OpenClaw macOS Setup Guide: Install on Apple Silicon & Intel Macs

Introduction

macOS is one of the most popular platforms for running OpenClaw, thanks to its Unix foundation and excellent developer tooling. This guide covers everything you need to install and configure OpenClaw on your Mac, whether you’re using Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or an Intel-based Mac.

For general installation instructions, see our complete installation guide.

System Requirements

macOS Version

• macOS 13 Ventura or later (recommended: macOS 14 Sonoma+)
• Older versions may work but aren’t officially supported

Hardware

• Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M1 Pro, M2 Max, etc.) — Fully supported, native performance
• Intel Macs — Supported via Rosetta 2 compatibility
• RAM — 2GB+ recommended (4GB+ for best performance)
• Storage — 500MB+ for installation, additional space for memory/data

Software Prerequisites

• Xcode Command Line Tools — Required for building native modules
• Node.js 18+ — Can be auto-installed by the one-liner installer
• Terminal — Built-in Terminal.app or iTerm2

Installation Methods

Method 1: One-Liner Install (Easiest)

The simplest way to install OpenClaw on macOS:

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

This script automatically:

• Checks for Node.js (installs via Homebrew if missing)
• Installs OpenClaw globally
• Sets up necessary permissions
• Verifies the installation

Note: You may be prompted for your password to install Homebrew or Node.js if they’re not already installed.

Method 2: Homebrew Install

If you use Homebrew, you can install OpenClaw directly:

brew install openclaw

Or if using the Homebrew tap:

brew tap openclaw/openclaw
brew install openclaw

Note: The Homebrew formula may not be available immediately. Check the official docs for the latest installation methods.

Method 3: npm Install

If you already have Node.js installed:

npm i -g openclaw

Verify Node.js version first:

node --version

Should be v18.0.0 or higher.

Method 4: macOS Companion App

For a GUI experience alongside the CLI, install the macOS companion app:

1. Download: Visit GitHub Releases
2. Open: Double-click the .dmg file
3. Install: Drag OpenClaw to Applications folder
4. Launch: Open from Applications or Spotlight (⌘+Space)

The companion app provides:

• Menubar icon with status indicator
• Quick access to settings
• Log viewer
• Start/stop controls

Requirements:

• macOS 14+ (Sonoma)
• Universal Binary (works on both Apple Silicon and Intel)

Installing Prerequisites

Xcode Command Line Tools

Many npm packages require Xcode Command Line Tools. Install them:

xcode-select --install

Click “Install” when prompted. This may take 10-15 minutes.

Verify installation:

xcode-select -p

Should output: /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

Node.js via Homebrew

If Node.js isn’t installed, use Homebrew:

brew install node

Or install the LTS version:

brew install node@18

Verify:

node --version
npm --version

Homebrew (If Not Installed)

If you don’t have Homebrew:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Follow the on-screen instructions. On Apple Silicon, you may need to add Homebrew to your PATH:

echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Apple Silicon vs Intel

Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)

OpenClaw runs natively on Apple Silicon with excellent performance:

• No Rosetta needed — Native ARM64 binaries
• Better performance — Optimized for Apple Silicon
• Lower power consumption — More efficient than Intel Macs
• Universal binaries — Works seamlessly

Installation is identical to Intel Macs. The one-liner installer detects your architecture automatically.

Intel Macs

OpenClaw works perfectly on Intel Macs via Rosetta 2:

• Automatic compatibility — Rosetta handles translation
• Slightly slower — Minimal performance impact
• Full functionality — All features work identically

No special configuration needed—just install normally.

Post-Installation Setup

After installation, configure OpenClaw:

openclaw onboard

This interactive setup covers:

1. AI Model Configuration

Choose your AI provider. Popular options:

Anthropic Claude:

• Claude 3.5 Sonnet (recommended)
• Claude 3 Opus
• Claude 4

Get your API key from console.anthropic.com.

OpenAI GPT:

• GPT-4o
• GPT-4 Turbo
• GPT-4.1

Get your API key from platform.openai.com.

Local Models:

• Ollama (runs locally, no API key needed)
• LM Studio
• MiniMax

2. macOS Permissions

OpenClaw may request permissions:

• Full Disk Access — For reading/writing files
• Automation — For controlling other apps
• Network — For API calls and chat bridges

Grant permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

3. iMessage Integration (macOS-Specific)

Set up iMessage integration:

openclaw integrations imessage

This requires:

• macOS Messages app enabled
• iMessage account signed in
• Permissions granted

See our iMessage setup guide for details.

Running OpenClaw

Start the Server

openclaw

This starts the local server and connects all configured integrations.

Run in Background

Use nohup or a process manager:

nohup openclaw > ~/.openclaw/logs/output.log 2>&1 &

Or install pm2:

npm i -g pm2
pm2 start openclaw
pm2 save
pm2 startup

Launch at Login

Create a Launch Agent to start OpenClaw automatically:

mkdir -p ~/Library/LaunchAgents

Create ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.plist:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
  <key>Label</key>
  <string>com.openclaw</string>
  <key>ProgramArguments</key>
  <array>
    <string>/usr/local/bin/openclaw</string>
  </array>
  <key>RunAtLoad</key>
  <true/>
  <key>KeepAlive</key>
  <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Load it:

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.plist

macOS-Specific Features

Companion App Integration

The macOS companion app works alongside the CLI:

• Menubar Access — Quick status and controls
• Visual Indicators — See connection status at a glance
• Settings UI — Graphical configuration
• Log Viewer — Debug issues easily

iMessage Support

macOS is the only platform with native iMessage support:

• Direct integration with Apple Messages
• Works with iPhone messages via Continuity
• Group chat support
• Media sharing

See iMessage setup guide for configuration.

Spotlight Integration

Make OpenClaw commands searchable:

ln -s /usr/local/bin/openclaw /usr/local/bin/claw

Now you can type “claw” in Spotlight to run commands.

Troubleshooting

Permission Denied Errors

If you see permission errors:

sudo npm i -g openclaw

Or fix npm permissions:

mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.zprofile
source ~/.zprofile

Command Not Found

If openclaw isn’t found:

1. Check npm global path:

   npm config get prefix

2. Add to PATH:

   echo 'export PATH="$(npm config get prefix)/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zprofile
   source ~/.zprofile

3. Restart Terminal

Xcode Command Line Tools Issues

If builds fail:

sudo xcode-select --reset
xcode-select --install

Apple Silicon Compatibility

If you encounter architecture issues:

arch -arm64 npm i -g openclaw

Force Rosetta (if needed):

arch -x86_64 npm i -g openclaw

Port Already in Use

Change the port:

openclaw --port 3001

Or find and kill the process:

lsof -ti:3000 | xargs kill

Performance Tips

Apple Silicon Optimization

• Use native ARM64 Node.js (installed automatically)
• Enable native binaries for better performance
• Monitor Activity Monitor for resource usage

Memory Management

OpenClaw uses memory for:

• AI model context
• Chat history
• Browser sessions
• Skill data

Monitor usage:

openclaw status

Battery Life

Running OpenClaw continuously uses minimal battery:

• AI API calls are network-based (low CPU)
• Local processing is efficient
• Background operation is optimized

For always-on usage, keep your Mac plugged in or use a Mac Mini/server.

Updating OpenClaw

Update to the latest version:

npm update -g openclaw

Or re-run the installer:

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

Uninstalling

Remove OpenClaw:

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Remove configuration:

rm -rf ~/.openclaw

Remove Launch Agent (if created):

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.plist

Next Steps

Now that OpenClaw is installed on macOS:

1. Set Up iMessage — iMessage Integration Guide
2. Connect Other Apps — WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord
3. Explore Skills — Skills Library
4. Read FAQ — Common Questions

Conclusion

Installing OpenClaw on macOS is straightforward, whether you’re using Apple Silicon or Intel. The one-liner installer handles most complexity, and the macOS companion app provides a great GUI experience.

For more help, check our general installation guide or FAQ page. Happy automating!