Zero-Threshold Local OpenClaw Deployment: One-Click Install & Simple Config (Part 2)

This is the second part of a hands-on tutorial series for deploying the OpenClaw (MoltBot/Clawbot) AI assistant locally. The first part covered prerequisite environment setup (Git, Node.js 22.x) on Windows. This article assumes those prerequisites are verified and proceeds directly to deployment.

Prerequisite Verification

Before starting, confirm that both git --version and node --version return version numbers in PowerShell. If any command fails, revisit the first article's troubleshooting guide.

Three Installation Methods

Method 1: Official Script (Recommended)

The official script auto-detects the Node environment and guides through initial configuration, requiring minimal manual intervention.

Windows: Run in PowerShell (Admin recommended): iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex macOS / Linux / WSL2: Run in terminal:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Skip onboarding: Append --no-onboard to install only the binary.

# mac/linux
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --no-onboard
# win
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -NoOnboard

Method 2: npm Global Install

Suitable for users who prefer manual package management or want to control the installed version. Requires Node.js pre-installed. npm install -g openclaw@latest After installation, run the onboarding wizard to create an admin account and install the system daemon:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Method 3: Build from Source

Targeted at developers who want to inspect code, contribute, or test the latest development features. Requires pnpm.

Install pnpm if missing: npm install -g pnpm Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

Install dependencies and build:

pnpm install          # install project dependencies
pnpm ui:build         # build frontend UI
pnpm build            # build backend core

Link the CLI globally: pnpm link --global If linking fails, run commands directly via pnpm openclaw [command] (e.g., pnpm openclaw start ).

Run onboarding: openclaw onboard --install-daemon Update from source: git pull then repeat the build commands (step 3).

Choosing an Installation Method

Official script: Easiest, auto-detects environment, guides config — recommended for all beginners.

npm: More manual control, good for version pinning.

Source: For contributors or those needing bleeding-edge features; unnecessary for regular use.

Onboarding Configuration Walkthrough

The onboarding wizard launches after installation. The following screenshots illustrate the configuration steps (space to confirm, Enter to proceed):