OpenClaw for macOS

Complete guide to installing and using OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot and Moltbot) on macOS

macOS is one of the best platforms for OpenClaw, with native menu bar app, voice wake, iMessage integration, and seamless system integration. This guide covers everything you need to get started on macOS.

Quick Start

The easiest way to install OpenClaw on macOS:

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

Then run the onboarding wizard:

Onboarding 
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

System Requirements

  • macOS Version: macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later
  • Architecture: Intel (x86_64) or Apple Silicon (arm64)
  • Node.js: Node.js ≥22 (automatically installed if missing)
  • Storage: ~500MB for installation, plus workspace storage

macOS Menu Bar App

The macOS companion app provides a native macOS experience:

  • Menu Bar Access - Quick access from your menu bar
  • Voice Wake - Always-on voice activation
  • Voice Overlay - Visual voice interface
  • WebChat - Built-in chat interface
  • Canvas Access - View Canvas visual workspace
  • Gateway Status - Monitor Gateway health
  • Quick Actions - Common tasks at your fingertips

Installing the Menu Bar App

  1. Download the macOS app from releases (Universal Binary)
  2. Drag to Applications folder
  3. Open from Applications (first launch may require security approval)
  4. The app will appear in your menu bar

First Launch

On first launch, macOS may show a security warning. To allow:

  1. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security
  2. Click "Open Anyway" if prompted
  3. Grant necessary permissions when requested

Voice Wake on macOS

macOS supports system-wide voice wake:

  • Always Listening - Continuously monitors for wake words
  • System Integration - Uses macOS speech recognition
  • Background Operation - Works even when app is in background
  • Privacy-Focused - Processing happens locally when possible

Setting Up Voice Wake

  1. Open the macOS menu bar app
  2. Go to Settings → Voice Wake
  3. Enable voice wake
  4. Grant microphone permissions when prompted
  5. Set your preferred wake word

Permissions Required

  • Microphone - For voice wake and voice notes
  • Accessibility - For system integration (optional)

iMessage Integration

macOS is the only platform that supports native iMessage integration:

  • Native Integration - Uses imsg CLI for iMessage access
  • No Jailbreak Required - Works on standard macOS
  • Full iMessage Support - Send/receive messages, media, group chats
  • Seamless Experience - Works alongside Messages app

Setting Up iMessage

  1. Ensure Messages app is signed in with your Apple ID
  2. Run: openclaw channels login imessage
  3. Grant necessary permissions
  4. Start chatting via iMessage!

Running as a Service

On macOS, OpenClaw can run as a launchd service:

  • Auto-Start - Starts automatically on login
  • Background Operation - Runs in background
  • System Integration - Managed by macOS launchd

Installing the Service

The onboarding wizard can install the service automatically:

Install Service 
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Managing the Service

  • Start: launchctl start ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist
  • Stop: launchctl stop ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist
  • Status: openclaw status

macOS-Specific Features

Menu Bar Integration

  • Quick access to chat
  • Gateway status indicator
  • Voice wake controls
  • Settings access

System Notifications

  • Receive notifications for messages
  • Gateway status alerts
  • Error notifications

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Quick access to chat
  • Voice wake toggle
  • Menu bar app shortcuts

Troubleshooting macOS Issues

Permission Issues

If you encounter permission errors:

  1. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security
  2. Check Microphone permissions
  3. Check Accessibility permissions (if needed)
  4. Restart the app after granting permissions

Service Not Starting

If the Gateway service doesn't start:

  1. Check logs: openclaw doctor
  2. Verify launchd service: launchctl list | grep openclaw
  3. Check service file: ~/.clawdbot/gateway.service

iMessage Not Working

If iMessage integration fails:

  1. Ensure Messages app is signed in
  2. Check imsg CLI installation
  3. Verify permissions
  4. Run: openclaw channels login imessage again

Best Practices for macOS

  • Use Menu Bar App - Provides best macOS experience
  • Enable Voice Wake - Hands-free operation
  • Run as Service - Keeps Gateway running in background
  • Grant Permissions - Allow necessary system access
  • Keep Updated - Update regularly for latest features

Next Steps