Day 5 of 28 · OpenClaw Challenge
Install OpenClaw
⏱ 8 min
📊 Beginner
Four days of learning. Now it's time to do. Today you'll install OpenClaw on your machine and get it ready to run.
Don't worry — it's simpler than you think. And if you get stuck, that's normal. We'll cover the common gotchas too.
What you'll need
Before we start, make sure you have three things:
1. A computer — Mac, Windows, or Linux. OpenClaw runs on all three.
2. Node.js — This is the engine that runs OpenClaw. If you've never heard of it, don't worry. It's a free, one-click install. Head to nodejs.org and download the LTS version.
3. An API key — OpenClaw needs an AI brain to think with. You'll get an API key from a provider like OpenAI or Anthropic. Think of it as the agent's "subscription" to an AI model.
Knowledge Check
What is an API key in the context of OpenClaw?
A
A license key you buy from the OpenClaw store
B
A credential that connects OpenClaw to an AI model so it can think and reason
C
A physical USB key you plug into your computer
D
A password to log into the OpenClaw website
An API key is how OpenClaw connects to an AI model (like GPT-4 or Claude). It's like giving the agent its brain. Without it, OpenClaw has hands but no head.
The installation
Here's what the install looks like. Open your terminal (or command prompt on Windows) and run a single command. That's it.
OpenClaw downloads, installs its dependencies, and sets itself up. The whole process takes about 2 minutes on a decent internet connection.
Once installed, you'll configure your API key. OpenClaw stores it locally on your machine — it's never sent anywhere except directly to the AI provider.
I'm alive! 🦞
Here's what I can see:
✅ API key configured
✅ Core tools loaded (12 tools ready)
✅ Memory system initialized
I'm ready to work. What would you like me to do?
Here's my current toolbox:
🌐 Web browser — search and read websites
📁 File system — read and write files
💻 Code execution — run scripts and programs
📋 Clipboard — copy and paste
⏰ Scheduler — set timers and reminders
I can connect more tools as we go. Email, calendar, Slack — just say the word.
↻ Replay conversation
Knowledge Check
Where does OpenClaw store your API key?
A
Locally on your machine — it's only sent directly to the AI provider
B
On OpenClaw's cloud servers
C
In your web browser's cookies
D
It doesn't store it — you enter it every time
Your API key stays on your machine. It's only sent to the AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) when the agent needs to think. OpenClaw never sends your credentials to its own servers — because it doesn't have servers. It's all local.
Common gotchas
Here are the three things that trip people up most:
"Command not found" — This usually means Node.js isn't installed or your terminal doesn't see it yet. Close and reopen your terminal after installing Node.js.
"Invalid API key" — Double-check you copied the whole key, including any dashes. API keys are long and easy to truncate accidentally.
"Connection refused" — If you're behind a corporate firewall or VPN, it might block the AI provider's servers. Try disconnecting from the VPN temporarily, or ask your IT team to whitelist the provider's domain.
Knowledge Check
You run the install command and get "command not found." What's the most likely fix?
A
Switch to a different computer
B
Run the command with administrator privileges
C
Reinstall OpenClaw from scratch
D
Install Node.js and restart your terminal
"Command not found" almost always means Node.js isn't installed or your terminal hasn't picked it up yet. Install Node.js from nodejs.org and restart your terminal — that fixes it 90% of the time.
You're set up
If everything went well, you now have OpenClaw installed and connected to an AI model. Your agent has a brain, it has tools, and it's ready to work.
Tomorrow, you'll have your first real conversation with it — and watch it do something that a chatbot never could.
Final Check
What three things does OpenClaw need to work?
A
Node.js, an API key, and a computer (Mac, Windows, or Linux)
B
Python, Docker, and a GPU
C
A phone, a cloud account, and a subscription
D
An iPhone, Siri, and an Apple ID
OpenClaw runs on Node.js, uses an API key to connect to an AI brain, and works on any major operating system. No special hardware, no subscriptions, no cloud accounts.
✅
Day 5 Complete
"Installed and configured. Tomorrow, your agent speaks for the first time."
Tomorrow — Day 6
Your First Conversation
You've installed it. Now let's talk to it — and watch it do something real.