OpenClaw 5-Minute Quickstart Checklist
This is the fastest mainstream path to get OpenClaw working. If you found this through \"clawbot setup,\" the same flow applies.
Content updated: February 8, 2026.
1. One-minute pre-check
- Keep one model API key ready before you install.
- Choose one first chat channel: WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Check your Node version in terminal:
node -v.
2. Install OpenClaw
Run the official install command in your terminal:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bashThis command downloads the installer script and executes it once.
Quick check
- The script finishes without permission errors.
- Confirm the CLI exists:
which openclaw.
3. Run onboarding and send one test message
- Open the official onboarding guide and follow it exactly.
- Add one model key only and keep the config minimal.
- Send one test prompt and confirm you get a full reply.
Simple rule
Do not add extra tools until this base test works end-to-end.
4. Connect one channel
- Pick WhatsApp or Telegram first, not both.
- Finish pairing and send one short real prompt.
- Check response speed and reliability.
5. Fast troubleshooting pass
- If setup fails early, recheck your model key and environment first.
- If channel pairing fails, restart that channel flow and retry once.
- If running in Docker, inspect logs with
docker logs <openclaw-container>.