OpenClaw cheatsheet

OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI gateway that bridges WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage, and more to AI coding agents.

#Getting Started

#Quick Setup

#1. Install

# macOS / Linux / WSL2
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
# or via npm
npm install -g openclaw@latest

#2. Onboard & install service

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

#3. Verify the gateway

openclaw gateway status

#4. Open dashboard

openclaw dashboard
# Local default: http://127.0.0.1:18789/

#Introduction

Docs (docs.openclaw.ai)
GitHub (github.com)
Discord (discord.gg)
Releases (github.com)

Self-hosted, MIT licensed, multi-channel

#Alternative Install

# From source
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw && pnpm install && pnpm build
pnpm link --global

#Verify Install

openclaw --version  # confirm CLI available
openclaw doctor     # health check + fixes
openclaw status     # channels + gateway status

#Global Flags

Flag	Description
`--dev`	Dev profile, port 19001
`--profile <name>`	Named isolated profile
`--container <name>`	Run inside a container
`--log-level <l>`	Log level (silent…trace)
`--no-color`	Disable ANSI colors

#Gateway

#Service Management

# Install as system service
openclaw gateway install
# Start / stop / restart
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway stop
openclaw gateway restart
# Uninstall service
openclaw gateway uninstall

#Status & health

openclaw gateway status       # service status + probe
openclaw gateway status --deep
openclaw gateway status --json
openclaw health               # fetch health from gateway
openclaw logs --follow        # tail gateway logs

#Startup Options

openclaw gateway run             # foreground
openclaw gateway run --port 19001
openclaw gateway run --force     # kill existing listener
openclaw gateway run --verbose   # verbose to stdout
openclaw gateway run --bind lan  # bind to LAN
openclaw gateway run --auth token --token <t>

#Hot Reload Modes

`gateway.reload.mode`	Behavior
`hybrid` (default)	Hot-apply safe changes, restart when needed
`hot`	Apply only hot-safe changes
`restart`	Restart on any reload-required change
`off`	No config reload

#Remote Access

# SSH tunnel (recommended fallback)
ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 user@host
# then connect to ws://127.0.0.1:18789

# Tailscale (preferred for always-on)
openclaw gateway run --tailscale serve

#OpenAI-Compatible API

Endpoint	Purpose
`GET /v1/models`	List agents as models
`POST /v1/chat/completions`	Chat with agent
`POST /v1/responses`	Agent-native response
`POST /v1/embeddings`	Embedding pipeline

All endpoints run on the main gateway port.

#Channels

#Connect Channels

# List + status
openclaw channels list
openclaw channels status
openclaw channels status --probe

# Login (QR/OAuth flow)
openclaw channels login --channel whatsapp
openclaw channels login --channel telegram

# Add with token (non-interactive)
openclaw channels add \
  --channel telegram --token <BOT_TOKEN>

# Logout / remove
openclaw channels logout --channel whatsapp
openclaw channels remove --channel telegram

# Logs + capabilities
openclaw channels logs
openclaw channels capabilities

#Resolve contact IDs

openclaw directory self --channel telegram
openclaw directory peers list --channel slack
openclaw directory groups list --channel discord

#Supported Channels

#Built-in

Channel	Notes
WhatsApp	QR pairing via Baileys
Telegram	Bot API — fastest to set up
Discord	Bot API + Gateway, DMs + servers
BlueBubbles	iMessage via macOS server
Signal	Via signal-cli
Slack	Bolt SDK workspace apps
Google Chat	HTTP webhook
IRC	Classic IRC, DMs + channels
QQ Bot	QQ Bot API
WebChat	Built-in browser chat UI

#Via plugin (`openclaw plugins install`)

Matrix
Mattermost
Microsoft Teams
LINE
Nextcloud Talk
Feishu / Lark
Nostr
Synology Chat
Twitch
WeChat
Zalo / Zalo Personal
Voice Call (Plivo/Twilio)

#Messaging

#Send Messages

# Basic text
openclaw message send \
  --target +15555550123 --message "Hello"

# Telegram by username
openclaw message send \
  --channel telegram --target @user \
  --message "Hello"

# Discord channel
openclaw message send \
  --channel discord --target channel:123 \
  --message "Hello"

# With media
openclaw message send \
  --target +15555550123 \
  --media photo.jpg --message "Look"

# Silent (no notification)
openclaw message send \
  --target +15555550123 \
  --message "Quiet" --silent

# Reply to a message
openclaw message send \
  --target +15555550123 \
  --message "Reply" --reply-to <msg-id>

#Read Messages

openclaw message read \
  --channel whatsapp --target +15555550123

openclaw message read \
  --channel discord --target channel:123 \
  --limit 20 --json

#Message Actions

# Broadcast to multiple targets
openclaw message broadcast \
  --message "Alert" --targets @u1 @u2

# React to a message
openclaw message react \
  --channel discord --target 123 \
  --message-id 456 --emoji "✅"

# Pin / unpin
openclaw message pin \
  --channel discord --target 123 \
  --message-id 456

# Edit / delete
openclaw message edit --message-id 456
openclaw message delete --message-id 456

#Agents & Sessions

#Run Agent

# New session
openclaw agent \
  --to +15555550123 --message "Hello"

# Named agent
openclaw agent \
  --agent ops --message "Status"

# With thinking level
openclaw agent \
  --to +15555550123 \
  --message "Analyze" --thinking high

# Deliver reply back to channel
openclaw agent \
  --to +15555550123 \
  --message "Summary" --deliver

# Cross-channel delivery
openclaw agent \
  --agent ops --message "Report" \
  --deliver \
  --reply-channel slack \
  --reply-to "#reports"

# JSON output + verbose
openclaw agent \
  --to +15555550123 \
  --message "Trace" --verbose on --json

#Manage Agents

openclaw agents list
openclaw agents list --bindings
openclaw agents add work
openclaw agents delete work
openclaw agents bind
openclaw agents unbind
openclaw agents bindings
openclaw agents set-identity \
  --agent work --name "Work Bot"

#Sessions

openclaw sessions              # all sessions
openclaw sessions --agent work
openclaw sessions --all-agents
openclaw sessions --active 120 # last 2h
openclaw sessions --json
openclaw sessions cleanup

#Routing Priority

Priority	Match type
1 (highest)	`peer` — exact DM/group/channel ID
2	`parentPeer` — thread inheritance
3	`guildId` + roles (Discord)
4	`guildId` (Discord)
5	`teamId` (Slack)
6	`accountId` match for channel
7	`accountId: "*"` channel fallback
8 (lowest)	Default agent

#Models

#Configure Models

# Set primary model
openclaw models set anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6

# Set image model
openclaw models set-image openai/dall-e-3

# List models
openclaw models list            # configured
openclaw models list --all      # full catalog
openclaw models list --provider anthropic

# Status (auth + model overview)
openclaw models status
openclaw models status --check  # exit 1 if missing

# Aliases
openclaw models aliases list
openclaw models aliases add Sonnet \
  anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6
openclaw models aliases remove Sonnet

# Fallback chains
openclaw models fallbacks list
openclaw models fallbacks add anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5
openclaw models fallbacks clear

#In-chat /model

/model             # interactive picker
/model list        # numbered model list
/model 3           # select by number
/model openai/gpt-4o
/model status      # auth + provider details

Switch takes effect on the next agent run.

#Model Scan (OpenRouter)

# Scan free models (metadata only)
openclaw models scan --no-probe

# Full scan with capability probe
openclaw models scan \
  --min-params 7 --max-age-days 30

# Auto-set best free model
openclaw models scan \
  --set-default --yes

Requires OPENROUTER_API_KEY for probing.

#Config & Environment

#Config Commands

# Show config file path
openclaw config file

# Get a value
openclaw config get gateway.port
openclaw config get channels.telegram.botToken

# Set a value
openclaw config set gateway.port 19001
openclaw config set \
  agents.defaults.model.primary \
  anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6

# Unset a value
openclaw config unset gateway.port

# Validate config
openclaw config validate

# Print JSON schema
openclaw config schema

# Interactive guided setup
openclaw configure

#Environment Variables

Variable	Description
`OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT`	Gateway port
`OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN`	Auth token
`OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PASSWORD`	Auth password
`OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH`	Config file path
`OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR`	State directory
`OPENCLAW_PROFILE`	Active profile name
`OPENCLAW_CONTAINER`	Default container name

#Default Paths

Path	Description
`~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`	Main config
`~/.openclaw/`	State directory
`~/.openclaw/workspace`	Agent workspace
`~/.openclaw/agents/<id>/agent`	Agent auth + models
`~/.openclaw/agents/<id>/sessions`	Session store
`~/.openclaw/credentials/`	Channel credentials
`~/.openclaw/skills/`	Shared skills

#Memory & Backup

#Memory Search

openclaw memory status
openclaw memory status --deep   # probe embedding
openclaw memory index --force   # full reindex
openclaw memory search "notes"
openclaw memory search \
  --query "deploy" --max-results 20
openclaw memory status --json

#Backup & Restore

# Create backup archive
openclaw backup create

# Verify backup integrity
openclaw backup verify backup.tar.gz

Backs up: config, credentials, sessions, workspaces.

#Reset & Update

# Reset config + state (keeps CLI)
openclaw reset

# Update to latest
openclaw update
openclaw update --channel beta
openclaw update --channel dev
openclaw update --dry-run

# Full uninstall
openclaw uninstall

#Plugins & Skills

#Plugin Commands

# Discover + inspect
openclaw plugins list
openclaw plugins inspect <name>
openclaw plugins marketplace

# Install (path / npm / clawhub)
openclaw plugins install clawhub:mattermost
openclaw plugins install ./my-plugin
openclaw plugins install @org/pkg@latest

# Enable / disable
openclaw plugins enable <name>
openclaw plugins disable <name>

# Update + uninstall
openclaw plugins update
openclaw plugins uninstall <name>

# Diagnose load issues
openclaw plugins doctor

#Skill Commands

openclaw skills list
openclaw skills check      # readiness check
openclaw skills info <name>
openclaw skills search "browser"
openclaw skills install clawhub:browser
openclaw skills update

#Hook Commands

openclaw hooks list
openclaw hooks info <name>
openclaw hooks check
openclaw hooks enable <name>
openclaw hooks disable <name>

#Ops & Maintenance

#Health & Diagnostics

# Quick health checks
openclaw health               # gateway health
openclaw doctor               # check + suggest fixes
openclaw doctor --fix         # apply safe fixes
openclaw status               # channels + sessions
openclaw logs --follow        # tail log file

# Channel readiness
openclaw channels status --probe

# Gateway probe (full)
openclaw gateway probe
openclaw gateway status --deep --json

# Security audit
openclaw security audit
openclaw security audit --deep
openclaw security audit --fix
openclaw security audit --json

#Cron Jobs

openclaw cron list
openclaw cron status

# Add job (every / cron / at)
openclaw cron add \
  --name "daily" \
  --every 24h \
  --message "Daily summary" \
  --agent main --announce

openclaw cron add \
  --cron "0 9 * * *" \
  --message "Morning brief" \
  --tz America/New_York

openclaw cron enable <id>
openclaw cron disable <id>
openclaw cron edit <id>
openclaw cron rm <id>
openclaw cron run <id>   # debug: run now
openclaw cron runs       # run history

#Nodes (iOS/Android)

# List + status
openclaw nodes list
openclaw nodes status

# Pairing
openclaw qr                        # iOS QR code
openclaw nodes pending
openclaw nodes approve --node <id>
openclaw nodes reject  --node <id>

# Media capture
openclaw nodes camera snap --node <id>
openclaw nodes canvas  --node <id>
openclaw nodes screen  --node <id>
openclaw nodes location --node <id>

# Invoke + notify
openclaw nodes invoke \
  --node <id> \
  --command system.which \
  --params '{"name":"uname"}'
openclaw nodes notify \
  --node <id> --message "Hello"

#Security Controls

# DM pairing
openclaw pairing list
openclaw pairing approve <code>

# Exec approvals
openclaw approvals get
openclaw approvals allowlist
openclaw approvals set --file approvals.json

# Device tokens
openclaw devices list
openclaw devices revoke --role admin
openclaw devices rotate --role admin

#Multi-agent Config

{
  "agents": {
    "list": [
      {
        "id": "chat",
        "workspace": "~/.openclaw/workspace-chat",
        "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6"
      },
      {
        "id": "work",
        "workspace": "~/.openclaw/workspace-work",
        "model": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"
      }
    ]
  },
  "bindings": [
    { "agentId": "chat", "match": { "channel": "whatsapp" } },
    { "agentId": "work", "match": { "channel": "telegram" } }
  ],
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": { "dmPolicy": "pairing" },
    "telegram": { "accounts": { "default": { "botToken": "TOKEN" } } }
  },
  "gateway": { "port": 18789, "bind": "loopback" }
}

Config lives at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (JSON5 format)

#Also see

Official Documentation (docs.openclaw.ai)
GitHub Repository (github.com)
Discord Community (discord.gg)
Releases & Changelog (github.com)
CLI Reference (docs.openclaw.ai)
Model Providers (docs.openclaw.ai)
Channel Setup Guides (docs.openclaw.ai)