Clawdbot AI

Clawdbot Setup Guide: From Installation to First Chat

Jan 25, 2026
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Clawdbot Setup Guide

This comprehensive Clawdbot setup guide will walk you through everything you need to get your personal AI assistant up and running. Whether you're on macOS, Windows, or Linux, this tutorial covers installation, configuration, and connecting your first chat platform.

Prerequisites

Before starting the Clawdbot setup, ensure you have:

  1. Node.js 22+ - Download from nodejs.org
  2. An AI Provider API Key - Anthropic Claude (recommended) or OpenAI
  3. A supported operating system:
    • macOS 13 (Ventura) or later
    • Windows 10/11 with WSL2
    • Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch)

Step 1: Install Clawdbot

Quick Install (All Platforms)

The fastest way to install Clawdbot is using the one-line installer:

curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install.sh | bash

This script automatically:

  • Detects your operating system
  • Installs required dependencies
  • Sets up Clawdbot globally

NPM Install

If you prefer npm:

npm i -g clawdbot

Verify Installation

Check that Clawdbot is installed correctly:

clawdbot --version

Step 2: Run the Onboarding

Start the interactive setup wizard:

clawdbot onboard --install-daemon

The onboarding process will guide you through:

  1. AI Provider Selection - Choose Claude, OpenAI, or local models
  2. API Key Configuration - Enter your API credentials
  3. Daemon Installation - Set up background service
  4. Initial Configuration - Basic preferences

Step 3: Configure Your AI Provider

  1. Get an API key from console.anthropic.com
  2. During onboarding, select "Anthropic Claude"
  3. Enter your API key when prompted

For best results, the Clawdbot team recommends:

  • Anthropic Pro/Max subscription for higher rate limits
  • Opus 4.5 model for best performance

Using OpenAI

  1. Get an API key from platform.openai.com
  2. Select "OpenAI" during onboarding
  3. Enter your API key

Using Local Models

For complete privacy and offline use:

  1. Install a local model provider (Ollama, LM Studio, etc.)
  2. Select "Local Model" during onboarding
  3. Configure the local endpoint

Step 4: Connect Chat Platforms

Clawdbot's power comes from chat integration. Here's how to connect popular platforms:

WhatsApp Setup

  1. Run clawdbot connect whatsapp
  2. Scan the QR code with your phone
  3. WhatsApp Web will connect to Clawdbot

Telegram Setup

  1. Create a bot via @BotFather
  2. Get your bot token
  3. Run clawdbot connect telegram --token YOUR_TOKEN

Discord Setup

  1. Create a Discord application at discord.com/developers
  2. Create a bot and get the token
  3. Run clawdbot connect discord --token YOUR_TOKEN

Slack Setup

  1. Create a Slack app at api.slack.com
  2. Configure OAuth and get tokens
  3. Run clawdbot connect slack --token YOUR_TOKEN

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Send a test message to verify everything works:

Via Terminal

clawdbot chat "Hello, what can you do?"

Via Chat App

Send a message to your connected chat platform. Clawdbot should respond within seconds.

Step 6: Configure Skills (Optional)

Extend Clawdbot with community skills:

# Browse available skills
clawdbot skills list

# Install a skill
clawdbot skills install <skill-name>

Popular skills include:

  • Home Assistant - Smart home control
  • GitHub - Repository management
  • Calendar - Schedule management
  • Spotify - Music control

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Command not found" after installation

  • Restart your terminal
  • Check that npm global bin is in your PATH

API connection errors

  • Verify your API key is correct
  • Check your internet connection
  • Ensure you have API credits

Chat platform not connecting

  • Verify tokens are correct
  • Check platform-specific requirements
  • Review logs: clawdbot logs

Getting Help

Next Steps

Now that your Clawdbot setup is complete:

  1. Explore capabilities - Ask Clawdbot what it can do
  2. Set up automations - Create cron jobs for recurring tasks
  3. Install skills - Extend functionality with plugins
  4. Join the community - Share your setups on Discord

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've completed the Clawdbot setup guide. Your personal AI assistant is now ready to help with browsing, file management, automation, and more - all through your favorite chat apps.

Resources:

Clawdbot AI

Clawdbot AI