Lesson 3. Installing OpenClaw#

Why this lesson?#

Node.js is installed — great! Now it’s time to install OpenClaw itself. This is done with a single command in the terminal. But first, let’s understand what a terminal is and how to open it.

What is a terminal?#

Terminal (also called “command line” or “console”) is a program where you type text commands instead of clicking buttons with a mouse.

It’s like texting your computer: you write what needs to be done — it does it.

Don’t be afraid of the terminal! We’ll only use simple commands that you just copy and paste.

How to open a terminal#

🍎 macOS (Mac)#

Method 1 — using Spotlight:

1. Press Cmd + Space (at the same time)
2. Type Terminal
3. Press Enter

Method 2 — using Finder:

1. Open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Terminal

A window with a black or white background and a blinking cursor will open. That’s the terminal!

🪟 Windows#

If you installed WSL2 (recommended method):

1. Click the Start button
2. Type Ubuntu (or WSL)
3. Open the app that appears

Without WSL2:

1. Click the Start button
2. Type PowerShell or Command Prompt
3. Open the app that appears

🐧 Linux#

Usually the terminal opens with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T.

Or find “Terminal” in the applications menu.

Installing OpenClaw#

Now for the exciting part! Copy and paste one of these commands into the terminal:

Recommended method (installation script)#

macOS / Linux:

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

Windows (PowerShell, without WSL):

iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

This script automatically downloads and installs OpenClaw. Convenient if you’re doing this for the first time.

Alternative method (via npm)#

If you’re already familiar with Node.js, you can install via the package manager:

npm install -g openclaw@latest

What this command means:

• npm — package manager (a program for installing programs), it came with Node.js
• install — “install”
• -g — “globally” (so OpenClaw is available from any folder)
• openclaw@latest — the program name and “latest version”

How to paste a command into the terminal#

This is a common question for beginners!

• macOS: copy the command (Cmd + C), in the terminal press Cmd + V
• Windows (PowerShell): copy (Ctrl + C), in the window right-click — the command will be pasted
• Linux: copy (Ctrl + C), in the terminal press Ctrl + Shift + V

After pasting, press Enter to run the command.

What happens after installation#

Lines of text will scroll in the terminal — that’s normal, the program is being downloaded and installed. In 1–2 minutes, everything will be ready.

Checking that OpenClaw is installed#

Type in the terminal:

openclaw --version

If you see a version number (for example, 2025.6.15) — congratulations, OpenClaw is installed! 🎉

If you get an error — try closing the terminal, reopening it, and running the command again. Sometimes after installation you need to restart the terminal for new commands to become available.

Useful commands#

Lesson summary#

• Terminal is a text-based way to control your computer. Opens in 5 seconds.
• OpenClaw is installed with a single command: curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
• After installation, verify with: openclaw --version
• Don’t be afraid of the terminal — you’re just copying and pasting commands!

In the next lesson, we’ll launch OpenClaw for the first time and connect an AI model.