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OpenClaw — Personal AI Assistant Gateway

OpenClaw is an open-source personal AI assistant platform with a unified gateway, skill system, and rich plugin ecosystem. This cheatsheet helps you quickly master core operations.

Updated: 2026-07-17·32 commands

Basic Operations {#basic}

### View help ``bash openclaw --help `

### Check version `bash openclaw --version `

### Initial configuration `bash openclaw onboard `

### Launch web dashboard `bash openclaw dashboard `

### System health check `bash openclaw doctor `

### Check for updates `bash openclaw update `

Gateway Management {#gateway}

### Start gateway service `bash openclaw gateway run `

### Start gateway (background) `bash openclaw gateway start `

### Stop gateway `bash openclaw gateway stop `

### Restart gateway `bash openclaw gateway restart `

### Check gateway status `bash openclaw gateway status `

### Install gateway service (systemd) `bash openclaw gateway install `

### View gateway logs `bash openclaw gateway logs `

Configuration Management {#configuration}

### View current config `bash openclaw config show `

### Edit config file `bash openclaw config edit `

### Set config key `bash openclaw config set `

### Reset configuration `bash openclaw config reset `

### Config file path `bash # Linux: ~/.config/openclaw/config.yaml # macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/openclaw/config.yaml # Override with OPENCLAW_CONFIG environment variable `

Skill Management {#skills}

### List installed skills `bash openclaw skills list `

### Install a skill `bash openclaw skills install `

### Install a specific version `bash openclaw skills install @ `

### Uninstall a skill `bash openclaw skills uninstall `

### Enable a skill `bash openclaw skills enable `

### Disable a skill `bash openclaw skills disable `

### Install skill from local file `bash openclaw skills install ./path/to/skill.zip `

### Search for skills `bash openclaw skills search `

### View skill details `bash openclaw skills info `

Plugin Management {#plugins}

### List plugins `bash openclaw plugins list `

### Install a plugin `bash openclaw plugins install `

### Uninstall a plugin `bash openclaw plugins uninstall `

Docker Deployment {#docker}

### Start with Docker Compose `bash docker-compose up -d `

### Stop with Docker Compose `bash docker-compose down `

### Check container status `bash docker-compose ps `

### Pull latest images `bash docker-compose pull `

### View container logs `bash docker-compose logs -f `

### Start with custom config `bash docker run -d \ --name openclaw \ -p 8080:8080 \ -v $(pwd)/config.yaml:/app/config.yaml \ openclaw/openclaw:latest ``

Basic Operations(9)

CommandLevel
openclaw --help
View help information
Basic
openclaw --version
Check installed version
Basic
openclaw onboard
Initial configuration wizard
Basic
openclaw dashboard
Launch web management dashboard
Basic
openclaw doctor
System health check
Intermediate
openclaw update
Check and install updates
Intermediate
docker-compose up -d
Start OpenClaw with Docker Compose
Intermediate
docker-compose down
Stop OpenClaw with Docker Compose
Intermediate
docker run -d --name openclaw -p 8080:8080 openclaw/openclaw:latest
Run OpenClaw via Docker
Intermediate

Gateway Management(7)

CommandLevel
openclaw gateway run
Start gateway service (foreground)
Basic
openclaw gateway start
Start gateway service (background)
Intermediate
openclaw gateway stop
Stop gateway service
Intermediate
openclaw gateway restart
Restart gateway service
Intermediate
openclaw gateway status
Check gateway running status
Intermediate
openclaw gateway install
Install as systemd service
Expert
openclaw gateway logs
View gateway logs
Intermediate

Configuration Management(4)

CommandLevel
openclaw config show
View current configuration
Basic
openclaw config edit
Edit configuration file
Intermediate
openclaw config set <key> <value>
Set a configuration key
Intermediate
openclaw config reset
Reset configuration to defaults
Expert

Skills & Plugins(12)

CommandLevel
openclaw skills list
List installed skills
Basic
openclaw skills install <skill-name>
Install a skill
Basic
openclaw skills install <skill>@<version>
Install a specific skill version
Intermediate
openclaw skills uninstall <skill-name>
Uninstall a skill
Basic
openclaw skills enable <skill-name>
Enable a skill
Intermediate
openclaw skills disable <skill-name>
Disable a skill
Intermediate
openclaw skills install ./path/to/skill.zip
Install skill from local file
Expert
openclaw skills search <query>
Search available skills
Basic
openclaw skills info <skill-name>
View skill details
Basic
openclaw plugins list
List installed plugins
Intermediate
openclaw plugins install <plugin-name>
Install a plugin
Intermediate
openclaw plugins uninstall <plugin-name>
Uninstall a plugin
Intermediate

FAQ

This cheatsheet is compiled from official tool documentation. Last updated: 2026-07-17.