How to onboard and configure Openclaw
After installing OpenClaw, you can start the onboarding process to configure your personal AI agent. This setup guides you step by step through all required settings.
You can start the onboarding process using either:
- the terminal (SSH)
- the oneHome control panel
- OpenClaw onboarding steps
- OpenClaw onboarding via terminal or oneHome console
- Official OpenClaw guides
OpenClaw onboarding steps
The onboarding flow guides you through the full setup of your OpenClaw agent.
| Step | Description | Comment | What you need |
| 1 | Security disclaimer | Confirm the security disclaimer |
|
| 2 | Select setup mode | Choose Quickstart | |
| 3 | Model/auth provider | Select a Model provider (for example OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, Google, OpenRouter). See the official OpenClaw documentation for supported providers |
API key or local LLM access |
| 4 | Set default model | Choose the default model for OpenClaw | |
| 5 | Select channel | Choose how OpenClaw will be used. See official OpenClaw documentation for supported channels | Requires channel configuration. The process depends on your prefered channel. |
| 6 | Configure search provider | Enable web search for OpenClaw | API key of prefered search provider |
| 7 | Configure skills |
- Select and install skills - Select npm as preferred node manager |
|
| 8 | Set Google Places API key | Optional: set Google Places API key | If required: Google Places API key |
| 9 | Set OpenAI Whisper API key | Optional: set OpenAI Whisper API key | If required: OpenAI Whisper API key |
| 10 | Set ElevenLabs API key | Optional: set ElevenLabs API key | If required: Elevenlabs API key |
| 11 | Enable Hooks | Openclaw can install first hooks |
OpenClaw onboarding via terminal or oneHome console
You can start the onboarding process using either your local terminal (SSH) or the oneHome control panel. For detailed instructions on how to access your VPS, see: VPS accessibility and management.
-
Start onboarding via Terminal application (SSH)
- Connect to your VPS via SSH.
- Run the following command:
openclaw onboard - Follow the instructions in the OpenClaw onboarding flow.
-
Start onboarding via oneHome console
- After installation is complete, a notification will appear.
- Click Start configuration to open the console.
- In the console, run:
openclaw onboard - Follow the instructions of the OpenClaw onboarding flow.
Official OpenClaw guides
Getting started - OpenClaw
Onboarding (CLI) - OpenClaw
Showcase - OpenClaw
Security - OpenClaw
Related articles:
Was this article helpful?