Windows (WSL2)

OpenClaw on Windows is recommended via WSL2 (Ubuntu recommended). The CLI + Gateway run inside Linux, which keeps the runtime consistent and makes tooling far more compatible (Node/Bun/pnpm, Linux binaries, skills). Native Windows might be trickier. WSL2 gives you the full Linux experience — one command to install: wsl --install. Native Windows companion apps are planned.

Install (WSL2)

Getting Started (use inside WSL)
Install & updates
Official WSL2 guide (Microsoft): https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install

Gateway

Gateway service install (CLI)

Inside WSL2:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Or:

openclaw gateway install

Or:

openclaw configure

Select Gateway service when prompted. Repair/migrate:

openclaw doctor

For headless setups, ensure the full boot chain runs even when no one logs into Windows. Inside WSL:

sudo loginctl enable-linger "$(whoami)"

2) Install the OpenClaw gateway user service

Inside WSL:

openclaw gateway install

3) Start WSL automatically at Windows boot

In PowerShell as Administrator:

schtasks /create /tn "WSL Boot" /tr "wsl.exe -d Ubuntu --exec /bin/true" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM

Replace Ubuntu with your distro name from:

wsl --list --verbose

Verify startup chain

After a reboot (before Windows sign-in), check from WSL:

systemctl --user is-enabled openclaw-gateway
systemctl --user status openclaw-gateway --no-pager

Advanced: expose WSL services over LAN (portproxy)

WSL has its own virtual network. If another machine needs to reach a service running inside WSL (SSH, a local TTS server, or the Gateway), you must forward a Windows port to the current WSL IP. The WSL IP changes after restarts, so you may need to refresh the forwarding rule. Example (PowerShell as Administrator):

$Distro = "Ubuntu-24.04"
$ListenPort = 2222
$TargetPort = 22

$WslIp = (wsl -d $Distro -- hostname -I).Trim().Split(" ")[0]
if (-not $WslIp) { throw "WSL IP not found." }

netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenaddress=0.0.0.0 listenport=$ListenPort `
  connectaddress=$WslIp connectport=$TargetPort

Allow the port through Windows Firewall (one-time):

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "WSL SSH $ListenPort" -Direction Inbound `
  -Protocol TCP -LocalPort $ListenPort -Action Allow

Refresh the portproxy after WSL restarts:

netsh interface portproxy delete v4tov4 listenport=$ListenPort listenaddress=0.0.0.0 | Out-Null
netsh interface portproxy add v4tov4 listenport=$ListenPort listenaddress=0.0.0.0 `
  connectaddress=$WslIp connectport=$TargetPort | Out-Null

Notes:

SSH from another machine targets the Windows host IP (example: ssh user@windows-host -p 2222).
Remote nodes must point at a reachable Gateway URL (not 127.0.0.1); use openclaw status --all to confirm.
Use listenaddress=0.0.0.0 for LAN access; 127.0.0.1 keeps it local only.
If you want this automatic, register a Scheduled Task to run the refresh step at login.

Step-by-step WSL2 install

1) Install WSL2 + Ubuntu

Open PowerShell (Admin):

wsl --install
# Or pick a distro explicitly:
wsl --list --online
wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04

Reboot if Windows asks.

2) Enable systemd (required for gateway install)

In your WSL terminal:

sudo tee /etc/wsl.conf >/dev/null <<'EOF'
[boot]
systemd=true
EOF

Then from PowerShell:

wsl --shutdown

Re-open Ubuntu, then verify:

systemctl --user status

3) Install OpenClaw (inside WSL)

Follow the Linux Getting Started flow inside WSL:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
pnpm install
pnpm ui:build # auto-installs UI deps on first run
pnpm build
openclaw onboard

Full guide: Getting Started

Windows companion app

We do not have a Windows companion app yet. Contributions are welcome if you want contributions to make it happen.

Platforms overview

macOS companion app

Windows (WSL2)

Windows (WSL2)

Install (WSL2)

Gateway

Gateway service install (CLI)

2) Install the OpenClaw gateway user service

3) Start WSL automatically at Windows boot

Verify startup chain

Advanced: expose WSL services over LAN (portproxy)

Step-by-step WSL2 install

1) Install WSL2 + Ubuntu

2) Enable systemd (required for gateway install)

3) Install OpenClaw (inside WSL)

Windows companion app

​Windows (WSL2)

​Install (WSL2)

​Gateway

​Gateway service install (CLI)

​Gateway auto-start before Windows login

​1) Keep user services running without login

​2) Install the OpenClaw gateway user service

​3) Start WSL automatically at Windows boot

​Verify startup chain

​Advanced: expose WSL services over LAN (portproxy)

​Step-by-step WSL2 install

​1) Install WSL2 + Ubuntu

​2) Enable systemd (required for gateway install)

​3) Install OpenClaw (inside WSL)

​Windows companion app

Windows (WSL2)

Install (WSL2)

Gateway

Gateway service install (CLI)

Gateway auto-start before Windows login

1) Keep user services running without login

2) Install the OpenClaw gateway user service

3) Start WSL automatically at Windows boot

Verify startup chain

Advanced: expose WSL services over LAN (portproxy)

Step-by-step WSL2 install

1) Install WSL2 + Ubuntu

2) Enable systemd (required for gateway install)

3) Install OpenClaw (inside WSL)

Windows companion app