OpenClaw Setup Guide

High detail walkthrough with newbie-friendly notes

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Part 1: VPS SSH Key Setup

Note: This guide assumes you are running OpenClaw on a Ubuntu KVM VPS. Running it directly on your local machine is possible but not recommended -- you are responsible for any side effects on your environment. If you choose to skip the VPS setup, start at Part 2: OpenClaw Installer and run the install command on your local machine instead.

After purchasing your Ubuntu KVM VPS on Hostinger:

1. In your hosting dashboard, go to Settings > SSH Keys > [+ Add SSH Key]

Generate an SSH Key Pair (if you don't have one)

1. Open a terminal and run:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

   Replace the email with your actual address.

2. Press Enter to accept the default file path (recommended). The key will be saved to your .ssh folder automatically.

3. Set a passphrase when prompted (recommended) and confirm it.

Add Your Public Key to Hostinger

1. Navigate to the .ssh directory in your user folder.
2. Run the following to print your public key (adjust path for your OS -- macOS uses /Users/your_username/, Linux/WSL uses /home/your_username/):

   cat ~/.ssh/your_key_filename.pub

   You should see output like:

   ssh-ed25519 AAAA...longkey... your_email@example.com
   

3. Copy that entire line and paste it into the SSH Key field in your Hostinger browser window.

Connect to Your VPS

ssh root@your_vps_ip_address

Enter the passphrase you set for the SSH key.

You are in when you see:

root@sr########:~

That unique identifier confirms you are connected.

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Part 2: OpenClaw Installer

From within your SSH session, run:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

You should see something like:

I'll butter your workflow like a lobster roll: messy, delicious, effective.

✓ Detected: linux

Install plan
OS: linux
Install method: npm
Requested version: latest

[1/3] Preparing environment
· Node.js not found, installing it now
· Installing Node.js via NodeSource
· Installing Linux build tools (make/g++/cmake/python3)

Dots become checkmarks as each step completes. This takes a few minutes -- good time for a coffee break.

Setup Wizard Choices

Prompt	Selection
Personal vs shared use	Continue (yes)
Setup type	QuickStart
Model / Auth provider	Your choice -- OpenRouter is a good default
How to provide API key	Paste key
API key	Paste your OpenRouter key from openrouter.ai
Keep current model	Keep current (openrouter/auto)

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Part 3: Discord Bot Setup

STOP: You must have your own Discord server before continuing. Create one now, then proceed.

Create the Bot in Discord Developer Portal

1. Go to Discord Developer Portal and log in.
2. In the sidebar, click Applications > [New Application].
3. Name your application and click Create.

Get Your Bot Token

1. In the left sidebar, click Bot.
2. Scroll down and click [Reset Token], accept any prompts.
3. Copy the token.
4. Back in your SSH terminal, paste the token when prompted:

   Enter Discord Bot Token:
   

How to Get Your Channel ID

You need Discord Developer Mode enabled to copy channel IDs.

1. In Discord, go to User Settings > Advanced > Developer Mode and toggle it on.
2. Right-click the channel you want the bot to use and select Copy Channel ID.

The value you paste will look like a long number (e.g., 1234567890123456789). The wizard may ask for it in SERVER_ID/CHANNEL_ID format -- if so, right-click your server icon and Copy Server ID for the first part.

Configure Channel Access in the Wizard

Prompt	Selection
Configure Discord Channel Access?	Yes
Discord Channel Access	Allowlist
Paste channel ID	YOUR_SERVER_ID/YOUR_CHANNEL_ID -- see note above about enabling Developer Mode
Configure Skills now?	No
Enable Hooks?	Skip for now (Space + Enter on Mac)
How to hatch bot?	Hatch in TUI (recommended)

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Part 4: OAuth2 -- Invite Bot to Your Server

1. In the Discord Developer Portal, go to OAuth2 in the sidebar.
2. Scroll to the URL Generator at the bottom.
3. Check only the bot box. Leave everything else unchecked.
4. Scroll to the bottom, copy the Generated URL.
5. Open a new browser tab and paste the URL.
6. Select your own Discord server from the invite screen.

Enable Message Content Intent

1. Back in the Developer Portal, go to Bot in the sidebar.
2. About halfway down, find Message Content Intent and toggle it on.
3. Click Save Changes.

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Part 5: Get the Bot Online and Paired

Verify Bot Application ID

1. Go to General Information in the Developer Portal.
2. Copy your Application ID.
3. Navigate to:

   https://discord.com/users/YOUR_APPLICATION_ID
   

4. Click the message icon on your bot and send it a DM.

If the Bot Responds "access not configured"

This is expected. Approve yourself via pairing:

1. The bot's response will include a pairing command like:

   openclaw pairing approve discord [your_identifier]
   

2. Copy that line and paste it into the terminal where you are SSH'd into the VPS.
3. Send the bot another DM -- it should now respond.

You have the claw!

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Part 6: Troubleshooting -- Bot Offline

If your bot shows as offline on Discord, try reconfiguring:

openclaw config

Walk through the wizard:

• Select Channels under sections to configure
• Select Discord (Bot API)
• Choose Modify settings
• Re-enter your bot token if needed
• Set channel access to Allowlist (not Open)
• Set DM policy to Pairing (recommended)
• Scroll to Continue at the bottom

Once complete, confirm Discord check, bot is online in the output.

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Extra Credit: Join a Community Server

Warning: You are letting your bot interact with other bots and other users. There is always risk on a shared server. You are on a VPS, so the blast radius is contained -- but proceed with awareness.

If you want to add your bot to a community or shared server, you will need help from someone who has admin access to that server.

1. Go back to Discord Developer Portal > OAuth2.
2. Scroll down, select only bot again.
3. Copy the Generated URL at the bottom.
4. Send that link to a server admin and ask them to authorize your bot.

The admin will need to:

1. Follow the invite link and select their server to add your bot.
2. If the server does not already have a role designated for bots, create one in Server Settings > Roles.
3. Go to Server Settings > Integrations > [Your Bot Name].
4. Under Roles, assign the bot role to your bot.

Once assigned, your bot will have the appropriate permissions scoped to that role.