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CLI Reference

This page describes the current CLI behavior. If commands change, update this doc.

  • --dev: isolate state under ~/.openclaw-dev and shift default ports.
  • --profile <name>: isolate state under ~/.openclaw-<name>.
  • --no-color: disable ANSI colors.
  • --update: shorthand for openclaw update (source installs only).
  • -V, --version, -v: print version and exit.
  • ANSI colors and progress indicators only render in TTY sessions.
  • OSC-8 hyperlinks render as clickable links in supported terminals; otherwise we fall back to plain URLs.
  • --json (and --plain where supported) disables styling for clean output.
  • --no-color disables ANSI styling; NO_COLOR=1 is also respected.
  • Long-running commands show a progress indicator (OSC 9;4 when supported).

OpenClaw uses a lobster palette for CLI output.

  • accent (#FF5A2D): headings, labels, primary highlights.
  • accentBright (#FF7A3D): command names, emphasis.
  • accentDim (#D14A22): secondary highlight text.
  • info (#FF8A5B): informational values.
  • success (#2FBF71): success states.
  • warn (#FFB020): warnings, fallbacks, attention.
  • error (#E23D2D): errors, failures.
  • muted (#8B7F77): de-emphasis, metadata.

Palette source of truth: src/terminal/palette.ts (aka “lobster seam”).

openclaw [--dev] [--profile <name>] <command>
setup
onboard
configure
config
get
set
unset
doctor
security
audit
reset
uninstall
update
channels
list
status
logs
add
remove
login
logout
skills
list
info
check
plugins
list
info
install
enable
disable
doctor
memory
status
index
search
message
agent
agents
list
add
delete
acp
status
health
sessions
gateway
call
health
status
probe
discover
install
uninstall
start
stop
restart
run
logs
system
event
heartbeat last|enable|disable
presence
models
list
status
set
set-image
aliases list|add|remove
fallbacks list|add|remove|clear
image-fallbacks list|add|remove|clear
scan
auth add|setup-token|paste-token
auth order get|set|clear
sandbox
list
recreate
explain
cron
status
list
add
edit
rm
enable
disable
runs
run
nodes
devices
node
run
status
install
uninstall
start
stop
restart
approvals
get
set
allowlist add|remove
browser
status
start
stop
reset-profile
tabs
open
focus
close
profiles
create-profile
delete-profile
screenshot
snapshot
navigate
resize
click
type
press
hover
drag
select
upload
fill
dialog
wait
evaluate
console
pdf
hooks
list
info
check
enable
disable
install
update
webhooks
gmail setup|run
pairing
list
approve
docs
dns
setup
tui

Note: plugins can add additional top-level commands (for example openclaw voicecall).

  • openclaw security audit — audit config + local state for common security foot-guns.
  • openclaw security audit --deep — best-effort live Gateway probe.
  • openclaw security audit --fix — tighten safe defaults and chmod state/config.

Manage extensions and their config:

  • openclaw plugins list — discover plugins (use --json for machine output).
  • openclaw plugins info <id> — show details for a plugin.
  • openclaw plugins install <path|.tgz|npm-spec> — install a plugin (or add a plugin path to plugins.load.paths).
  • openclaw plugins enable <id> / disable <id> — toggle plugins.entries.<id>.enabled.
  • openclaw plugins doctor — report plugin load errors.

Most plugin changes require a gateway restart. See /plugin.

Vector search over MEMORY.md + memory/*.md:

  • openclaw memory status — show index stats.
  • openclaw memory index — reindex memory files.
  • openclaw memory search "<query>" — semantic search over memory.

Chat messages support /... commands (text and native). See /tools/slash-commands.

Highlights:

  • /status for quick diagnostics.
  • /config for persisted config changes.
  • /debug for runtime-only config overrides (memory, not disk; requires commands.debug: true).

Initialize config + workspace.

Options:

  • --workspace <dir>: agent workspace path (default ~/.openclaw/workspace).
  • --wizard: run the onboarding wizard.
  • --non-interactive: run wizard without prompts.
  • --mode <local|remote>: wizard mode.
  • --remote-url <url>: remote Gateway URL.
  • --remote-token <token>: remote Gateway token.

Wizard auto-runs when any wizard flags are present (--non-interactive, --mode, --remote-url, --remote-token).

Interactive wizard to set up gateway, workspace, and skills.

Options:

  • --workspace <dir>
  • --reset (reset config + credentials + sessions + workspace before wizard)
  • --non-interactive
  • --mode <local|remote>
  • --flow <quickstart|advanced|manual> (manual is an alias for advanced)
  • --auth-choice <setup-token|token|chutes|openai-codex|openai-api-key|openrouter-api-key|ai-gateway-api-key|moonshot-api-key|kimi-code-api-key|synthetic-api-key|venice-api-key|gemini-api-key|zai-api-key|apiKey|minimax-api|minimax-api-lightning|opencode-zen|skip>
  • --token-provider <id> (non-interactive; used with --auth-choice token)
  • --token <token> (non-interactive; used with --auth-choice token)
  • --token-profile-id <id> (non-interactive; default: <provider>:manual)
  • --token-expires-in <duration> (non-interactive; e.g. 365d, 12h)
  • --anthropic-api-key <key>
  • --openai-api-key <key>
  • --openrouter-api-key <key>
  • --ai-gateway-api-key <key>
  • --moonshot-api-key <key>
  • --kimi-code-api-key <key>
  • --gemini-api-key <key>
  • --zai-api-key <key>
  • --minimax-api-key <key>
  • --opencode-zen-api-key <key>
  • --gateway-port <port>
  • --gateway-bind <loopback|lan|tailnet|auto|custom>
  • --gateway-auth <token|password>
  • --gateway-token <token>
  • --gateway-password <password>
  • --remote-url <url>
  • --remote-token <token>
  • --tailscale <off|serve|funnel>
  • --tailscale-reset-on-exit
  • --install-daemon
  • --no-install-daemon (alias: --skip-daemon)
  • --daemon-runtime <node|bun>
  • --skip-channels
  • --skip-skills
  • --skip-health
  • --skip-ui
  • --node-manager <npm|pnpm|bun> (pnpm recommended; bun not recommended for Gateway runtime)
  • --json

Interactive configuration wizard (models, channels, skills, gateway).

Non-interactive config helpers (get/set/unset). Running openclaw config with no subcommand launches the wizard.

Subcommands:

  • config get <path>: print a config value (dot/bracket path).
  • config set <path> <value>: set a value (JSON5 or raw string).
  • config unset <path>: remove a value.

Health checks + quick fixes (config + gateway + legacy services).

Options:

  • --no-workspace-suggestions: disable workspace memory hints.
  • --yes: accept defaults without prompting (headless).
  • --non-interactive: skip prompts; apply safe migrations only.
  • --deep: scan system services for extra gateway installs.

Manage chat channel accounts (WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord/Google Chat/Slack/Mattermost (plugin)/Signal/iMessage/MS Teams).

Subcommands:

  • channels list: show configured channels and auth profiles.
  • channels status: check gateway reachability and channel health (--probe runs extra checks; use openclaw health or openclaw status --deep for gateway health probes).
  • Tip: channels status prints warnings with suggested fixes when it can detect common misconfigurations (then points you to openclaw doctor).
  • channels logs: show recent channel logs from the gateway log file.
  • channels add: wizard-style setup when no flags are passed; flags switch to non-interactive mode.
  • channels remove: disable by default; pass --delete to remove config entries without prompts.
  • channels login: interactive channel login (WhatsApp Web only).
  • channels logout: log out of a channel session (if supported).

Common options:

  • --channel <name>: whatsapp|telegram|discord|googlechat|slack|mattermost|signal|imessage|msteams
  • --account <id>: channel account id (default default)
  • --name <label>: display name for the account

channels login options:

  • --channel <channel> (default whatsapp; supports whatsapp/web)
  • --account <id>
  • --verbose

channels logout options:

  • --channel <channel> (default whatsapp)
  • --account <id>

channels list options:

  • --no-usage: skip model provider usage/quota snapshots (OAuth/API-backed only).
  • --json: output JSON (includes usage unless --no-usage is set).

channels logs options:

  • --channel <name|all> (default all)
  • --lines <n> (default 200)
  • --json

More detail: /concepts/oauth

Examples:

Terminal window
openclaw channels add --channel telegram --account alerts --name "Alerts Bot" --token $TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN
openclaw channels add --channel discord --account work --name "Work Bot" --token $DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN
openclaw channels remove --channel discord --account work --delete
openclaw channels status --probe
openclaw status --deep

List and inspect available skills plus readiness info.

Subcommands:

  • skills list: list skills (default when no subcommand).
  • skills info <name>: show details for one skill.
  • skills check: summary of ready vs missing requirements.

Options:

  • --eligible: show only ready skills.
  • --json: output JSON (no styling).
  • -v, --verbose: include missing requirements detail.

Tip: use npx clawhub to search, install, and sync skills.

Approve DM pairing requests across channels.

Subcommands:

  • pairing list <channel> [--json]
  • pairing approve <channel> <code> [--notify]

Gmail Pub/Sub hook setup + runner. See /automation/gmail-pubsub.

Subcommands:

  • webhooks gmail setup (requires --account <email>; supports --project, --topic, --subscription, --label, --hook-url, --hook-token, --push-token, --bind, --port, --path, --include-body, --max-bytes, --renew-minutes, --tailscale, --tailscale-path, --tailscale-target, --push-endpoint, --json)
  • webhooks gmail run (runtime overrides for the same flags)

Wide-area discovery DNS helper (CoreDNS + Tailscale). See /gateway/discovery.

Options:

  • --apply: install/update CoreDNS config (requires sudo; macOS only).

Unified outbound messaging + channel actions.

See: /cli/message

Subcommands:

  • message send|poll|react|reactions|read|edit|delete|pin|unpin|pins|permissions|search|timeout|kick|ban
  • message thread <create|list|reply>
  • message emoji <list|upload>
  • message sticker <send|upload>
  • message role <info|add|remove>
  • message channel <info|list>
  • message member info
  • message voice status
  • message event <list|create>

Examples:

  • openclaw message send --target +15555550123 --message "Hi"
  • openclaw message poll --channel discord --target channel:123 --poll-question "Snack?" --poll-option Pizza --poll-option Sushi

Run one agent turn via the Gateway (or --local embedded).

Required:

  • --message <text>

Options:

  • --to <dest> (for session key and optional delivery)
  • --session-id <id>
  • --thinking <off|minimal|low|medium|high|xhigh> (GPT-5.2 + Codex models only)
  • --verbose <on|full|off>
  • --channel <whatsapp|telegram|discord|slack|mattermost|signal|imessage|msteams>
  • --local
  • --deliver
  • --json
  • --timeout <seconds>

Manage isolated agents (workspaces + auth + routing).

List configured agents.

Options:

  • --json
  • --bindings

Add a new isolated agent. Runs the guided wizard unless flags (or --non-interactive) are passed; --workspace is required in non-interactive mode.

Options:

  • --workspace <dir>
  • --model <id>
  • --agent-dir <dir>
  • --bind <channel[:accountId]> (repeatable)
  • --non-interactive
  • --json

Binding specs use channel[:accountId]. When accountId is omitted for WhatsApp, the default account id is used.

Delete an agent and prune its workspace + state.

Options:

  • --force
  • --json

Run the ACP bridge that connects IDEs to the Gateway.

See acp for full options and examples.

Show linked session health and recent recipients.

Options:

  • --json
  • --all (full diagnosis; read-only, pasteable)
  • --deep (probe channels)
  • --usage (show model provider usage/quota)
  • --timeout <ms>
  • --verbose
  • --debug (alias for --verbose)

Notes:

  • Overview includes Gateway + node host service status when available.

OpenClaw can surface provider usage/quota when OAuth/API creds are available.

Surfaces:

  • /status (adds a short provider usage line when available)
  • openclaw status --usage (prints full provider breakdown)
  • macOS menu bar (Usage section under Context)

Notes:

  • Data comes directly from provider usage endpoints (no estimates).
  • Providers: Anthropic, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex OAuth, plus Gemini CLI/Antigravity when those provider plugins are enabled.
  • If no matching credentials exist, usage is hidden.
  • Details: see Usage tracking.

Fetch health from the running Gateway.

Options:

  • --json
  • --timeout <ms>
  • --verbose

List stored conversation sessions.

Options:

  • --json
  • --verbose
  • --store <path>
  • --active <minutes>

Reset local config/state (keeps the CLI installed).

Options:

  • --scope <config|config+creds+sessions|full>
  • --yes
  • --non-interactive
  • --dry-run

Notes:

  • --non-interactive requires --scope and --yes.

Uninstall the gateway service + local data (CLI remains).

Options:

  • --service
  • --state
  • --workspace
  • --app
  • --all
  • --yes
  • --non-interactive
  • --dry-run

Notes:

  • --non-interactive requires --yes and explicit scopes (or --all).

Run the WebSocket Gateway.

Options:

  • --port <port>
  • --bind <loopback|tailnet|lan|auto|custom>
  • --token <token>
  • --auth <token|password>
  • --password <password>
  • --tailscale <off|serve|funnel>
  • --tailscale-reset-on-exit
  • --allow-unconfigured
  • --dev
  • --reset (reset dev config + credentials + sessions + workspace)
  • --force (kill existing listener on port)
  • --verbose
  • --claude-cli-logs
  • --ws-log <auto|full|compact>
  • --compact (alias for --ws-log compact)
  • --raw-stream
  • --raw-stream-path <path>

Manage the Gateway service (launchd/systemd/schtasks).

Subcommands:

  • gateway status (probes the Gateway RPC by default)
  • gateway install (service install)
  • gateway uninstall
  • gateway start
  • gateway stop
  • gateway restart

Notes:

  • gateway status probes the Gateway RPC by default using the service’s resolved port/config (override with --url/--token/--password).
  • gateway status supports --no-probe, --deep, and --json for scripting.
  • gateway status also surfaces legacy or extra gateway services when it can detect them (--deep adds system-level scans). Profile-named OpenClaw services are treated as first-class and aren’t flagged as “extra”.
  • gateway status prints which config path the CLI uses vs which config the service likely uses (service env), plus the resolved probe target URL.
  • gateway install|uninstall|start|stop|restart support --json for scripting (default output stays human-friendly).
  • gateway install defaults to Node runtime; bun is not recommended (WhatsApp/Telegram bugs).
  • gateway install options: --port, --runtime, --token, --force, --json.

Tail Gateway file logs via RPC.

Notes:

  • TTY sessions render a colorized, structured view; non-TTY falls back to plain text.
  • --json emits line-delimited JSON (one log event per line).

Examples:

Terminal window
openclaw logs --follow
openclaw logs --limit 200
openclaw logs --plain
openclaw logs --json
openclaw logs --no-color

Gateway CLI helpers (use --url, --token, --password, --timeout, --expect-final for RPC subcommands).

Subcommands:

  • gateway call <method> [--params <json>]
  • gateway health
  • gateway status
  • gateway probe
  • gateway discover
  • gateway install|uninstall|start|stop|restart
  • gateway run

Common RPCs:

  • config.apply (validate + write config + restart + wake)
  • config.patch (merge a partial update + restart + wake)
  • update.run (run update + restart + wake)

Tip: when calling config.set/config.apply/config.patch directly, pass baseHash from config.get if a config already exists.

See /concepts/models for fallback behavior and scanning strategy.

Preferred Anthropic auth (setup-token):

Terminal window
claude setup-token
openclaw models auth setup-token --provider anthropic
openclaw models status

openclaw models is an alias for models status.

Root options:

  • --status-json (alias for models status --json)
  • --status-plain (alias for models status --plain)

Options:

  • --all
  • --local
  • --provider <name>
  • --json
  • --plain

Options:

  • --json
  • --plain
  • --check (exit 1=expired/missing, 2=expiring)
  • --probe (live probe of configured auth profiles)
  • --probe-provider <name>
  • --probe-profile <id> (repeat or comma-separated)
  • --probe-timeout <ms>
  • --probe-concurrency <n>
  • --probe-max-tokens <n>

Always includes the auth overview and OAuth expiry status for profiles in the auth store. --probe runs live requests (may consume tokens and trigger rate limits).

Set agents.defaults.model.primary.

Set agents.defaults.imageModel.primary.

Options:

  • list: --json, --plain
  • add <alias> <model>
  • remove <alias>

Options:

  • list: --json, --plain
  • add <model>
  • remove <model>
  • clear

models image-fallbacks list|add|remove|clear

Section titled “models image-fallbacks list|add|remove|clear”

Options:

  • list: --json, --plain
  • add <model>
  • remove <model>
  • clear

Options:

  • --min-params <b>
  • --max-age-days <days>
  • --provider <name>
  • --max-candidates <n>
  • --timeout <ms>
  • --concurrency <n>
  • --no-probe
  • --yes
  • --no-input
  • --set-default
  • --set-image
  • --json

Options:

  • add: interactive auth helper
  • setup-token: --provider <name> (default anthropic), --yes
  • paste-token: --provider <name>, --profile-id <id>, --expires-in <duration>

Options:

  • get: --provider <name>, --agent <id>, --json
  • set: --provider <name>, --agent <id>, <profileIds...>
  • clear: --provider <name>, --agent <id>

Enqueue a system event and optionally trigger a heartbeat (Gateway RPC).

Required:

  • --text <text>

Options:

  • --mode <now|next-heartbeat>
  • --json
  • --url, --token, --timeout, --expect-final

Heartbeat controls (Gateway RPC).

Options:

  • --json
  • --url, --token, --timeout, --expect-final

List system presence entries (Gateway RPC).

Options:

  • --json
  • --url, --token, --timeout, --expect-final

Manage scheduled jobs (Gateway RPC). See /automation/cron-jobs.

Subcommands:

  • cron status [--json]
  • cron list [--all] [--json] (table output by default; use --json for raw)
  • cron add (alias: create; requires --name and exactly one of --at | --every | --cron, and exactly one payload of --system-event | --message)
  • cron edit <id> (patch fields)
  • cron rm <id> (aliases: remove, delete)
  • cron enable <id>
  • cron disable <id>
  • cron runs --id <id> [--limit <n>]
  • cron run <id> [--force]

All cron commands accept --url, --token, --timeout, --expect-final.

node runs a headless node host or manages it as a background service. See openclaw node.

Subcommands:

  • node run --host <gateway-host> --port 18789
  • node status
  • node install [--host <gateway-host>] [--port <port>] [--tls] [--tls-fingerprint <sha256>] [--node-id <id>] [--display-name <name>] [--runtime <node|bun>] [--force]
  • node uninstall
  • node stop
  • node restart

nodes talks to the Gateway and targets paired nodes. See /nodes.

Common options:

  • --url, --token, --timeout, --json

Subcommands:

  • nodes status [--connected] [--last-connected <duration>]
  • nodes describe --node <id|name|ip>
  • nodes list [--connected] [--last-connected <duration>]
  • nodes pending
  • nodes approve <requestId>
  • nodes reject <requestId>
  • nodes rename --node <id|name|ip> --name <displayName>
  • nodes invoke --node <id|name|ip> --command <command> [--params <json>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>] [--idempotency-key <key>]
  • nodes run --node <id|name|ip> [--cwd <path>] [--env KEY=VAL] [--command-timeout <ms>] [--needs-screen-recording] [--invoke-timeout <ms>] <command...> (mac node or headless node host)
  • nodes notify --node <id|name|ip> [--title <text>] [--body <text>] [--sound <name>] [--priority <passive|active|timeSensitive>] [--delivery <system|overlay|auto>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>] (mac only)

Camera:

  • nodes camera list --node <id|name|ip>
  • nodes camera snap --node <id|name|ip> [--facing front|back|both] [--device-id <id>] [--max-width <px>] [--quality <0-1>] [--delay-ms <ms>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes camera clip --node <id|name|ip> [--facing front|back] [--device-id <id>] [--duration <ms|10s|1m>] [--no-audio] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]

Canvas + screen:

  • nodes canvas snapshot --node <id|name|ip> [--format png|jpg|jpeg] [--max-width <px>] [--quality <0-1>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes canvas present --node <id|name|ip> [--target <urlOrPath>] [--x <px>] [--y <px>] [--width <px>] [--height <px>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes canvas hide --node <id|name|ip> [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes canvas navigate <url> --node <id|name|ip> [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes canvas eval [<js>] --node <id|name|ip> [--js <code>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes canvas a2ui push --node <id|name|ip> (--jsonl <path> | --text <text>) [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes canvas a2ui reset --node <id|name|ip> [--invoke-timeout <ms>]
  • nodes screen record --node <id|name|ip> [--screen <index>] [--duration <ms|10s>] [--fps <n>] [--no-audio] [--out <path>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]

Location:

  • nodes location get --node <id|name|ip> [--max-age <ms>] [--accuracy <coarse|balanced|precise>] [--location-timeout <ms>] [--invoke-timeout <ms>]

Browser control CLI (dedicated Chrome/Brave/Edge/Chromium). See openclaw browser and the Browser tool.

Common options:

  • --url, --token, --timeout, --json
  • --browser-profile <name>

Manage:

  • browser status
  • browser start
  • browser stop
  • browser reset-profile
  • browser tabs
  • browser open <url>
  • browser focus <targetId>
  • browser close [targetId]
  • browser profiles
  • browser create-profile --name <name> [--color <hex>] [--cdp-url <url>]
  • browser delete-profile --name <name>

Inspect:

  • browser screenshot [targetId] [--full-page] [--ref <ref>] [--element <selector>] [--type png|jpeg]
  • browser snapshot [--format aria|ai] [--target-id <id>] [--limit <n>] [--interactive] [--compact] [--depth <n>] [--selector <sel>] [--out <path>]

Actions:

  • browser navigate <url> [--target-id <id>]
  • browser resize <width> <height> [--target-id <id>]
  • browser click <ref> [--double] [--button <left|right|middle>] [--modifiers <csv>] [--target-id <id>]
  • browser type <ref> <text> [--submit] [--slowly] [--target-id <id>]
  • browser press <key> [--target-id <id>]
  • browser hover <ref> [--target-id <id>]
  • browser drag <startRef> <endRef> [--target-id <id>]
  • browser select <ref> <values...> [--target-id <id>]
  • browser upload <paths...> [--ref <ref>] [--input-ref <ref>] [--element <selector>] [--target-id <id>] [--timeout-ms <ms>]
  • browser fill [--fields <json>] [--fields-file <path>] [--target-id <id>]
  • browser dialog --accept|--dismiss [--prompt <text>] [--target-id <id>] [--timeout-ms <ms>]
  • browser wait [--time <ms>] [--text <value>] [--text-gone <value>] [--target-id <id>]
  • browser evaluate --fn <code> [--ref <ref>] [--target-id <id>]
  • browser console [--level <error|warn|info>] [--target-id <id>]
  • browser pdf [--target-id <id>]

Search the live docs index.

Open the terminal UI connected to the Gateway.

Options:

  • --url <url>
  • --token <token>
  • --password <password>
  • --session <key>
  • --deliver
  • --thinking <level>
  • --message <text>
  • --timeout-ms <ms> (defaults to agents.defaults.timeoutSeconds)
  • --history-limit <n>