pause OpenClaw without removing it.

Step 1 — Stop the gateway

openclaw gateway stop

This stops the background process. OpenClaw stays installed but idle.

Step 2 — Verify it stopped

openclaw gateway status

Should show “stopped” or “not running”. If it shows “running”, try force stopping.

Step 3 — Disable auto-start (if set up)

If you configured OpenClaw to start at login:

macOS (launchd):

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist

Linux (systemd):

systemctl --user disable openclaw-gateway

To start OpenClaw again later: openclaw gateway start

Option B: Full Uninstall

Removes OpenClaw completely from your system.

Stop the gateway first

openclaw gateway stop

Always stop before removing.

Remove the npm package

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Removes the CLI binary.

Remove config files

rm -rf ~/.openclaw

Removes all settings, credentials, and agent config. Permanent.

Remove workspace (optional)

rm -rf ~/clawd

This is your notes, memory, and project files. Only delete if you don't need them.

Revoke API keys

Go to your AI provider dashboard and delete the API key you used with OpenClaw:

Anthropic Console — for Claude API keys
OpenAI Platform — for GPT keys
Google AI Studio — for Gemini keys

Remove from messaging apps (optional)

Telegram: Message @BotFather, use /deletebot, select your bot.
WhatsApp: Remove the number from your contacts and revoke access in your WhatsApp Business settings.

If you installed Clawdbot (old name)

Clawdbot was the original name for OpenClaw. Same process, slightly different package name.

Try both — one will work depending on when you installed it:

npm uninstall -g clawdbot

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Also remove the old config:

rm -rf ~/.clawdbot

Learn more about the Clawdbot → OpenClaw rebrand →

Before you go

Having trouble instead of wanting to leave? These might help:

Too expensive on Claude?

Switch to a cheaper model like Gemini Flash or Qwen. Most tasks don't need Claude Opus.

See pricing options →

Too complex to set up?

The done-for-you setup service handles everything in 24–48 hours.

View setup service →

Something broke?

The getting started guide has a troubleshooting section.

Troubleshooting guide →

Want the cloud version?

cloud.getopenclaw.ai is managed — no setup required.

Try cloud version →

FAQ

Does uninstalling OpenClaw delete my data?

Removing the npm package does not delete your data. Your workspace (~/clawd by default) and config (~/.openclaw) stay on disk until you manually remove them. The npm uninstall only removes the CLI. Follow the full uninstall steps above to remove everything.

How do I stop OpenClaw from running at startup?

If you set up OpenClaw with launchd (macOS) or systemd (Linux), you need to disable that service separately. On macOS: launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist. On Linux: systemctl --user disable openclaw-gateway. Then delete the service file.

How do I uninstall Clawdbot?

Clawdbot was the original name for OpenClaw. To uninstall it, run: npm uninstall -g clawdbot (if installed under that name) or npm uninstall -g openclaw. Your config may be at ~/.clawdbot — remove that folder too with: rm -rf ~/.clawdbot.

Will uninstalling affect my Telegram or WhatsApp bot?

Your Telegram or WhatsApp bot token stays with the messaging service provider. Uninstalling OpenClaw just stops the local process that was listening. The bot will stop responding, but you'll need to delete it from BotFather (Telegram) or your WhatsApp Business account separately if you want it fully removed.

How do I just pause OpenClaw without uninstalling?

Run: openclaw gateway stop. This stops the background process. OpenClaw stays installed — just not running. To start it again: openclaw gateway start.