How to Install OpenClaw on Windows: WSL2 Setup Guide (2026)
Quick Answer: OpenClaw runs on Windows via WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Install WSL2 with wsl --install -d Ubuntu, then run the standard Linux installer inside WSL: curl -sSL https://get.openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash. Requires Windows 10 (build 19041+) or Windows 11.
The entire process takes about 20 minutes. WSL2 provides a real Linux kernel with near-native performance — no emulation or compatibility issues. Alternatively, you can use Docker Desktop for Windows for container-based isolation.
Why Does OpenClaw Need WSL2 on Windows?
Full Linux Environment
OpenClaw is Linux-native. WSL2 gives you a real Linux kernel inside Windows — no emulation, no compatibility layers, no workarounds.
No Performance Penalty
WSL2 runs a lightweight VM with a real Linux kernel. File I/O and process execution run at near-native speed, unlike WSL1 or Cygwin.
Windows 10 & 11 Compatible
Works on Windows 10 (build 19041+) and Windows 11. One command to install on Win 11; a few extra steps on older Win 10 builds.
Docker Alternative Available
Prefer containers? Docker Desktop for Windows uses WSL2 under the hood and provides additional isolation for running OpenClaw.
What Do You Need Before Starting?
Windows 10 (build 19041+) or Windows 11
Check your version: press Win+R, type 'winver', and verify the build number. Windows 11 works out of the box. Windows 10 requires build 19041 or newer.
4 GB RAM Minimum
WSL2 uses approximately 1 GB. OpenClaw needs 2-4 GB. For local LLMs via Ollama, plan for 8-16 GB. API-only mode (Claude, GPT-4) works well with 4 GB total.
Administrator Access
Enabling WSL2 requires running PowerShell as Administrator. You need admin rights to enable the Virtual Machine Platform and install the WSL kernel.
API Key (Anthropic, OpenRouter, or Ollama)
OpenClaw connects to at least one LLM provider. Have your API key ready before starting the setup wizard. You can also use fully local models with Ollama.
How Do You Install OpenClaw on Windows Step by Step?
From a fresh Windows machine to a running OpenClaw instance. Each step includes the exact commands you need.
Step 1: Enable WSL2
Open PowerShell as Administrator (right-click Start Menu > Terminal (Admin)) and run the install command. This enables WSL2, downloads the Linux kernel, and installs Ubuntu in one step. Your computer will need to restart.
wsl --install -d Ubuntu- Opens PowerShell as Admin: right-click Start > Terminal (Admin)
- Downloads and enables the WSL2 feature automatically
- Installs the latest Ubuntu LTS distribution
- Requires a full system restart to complete — save your work first
Step 2: Set Up Ubuntu User
After restarting, the Ubuntu terminal opens automatically (or search for 'Ubuntu' in the Start Menu). Create a UNIX username and password when prompted. This is your Linux user inside WSL — it is separate from your Windows login.
- Username: lowercase, no spaces (e.g., 'alex' not 'Alex Smith')
- Password: required for sudo commands — choose something memorable
- This user owns all files inside the WSL environment
- If the terminal does not open automatically, search for 'Ubuntu' in Start
Step 3: Update Packages
Update all Ubuntu packages to their latest versions. This ensures the package manager has current repository data and all dependencies are up to date before installing OpenClaw.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y- apt update: refreshes the package repository index
- apt upgrade -y: installs all available package updates
- Enter your WSL password when prompted for sudo
- Takes 1-3 minutes depending on your internet connection
Step 4: Install OpenClaw
Run the one-line installer. The script detects your environment, installs Node.js 22+, all required dependencies, and launches the interactive setup wizard.
curl -sSL https://get.openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash- Automatically installs Node.js 22+ if not present
- Detects WSL environment and applies optimal defaults
- Downloads and configures the latest OpenClaw release
- Launches the interactive setup wizard when complete
Step 5: Complete Setup Wizard
The interactive wizard walks you through AI provider selection (Anthropic recommended), API key entry, and messaging platform pairing. Choose 'quick start' to skip advanced options and get running fast.
- Select your AI provider: Anthropic (Claude), OpenRouter, or Ollama
- Enter your API key when prompted
- Optionally pair Telegram, WhatsApp, or Slack
- Choose 'quick start' for defaults or 'advanced' for fine-grained control
Step 6: Verify Installation
Confirm OpenClaw is running correctly. The status command checks the daemon, and the test command verifies connectivity to your chosen LLM provider.
openclaw status && openclaw test- openclaw status: confirms the daemon is running
- openclaw test: verifies API key and LLM connectivity
- Access the dashboard at http://localhost:18789
- Run 'openclaw logs --follow' to monitor live activity
Prefer Docker? Use Docker Desktop Instead
If you prefer container isolation or already use Docker, you can run OpenClaw in a Docker container on Windows. Docker Desktop for Windows uses WSL2 under the hood, so you get the same Linux kernel.
Install Docker Desktop for Windows
Download Docker Desktop from docker.com. During installation, ensure the 'Use WSL 2 based engine' option is checked. Docker Desktop uses WSL2 under the hood.
Verify Docker is running
Open a terminal (PowerShell or WSL) and confirm Docker is available.
docker --version && docker compose versionClone and run OpenClaw via Docker
Clone the OpenClaw repository and run the Docker setup script. This pulls the official image and configures volumes for persistent data.
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git && cd openclaw && bash docker-setup.shWSL2 vs Docker Desktop — Which Should You Choose?
- You want a full Linux environment
- You are new to Docker
- You want to use other Linux tools alongside OpenClaw
- You want the simplest setup path
- You already use Docker for other projects
- You want container isolation for security
- You prefer one-command updates (docker pull)
- You need to match a production Docker environment
How Do You Fix Common Windows Installation Issues?
Solutions to the most common WSL2 and Windows-specific problems. If your issue is not listed here, our workshop includes a dedicated Windows troubleshooting module.
"WSL2 requires an update to its kernel component"
Run Windows Update and check for updates. If that does not resolve it, download the WSL2 kernel update package manually from Microsoft: https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel. Install it, then restart and try 'wsl --install' again.
"Virtual Machine Platform not enabled"
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart — then restart your computer. This is required for WSL2's lightweight VM.
localhost not accessible from Windows browser
WSL2 networking can sometimes isolate localhost. Try accessing http://$(hostname).local:18789 instead, or check your WSL IP with 'hostname -I' inside the Ubuntu terminal and use that IP directly.
Slow file access between Windows and WSL
Cross-filesystem I/O (/mnt/c/ inside WSL or \\wsl$ from Windows) is significantly slower than native paths. Keep all OpenClaw files inside the WSL filesystem (~/) for best performance. Only use /mnt/c/ when you need to access Windows files.
USB or serial device passthrough for hardware projects
WSL2 does not natively support USB passthrough. Install usbipd-win (https://github.com/dorssel/usbipd-win) to attach USB devices to your WSL instance. Run: usbipd list, then usbipd bind --busid <busid> && usbipd attach --wsl --busid <busid>.
Windows 10 vs Windows 11 for OpenClaw
Both versions work identically once WSL2 is running. The differences are only in the initial WSL2 setup process.
| Feature | Windows 11 | Windows 10 |
|---|---|---|
| WSL2 Installation | Single command: wsl --install | May require manual kernel update + feature enable |
| Default WSL Version | WSL2 is the default | May default to WSL1 — set with: wsl --set-default-version 2 |
| GUI App Support | Built-in WSLg for Linux GUI apps | Requires X server (VcXsrv) for GUI apps |
| Performance | Identical once WSL2 is running | Identical once WSL2 is running |
| OpenClaw Compatibility | Fully compatible | Fully compatible (build 19041+) |
Windows 10 Extra Steps
If wsl --install does not work on Windows 10, you may need to manually enable the required features:
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestartdism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestartRestart your computer after running both commands. Then download and install the WSL2 kernel update from https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel before running wsl --install -d Ubuntu.
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