What you need before you start

One thing: Node.js 18 or higher. That's it. Everything else follows from that.

Check if you already have it:

node --version
# Should print v18.x.x or higher
# If it prints v16 or lower, update Node first
# If you get "command not found", install Node below

Machine	Minimum spec	OpenClaw runs?	Notes
Mac mini M1/M2/M4	8GB RAM	Perfect	Best choice for a home server
MacBook (2017+)	8GB RAM, macOS 12+	Perfect	Just keep it plugged in
Windows 10/11 PC	4GB RAM, 64-bit	Works great	Use PowerShell or WSL2
Ubuntu/Debian VPS	1GB RAM ($4/mo)	Easiest	Hetzner, Digital Ocean
Raspberry Pi 5	4GB or 8GB model	Works	Pi 4 is too slow
Raspberry Pi 4	4GB model	Marginal	Gets slow under load
Intel NUC / Shuttle	i3+, 8GB RAM	Great	Silent, low power
Mac mini 2010 (old Intel)	El Capitan max	No	Too old, macOS too outdated
Raspberry Pi 3	1GB RAM	No	Not enough RAM

Mac mini (M1, M2, M4)

The Mac mini is honestly the best machine for running OpenClaw at home. It's silent, uses almost no power, runs all day every day without complaint, and the M-series chips are fast enough that you'll never notice the resource usage. A 2023 Mac mini M2 costs about $500 used. Worth every cent.

Step 1: Install Homebrew (if you don't have it)

Homebrew is the package manager for macOS. You don't have to use it, but it makes everything easier. Open Terminal (find it in Spotlight with Cmd+Space, type Terminal).

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

Follow the prompts. It'll ask for your password. Takes about 2 minutes.

Step 2: Install Node.js

brew install node
node --version
v22.x.x

Step 3: Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw

The -g flag installs it globally so you can run it from anywhere. This takes a minute or two the first time.

Step 4: Start the gateway

openclaw gateway start
OpenClaw gateway starting...
Gateway running on port 3141
Open http://localhost:3141 to configure

Step 5: Keep it running after restart

By default OpenClaw stops when you close Terminal. To keep it running permanently, use launchd or just add it to your login items. The easiest way:

openclaw gateway enable-autostart

MacBook (any model 2017+)

Works exactly the same as Mac mini. The only thing to watch out for is that your MacBook will stop running OpenClaw whenever it goes to sleep. If you want it running 24/7, keep it plugged in and set sleep to never (same steps as above).

Otherwise, follow the exact same steps as the Mac mini guide above. There's nothing MacBook-specific to worry about.

Windows 10 / 11 PC

OpenClaw runs on Windows without any issues. The setup is slightly different but not harder.

Step 1: Install Node.js

Go to nodejs.org and download the LTS version. Run the installer. Default settings are fine. When it finishes, open PowerShell.

node --version
v22.x.x
# If this doesn't work, restart PowerShell and try again

Step 2: Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw

If you get a permissions error, run PowerShell as Administrator (right-click, "Run as administrator") and try again.

Step 3: Start the gateway

openclaw gateway start

Step 4: Keep it running after reboot

To auto-start OpenClaw when Windows boots, create a scheduled task. The quickest way:

openclaw gateway enable-autostart

Or manually: search for "Task Scheduler" in Start, create a basic task that runs openclaw gateway start at logon.

Linux / Ubuntu / Debian (including VPS)

Honestly this is the easiest setup. If you've got a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 server (a $4/month Hetzner or Digital Ocean droplet works perfectly), you can go from zero to running OpenClaw in about 4 minutes.

Step 1: Install Node.js via NodeSource

The Node.js version in Ubuntu's default package manager is usually outdated. Use NodeSource instead:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
node --version
v22.x.x

Step 2: Install OpenClaw

sudo npm install -g openclaw

Step 3: Start the gateway

openclaw gateway start

Step 4: Run as a systemd service (so it survives reboots)

openclaw gateway enable-autostart
Created systemd service: openclaw-gateway
Service enabled and started.

If you prefer to do it manually:

# Create service file
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/openclaw.service

# Paste this into the file:
[Unit]
Description=OpenClaw Gateway
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=YOUR_USERNAME
ExecStart=/usr/bin/openclaw gateway start
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

# Enable and start it
sudo systemctl enable openclaw
sudo systemctl start openclaw
sudo systemctl status openclaw

Raspberry Pi 5

The Pi 5 is surprisingly capable for this. The 8GB model especially. If you've got one sitting around and want a cheap always-on OpenClaw server, it works well. Just don't try this on a Pi 3 or Pi Zero: not enough RAM.

Step 1: Start with Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)

Use Raspberry Pi Imager to flash Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) onto your SD card. The Lite version works fine if you don't need a desktop. Enable SSH in the imager settings so you can access it headlessly.

Step 2: Install Node.js

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
node --version
v22.x.x

Step 3: Install and start OpenClaw

sudo npm install -g openclaw
openclaw gateway start

Step 4: Run as a service

Same systemd steps as the Linux section above. On a Pi this matters even more since you'll probably be running it headlessly and want it to come back online after power outages.

Mini PCs: Shuttle, Intel NUC, Beelink, GMKtec

If you want something more capable than a Pi but don't want to spend Mac mini money, mini PCs are a great middle ground. A used Intel NUC from 2019-2022 runs OpenClaw perfectly. Beelink and GMKtec make newer units with AMD Ryzen chips for around $150-200 that are genuinely fast.

These all run Ubuntu or Windows, so follow the Linux or Windows instructions above depending on which OS you put on it. There's nothing mini-PC-specific about the setup.

One thing worth noting: the Shuttle DS77U5 (Intel 7th gen i5) is a solid option if you find one used. Quiet, compact, and runs OpenClaw without breaking a sweat.

Giving your agent a wallet (the part nobody tells you about)

You got OpenClaw running. Your agent is online. It can browse the web, send messages, run code, manage files. Great.

Then you ask it to do something that costs money. Maybe call an API. Maybe spin up a compute instance. Maybe buy a domain. And it stops. It asks you. You approve it. It proceeds. Ten minutes later it stops again for another $2.40 API charge.

This interruption loop is one of the biggest friction points with autonomous agents right now and most people just live with it.

YourAgentPays is solving this. It's launching in early March 2026 (honestly very soon) and it's already being called one of the more important infrastructure pieces for autonomous AI. The concept is simple: instead of giving your agent your credit card, you fund a dedicated wallet, set spending rules by category (auto-approve small API calls, ask before big purchases, block certain categories entirely), and give your agent an API key. Three endpoints. Your agent checks its balance, checks its permissions, and pays within your limits. You keep a kill switch.

For people running OpenClaw on a Mac mini or VPS that's doing real work 24/7, this is genuinely useful. The waitlist is free and early access is opening this month.

Common problems and how to fix them

"command not found: openclaw"

This usually means npm's global bin directory isn't in your PATH. Try:

npm config get prefix
/usr/local
# Add /usr/local/bin to your PATH in ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin
source ~/.zshrc

"Error: EACCES permission denied" on macOS/Linux

Don't use sudo npm install -g on macOS. Instead, fix npm's permissions:

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

Gateway starts but stops immediately

Check the logs:

openclaw gateway status
openclaw gateway logs

Usually this is a port conflict (something else is using port 3141) or a missing API key in your config. The logs will tell you exactly what's wrong.

"Node version X is not supported"

OpenClaw needs Node 18 or higher. If you're on an older version:

# Using nvm (easiest cross-platform method)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install 22
nvm use 22
npm install -g openclaw

OpenClaw works but goes offline overnight

Your machine is sleeping. On Mac: System Settings > Battery > prevent sleeping. On Linux: sudo systemctl mask sleep.target suspend.target hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target. On Windows: Control Panel > Power Options > change plan to High Performance, set sleep to Never.