FREE SELF-PACED COURSE · VERIFIED 2026-07-24

OpenClaw CLI Essentials

Learn the small set of OpenClaw commands needed to configure, diagnose, secure and update a real installation.

Beginner35 minutes5 lessonsNo login

WHO THIS IS FOR

Operators who want a reliable command-line workflow instead of copying isolated commands from old tutorials.

Prerequisites

  • A current OpenClaw installation
  • Terminal access as the same operating-system user that owns the installation
  • A backup before changing a production configuration

BY THE END

You will be able to

  1. Discover current command help instead of relying on stale snippets
  2. Inspect and change configuration deliberately
  3. Diagnose Gateway and installation health
  4. Check channel state and security findings
  5. Update with a verification and rollback plan
LESSON 01

1. Discover the installed CLI

Outcome: Prove which OpenClaw binary and command tree you are using.

  • Start with `command -v openclaw`, `openclaw --version` and `openclaw --help`.
  • Use `<command> --help` before copying flags from an article or older release.
  • Keep command output free of tokens before pasting it into tickets or chat.

PRACTICAL TASK

Record the binary path and version, then list the help output for the command you use most often.
Self-check: Why should the installed help text outrank an old cheat sheet?

It reflects the command tree and flags in the version actually running on your machine.

READ NEXTOfficial CLI reference ↗Installation guide →
LESSON 02

2. Onboard and inspect configuration

Outcome: Use supported commands to configure the system without blind JSON editing.

  • Use `openclaw onboard` for first-run setup and `openclaw configure` for guided changes.
  • Use `openclaw config get`, `set` and `unset` for deliberate scriptable changes.
  • Capture the old non-secret value before changing it, and alter one setting at a time.

PRACTICAL TASK

Read one harmless configuration value, document it, and use command help to identify the safe way to change or unset it. Do not change production merely to complete the exercise.
Self-check: When is manual editing of the full config preferable?

Only when the supported CLI cannot express the required change and you have validated the schema, backed up the file and stopped conflicting writers.

READ NEXTOfficial config command ↗Setup foundations course →
LESSON 03

3. Diagnose before fixing

Outcome: Locate faults with status, Gateway and doctor commands before reinstalling.

  • Use `openclaw gateway status` to check service and RPC reachability.
  • Use `openclaw doctor` for health checks and guided repairs; inspect proposed changes before repair modes.
  • Separate service-not-running, authentication, model-provider and channel failures—they need different fixes.

PRACTICAL TASK

Run the non-destructive status and doctor paths. Write one sentence for each failing boundary, or record that no issue was detected.
Self-check: Why is reinstalling a poor first response to a disconnected channel?

The CLI may be healthy while the channel auth, sender policy or Gateway-owned listener is failing. Reinstalling destroys context without isolating the boundary.

READ NEXTOfficial doctor reference ↗Official Gateway CLI ↗
LESSON 04

4. Check channels and security

Outcome: Verify channel health and review security findings without exposing credentials.

  • Use the current `openclaw channels --help` tree to find status, login and logout operations for your version.
  • Run `openclaw security audit --deep` and read every finding in context.
  • Never paste QR codes, Gateway tokens, provider keys or unredacted configuration into support channels.

PRACTICAL TASK

Check one channel and run the deep security audit. Create a redacted remediation list rather than dumping raw output.
Self-check: Is “connected” enough to prove a channel is ready?

No. Confirm durable authentication, the Gateway-owned listener, sender authorisation and a real delivery path.

READ NEXTOfficial channels CLI ↗Security hardening course →
LESSON 05

5. Update without gambling

Outcome: Apply releases with backups, version awareness and post-update checks.

  • Use `openclaw update status` and read current release intelligence before changing channels or versions.
  • Back up config, workspace and durable channel state first.
  • After updating, repeat Gateway, model, channel and critical-workflow checks.
  • Keep the previous working version and restore path documented.

PRACTICAL TASK

Write the exact pre-update backup and four post-update checks for your installation. Do not update solely to finish this lesson.
Self-check: What is the minimum evidence that an update succeeded?

The intended version is installed, the Gateway is healthy, a model request works, channels reconnect and the critical workflow still produces its verified result.

READ NEXTOfficial update command ↗Release intelligence →

COURSE COMPLETE

Use the work, not the badge.

You should now have practical notes, tests and a safer operating baseline. Revisit the course after major OpenClaw releases: commands and configuration can change.