OpenClaw on Windows
OpenClaw runs on Windows. WSL2 gives you the best experience — full feature support, better performance. Native Node.js works too.
Use WSL2 for the full OpenClaw experience on Windows. Run wsl --install in PowerShell as Admin, then follow the Linux install path. Takes 5 minutes, works perfectly.
Two ways to install
wsl --install (run in PowerShell as Admin)sudo apt install nodejs npmnpm install -g openclawopenclaw initWSL2 gives you a full Linux environment. All OpenClaw features work. File system performance is better than native Windows for Node.js.
Install Node.js from nodejs.orgOpen PowerShell or Windows Terminalnpm install -g openclawopenclaw initWorks but some shell-based skills may have limitations on native Windows. Most core features work fine.
Windows vs Mac for OpenClaw
| Feature | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Core AI assistant | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support |
| Telegram / WhatsApp | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support |
| Cron jobs & automation | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support |
| Apple Notes integration | ❌ Not available | ✅ Native |
| iMessage support | ❌ Not available | ✅ Native |
| Apple Reminders / Calendar | ❌ Not available | ✅ Native |
| Local AI (Ollama) | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support |
| Shell skill execution | ⚠️ WSL2 recommended | ✅ Native |
Windows FAQ
Does OpenClaw run on Windows?
Yes. OpenClaw is Node.js-based and runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The recommended approach is WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux 2), which gives you a full Linux environment with better performance and full feature compatibility. Native Windows via PowerShell also works for most use cases.
Do I need WSL2 or can I use native Windows?
For most features, native Windows works fine. If you want to run shell-based skills, use automation scripts, or get maximum compatibility, WSL2 is the better choice. It's a one-command install: wsl --install in PowerShell as Administrator.
What Windows features don't work with OpenClaw?
Apple-ecosystem integrations: Notes, Reminders, Calendar, iMessage, and Contacts are macOS-only. Everything else — Telegram, WhatsApp, AI providers, cron jobs, file operations, web skills — works on Windows.
Can I run OpenClaw as a Windows service?
Yes. Use PM2 (npm install -g pm2) to run OpenClaw as a background process. For WSL2, you can configure it to start automatically with Windows and run OpenClaw in the background without keeping a terminal open.
How does Windows performance compare to Mac for OpenClaw?
For API-based AI (Claude, GPT), performance is nearly identical — it's network-bound. For local AI models via Ollama, Macs with Apple Silicon have a significant advantage in performance per watt. For a dedicated 24/7 server, a Mac Mini M4 is more efficient than most Windows machines.
Does OpenClaw work on Windows 10?
Yes. WSL2 is available on Windows 10 (version 2004+). Native Node.js installation works on all modern Windows 10 versions. Windows 11 is not required.