OpenClaw (ex-Clawdbot/Moltbot): A Step-by-Step Self-Host Guide

OpenClaw (formerly discussed as Clawdbot / Moltbot) is a communication-first, self-hosted AI assistant gateway. This openclaw deploy / openclaw install walkthrough follows common community steps but you must verify every command on the official Quick Start for your version—openclaw updates land frequently.

What it is

• Open source and self-hostable.
• Talk through Telegram, Slack, iMessage, WhatsApp, etc. (support matrix varies).
• Moves from chat to action: mail, research, calendar, drafts, todos—within permissions.

Before you start

1. Prefer a non-primary machine or VM.
2. Plan networking for your model provider.
3. Paste API tokens as single lines without hidden breaks.

Step 1 — Install

Examples only—always copy from openclaw.ai or GitHub today:

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

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

Step 2 — Model provider

Pick a provider, add keys, watch spend. Chinese-friendly models are optional; quality and compliance are your responsibility.

Step 3 — Channel + Skills

Connect a bot token, then optionally add Skills/hooks. Start small, expand after the first successful message loop.

Troubleshooting

Read logs, search Issues, compare your version to the tutorial date.

Security note

Avoid mystery installers; verify sources as part of tracking openclaw updates.