setup

Quick Reference

Task	Load
Messaging channels (Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, etc.)	`channels.md`
Agent settings, models, workspaces	`agents.md`
Security, auth, DM policies, allowlists	`security.md`
Tools: exec, browser, web, media	`tools.md`
Cron, hooks, heartbeats, automation	`automation.md`
Recommendations by use case	`recommendations.md`
Memory search, embeddings, QMD	`memory.md`
Gateway: port, TLS, Tailscale, remote	`gateway.md`

First Setup Checklist

Before any config, run:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon  # Full wizard
openclaw doctor                    # Check issues

Minimum viable config: - [ ] At least one channel connected (Telegram recommended for testing) - [ ] Model configured (Anthropic Claude or OpenAI) - [ ] Workspace path set (agents.defaults.workspace) - [ ] Owner allowlist configured (your user ID in channels.*.allowFrom)

Config Locations

File	Purpose
`~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`	Main config
`~/.openclaw/.env`	Environment variables
`~/.openclaw/workspace/`	Default workspace
`~/.openclaw/sessions/`	Session storage

Hot reload: Most settings apply instantly. Gateway settings (port, TLS) require restart.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Open DM policy without allowlist → Anyone can message your bot
No auth token on remote gateway → Exposed to internet
Model without fallbacks → Single point of failure
Heartbeat without delivery target → Lost proactive messages
exec.security: "full" in groups → Dangerous command access

When You're Done

openclaw doctor       # Verify config
openclaw status       # Check runtime
openclaw health       # Gateway health