🦞
🔧
📖 Setup Guide v2026.03
Step-by-Step Lobster Setup
Start from zero. Follow along. We're here if you get stuck.
Answer 3 questions to find your path
❶ What computer do you use?
⭐ Recommended
Path 1: One-Click Cloud Deploy
DigitalOcean / Hostinger one-click, done in 5 minutes
⏱ ~5 min💰 $4-8/moDifficulty ⭐
1
Sign up for cloud server
Recommended: DigitalOcean ($6/mo) or Hostinger ($4.99/mo).
Both support OpenClaw one-click deploy.
👉 Sign up at digitalocean.com
👉 Or at hostinger.com
Both support OpenClaw one-click deploy.
👉 Sign up at digitalocean.com
👉 Or at hostinger.com
✅
Verify：Signed up, can log in to dashboard
2
One-click create lobster server
DigitalOcean: Go to Marketplace → Search "OpenClaw" → Create Droplet → $6/mo plan → Create
Hostinger: Buy VPS → Select OpenClaw template → Auto install
Wait 2-3 minutes.
Hostinger: Buy VPS → Select OpenClaw template → Auto install
Wait 2-3 minutes.
✅
Verify：Server status shows Running / Active
3
Configure AI Brain (pick one)
The lobster needs an AI brain. 3 options:
🥇 Claude (Anthropic) — Best, $3-15/M tokens
→ console.anthropic.com → API Keys → Create → Copy
🥈 GPT-4o (OpenAI) — Great value
→ platform.openai.com → API Keys → Create → Copy
🥉 DeepSeek — Cheapest
→ platform.deepseek.com → Create → Copy
⚠️ Save your API Key!
🥇 Claude (Anthropic) — Best, $3-15/M tokens
→ console.anthropic.com → API Keys → Create → Copy
🥈 GPT-4o (OpenAI) — Great value
→ platform.openai.com → API Keys → Create → Copy
🥉 DeepSeek — Cheapest
→ platform.deepseek.com → Create → Copy
⚠️ Save your API Key!
✅
Verify：Got a key starting with sk-xxx
4
SSH login & configure
After server creation, you'll get IP and password.
Then run:
Paste your API Key into the
ssh root@YOUR_IP_ADDRESS
Then run:
openclaw config edit
Paste your API Key into the
aiProviders section.
✅
Verify：Config file saved
5
Connect Telegram (recommended)
Telegram is recommended — free and stable.
Follow prompts: enter phone → verify code → done.
💡 Can also connect WhatsApp or Discord.
openclaw channel add telegram
Follow prompts: enter phone → verify code → done.
💡 Can also connect WhatsApp or Discord.
✅
Verify：Lobster chat appears in Telegram
6
Send first command — test success!
Open Telegram and send:
If the lobster replies with time and creates the file → 🎉 Your lobster is alive!
"Hello! Tell me the current time and create a file called test.txt."
If the lobster replies with time and creates the file → 🎉 Your lobster is alive!
✅
Verify：Got reply and file was created
🍎 Popular
Path 2: Mac Local Install
Have a Mac? One command to set up
⏱ ~30 min💰 AI cost onlyDifficulty ⭐⭐
1
Check Mac version
Click → About This Mac → Check macOS ≥ 11.0
💡 Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) works best — low power consumption.
💡 Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) works best — low power consumption.
✅
Verify：macOS version ≥ 11.0
2
Install Node.js
OpenClaw needs Node.js v22+.
Open Terminal (⌘+Space → type Terminal → Enter):
Verify:
Open Terminal (⌘+Space → type Terminal → Enter):
curl -fsSL https://fnm.vercel.app/install | bash && fnm install 22 && fnm use 22
Verify:
node --version
✅
Verify：Shows v22.x.x
3
Install the lobster
In Terminal:
Then verify:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
Then verify:
openclaw --version
✅
Verify：Shows version number
4
Configure AI Brain + Connect Telegram
Same as Path 1, Steps 3-5:
1️⃣ Get AI API Key (Claude recommended)
2️⃣
3️⃣
4️⃣ Send test message
1️⃣ Get AI API Key (Claude recommended)
2️⃣
openclaw config edit
→ Paste key3️⃣
openclaw channel add telegram
4️⃣ Send test message
✅
Verify：Got lobster reply in Telegram
5
Auto-start on boot (optional)
Start lobster on Mac boot:
💡 For 24/7 operation, consider a Mac mini or switch to Path 1 cloud deploy.
openclaw install-service
💡 For 24/7 operation, consider a Mac mini or switch to Path 1 cloud deploy.
✅
Verify：Lobster auto-runs after Mac restart
🛋️ Easiest
Path 3: Managed Hosting (Zero Hassle)
No terminal needed, done in 5 minutes
⏱ ~5 min💰 $24+/moDifficulty ⭐
1
Sign up for xCloud
👉 Go to xcloud.host/openclaw-hosting
From $24/mo, fully managed, no terminal needed.
Includes Telegram + WhatsApp integration.
From $24/mo, fully managed, no terminal needed.
Includes Telegram + WhatsApp integration.
✅
Verify：Signed up
2
Create lobster instance
In xCloud dashboard, click "Deploy OpenClaw" → Select region → Wait 2-3 min for auto deploy
Everything is set up automatically!
Everything is set up automatically!
✅
Verify：Status shows Active
3
Enter AI API Key
In xCloud settings, enter your AI API Key (get it like Path 1, Step 3).
No config files — just a web form!
No config files — just a web form!
✅
Verify：Key saved
4
Connect Telegram & test
Click "Connect Telegram" in xCloud, scan QR or enter phone number.
Test message:
Test message:
"Hello! How's the weather today?"
✅
Verify：Got lobster reply
👑 VIP Done-For-You
Book Remote Setup 🦞
Path 4: You talk, we do it all
Don't want to deal with any of this? We'll set up everything for you remotely.
⏱
Done in 30 min
Remote setup, just watch
🔒
Secure
You keep all keys
📞
After-sales
7 days free support
🧠 Which AI brain to choose?
🥇
Claude (Anthropic)
Smartest, long context, recommended
$3-15/mo light
🥈
GPT-4o (OpenAI)
Good value, mature ecosystem
$2-12/mo light
🥉
DeepSeek
Cheapest, great Chinese support
$1-5/mo light
🆓
Ollama (本地)
Completely free but needs 8GB+ RAM
Free
🔒 Security Essentials (Must Read)
🌐
Lock Network Access
Bind Canvas Host to 127.0.0.1 only
💳
Set Spending Limits
Set monthly limits in AI provider console
🛡️
Review Skills
Only install verified or high-rated skills
🔥 Top 10 Must-Have Skills
Most popular skills after setting up
#1
🌐
180K+
Web Browse
Browse web, search info
#2
💬
145K+
Telegram
Telegram integration
#3
📧
Email
120K+
Email management
#4
🗄️
95K+
Database
Database queries
#5
📅
88K+
Calendar
Calendar management
#6
📄
76K+
Documents
Document processing
#7
💹
65K+
Stocks
Stock monitoring
#8
📊
58K+
Data Viz
Data visualization
#9
🔗
52K+
n8n
Workflow automation
#10
💬
WeChat
48K+
WeChat integration
Install: openclaw skills install [skill-name]