The Complete OpenClaw Setup Guide for 2026

OpenClaw is an AI agent platform that gives you a persistent, configurable AI assistant running locally on your machine. It connects to interfaces like Telegram and CLI, stores workspace files on disk, and supports plugins for memory, code, search, and more.

This guide covers setting up OpenClaw from zero to a fully configured agent in 2026.

How Do I Install OpenClaw?

# Install via npm (most common)
npm install -g @openclaw/cli

# Or via Homebrew (macOS)
brew install openclaw

# Verify installation
openclaw --version

After installation, initialize your first workspace:

openclaw init my-workspace
cd my-workspace

This creates the workspace directory structure:

my-workspace/
├── SOUL.md          # Agent personality and behavioral rules
├── AGENTS.md        # Operational guidelines and directives
├── USER.md          # Information about you
├── MEMORY.md        # Curated long-term facts
├── memory/          # Daily logs (YYYY-MM-DD.md)
└── .openclaw/       # Configuration and plugin data

How Should I Configure My Workspace?

SOUL.md — Define Your Agent's Personality

This file sets who the agent is. Keep it focused:

You are a focused, technical co-pilot for a solo founder.
You prefer short, direct answers.
You ask clarifying questions before making assumptions.
You remember what we discussed in past sessions.

Common mistake: Making SOUL.md too long. Every word consumes context window tokens. Aim for under 200 words.

AGENTS.md — Set Operational Rules

This file controls how the agent works:

## Memory Protocol
Before responding to questions about past work, 
decisions, or ongoing projects, search memory 
using memory_search.

## Communication
- Be concise. No filler.
- Use code blocks for any code.
- Ask before making large changes.

Critical: Include a retrieve-before-act directive. Without it, the agent never searches its own memory files. This is the #1 setup mistake.

USER.md — Tell the Agent About You

Name: [Your name]
Role: Solo founder
Stack: TypeScript, Fastify, PostgreSQL, Vercel
Current project: [Project name]
Preferences: Concise responses, TypeScript over JavaScript

Common mistake: Leaving USER.md empty. The agent can't personalize if it doesn't know who you are.

What Essential Plugins Should I Install?

Memory Plugin (Recommended First)

The cold start problem is the biggest friction for daily users. Install a memory plugin first.

Recommended: Contexto — one-command install, local storage, flat $20/month.

openclaw plugins install @ekai/contexto

See the full plugin comparison for alternatives.

Enable the Memory Flush

Even with a plugin, enable the native memory flush as a safety net:

memoryFlush.enabled: true
softThresholdTokens: 4000

Other Useful Plugins

• Web search — real-time information access
• GitHub integration — create issues and PRs from conversations
• File management — read, write, and organize project files

How Do I Connect OpenClaw to Telegram?

Most solo founders and indie hackers run OpenClaw through Telegram. Here's how to set it up:

1. Create a Telegram bot via @BotFather — get your bot token
2. Configure OpenClaw's Telegram gateway:

openclaw gateway telegram --token YOUR_BOT_TOKEN

1. Start the gateway:

openclaw gateway start

1. Open Telegram and message your bot. Your agent is live.

Important for memory: Telegram sessions can be brief. Each message exchange may be treated as a separate mini-session. This makes memory plugins especially important for Telegram users — without persistent memory, the agent forgets between messages. See How to Give Your OpenClaw Telegram Bot Persistent Memory.

What Are the Most Common Setup Mistakes?

1. Not enabling the memory flush. The most impactful setting in OpenClaw is disabled by default. Enable it immediately.

1. No retrieve-before-act directive. Without this in AGENTS.md, the agent never searches its own memory. It's like having a notebook it never opens.

1. Bloated bootstrap files. Long SOUL.md and AGENTS.md files consume tokens. Keep them concise — under 200 words each.

1. Empty USER.md. The agent can't personalize without knowing who you are. Fill this in on day one.

1. Not installing a memory plugin. Native memory requires manual maintenance. For daily use, a plugin (Contexto, Mem0, or Supermemory) saves significant time.

1. Installing too many plugins at once. Start with memory + one other. Add plugins as specific needs arise. Each plugin adds complexity and startup latency.

1. Not testing memory after setup. After configuring, run the verification test: tell the agent a fact, end the session, start a new session, ask about the fact. If it doesn't remember, debug before proceeding. See the troubleshooting guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the minimum hardware to run OpenClaw?

OpenClaw itself is lightweight — it's a CLI that calls LLM APIs. Your machine needs Node.js, a stable internet connection, and enough disk space for workspace files. The LLM processing happens remotely.

Which LLM does OpenClaw use?

OpenClaw supports multiple LLM providers. Claude (Anthropic) is the default.

How do I update OpenClaw?

npm update -g @openclaw/cli

Can I run OpenClaw on a server instead of my laptop?

Yes. OpenClaw runs anywhere Node.js runs. For always-on Telegram access, many users deploy to a VPS (DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.) and keep the gateway running 24/7.

How do I back up my workspace?

Copy the entire workspace directory. All configuration, memory, and plugin data lives there. For Contexto memories specifically, use openclaw contexto export --format json.

Is OpenClaw free?

OpenClaw itself is open source and free. LLM API calls have their own costs (Anthropic API pricing). Plugins may have their own pricing (Contexto: $20/month, Mem0: $19–$249/month).

How do I reset everything and start fresh?

Delete the workspace directory and run openclaw init again. For a softer reset, clear MEMORY.md, delete files in memory/, and reset any plugins (openclaw contexto reset --confirm).

Can multiple people use the same OpenClaw agent?

OpenClaw workspaces are single-user by default. Multi-user setups require separate workspaces or a custom configuration. Memory plugins store memories per workspace, not per user.

Built by [Ekai Labs](https://ekailabs.xyz). Questions: [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/5VsUUEfbJk) · om@ekailabs.xyz · [getcontexto.com](https://getcontexto.com)

Install Contexto: openclaw plugins install @ekai/contexto

Related: [Contexto Docs](/docs) · [Best OpenClaw Plugins for Solo Founders](/blog/best-openclaw-plugins-solo-founders) · [OpenClaw Memory Troubleshooting](/blog/openclaw-memory-troubleshooting)