Complete Guide to Installing Openclaw (Moltbot) on VPS (2026)

📢 Important Update (January 2026)

Openclaw has been renamed to Moltbot. They are the same project—just a new name. This guide covers both. You'll see both names used throughout; any commands or instructions work for either.

Introduction

Openclaw (now called Moltbot) is a powerful AI assistant that runs on your own VPS, giving you complete control over your data and privacy. However, the installation process can be intimidating if you're not familiar with SSH, terminal commands, and system configuration.

This guide covers two approaches: manual installation (for those who want to learn) and automated installation (for those who want it done in 2 minutes).

Option 1: Automated Installation (Recommended)

If you want to skip the technical details and get Openclaw running quickly, use our free automated installer:

Sign up for a VPS hosting provider (we have affiliate links, but any provider works)
Visit our installation page and submit your VPS credentials
Wait 2-5 minutes while we install Openclaw automatically
Complete the setup wizard (API keys, channel connections)

[ START FREE INSTALLATION ]

Why it's free: We earn affiliate commissions from hosting providers. You get free installation, we get a small commission. Win-win.

Option 2: Manual Installation

If you prefer to install Openclaw manually, follow these steps. This process takes approximately 45 minutes and requires basic terminal knowledge.

Prerequisites

VPS with Ubuntu 20.04+ or Debian 11+
SSH access to your VPS
Root or sudo access
At least 512MB RAM (1GB recommended)
Basic terminal/command-line knowledge

Step 1: Connect to Your VPS

SSH into your VPS using your credentials:

user@local:~$ ssh root@YOUR_VPS_IP
root@vps:~#

Step 2: Update System Packages

Update your system to ensure you have the latest packages:

export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
apt-get update -qq
apt-get upgrade -y -qq
apt-get install -y -qq curl wget git ufw fail2ban

Step 3: Install Node.js 22

Openclaw requires Node.js 22 or higher. Install it using NodeSource:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | bash -
apt-get install -y -qq nodejs

Verify installation:

node -v  # Should show v22.x.x or higher

Step 4: Install pnpm

Openclaw uses pnpm as its package manager:

npm install -g pnpm

Step 5: Create Dedicated User

Create a dedicated user for running Openclaw (security best practice):

useradd -m -s /bin/bash clawd

Step 6: Install Openclaw

Run the official Openclaw installation script as the clawd user:

su - clawd -c "curl -fsSL https://clawd.bot/install.sh | bash"

This will install Openclaw and all its dependencies. The process takes 3-5 minutes.

Step 7: Configure Systemd Service

Create a systemd service to run Openclaw 24/7:

cat > /etc/systemd/system/openclaw.service << 'EOF'
[Unit]
Description=Openclaw Gateway Service
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=clawd
Group=clawd
WorkingDirectory=/home/clawd
ExecStart=/home/clawd/.local/bin/openclaw gateway --bind lan --port 18789
Restart=always
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
EOF

systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable openclaw.service
systemctl start openclaw.service

Step 8: Configure Firewall

Open the necessary ports:

ufw allow ssh
ufw allow 18789/tcp
ufw --force enable

Step 9: Verify Installation

Check that Openclaw is running:

systemctl status openclaw.service

You should see active (running).

Next Steps: Setup Wizard

After installation, you need to configure Openclaw:

SSH into your VPS: ssh clawd@YOUR_VPS_IP
Run the setup wizard: openclaw onboard
Enter your AI provider API key (Anthropic or OpenAI)
Connect channels: openclaw channels login

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Issue: Node.js version too old

Solution: Ensure you install Node.js 22 or higher. Check version with node -v

Issue: Service won't start

Solution: Check logs with journalctl -u openclaw -n 50

Issue: Can't access dashboard

Solution: Verify firewall allows port 18789 and check gateway token in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Why Use Automated Installation?

Manual installation works, but it's time-consuming and error-prone. Our automated installer:

✅ Takes 2 minutes instead of 45+ minutes
✅ Handles all dependencies automatically
✅ Configures systemd service correctly
✅ Sets up firewall rules
✅ Generates secure gateway tokens
✅ Provides completion email with next steps
✅ 100% free (we earn affiliate commissions)

Ready to Get Started?

Skip the manual installation and get Openclaw running in 2 minutes with our free automated installer.