OpenClaw for Linux

Linux is an excellent platform for OpenClaw, with native systemd support, excellent performance, and full feature support. This guide covers installation and setup on various Linux distributions.

The easiest way to install OpenClaw on Linux:

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

Then run the onboarding wizard:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

• Distribution: Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+, Fedora 34+, or similar
• Architecture: x86_64 or arm64
• Node.js: Node.js ≥22 (automatically installed if missing)
• Systemd: Required for service management (most modern distributions)
• Storage: ~500MB for installation, plus workspace storage

Ubuntu / Debian

# Update package list
sudo apt update

# Install dependencies (if needed)
sudo apt install -y curl

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

# Onboard
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Fedora / RHEL / CentOS

# Install dependencies
sudo dnf install -y curl

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

# Onboard
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Arch Linux

# Install dependencies
sudo pacman -S curl

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

# Onboard
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

OpenClaw can run as a systemd user service:

Installing the Service

The onboarding wizard installs the service automatically:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Managing the Service

Control the Gateway service:

# Start service
systemctl --user start openclaw-gateway

# Stop service
systemctl --user stop openclaw-gateway

# Enable auto-start
systemctl --user enable openclaw-gateway

# Check status
systemctl --user status openclaw-gateway

# View logs
journalctl --user -u openclaw-gateway -f

Browser Support

Linux browser automation may require additional dependencies:

• Chromium or Chrome browser
• Browser dependencies (varies by distribution)
• See Browser guide for troubleshooting

Sandboxing

Linux supports Docker-based sandboxing:

• Docker required for sandboxed sessions
• Better security isolation
• See Security guide for details

For headless Linux servers:

SSH Access

• Install via SSH
• Run Gateway as service
• Access Control UI via SSH tunnel

Remote Access

Access Gateway remotely:

• SSH tunnel: ssh -L 18789:localhost:18789 user@server
• Tailscale VPN
• See Remote Access guide

Service Not Starting

If the service doesn't start:

1. Check logs: journalctl --user -u openclaw-gateway
2. Verify service file: ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw-gateway.service
3. Check systemd status: systemctl --user status openclaw-gateway
4. Run doctor: openclaw doctor

Permission Issues

If you encounter permission errors:

1. Check file permissions
2. Verify user has necessary access
3. Check SELinux/AppArmor if enabled

Browser Not Working

If browser automation fails:

1. Install Chromium: sudo apt install chromium-browser (Ubuntu/Debian)
2. Install dependencies: sudo apt install -y libnss3 libatk-bridge2.0-0 libdrm2 libxkbcommon0 libxcomposite1 libxdamage1 libxfixes3 libxrandr2 libgbm1 libasound2
3. See Browser guide for more

• Use Systemd Service - Keeps Gateway running
• Enable Auto-Start - Start on boot
• Monitor Logs - Use journalctl for debugging
• Keep Updated - Regular updates for security
• Use Firewall - Restrict Gateway port access