How to Install OpenClaw: AI Agent in 15 Minutes

3 min read

In 15 minutes you’ll have an AI agent in Telegram. It remembers context, searches the web, and runs for free.

Not ChatGPT. Not a subscription. Your program on your computer.

If you haven’t read what OpenClaw is yet – start there. This article is just the installation.

Before you start: get your keys#

Before installing anything – sign up and grab your free keys. Takes 5 minutes.

1. OpenRouter – your agent’s brain (free)#

OpenRouter gives your agent access to free AI models – Qwen 3.6, DeepSeek, Gemma.

  1. Go to openrouter.ai → Sign Up
  2. Confirm email
  3. Settings → Keys → Create Key
  4. Copy the key (starts with sk-or-...) – save it somewhere

2. Groq – voice messages (free)#

Groq provides free voice transcription. With it you can send voice messages to your agent in Telegram – it’ll understand.

  1. Go to console.groq.com → Sign Up
  2. API Keys → Create API Key
  3. Copy the key – save next to OpenRouter

3. Telegram bot – your communication channel#

  1. Open @BotFather in Telegram
  2. Send /newbot
  3. Pick a name (e.g. “My AI”) and username (e.g. my_ai_2026_bot)
  4. BotFather gives you a token like 7234567890:AAF... – copy it

Done. Three keys in hand. Now the install.

Installation: 4 commands#

Mac#

Open Terminal (Cmd+Space → “Terminal”):

Terminal window
# 1. Install Homebrew (if not already)
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"


# 2. Install Node.js
brew install node@22


# 3. Install OpenClaw
npm install -g openclaw


# 4. Add to PATH (so the openclaw command works)
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Windows#

  1. Install WSL2 – open PowerShell as administrator:
Terminal window
wsl --install
  1. Restart your computer
  2. Open Ubuntu from the Start menu and follow the Linux steps below

Linux (Ubuntu)#

Terminal window
# 1. Install Node.js
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install 22


# 2. Install OpenClaw
npm install -g openclaw

Verify#

Terminal window
openclaw --version
# Should show: OpenClaw 2026.x.x

See a version number? Moving on.

Setup: interactive quest#

OpenClaw configures itself through the terminal. No JSON files to edit. Just answer questions.

Run the onboarding wizard#

Terminal window
openclaw setup --wizard

The wizard walks you through basic settings. Answer the prompts – it handles the config.

Connect a model (OpenRouter)#

Terminal window
openclaw models auth add

Select OpenRouter → paste your sk-or-... key → done.

Your agent can now think. For free.

Connect voice (Groq)#

Terminal window
openclaw models auth add

Select Groq → paste your key → done.

Your agent now understands voice messages in Telegram.

Connect Telegram#

Terminal window
openclaw channels add

Select Telegram → paste the BotFather token → done.

Launch#

Terminal window
openclaw gateway

See Gateway started in your terminal? Your agent is alive.

Open Telegram. Message your bot:

Hi. What can you do?

It responds. Congratulations – your personal AI is live.

First skills#

OpenClaw ships with 200+ skills. Enable the basics:

Terminal window
# See what's available
openclaw skills list


# Start with these:
openclaw skills install daily-briefing
openclaw skills install web-search
openclaw skills install memory-tools
SkillWhat it does
daily-briefingMorning briefing in Telegram
web-searchAgent can search the web on its own
memory-toolsRemembers information between conversations
TIP

Don’t enable 50 skills at once. Start with 3-5. Add more as needed.

What’s next#

Basic installation done. Next:

  • Tell the agent about yourself – just message it in Telegram who you are and what you do. It’ll remember.
  • Try voice – send a voice message. Groq transcribes, the agent responds.
  • Add skills – openclaw skills list shows all 200+
  • Read how Gnosis OS works – full breakdown of a day with the system

Don’t want to set it up yourself?#

I install and configure this system for people. Turnkey – from empty computer to working agent in Telegram.

See pricing →

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