You can set up OpenClaw on a Mac mini either as a terminal-first CLI and Gateway or with the native macOS menu bar app. For the CLI route, use the official installer and complete onboarding; to keep the Gateway running after setup, install its background service and verify it in the dashboard. The Mac mini is the host in this setup—OpenClaw still needs an AI provider connection.
Choose an installation path
| Path | What it provides | macOS requirement |
|---|---|---|
| CLI and Gateway | Terminal-based setup; the Gateway can run in the foreground or as a background service. | Official Node.js 24 and 26 macOS binaries require macOS 13.5 or later. OpenClaw’s install page specifies Node.js 24.16+ or 26.1+, and recommends Node 26. (OpenClaw install page) |
| Native macOS app | Menu bar app with native macOS permissions; use it to provision a local Gateway or connect to an existing one. | macOS 15.0 or later. Some releases do not include a macOS app asset, so check the release files. (OpenClaw macOS page) |
The runtime and operating-system requirements are for different components: the CLI’s Node compatibility does not make the native app run on macOS versions earlier than 15. Neither official page specifies a minimum Mac mini generation, processor, memory, or storage capacity.
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Install the CLI and start onboarding
Open Terminal on the Mac mini and run the official macOS installer:
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curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bashThe installer detects macOS, installs Node if needed, installs OpenClaw, and launches onboarding for a new, unconfigured installation. The documented runtime is Node.js 24.16+ or 26.1+, with Node 26 recommended. (OpenClaw install page)
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The quickstart also offers npx openclaw@latest as a way to try the setup. In that flow, the Gateway runs in the terminal and stops when that process is stopped; use the background-service steps below if you want it to persist after login. (OpenClaw quickstart)
Complete onboarding and connect an AI provider
Choose Quick start if onboarding detects an AI login or API key you can use. Choose Custom setup for guided configuration. OpenClaw needs provider access: the quickstart describes reusing an existing Claude Code or Codex CLI login, or configuring a provider API key. OpenClaw itself does not include model access. (OpenClaw quickstart)
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Run the Gateway in the background
If the Gateway is currently running in the foreground, stop that process before installing its service. Then run these commands in Terminal, one at a time:
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These commands and checks are documented in the OpenClaw quickstart.
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Install the native macOS app instead
- Confirm the Mac mini runs macOS 15.0 or later.
- Open OpenClaw’s GitHub releases and check that the release includes a macOS build. Download the
OpenClaw-<version>.dmg(preferred) or ZIP asset when available. - Launch the app and choose This Mac to create a local Gateway, or connect to an existing Gateway.
- For a new local Gateway, let the app install its external CLI runtime and start the Gateway, then choose an AI connection and finish the dashboard-guided setup.
Release assets vary, so the latest release is not guaranteed to include a macOS app. The app’s installation steps and requirements are on the OpenClaw macOS page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a missing command or failed verification
openclawis not found: OpenClaw’s install page identifies PATH configuration as a common cause. Check that Node is installed, then check the global npm prefix and your shell’s PATH.- Confirm the CLI is available: Run
openclaw --version. If the command is still unavailable, address the Node or PATH setup before continuing. - Check the installation: Run
openclaw doctor, then useopenclaw gateway statusto inspect the Gateway. - The dashboard does not confirm a working setup: Check that the Gateway is running and that onboarding has a usable provider login or API key; use a first assistant reply as the practical end-to-end check.
The install page lists the CLI verification commands and PATH checks; the quickstart documents Gateway and dashboard checks. (Install; Quickstart)
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