Hardware Requirements
Everything you need to run OpenClaw locally — from minimum specs to power-user setups.
Prerequisites
- 1Node.js 18+ installed
- 24GB+ RAM recommended
- 3Linux, macOS, or Windows
- 4Always-on internet connection
Telegram Setup
- 1Open Telegram and search @BotFather
- 2Send /newbot to create a bot
- 3Copy the API token
- 4Add token to OpenClaw config
Discord Setup
- 1Go to Discord Developer Portal
- 2Create new application
- 3Create bot and get token
- 4Enable required intents
Voice Pipeline
- 1Install Whisper for speech-to-text
- 2Install Kokoro TTS for text-to-speech
- 3Configure audio devices
AI Models
- 1Add your API key (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.)
- 2Or download local models
- 3Configure model preferences
- 4Test with a simple prompt
Advanced Configuration
- 1Set up systemd for auto-start
- 2Configure browser automation
- 3Set up cron jobs for monitoring
Pro Tips
Run 'openclaw status' to check if all services are running correctly
Use 'systemctl restart openclaw' if you encounter any issues after configuration
Check the logs with 'journalctl -u openclaw -f' for real-time debugging
Enable automatic updates to get the latest features and security patches
Choose the right OpenClaw hardware before you set it up
OpenClaw setup is fastest when the hardware is already matched to your workload. If you are still deciding between ClawBox, Raspberry Pi, Mac Mini, or a mini PC, start with our guide to the best OpenClaw hardware before you configure bots, voice, and browser automation.
See the best hardware for OpenClawNeed Help?
Join our Discord community for setup assistance.
If you want the more structured step-by-step reference version, including troubleshooting follow-up, open the docs setup guide.
If your main goal is messaging, jump straight to the OpenClaw Telegram setup guide for BotFather, allowFrom, pairing, and group-safe defaults.
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