OpenClaw on Android: Full Phone Setup Guide 2026
About This Guide: This tutorial shows you how to install and run OpenClaw on any Android phone or tablet in 2026. We cover two approaches: running OpenClaw locally via Termux, and using your Android as a mobile control hub for a remote OpenClaw instance. Works on Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and virtually any Android 9+ device.
Why Run OpenClaw on Android?
OpenClaw is an open-source personal AI assistant that gives you a 24/7 autonomous agent capable of sending emails, managing your calendar, running code, browsing the web, and responding to messages across WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack. Unlike locked-down SaaS tools, OpenClaw runs on infrastructure you own — including your Android phone.
Android's power has surged in 2026. Flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro boast 12-16 GB of RAM and Snapdragon 8 Elite / Tensor G4 chips capable of running Node.js workloads 24/7. With Termux providing a full Linux-like environment, your Android can genuinely host an OpenClaw agent — right in your pocket.
Option A: Local on Android (Termux)
- ✅ No cloud fees — runs on your device
- ✅ Works offline (for local tasks)
- ✅ Full data privacy on your phone
- ⚠️ Requires Android 9+ with 4GB+ RAM
- ⚠️ Battery drain when running continuously
Option B: Remote Control Hub
- ✅ OpenClaw runs on VPS / Mac Mini / PC
- ✅ Android sends commands via Telegram/WhatsApp
- ✅ Zero phone battery drain
- ✅ Best for production 24/7 use
- ✅ Recommended for most users
Android Requirements
Recommended Android Devices for OpenClaw
Best performance on: Samsung Galaxy S23/S24/S25, Google Pixel 8/9 Pro, OnePlus 12/13, and Xiaomi 14 Pro. These devices have sufficient RAM and thermal management for sustained Node.js workloads. Budget phones with 4GB RAM can run OpenClaw but may experience slowdowns under heavy parallel tasks.
Method A: Install OpenClaw via Termux
Termux is a free Android app that provides a full Linux-compatible terminal environment. It allows you to install Node.js, npm, and run OpenClaw natively on your phone without rooting.
1 Install Termux from F-Droid
Do NOT install Termux from the Google Play Store — that version is outdated and no longer maintained. Use F-Droid instead:
- 1. Open your browser and go to
f-droid.org - 2. Download and install the F-Droid APK
- 3. In F-Droid, search for Termux and install it
- 4. Allow Termux to install from unknown sources when prompted
2 Update Termux and Install Node.js
Open Termux and run these commands in order:
pkg update && pkg upgrade -y
pkg install nodejs -y
node --version
npm --version
Node.js in Termux's repository is typically version 22+ — exactly what OpenClaw requires.
3 Install OpenClaw
Run the official OpenClaw installer:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
After installation completes, verify it works:
openclaw --version
4 Run the Onboarding Wizard
Start the interactive setup to configure your AI model and messaging platform:
openclaw onboard
The wizard will ask for your AI API key (Claude, GPT-4, or Gemini) and help you connect a messaging platform like Telegram or WhatsApp.
5 Keep OpenClaw Running in Background
To prevent Android from killing Termux, you need to:
- 1. Go to Settings → Battery → App battery usage
- 2. Find Termux and set to "Unrestricted"
- 3. Keep Termux open in the notification bar (acquire wakelock)
In Termux, enable wakelock to prevent sleep:
termux-wake-lock
openclaw start
Method B: Control Remote OpenClaw from Android
This is the recommended approach for most users. Run OpenClaw on a always-on machine (VPS, Mac Mini, or home server) and use your Android phone to chat with it via Telegram or WhatsApp. Your phone becomes the command interface — lightweight and battery-efficient.
Step 1: Deploy OpenClaw on a Server
Set up OpenClaw on a VPS (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or Vultr) or a home machine that stays online 24/7. Follow the Linux/VPS installation guide for the server-side setup.
Step 2: Connect Telegram Bot to OpenClaw
During OpenClaw's onboarding, connect a Telegram Bot token. Your Android Telegram app then becomes the conversation interface — simply message your bot to trigger any task.
Step 3: Install VPN07 on Your Android
Install the VPN07 Android app to ensure your Telegram messages to OpenClaw travel through a secure, fast 1000Mbps connection. This prevents ISP throttling and keeps your AI agent responsive from anywhere in the world.
Connecting OpenClaw to Telegram on Android
Telegram is the most popular messaging frontend for OpenClaw users. Here's how to complete the connection from your Android device:
-
1
Create a Telegram Bot: Open Telegram, search for
@BotFather, send/newbot, and follow the prompts to get your Bot Token. -
2
Add Token to OpenClaw: In your OpenClaw config, set
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your_token_here— or enter it during the onboarding wizard when prompted for messaging channels. -
3
Whitelist Your Telegram ID: Find your numeric Telegram user ID via
@userinfobot, then add it to OpenClaw's allowed users list so only you can control the agent. -
4
Test from Android: Start a chat with your bot and send
hello— OpenClaw should respond within seconds if your network is fast enough.
💡 Pro Tip: Use WhatsApp Instead
If you prefer WhatsApp (popular in Latin America, Europe, and Asia), OpenClaw supports WhatsApp via the Baileys library. During onboarding, select WhatsApp as your messaging channel and scan the QR code. Your Android WhatsApp becomes a powerful command-line interface for your AI agent.
Android Performance Optimization Tips
Battery Management
- • Disable battery optimization for Termux
- • Use "Always-on display off" mode to save power
- • Plug in charger when running heavy tasks
- • Consider a dedicated old phone for 24/7 hosting
Network Stability
- • Use Wi-Fi over cellular for 24/7 operation
- • Enable VPN07 for secure, stable API connections
- • Set Wi-Fi sleep policy to "Never"
- • Use a stable home router with DHCP reservation
Common Android Issues & Fixes
Error: "pkg: command not found"
Cause: Using the outdated Play Store version of Termux.
Fix: Uninstall it and reinstall from F-Droid (f-droid.org). The Play Store version stopped receiving updates in 2020.
OpenClaw Stops When Phone Locks
Cause: Android's aggressive battery optimization kills background processes.
Fix: Acquire a wakelock in Termux (termux-wake-lock), disable battery optimization for Termux, and keep Termux with an active notification.
API Timeout / Slow Response from OpenAI or Anthropic
Cause: Mobile carrier ISP throttling or geographic blocks on AI API endpoints.
Fix: Connect VPN07 on your Android device. VPN07's 1000Mbps channels have dedicated routing to OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google API servers — response times drop from 10+ seconds to under 2 seconds.
Storage Error During npm Install
Cause: Insufficient internal storage. OpenClaw + Node modules need ~2-3 GB.
Fix: Free up space on your phone, or run termux-setup-storage to grant Termux access to external SD card for more space.
Power Your OpenClaw with VPN07
The fastest VPN for AI agents — 1000Mbps dedicated bandwidth
Whether you're running OpenClaw on your Android phone or controlling a remote server, VPN07 ensures every API call reaches OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google with zero throttling. With 70+ country servers, 10 years of proven reliability, and a native Android app, VPN07 is the #1 choice for OpenClaw users worldwide. At just $1.5/month, it's the most cost-effective performance upgrade for your AI agent.