Compatibility: This guide covers OpenClaw installation on all modern macOS versions (Ventura 13, Sonoma 14, Sequoia 15) for both Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and Intel-based Macs. All commands are tested and verified in February 2026.
Mac users get an exceptional OpenClaw experience in 2026. macOS provides a Unix-like environment that's naturally compatible with Node.js and npm — the same ecosystem OpenClaw is built on. Whether you're running the latest MacBook Pro with an M4 chip or an older Intel Mac Mini, the installation process is smooth and takes under 20 minutes.
In this guide, I'll walk you through every step: installing Homebrew (the Mac package manager), Node.js, and then OpenClaw itself. I'll also cover platform-specific quirks like Rosetta 2, Gatekeeper security prompts, and how to configure OpenClaw as a macOS Launch Agent for automatic startup.
Apple Silicon vs Intel: What's Different?
🍎 Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)
- Homebrew installs to
/opt/homebrew/ - Node.js runs natively (ARM64) — faster
- 3–5x better energy efficiency
- OpenClaw runs at native speed
- Some npm packages may need Rosetta 2
🖥️ Intel Macs (x86_64)
- Homebrew installs to
/usr/local/ - Full compatibility with all npm packages
- OpenClaw works perfectly on Intel
- macOS 12+ recommended
- Higher fan noise under heavy load
Good news: The OpenClaw installation commands are identical for both chip types. Homebrew and Node.js handle all architecture differences automatically.
Step 1: Install Homebrew
Homebrew is the standard package manager for macOS. Open Terminal (in Applications → Utilities) and run:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
The installer will ask for your Mac password and may install Xcode Command Line Tools (required — this takes 3–5 minutes). Follow all prompts.
Apple Silicon: Add Homebrew to PATH
After installation, run these commands to add Homebrew to your shell PATH:
echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> ~/.zprofile
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"
Intel Macs: Homebrew is usually added to PATH automatically. If not, use /usr/local/bin/brew instead.
Verify Homebrew
brew --version
brew doctor
brew doctor should output "Your system is ready to brew." Ignore warnings about unlinked kegs.
Step 2: Install Node.js with Homebrew
Install Node.js LTS (v20.x) via Homebrew — the most stable option for OpenClaw:
# Install Node.js LTS
brew install node
# Verify installation
node --version # Should show v20.x.x
npm --version # Should show 10.x.x
nvm Alternative (Recommended)
Use nvm (Node Version Manager) to easily switch Node versions. Great if you have multiple projects:
brew install nvm
nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts
Why Homebrew Node?
Homebrew-managed Node.js automatically handles Apple Silicon native compilation. You get native ARM64 binaries on M-series Macs for maximum speed.
Step 3: Install OpenClaw
Open Terminal, navigate to where you want your agent project, and run:
Quick Start (Recommended)
cd ~/Desktop
npx openclaw init my-agent
cd my-agent
The interactive wizard will guide you through AI provider selection, API key entry, and messaging platform configuration.
Git Clone Method (For Developers)
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git ~/openclaw
cd ~/openclaw
npm install
npm run setup
macOS Gatekeeper Warning
If macOS shows "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified", go to:
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Allow anyway
This is normal for open-source software that isn't code-signed by Apple. OpenClaw is safe — you can verify its source on GitHub.
Step 4: Configure Your Agent
Edit .env with Your Preferred Editor
# Open with VS Code (if installed)
code .env
# Or with nano in Terminal
nano .env
# Or with default TextEdit
open -e .env
# AI Provider
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-proj-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AI_MODEL=gpt-4-turbo
# Messaging
MESSAGING_PLATFORM=telegram
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=1234567890:ABCdef...
# macOS paths use forward slashes naturally
DATA_DIR=/Users/yourname/openclaw-data
# Performance
ENABLE_MEMORY=true
AUTO_UPDATE=true
Step 5: Launch and Test OpenClaw
Start the Agent
cd ~/Desktop/my-agent
npm start
✓ Apple Silicon (arm64) detected
✓ Connected to OpenAI API
✓ Telegram bot connected
✓ Memory module initialized
→ Send /start to your Telegram bot to begin
Auto-Start with macOS Launch Agent
Keep OpenClaw running 24/7 by creating a macOS Launch Agent (runs without Terminal being open):
# Install PM2
npm install -g pm2
# Start with PM2
cd ~/Desktop/my-agent
pm2 start npm --name "openclaw" -- start
# Configure auto-start on macOS login
pm2 startup
pm2 save
# Check status
pm2 status
PM2 will prompt you to run a sudo env PATH=... command — run it as shown to complete the auto-start setup.
macOS Performance Benchmarks
Maximize Performance on macOS
- ✓ Keep macOS updated: macOS 15 (Sequoia) has the best Node.js performance on Apple Silicon
- ✓ Use VPN07: 1000Mbps stable connection eliminates API timeouts that slow your agent
- ✓ Disable App Nap:
defaults write com.apple.finder NSAppSleepDisabled -bool YES - ✓ Use GPT-4o-mini: Fastest OpenAI model — 5x quicker responses than GPT-4 for simple tasks
- ✓ Enable persistent memory: Reduces repeated API calls for context by 60%
macOS-Specific Errors & Fixes
Error: "zsh: command not found: npm"
Cause: Node.js not in PATH after Homebrew install
Fix: Add to ~/.zshrc: export PATH="/opt/homebrew/bin:$PATH" Then run source ~/.zshrc
Error: "gyp: No Xcode or CLT version detected"
Cause: Xcode Command Line Tools missing or outdated
Fix: xcode-select --install
Error: ENOENT / Connection Timeout
Cause: macOS firewall or ISP blocking AI API endpoints
Fix: Use VPN07. On macOS, go to System Settings → Network → VPN, add VPN07, then restart OpenClaw. The 1000Mbps channel bypasses all throttling instantly.
Apple Silicon: npm install fails with "arch" errors
Cause: Some npm packages don't have ARM64 builds yet
Fix: Use Rosetta 2: arch -x86_64 npm install Or install Rosetta: softwareupdate --install-rosetta
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Read More →Power Your Mac's OpenClaw with VPN07
Your Apple Silicon Mac deserves a network connection that matches its speed. VPN07 delivers 1000Mbps bandwidth through servers in 70+ countries, giving your OpenClaw agent lightning-fast access to AI APIs like OpenAI and Anthropic. With 10 years of proven reliability and a 30-day money-back guarantee, VPN07 is the professional's choice at just $1.5/month.