How to Install OpenClaw AI on Windows 10

Install OpenClaw AI Agent on Windows 10 with this step-by-step guide. Easy setup, requirements, and tips to get started quickly for beginners and developers.

Introduction
PART 1: PREREQUISITES
- Step 1: Open CMD as administrator.
- Step 2: Check Node.js Version
- Step 3: Check Yarn Version
PART 2: INSTALLATION
- Step 4: Install OpenClaw
- Step 5: Verify Installation
PART 3: CONFIGURATION
- Step 6: Run Onboarding Wizard
- Step 7: Follow Onboarding Steps
PART 4: START GATEWAY
- Step 8: Start Gateway Service
- Step 9: Open Dashboard in Browser
- Step 10: Send Your First Message
DEMO EXAMPLES
REQUIREMENTS
API KEY PROVIDERS
Conclusion

Introduction

Installing an AI agent locally might sound technical at first, but with the right guidance, it becomes a smooth and rewarding process. If you’re looking to explore automation, boost productivity, or simply experiment with AI capabilities on your own system, setting up the OpenClaw AI Agent on Windows 10 is a great place to start.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire installation process step by step—keeping things simple, practical, and beginner-friendly. Whether you’re a developer, a tech enthusiast, or someone curious about how AI agents work behind the scenes, this tutorial will help you get OpenClaw up and running on your Windows machine without confusion.

PART 1: PREREQUISITES

Step 1: Open CMD as Administrator

Search “cmd” in Start Menu
Right-click → “Run as administrator”
Click “Yes”

Step 2: Check Node.js Version

node –version
Required: v22.0.0 or higher
Recommended: v24.13.1

Step 3: Check Yarn Version

yarn –version
Required: 1.22.0 or higher
If not installed:
npm install -g yarn

PART 2: INSTALLATION

Step 4: Install OpenClaw

yarn global add openclaw@latest
Wait 5-10 minutes for installation to complete.

Step 5: Verify Installation

node “C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Yarn\Data\global\node_modules\openclaw\openclaw.mjs” –version
Expected output: 2026.2.9

PART 3: CONFIGURATION

Step 6: Run Onboarding Wizard

node “C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Yarn\Data\global\node_modules\openclaw\openclaw.mjs” onboard –install-daemon

Step 7: Follow Onboarding Steps

1. Security Warning → Select “Yes” → Press Enter
2. Onboarding Mode → Select “QuickStart” → Press Enter
3. AI Model → Select “Google Gemini” (or Claude/GPT) → Press Enter
4. API Key → Get from https://aistudio.google.com/apikey → Paste → Press Enter
5. Additional API Keys → Select “No” for all → Press Enter
6. Hooks → Keep “session-memory” selected → Press Enter

PART 4: START GATEWAY

Step 8: Start Gateway Service

node “C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Yarn\Data\global\node_modules\openclaw\openclaw.mjs” gateway start

Keep this CMD window running

PART 5: USE DASHBOARD

Step 9: Open Dashboard in Browser

http://127.0.0.1:18789/

Step 10: Send Your First Message

Type in the chat box: “Hello! Can you introduce yourself?”
Click “Send”

USEFUL COMMANDS

Start Gateway:
node “C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Yarn\Data\global\node_modules\openclaw\openclaw.mjs” gateway start

Stop Gateway:
node “C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Yarn\Data\global\node_modules\openclaw\openclaw.mjs” gateway stop

Check Status:
node “C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Yarn\Data\global\node_modules\openclaw\openclaw.mjs” status

Dashboard URL:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/

DEMO EXAMPLES

1. Math: “Calculate 456 * 789”
2. Creative: “Write a poem about AI.”
3. Code: “Write a Python function to calculate factorial.”
4. Info: “What is OpenClaw and how does it work?”
5. Task: “Create a to-do list for learning AI in 30 days.”

Although many languages are actually supported by Claude Code, these five typically provide the most fruitful development experience.

REQUIREMENTS

Windows 10
– Node.js 22+ (Download: https://nodejs.org/)
– Yarn package manager
– API Key (Gemini/OpenAI/Claude)

API KEY PROVIDERS

Google Gemini (Free Tier Available):
https://aistudio.google.com/apikey

Anthropic Claude ($5 Free Credit):
https://console.anthropic.com/

OpenAI GPT (Pay Per Use):
https://platform.openai.com/api-keys

Concluding Note:

Keep Gateway CMD window running while using OpenClaw
– API usage will consume credits/tokens
– Dashboard accessible at: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
– WhatsApp integration available (optional)

Reference links:
For more coding series:
Power of Microservices Observability
No-Code & Low-Code
Learning to Code: How to Think Like a Programmer

TROUBLESHOOTING

Issue: “Cannot find module”
Solution: Reinstall with yarn global add openclaw@latest
Issue: “Connection refused” in browser
Solution: Check if the gateway is running
Issue: Agent not responding
Solution: Verify API key is valid and has remaining quota

Written By Muhammad Khuzaima