Clawdbot (now OpenClaw) 101: What It Is and How to Install It (Updated Guide)
Update (February 2026): The project formerly known as Clawdbot (and briefly Moltbot) has been renamed to OpenClaw to keep things smooth with Anthropic. This guide has been updated to reflect the rebranding, new security patches, and even "Plug-and-Play" hardware options.
Everyone's talking about Clawdbot (now OpenClaw). Mac Minis are selling out because people want to run this at home. Twitter is flooded with screenshots of people chatting with their "personal AI assistant" on WhatsApp.
> TL;DR: OpenClaw is a free AI assistant you run on your own computer. It connects to your files and apps (like WhatsApp). If you don't want to use the terminal to install it, you can now buy a $249 pre-loaded box from Pamir.ai that just works out of the box.
But if you're not a developer, you're probably confused. What even *is* it? Do you really need to buy hardware? And how hard is it to set up?
I'm going to answer every question I've seen trending about Clawdbot, Moltbot, and OpenClaw, then walk you through the setup - even if you've never touched a terminal.
What Is Clawdbot / OpenClaw?
Clawdbot is a free, open-source AI assistant that runs on your own computer (or cloud host). It's like giving your computer its own brain - it's more than just a basic scheduler; it's like giving your machine its own cognitive layer.
Unlike ChatGPT or Claude (which live on a website), Clawdbot:
- Runs locally on your machine (or on a server you control)
- Connects to apps you already use - WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, iMessage
- Remembers your conversations over time
- Can be proactive - sending you reminders, briefings, and alerts
- Keeps your data private because it never leaves your device
The "Name Change" Drama
It started as Clawdbot, but Anthropic (the makers of Claude AI) noted the name was a bit too close for comfort. The community briefly pivoted to Moltbot, but has now settled on OpenClaw as the official, stable brand. You can check out the new official site at openclaw.ai.
⚠️ Safety Warning: Update Immediately
If you are already running an older version, update now. A security glitch was discovered that could have allowed malicious actors to access instances easily. The team released a critical patch on January 30th. Basically, if you're using it, make sure to update to avoid any risks like data getting stolen.
Do I need a Mac Mini? (Hosting Options)
The myth is that you *need* a dedicated Mac Mini sitting in your living room to run this.
False. It runs on:
- Any Mac, Windows (via WSL2), or Linux machine.
- Cloudflare: You can now run OpenClaw directly on Cloudflare Workers, meaning it lives "in the cloud" on the edge without you needing to own any hardware at all.
- A $5/month cloud server (DigitalOcean, Hetzner).
New Hardware Options:
A company called Pamir.ai has just announced a ready-to-go mini computer for $249 that comes pre-installed with OpenClaw. This is a game-changer for beginners who don't want to fiddle with code. Check them out at pamir.ai.
What Can it Actually Do?
1. Personal Knowledge Manager: Drop a link in Telegram; it summarizes and files it.
2. Meeting Prep: Ask for action items from last week; it remembers.
3. Proactive Reminders: It messages YOU with morning briefings or task follow-ups.
4. Social AI Networks: One fan made Moltbook.com, which is like a playground for over a million AI bots chatting with each other.
---
What You'll Need First (Prerequisites)
1. A decent computer: Nothing fancy, just a laptop from the last few years.
2. Internet connection.
3. AI Account (Optional but recommended): Sign up for a free account on Anthropic (for Claude AI) or OpenAI. It makes the AI smarter.
4. Node.js: This is a free tool that OpenClaw needs. The easy install below handles it for you.
---
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Open Your Terminal
- On Mac: Search for "Terminal" in Spotlight.
- On Windows: Search for "Command Prompt" or "PowerShell".
- On Linux: It's usually called "Terminal".
2. Run the Magic One-Liner Install
Copy and paste this into your terminal and hit Enter:
```bash
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
```
This automatically installs Node.js (if needed) and OpenClaw. It might ask for your password or yes/no - just follow the prompts. Takes a couple of minutes.
3. Run the Onboarding Wizard
In the same terminal, type:
```bash
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
```
This is like a setup assistant. It will guide you through:
- Setting up the "Gateway" (the brain).
- Connecting to apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Adding AI models (pick defaults if unsure).
- Making it run in the background so it stays on.
4. Start It Up
Type:
```bash
openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose
```
This launches the main system. Leave this window open.
5. Test It Out
Open a new terminal window and type:
```bash
openclaw agent --message "Hello, who are you?" --thinking high
```
You should see a response from the AI. If it works, you're set! 🚀
---
5 Practical Ideas to Test Your OpenClaw Agent
Now that you're set up, here are some practical ideas focused on blog post creation and management. These leverage OpenClaw's unique agent-like automation - such as executing multi-step workflows and running tasks in the background - which are things you can't typically do with standard ChatGPT or Claude.
1. Automate Blog Post Research and Outlining
How to test: Message: "Research top trends in AI tools for 2026, compile key points from 5 sources, and create a blog post outline."
What happens: It fetches real-time data via its integrations, summarizes the findings, and delivers a structured outline.
Pro tip: Add "...save as a draft in my Google Docs" if you've connected your Google account for a seamless workflow.
2. Generate and Optimize SEO for Blog Posts
How to test: Message: "Write a 800-word blog post on 'future of open-source AI', optimize for SEO with keywords like 'AI agents', and suggest meta tags."
What happens: It creates the post, runs a local analysis, and refines the text. It can even queue the post for publishing if connected to WordPress.
Pro tip: Schedule it: "...post to my LinkedIn at 9 AM tomorrow" for hands-off sharing.
3. Handle Comment Moderation and Responses
How to test: Message: "Monitor my blog comments for the next day, flag spam, and draft replies to positive feedback."
What happens: It integrates with your blog's notification system, processes incoming comments, and notifies you of actions taken.
Pro tip: Set it as recurring: "...run this daily and email me a summary report."
4. Create and Schedule Social Teasers
How to test: Message: "From my latest blog draft, generate 3 social media teasers, add TTS voiceover, and schedule to post on X and LinkedIn."
What happens: It accesses your local files, crafts the teasers, uses Text-to-Speech integration for audio, and queues them via connected apps.
Pro tip: In terminal, try: openclaw agent --message "Automate blog promo" --thinking high to have it plan a full strategy.
5. Compile Analytics and Suggestions
How to test: Message: "Pull last month's blog traffic data, summarize top-performing posts, and suggest 3 ways to improve low-traffic ones."
What happens: It connects to your analytics, crunches the numbers privately, and delivers actionable ideas to improve your strategy.
Pro tip: Automate it: "...email me a monthly report on the 1st."
---
Why This Matters
I believe we're at an inflection point. AI assistants are moving out of the browser and into our messaging apps and file systems. OpenClaw is leading the charge by making this power accessible to everyone, not just developers. Happy tinkering! 🚀