Sandbox CLI

Manage Docker-based sandbox containers for isolated agent execution.

Overview

OpenClaw can run agents in isolated Docker containers for security. The sandbox commands help you manage these containers, especially after updates or configuration changes.

Commands

`openclaw sandbox explain`

Inspect the effective sandbox mode/scope/workspace access, sandbox tool policy, and elevated gates (with fix-it config key paths).

openclaw sandbox explain
openclaw sandbox explain --session agent:main:main
openclaw sandbox explain --agent work
openclaw sandbox explain --json

`openclaw sandbox list`

List all sandbox containers with their status and configuration.

openclaw sandbox list
openclaw sandbox list --browser  # List only browser containers
openclaw sandbox list --json     # JSON output

Output includes:

Container name and status (running/stopped)
Docker image and whether it matches config
Age (time since creation)
Idle time (time since last use)
Associated session/agent

`openclaw sandbox recreate`

Remove sandbox containers to force recreation with updated images/config.

openclaw sandbox recreate --all                # Recreate all containers
openclaw sandbox recreate --session main       # Specific session
openclaw sandbox recreate --agent mybot        # Specific agent
openclaw sandbox recreate --browser            # Only browser containers
openclaw sandbox recreate --all --force        # Skip confirmation

Options:

--all: Recreate all sandbox containers
--session <key>: Recreate container for specific session
--agent <id>: Recreate containers for specific agent
--browser: Only recreate browser containers
--force: Skip confirmation prompt

Important: Containers are automatically recreated when the agent is next used.

Use Cases

After updating Docker images

# Pull new image
docker pull openclaw-sandbox:latest
docker tag openclaw-sandbox:latest openclaw-sandbox:bookworm-slim

# Update config to use new image
# Edit config: agents.defaults.sandbox.docker.image (or agents.list[].sandbox.docker.image)

# Recreate containers
openclaw sandbox recreate --all

After changing sandbox configuration

# Edit config: agents.defaults.sandbox.* (or agents.list[].sandbox.*)

# Recreate to apply new config
openclaw sandbox recreate --all

After changing setupCommand

openclaw sandbox recreate --all
# or just one agent:
openclaw sandbox recreate --agent family

For a specific agent only

# Update only one agent's containers
openclaw sandbox recreate --agent alfred

Why is this needed?

Problem: When you update sandbox Docker images or configuration:

Existing containers continue running with old settings
Containers are only pruned after 24h of inactivity
Regularly-used agents keep old containers running indefinitely

Solution: Use openclaw sandbox recreate to force removal of old containers. They’ll be recreated automatically with current settings when next needed.

Tip: prefer openclaw sandbox recreate over manual docker rm. It uses the Gateway’s container naming and avoids mismatches when scope/session keys change.

Configuration

Sandbox settings live in ~/.clawdbot/openclaw.json under agents.defaults.sandbox (per-agent overrides go in agents.list[].sandbox):

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "sandbox": {
        "mode": "all",                    // off, non-main, all
        "scope": "agent",                 // session, agent, shared
        "docker": {
          "image": "openclaw-sandbox:bookworm-slim",
          "containerPrefix": "openclaw-sbx-"
          // ... more Docker options
        },
        "prune": {
          "idleHours": 24,               // Auto-prune after 24h idle
          "maxAgeDays": 7                // Auto-prune after 7 days
        }
      }
    }
  }
}