Onboarding reference

Full reference for CLI onboarding: every step, flag, and config field

This is the full reference for openclaw onboard. For a high-level overview, see [Onboarding (CLI)](/docs/openclaw-docs/start/wizard.

Flow details (local mode)

- If `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` exists, choose **Keep / Modify / Reset**. - Re-running onboarding does **not** wipe anything unless you explicitly choose **Reset** (or pass `--reset`). - CLI `--reset` defaults to `config+creds+sessions`; use `--reset-scope full` to also remove workspace. - If the config is invalid or contains legacy keys, the wizard stops and asks you to run `openclaw doctor` before continuing. - Reset uses `trash` (never `rm`) and offers scopes: - Config only - Config + credentials + sessions - Full reset (also removes workspace) - **Anthropic API key**: uses `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` if present or prompts for a key, then saves it for daemon use. - **Anthropic API key**: preferred Anthropic assistant choice in onboarding/configure. - **Anthropic setup-token**: still available in onboarding/configure, though OpenClaw now prefers Claude CLI reuse when available. - **OpenAI Code (Codex) subscription (OAuth)**: browser flow; paste the `code#state`. - Sets `agents.defaults.model` to `openai/gpt-5.5` through the Codex runtime when model is unset or already OpenAI-family. - **OpenAI Code (Codex) subscription (device pairing)**: browser pairing flow with a short-lived device code. - Sets `agents.defaults.model` to `openai/gpt-5.5` through the Codex runtime when model is unset or already OpenAI-family. - **OpenAI API key**: uses `OPENAI_API_KEY` if present or prompts for a key, then stores it in auth profiles. - Sets `agents.defaults.model` to `openai/gpt-5.5` when model is unset, `openai/*`, or `openai-codex/*`. - **xAI (Grok) API key**: prompts for `XAI_API_KEY` and configures xAI as a model provider. - **OpenCode**: prompts for `OPENCODE_API_KEY` (or `OPENCODE_ZEN_API_KEY`, get it at https://opencode.ai/auth) and lets you pick the Zen or Go catalog. - **Ollama**: offers **Cloud + Local**, **Cloud only**, or **Local only** first. `Cloud only` prompts for `OLLAMA_API_KEY` and uses `https://ollama.com`; the host-backed modes prompt for the Ollama base URL, discover available models, and auto-pull the selected local model when needed; `Cloud + Local` also checks whether that Ollama host is signed in for cloud access. - More detail: [Ollama](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/ollama - **API key**: stores the key for you. - **Vercel AI Gateway (multi-model proxy)**: prompts for `AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY`. - More detail: [Vercel AI Gateway](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/vercel-ai-gateway - **Cloudflare AI Gateway**: prompts for Account ID, Gateway ID, and `CLOUDFLARE_AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY`. - More detail: [Cloudflare AI Gateway](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/cloudflare-ai-gateway - **MiniMax**: config is auto-written; hosted default is `MiniMax-M2.7`. API-key setup uses `minimax/...`, and OAuth setup uses `minimax-portal/...`. - More detail: [MiniMax](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/minimax - **StepFun**: config is auto-written for StepFun standard or Step Plan on China or global endpoints. - Standard currently includes `step-3.5-flash`, and Step Plan also includes `step-3.5-flash-2603`. - More detail: [StepFun](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/stepfun - **Synthetic (Anthropic-compatible)**: prompts for `SYNTHETIC_API_KEY`. - More detail: [Synthetic](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/synthetic - **Moonshot (Kimi K2)**: config is auto-written. - **Kimi Coding**: config is auto-written. - More detail: [Moonshot AI (Kimi + Kimi Coding)](/docs/openclaw-docs/providers/moonshot - **Skip**: no auth configured yet. - Pick a default model from detected options (or enter provider/model manually). For best quality and lower prompt-injection risk, choose the strongest latest-generation model available in your provider stack. - Onboarding runs a model check and warns if the configured model is unknown or missing auth. - API key storage mode defaults to plaintext auth-profile values. Use `--secret-input-mode ref` to store env-backed refs instead (for example `keyRef: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENAI_API_KEY" }`). - Auth profiles live in `~/.openclaw/agents//agent/auth-profiles.json` (API keys + OAuth). `~/.openclaw/credentials/oauth.json` is legacy import-only. - More detail: [/concepts/oauth](/docs/openclaw-docs/concepts/oauth Headless/server tip: complete OAuth on a machine with a browser, then copy that agent's `auth-profiles.json` (for example `~/.openclaw/agents//agent/auth-profiles.json`, or the matching `$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/...` path) to the gateway host. `credentials/oauth.json` is only a legacy import source. - Default `~/.openclaw/workspace` (configurable). - Seeds the workspace files needed for the agent bootstrap ritual. - Full workspace layout + backup guide: [Agent workspace](/docs/openclaw-docs/concepts/agent-workspace - Port, bind, auth mode, tailscale exposure. - Auth recommendation: keep **Token** even for loopback so local WS clients must authenticate. - In token mode, interactive setup offers: - **Generate/store plaintext token** (default) - **Use SecretRef** (opt-in) - Quickstart reuses existing `gateway.auth.token` SecretRefs across `env`, `file`, and `exec` providers for onboarding probe/dashboard bootstrap. - If that SecretRef is configured but cannot be resolved, onboarding fails early with a clear fix message instead of silently degrading runtime auth. - In password mode, interactive setup also supports plaintext or SecretRef storage. - Non-interactive token SecretRef path: `--gateway-token-ref-env `. - Requires a non-empty env var in the onboarding process environment. - Cannot be combined with `--gateway-token`. - Disable auth only if you fully trust every local process. - Non-loopback binds still require auth. - [WhatsApp](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/whatsapp: optional QR login. - [Telegram](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/telegram: bot token. - [Discord](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/discord: bot token. - [Google Chat](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/googlechat: service account JSON + webhook audience. - [Mattermost](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/mattermost (plugin): bot token + base URL. - [Signal](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/signal: optional `signal-cli` install + account config. - [iMessage](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/imessage: `imsg` CLI path + Messages DB access; use an SSH wrapper when the Gateway runs off-Mac. - DM security: default is pairing. First DM sends a code; approve via `openclaw pairing approve ` or use allowlists. - Pick a supported provider such as Brave, DuckDuckGo, Exa, Firecrawl, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, MiniMax Search, Ollama Web Search, Perplexity, SearXNG, or Tavily (or skip). - API-backed providers can use env vars or existing config for quick setup; key-free providers use their provider-specific prerequisites instead. - Skip with `--skip-search`. - Configure later: `openclaw configure --section web`. - macOS: LaunchAgent - Requires a logged-in user session; for headless, use a custom LaunchDaemon (not shipped). - Linux (and Windows via WSL2): systemd user unit - Onboarding attempts to enable lingering via `loginctl enable-linger ` so the Gateway stays up after logout. - May prompt for sudo (writes `/var/lib/systemd/linger`); it tries without sudo first. - **Runtime selection:** Node (recommended; required for WhatsApp/Telegram). Bun is **not recommended**. - If token auth requires a token and `gateway.auth.token` is SecretRef-managed, daemon install validates it but does not persist resolved plaintext token values into supervisor service environment metadata. - If token auth requires a token and the configured token SecretRef is unresolved, daemon install is blocked with actionable guidance. - If both `gateway.auth.token` and `gateway.auth.password` are configured and `gateway.auth.mode` is unset, daemon install is blocked until mode is set explicitly. - Starts the Gateway (if needed) and runs `openclaw health`. - Tip: `openclaw status --deep` adds the live gateway health probe to status output, including channel probes when supported (requires a reachable gateway). - Reads the available skills and checks requirements. - Lets you choose a node manager: **npm / pnpm** (bun not recommended). - Installs optional dependencies (some use Homebrew on macOS). - Summary + next steps, including iOS/Android/macOS apps for extra features. If no GUI is detected, onboarding prints SSH port-forward instructions for the Control UI instead of opening a browser. If the Control UI assets are missing, onboarding attempts to build them; fallback is `pnpm ui:build` (auto-installs UI deps).

Non-interactive mode

Use --non-interactive to automate or script onboarding:

openclaw onboard --non-interactive \
  --mode local \
  --auth-choice apiKey \
  --anthropic-api-key "$ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
  --gateway-port 18789 \
  --gateway-bind loopback \
  --install-daemon \
  --daemon-runtime node \
  --skip-skills

Add --json for a machine-readable summary.

Gateway token SecretRef in non-interactive mode:

export OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN="your-token"
openclaw onboard --non-interactive \
  --mode local \
  --auth-choice skip \
  --gateway-auth token \
  --gateway-token-ref-env OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN

--gateway-token and --gateway-token-ref-env are mutually exclusive.

`--json` does **not** imply non-interactive mode. Use `--non-interactive` (and `--workspace`) for scripts.

Provider-specific command examples live in [CLI Automation](/docs/openclaw-docs/start/wizard-cli-automation#provider-specific-examples. Use this reference page for flag semantics and step ordering.

Add agent (non-interactive)

openclaw agents add work \
  --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace-work \
  --model openai/gpt-5.5 \
  --bind whatsapp:biz \
  --non-interactive \
  --json

Gateway wizard RPC

The Gateway exposes the onboarding flow over RPC (wizard.start, wizard.next, wizard.cancel, wizard.status). Clients (macOS app, Control UI) can render steps without re-implementing onboarding logic.

Signal setup (signal-cli)

Onboarding can install signal-cli from GitHub releases:

  • Downloads the appropriate release asset.
  • Stores it under ~/.openclaw/tools/signal-cli/<version>/.
  • Writes channels.signal.cliPath to your config.

Notes:

  • JVM builds require Java 21.
  • Native builds are used when available.
  • Windows uses WSL2; signal-cli install follows the Linux flow inside WSL.

What the wizard writes

Typical fields in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

  • agents.defaults.workspace
  • agents.defaults.model / models.providers (if Minimax chosen)
  • tools.profile (local onboarding defaults to "coding" when unset; existing explicit values are preserved)
  • gateway.* (mode, bind, auth, tailscale)
  • session.dmScope (behavior details: CLI Setup Reference
  • channels.telegram.botToken, channels.discord.token, channels.matrix.*, channels.signal.*, channels.imessage.*
  • Channel allowlists (Slack/Discord/Matrix/Microsoft Teams) when you opt in during the prompts (names resolve to IDs when possible).
  • skills.install.nodeManager
    • setup --node-manager accepts npm, pnpm, or bun.
    • Manual config can still use yarn by setting skills.install.nodeManager directly.
  • wizard.lastRunAt
  • wizard.lastRunVersion
  • wizard.lastRunCommit
  • wizard.lastRunCommand
  • wizard.lastRunMode

openclaw agents add writes agents.list[] and optional bindings.

WhatsApp credentials go under ~/.openclaw/credentials/whatsapp/<accountId>/. Sessions are stored under ~/.openclaw/agents/<agentId>/sessions/.

Some channels are delivered as plugins. When you pick one during setup, onboarding will prompt to install it (npm or a local path) before it can be configured.

  • Onboarding overview: [Onboarding (CLI)](/docs/openclaw-docs/start/wizard
  • macOS app onboarding: [Onboarding](/docs/openclaw-docs/start/onboarding
  • Config reference: [Gateway configuration](/docs/openclaw-docs/gateway/configuration
  • Providers: [WhatsApp](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/whatsapp, [Telegram](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/telegram, [Discord](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/discord, [Google Chat](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/googlechat, [Signal](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/signal, [iMessage](/docs/openclaw-docs/channels/imessage
  • Skills: [Skills](/docs/openclaw-docs/tools/skills, [Skills config](/docs/openclaw-docs/tools/skills-config