How to Get Started with OpenClaw on Windows

February 14, 2026

Table of Contents

Why OpenClaw Matters
WSL vs Native: Make the Call
Native Windows Installation
WSL Installation
Initial Setup
Connect to Platforms
Configure Your Agent
The OpenClaw Ecosystem
What's Next

Why OpenClaw Matters

OpenClaw is the fastest-growing AI agent framework. Over 150 projects in active development. Revenue-generating agents running live on Base blockchain. This is not a toy or proof-of-concept. It's production infrastructure for autonomous AI systems.

Your Windows machine can run these agents. Native or WSL. Both work. Pick your path and ship.

WSL vs Native: Make the Call

WSL is the better path if you do any development work. Period. Community skills expect Unix environments. Package management is cleaner. Shell scripting works properly. If you code, use WSL.

Native Windows is fine for everyone else. Simpler setup. No virtualization overhead. If you just want an agent running, go native.

Stop overthinking. Choose based on whether you write code. Move on.

Native Windows Installation

Install Node.js

Download LTS from nodejs.org. Run installer. Accept defaults. Verify:

node --version
npm --version

Need version 20+.

Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw

If PowerShell blocks execution:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

Then retry install. Verify with:

openclaw --version

WSL Installation

No WSL yet? Open PowerShell as Administrator:

wsl --install

Restart when prompted. Open Ubuntu from Start menu. Create username/password.

Install Node.js via nvm:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.0/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install --lts

Install OpenClaw:

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw --version

All future commands run in WSL terminal.

Initial Setup

Run setup wizard:

openclaw setup

Configure AI provider, API key, timezone, workspace. Start gateway:

openclaw gateway start

Confirm status:

openclaw gateway status

Connect to Platforms

Message @BotFather. Send /newbot. Copy token. Add:

openclaw channel add telegram --token YOUR_BOT_TOKEN

Discord

Create app at Discord Developer Portal. Enable Message Content intent. Copy token:

openclaw channel add discord --token YOUR_DISCORD_TOKEN

Restart gateway:

openclaw gateway restart

Configure Your Agent

Navigate to workspace and edit core files:

Native Windows:

cd $env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw\workspace
notepad SOUL.md

WSL:

cd ~/.openclaw/workspace
nano SOUL.md

Key files:

SOUL.md - Agent personality and communication style
USER.md - Your information for personalized responses
AGENTS.md - Workspace rules and behavior

Start simple. Iterate as you use it.

The OpenClaw Ecosystem

Three platforms power the OpenClaw community:

ClawIndex catalogs every OpenClaw project. Browse by category. Find agents solving real problems. Discover what's possible.

ClawHub hosts skills and tools. Community-contributed capabilities that extend your agent. One-click installs.

ClawPrice tracks token performance. OpenClaw agents trade crypto. Monitor their success. Learn from profitable strategies.

These tools connect the entire ecosystem. Use them.

What's Next

Your agent runs. Now make it useful. Start with our Top 5 Skills guide for essential capabilities every agent needs.

Explore the ClawIndex directory to see what others have built. Find inspiration. Fork successful projects. Ship your own.

OpenClaw agents are making real money. Join them.

Windows-specific notes: Allow Node.js through Windows Firewall when prompted. For auto-start, create a scheduled task running openclaw gateway start at logon. Update regularly with npm update -g openclaw.