> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://openclaw.veiseule.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Onboarding Wizard (CLI)

# Onboarding Wizard (CLI)

The onboarding wizard is the **recommended** way to set up OpenClaw on macOS,
Linux, or Windows (via WSL2; strongly recommended).
It configures a local Gateway or a remote Gateway connection, plus channels, skills,
and workspace defaults in one guided flow.

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"min-light","dark":"min-dark"}}
openclaw onboard
```

<Info>
  Fastest first chat: open the Control UI (no channel setup needed). Run
  `openclaw dashboard` and chat in the browser. Docs: [Dashboard](/web/dashboard).
</Info>

To reconfigure later:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"min-light","dark":"min-dark"}}
openclaw configure
openclaw agents add <name>
```

<Note>
  `--json` does not imply non-interactive mode. For scripts, use `--non-interactive`.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Recommended: set up a Brave Search API key so the agent can use `web_search`
  (`web_fetch` works without a key). Easiest path: `openclaw configure --section web`
  which stores `tools.web.search.apiKey`. Docs: [Web tools](/tools/web).
</Tip>

## QuickStart vs Advanced

The wizard starts with **QuickStart** (defaults) vs **Advanced** (full control).

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="QuickStart (defaults)">
    * Local gateway (loopback)
    * Workspace default (or existing workspace)
    * Gateway port **18789**
    * Gateway auth **Token** (auto‑generated, even on loopback)
    * Tailscale exposure **Off**
    * Telegram + WhatsApp DMs default to **allowlist** (you'll be prompted for your phone number)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Advanced (full control)">
    * Exposes every step (mode, workspace, gateway, channels, daemon, skills).
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## What the wizard configures

**Local mode (default)** walks you through these steps:

1. **Model/Auth** — Anthropic API key (recommended), OpenAI, or Custom Provider
   (OpenAI-compatible, Anthropic-compatible, or Unknown auto-detect). Pick a default model.
2. **Workspace** — Location for agent files (default `~/.openclaw/workspace`). Seeds bootstrap files.
3. **Gateway** — Port, bind address, auth mode, Tailscale exposure.
4. **Channels** — WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Google Chat, Mattermost, Signal, BlueBubbles, or iMessage.
5. **Daemon** — Installs a LaunchAgent (macOS) or systemd user unit (Linux/WSL2).
6. **Health check** — Starts the Gateway and verifies it's running.
7. **Skills** — Installs recommended skills and optional dependencies.

<Note>
  Re-running the wizard does **not** wipe anything unless you explicitly choose **Reset** (or pass `--reset`).
  If the config is invalid or contains legacy keys, the wizard asks you to run `openclaw doctor` first.
</Note>

**Remote mode** only configures the local client to connect to a Gateway elsewhere.
It does **not** install or change anything on the remote host.

## Add another agent

Use `openclaw agents add <name>` to create a separate agent with its own workspace,
sessions, and auth profiles. Running without `--workspace` launches the wizard.

What it sets:

* `agents.list[].name`
* `agents.list[].workspace`
* `agents.list[].agentDir`

Notes:

* Default workspaces follow `~/.openclaw/workspace-<agentId>`.
* Add `bindings` to route inbound messages (the wizard can do this).
* Non-interactive flags: `--model`, `--agent-dir`, `--bind`, `--non-interactive`.

## Full reference

For detailed step-by-step breakdowns, non-interactive scripting, Signal setup,
RPC API, and a full list of config fields the wizard writes, see the
[Wizard Reference](/reference/wizard).

## Related docs

* CLI command reference: [`openclaw onboard`](/cli/onboard)
* Onboarding overview: [Onboarding Overview](/start/onboarding-overview)
* macOS app onboarding: [Onboarding](/start/onboarding)
* Agent first-run ritual: [Agent Bootstrapping](/start/bootstrapping)