Linux App

The Gateway is fully supported on Linux. Node is the recommended runtime. Bun is not recommended for the Gateway (WhatsApp/Telegram bugs).

Native Linux companion apps are planned. Contributions are welcome if you want to help build one.

Beginner quick path (VPS)

1. Install Node 22+
2. npm i -g openclaw@latest
3. openclaw onboard --install-daemon
4. From your laptop: ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 <user>@<host>
5. Open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ and paste your token

Step-by-step VPS guide: exe.dev

Install

• Getting Started
• Install & updates
• Optional flows: Bun (experimental), Nix, Docker

Gateway

• Gateway runbook
• Configuration

Gateway service install (CLI)

Use one of these:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Or:

openclaw gateway install

Or:

openclaw configure

Select Gateway service when prompted.

Repair/migrate:

openclaw doctor

System control (systemd user unit)

OpenClaw installs a systemd user service by default. Use a system service for shared or always-on servers. The full unit example and guidance live in the Gateway runbook.

Minimal setup:

Create ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw-gateway[-<profile>].service:

[Unit]
Description=OpenClaw Gateway (profile: <profile>, v<version>)
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/openclaw gateway --port 18789
Restart=always
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Enable it:

systemctl --user enable --now openclaw-gateway[-<profile>].service