crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:20 AM

#

While installing the dmg and using gate way as the mac it give me error where it cant start the wizard error

exotic pollenBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:20 AM

#

To help others find answers, you can mark your question as solved via Right click solution message -> Apps -> ✅ Mark Solution

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:21 AM

#

That “can’t start the wizard” message is usually just hiding the real error (permissions, missing Node, bad PATH, or the gateway service failing). To debug it, I need the exact version + the first bit of logs.

Can you paste all of this (copy/paste from Terminal), plus a screenshot of the wizard error?

Versions

openclaw --version
node -v

Status + report (safe to share; it redacts tokens)

openclaw status --all
openclaw gateway status

Logs (run this, then try starting the wizard again, and paste what appears)

#

openclaw logs --follow

Also tell me:

macOS version (e.g. Sonoma 14.x / Sequoia 15.x)
Are you installing via the DMG app, or via the installer script?
Does openclaw work in Terminal at all, or is it “command not found”?

Docs reference for this exact workflow: https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#first-60-seconds-if-somethings-broken and installer verbose mode: https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#installer-stuck-how-do-i-get-more-feedback

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:22 AM

#

Are you installing via the DMG app, this

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:22 AM

#

Yep — that’s the DMG macOS app.

When the app says it “can’t start the wizard”, the most common cause is: the app tries to call the openclaw CLI (and Node), but it’s not installed / not on PATH / wrong Node version.

Quick checks (Terminal)

Please paste the output of:

node -v
openclaw --version
which openclaw
openclaw status --all

Fast fix to try (inside the macOS app)

Open OpenClaw app → Settings → General
Click “Install CLI”

#

Quit + re-open the app
Try the wizard again

If the app wizard still fails

Run the wizard directly from Terminal (this is the same onboarding flow, just without the app UI):

openclaw onboard

If you can also share a screenshot of the exact error popup, I can tell you which branch we’re in (missing CLI vs gateway not starting vs permissions).

Docs:

Wizard command: https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/wizard
Debug checklist: https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#first-60-seconds-if-somethings-broken

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:31 AM

#

│ Node service │ LaunchAgent not installed │
│ Agents │ 1 total · 1 bootstrapping · 0 active · 0 sessions │
└─────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────
│ Channel │ Enabled │ State │ Detail │
├──────────┼─────────┼────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────┤
└──────────┴─────────┴────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Agents
┌────────────┬───────────┬──────────┬──────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│ Agent │ Bootstrap │ Sessions │ Active │ Store │
├────────────┼───────────┼──────────┼──────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ main │ PENDING │ 0 │ unknown │ ~/.openclaw/agents/main/ │
│ │ │ │ │ sessions/sessions.json │
└────────────┴───────────┴──────────┴──────────┴──────────────────────────────┘

Diagnosis (read-only)

Gateway connection details:
Gateway target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Source: local loopback
Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Bind: loopback

✓ Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json
✓ Restart sentinel: none

Gateway last log line:
Set gateway.auth.token (or OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN), or pass --token.
✓ Port 18789
! Tailscale: off · unknown
error: Error: spawn tailscale ENOENT
✓ Skills: 22 eligible · 0 missing · /Users/pieman/.openclaw/workspace

Gateway logs (tail, summarized): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs

stderr: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

Config was last written by a newer OpenClaw (2026.2.26); current version is 2026.1.29.
2026-02-27T05:29:38.460Z Config was last written by a newer OpenClaw (auth is set to token, but no token is configured.
Set gateway.auth.token (or OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN), or pass --token.

stdout: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log

! Channel issues skipped (gateway unreachable)

Gateway health:
conne

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:32 AM

#

Your status --all output actually shows the core problem:

Gateway won’t start because auth mode is token, but no token is configured:

Set gateway.auth.token (or OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN), or pass --token.
Also there’s a version mismatch:

Config was last written by a newer OpenClaw (2026.2.26); current version is 2026.1.29.

Do this on the Mac in Terminal:

1) Update OpenClaw CLI to match (recommended)

Either use the macOS app Settings → General → “Install CLI” (best), or run:

openclaw update --channel stable
openclaw --version

2) Generate the missing gateway token + restart

#

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

If for some reason Doctor doesn’t set it, set one manually (don’t paste the token into Discord):

openclaw config set gateway.auth.token "$(openssl rand -hex 32)"
openclaw gateway restart

3) Try the wizard again

After the gateway is running, the DMG app wizard should start normally.

Notes:

The spawn tailscale ENOENT line is not fatal (it just means Tailscale isn’t installed).

#

If it still fails after this, paste the output of:

openclaw gateway status
tail -n 50 /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:36 AM

#

openclaw update --channel stable
openclaw --version this woked upating it to hte enw veriosn

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:36 AM

#

Nice — that version mismatch was one of the blockers.

Next step is the missing gateway token (the log line auth is set to token, but no token is configured).

Run these:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

If gateway status still says it can’t start / no token, set one manually:

openclaw config set gateway.auth.token "$(openssl rand -hex 32)"

#

openclaw gateway restart

Then try the DMG wizard again.

If it still errors, paste the last ~30 lines of:

tail -n 30 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:45 AM

#

Tighten permissions on ~/.openclaw to 700?
│ ● Yes / ○ No

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:45 AM

#

Pick Yes.

That prompt is openclaw doctor trying to fix a common macOS issue where the state dir (~/.openclaw) has overly-loose permissions. Setting it to 700 just means “only your user can read/write it” (good for tokens/credentials) and it usually unblocks wizard/gateway startup.

After you select Yes and Doctor finishes, run:

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

If gateway status still complains about a missing token, paste the error text (not the token).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:46 AM

#

Doctor changes ────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ - Tightened permissions on ~/.openclaw to 700 │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Gateway service config ───────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ - Gateway service PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm │
│ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◆ Update gateway service config to the recommended defaults now?
│ ● Yes / ○ No
└

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:46 AM

#

Choose Yes.

That’s a super common macOS + nvm issue: the LaunchAgent/service runs in a non-interactive shell, so it doesn’t see your nvm Node, and then the gateway can’t start (which makes the wizard fail).

After you select Yes, do:

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

If RPC probe is still failing after that, paste openclaw gateway status output and the last ~30 lines of:

tail -n 30 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:47 AM

#

ogs: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
│
◇ Security ─────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ - No channel security warnings detected. │
│ - Run: openclaw security audit --deep │
│ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Skills status ────────────╮
│ │
│ Eligible: 22 │
│ Missing requirements: 29 │
│ Blocked by allowlist: 0 │
│ │
├────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Plugins ──────╮
│ │
│ Loaded: 4 │
│ Disabled: 33 │
│ Errors: 0 │
│ │
├────────────────╯
│
◆ Enable zsh shell completion for openclaw?
│ ● Yes / ○ No
└

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:47 AM

#

That prompt is just optional CLI sugar.

If your default shell is zsh (most macOS installs): pick Yes.
If you don’t care / want to minimize changes: pick No.

Either way it won’t affect the wizard.

After Doctor finishes, run:

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

If gateway status shows RPC probe: ok, go back to the DMG app and start the wizard again. If it’s still not ok, paste the openclaw gateway status output (you can omit anything that looks like a token).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:48 AM

#

Memory search is enabled but no embedding provider is configured. │
│ Semantic recall will not work without an embedding provider. │
│ Gateway memory probe for default agent is not ready: No API key found │
│ for provider "openai". Auth store: │
│
│ │
│
│ │
│
│ │
│ No API key found for provider
│ │
│ Fix (pick one): │
│ - Set OPENAI_API_KEY, GEMINI_API_KEY, VOYAGE_API_KEY, or │
│ MISTRAL_API_KEY in your environment │
│ - Configure credentials: openclaw configure --section model │
│ - For local embeddings: configure │
│ agents.defaults.memorySearch.provider and local model path │
│ - To disable: openclaw config set agents.defaults.memorySearch.enabled │
│ false │
│ │
│ Verify: openclaw memory status --deep │
│ │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
Run "openclaw doctor --fix" to apply changes.
│
└ Doctor complete.

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:48 AM

#

Perfect — Doctor completed. That message is not the wizard-start failure anymore; it’s just warning you that semantic memory search won’t work until you configure an embeddings provider (OpenAI/Voyage/Gemini/Mistral, or local embeddings).

You have 2 options:

Option A (recommended): ignore for now and continue onboarding

This does not block the Gateway/wizard. Go back to the macOS app and try starting the wizard again.

Also run:

openclaw gateway status

You want RPC probe: ok.

Option B: disable memory search for now (quick + clean)

If you don’t have an API key yet:

#

openclaw config set agents.defaults.memorySearch.enabled false
openclaw gateway restart

Option C: enable it properly

Run:

openclaw configure --section model

…and add an API key (for embeddings), then:

openclaw memory status --deep

If you paste openclaw gateway status output, I can confirm the gateway is healthy and the app wizard should work.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:49 AM

#

Service: LaunchAgent (loaded)
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-26.log
Command: /usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/index.js gateway --port 18789
Service file: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
Service env: OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=18789

Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Gateway: bind=loopback (127.0.0.1), port=18789 (service args)
Probe target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Probe note: Loopback-only gateway; only local clients can connect.

Runtime: running (pid 34692, state active)
RPC probe: ok

Listening: 127.0.0.1:18789
Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:49 AM

#

That’s the good output — your Gateway is up and healthy:

LaunchAgent loaded
Runtime: running
RPC probe: ok
Listening on 127.0.0.1:18789

So the original “can’t start wizard” should be resolved now.

Next steps:

Open the DMG app again and try the wizard.
If it still complains, bypass the app UI and run the wizard directly (same flow):

openclaw onboard

#

Optional (doesn’t block anything): the memory warning you saw earlier just means you haven’t set an embeddings API key yet.

If the DMG app still errors, paste the exact text of the popup (or screenshot) — at this point it’s likely an app-side issue (not the gateway).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:50 AM

#

Agent failed before reply: No API key found for provider "anthropic". Auth store: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/agents/main/agent/auth-profiles.json (agentDir: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/agents/main/agent). Configure auth for this agent (openclaw agents add <id>) or copy auth-profiles.json from the main agentDir. Logs: openclaw logs --follow

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:50 AM

#

That means the wizard/gateway is running now, but your agent’s default model/provider is set to Anthropic and you haven’t added Anthropic credentials yet.

You can fix it one of these ways (don’t paste any keys/tokens into Discord):

Option 1 (easiest): run the model/auth config wizard

openclaw configure --section model

Pick Anthropic, then enter either an Anthropic API key or an Anthropic setup-token (subscription path).

Option 2: paste an Anthropic token directly (CLI)

openclaw models auth paste-token --provider anthropic

It will prompt you to paste the secret locally.

If you’re using a Claude subscription (setup-token)

#

Generate a setup-token with Claude Code:

claude setup-token

Then paste it into OpenClaw using the paste-token command above.

Verify

After setting it up:

openclaw models status

If you tell me whether you’re using Anthropic API key or Claude subscription, I can point you to the cleanest path for that.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:51 AM

#

◆ Where will the Gateway run?
│ ● Local (this machine) (Gateway reachable (ws://127.0.0.1:18789))
│ ○ Remote (info-only)
└

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:51 AM

#

Pick Local (this machine).

Your Gateway is already healthy on ws://127.0.0.1:18789, so local mode is the right choice.

After that, when it asks about models/auth, make sure you either:

enter an Anthropic API key, or
use the Anthropic setup-token flow (Claude subscription)

That will fix the “No API key found for provider anthropic” error you hit earlier.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 5:58 AM

#

teway: bind=loopback (127.0.0.1), port=18789 (service args)
Probe target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Probe note: Loopback-only gateway; only local clients can connect.

Runtime: stopped (state active)
RPC probe: failed
RPC target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
gateway closed (1006 abnormal closure (no close frame)): no close reason
Gateway target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Source: cli --url
Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Service is loaded but not running (likely exited immediately).
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-26.log
Launchd stdout (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
Launchd stderr (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

Other gateway-like services detected (best effort):

ai.openclaw.mac (user, plist: /Users/pieman/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.mac.plist)
Cleanup hint: launchctl bootout gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway
Cleanup hint: rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist

Recommendation: run a single gateway per machine for most setups. One gateway supports multiple agents (see docs: /gateway#multiple-gateways-same-host).
If you need multiple gateways (e.g., a rescue bot on the same host), isolate ports + config/state (see docs: /gateway#multiple-gateways-same-host).

Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 5:59 AM

#

That output means the LaunchAgent is installed, but the gateway process exits immediately (so the wizard can’t talk to it).

The next thing we need is the crash reason from stderr, and (on macOS) it’s very often a bad Node path like /usr/local/bin/node not existing anymore.

Run these and paste the outputs (don’t paste any tokens if you see them):

1) Show the actual error

tail -n 80 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
tail -n 40 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log

2) Verify the Node path the service is using exists

Your service command says it runs:
/usr/local/bin/node ...

So check:

#

ls -l /usr/local/bin/node
/usr/local/bin/node -v
which node
node -v

3) Try a restart once (in case it was mid-restart)

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

Common outcomes:

If ls -l /usr/local/bin/node says No such file (or points to a dead symlink), the LaunchAgent will always exit instantly → we fix the gateway service to use the correct Node.
If logs show something like EADDRINUSE / port in use / multiple gateways → we’ll stop the extra service (you have ai.openclaw.mac detected too), but let’s confirm from logs first.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:00 AM

#

ail -n 40 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
2026-02-27T05:49:12.331Z [skills-remote] remote bin probe timed out (PIEMAN’s MacBook Pro (c6e7f293ed49a426333b1295a8da670340747d4fb9031cbb9cebacffd940dbab)); check node connectivity for PIEMAN’s MacBook Pro (c6e7f293ed49a426333b1295a8da670340747d4fb9031cbb9cebacffd940dbab)
2026-02-27T05:49:34.021Z [diagnostic] lane task error: lane=main durationMs=5

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:01 AM

#

That gateway.log snippet isn’t the crash — it’s just a warning from a running process earlier. The reason it’s exiting immediately will almost always be in stderr (gateway.err.log) or the /tmp/openclaw/...log file.

Can you paste these:

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

and also:

ls -t /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-*.log | head -3
tail -n 120 /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-26.log

Also quick check (this is a very common cause on Apple Silicon / Homebrew):

#

uname -m
ls -l /usr/local/bin/node
ls -l /opt/homebrew/bin/node

If /usr/local/bin/node is missing (or a broken symlink), the LaunchAgent command you showed will fail instantly, and we’ll fix it by reinstalling the gateway service to point at the correct Node path.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:01 AM

#

pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ % uname -m
ls -l /usr/local/bin/node
ls -l /opt/homebrew/bin/node
arm64
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 220243216 Feb 10 2025 /usr/local/bin/node
ls: /opt/homebrew/bin/node: No such file or directory
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:02 AM

#

Cool — /usr/local/bin/node exists and is executable, so this isn’t the usual “service points at missing Node” problem.

Next we need the actual crash reason (it’ll be in gateway.err.log). Please do this:

Restart the gateway, then immediately grab the error tail:

openclaw gateway restart
sleep 2
openclaw gateway status
tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

Also check if something else is already holding the port (would cause the service to exit with EADDRINUSE):

lsof -nP -iTCP:18789 -sTCP:LISTEN

#

Paste the outputs (especially the gateway.err.log tail). That will tell us whether it’s a port conflict, a config/auth issue, or something else causing the LaunchAgent to exit immediately.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:02 AM

#

onn=20573807-58a2-4da8-bd8d-18a22708d561 remote=127.0.0.1 fwd=n/a origin=http://127.0.0.1:18789 host=127.0.0.1:18789 ua=Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/26.3 Safari/605.1.15 code=1008 reason=unauthorized: gateway token missing (open the dashboard URL and paste the token in Control UI settings)
2026-02-27T05:55:46.482Z [ws] unauthorized conn=cacdb44c-04c3-4517-85dd-67481d5bd8ab remote=127.0.0.1 client=openclaw-control-ui webchat vdev reason=token_missing
2026-02-27T05:55:46.487Z [ws] closed before connect conn=cacdb44c-04c3-4517-85dd-67481d5bd8ab remote=127.0.0.1 fwd=n/a origin=http://127.0.0.1:18789 host=127.0.0.1:18789 ua=Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/26.3 Safari/605.1.15 code=1008 reason=unauthorized: gateway token missing (open the dashboard URL and paste the token in Control UI settings)
2026-02-27T05:55:57.869Z [ws] unauthorized conn=e337b37e-3f6f-4798-b419-e661

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:02 AM

#

Those log lines are actually good news: the Gateway is up — your browser/app is just trying to connect without the token, so it gets rejected:

reason=unauthorized: gateway token missing

Fix: paste the Gateway token into Control UI (don’t paste it into Discord)

On the Mac, get the token (locally):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

Open the dashboard:

Go to: http://127.0.0.1:18789/ (or run openclaw dashboard)

In the Control UI, open Gateway Access and paste the token:

Control → Overview → Gateway Access
Paste into Gateway Token
Click Connect

#

Then retry the macOS app wizard.

If openclaw config get gateway.auth.token prints nothing/null, generate one and restart:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:05 AM

#

◇ Start gateway service now?
│ Yes
Error: launchctl kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" in domain for user gui: 501

🦞 OpenClaw 2026.2.26 (bc50708)
I speak fluent bash, mild sarcasm, and aggressive tab-completion energy.

Gateway restart failed: Error: launchctl kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" in domain f

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:05 AM

#

That error means macOS launchd doesn’t have a job named ai.openclaw.gateway loaded, so launchctl kickstart can’t restart it.

This usually happens when:

the gateway service was never installed, or
you have the other service label (ai.openclaw.mac) loaded instead (your earlier status hinted at that).

Run these in Terminal and paste the output:

ls -l ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true

Then fix it by reinstalling the gateway LaunchAgent:

#

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

If launchctl list shows ai.openclaw.mac but still no ai.openclaw.gateway, tell me and I’ll give you the clean “keep one gateway per machine” cleanup steps (I don’t want to suggest bootout/removals blindly).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:07 AM

#

Gateway start failed: Error: launchctl kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" in domain for user gui: 501
bash-3.2$ openclaw gateway status

#

Service config looks out of date or non-standard.
Service config issue: Gateway service PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm
Recommendation: run "openclaw doctor" (or "openclaw doctor --repair").
Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:07 AM

#

That kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" means launchd doesn’t have the Gateway LaunchAgent loaded (so there’s nothing to start/restart yet).

On macOS the fix is to (re)install the LaunchAgent, then start it (no data loss; it just reinstalls the service wrapper).

Run this in Terminal (no sudo):

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

If it still says it can’t find the service, paste the output of:

ls -l ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist

#

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
openclaw gateway status

(You previously had another job detected: ai.openclaw.mac. The launchctl list output will tell us if you’ve got 2 competing OpenClaw services, or if the gateway one simply isn’t bootstrapped.)

#

That message is basically: your LaunchAgent/service environment is missing your nvm dirs, so the service config is considered “non-standard/out of date”.

On macOS the clean fix is:

Re-run Doctor in repair mode and accept the service update prompts:

openclaw doctor --repair

When it asks to update the gateway service config to recommended defaults → Yes.

(Re)install + start the LaunchAgent

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

#

If you still get the “Could not find service ai.openclaw.gateway” error after gateway install, paste:

ls -l ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true

(And yeah: don’t paste any gateway token into Discord.)

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:09 AM

#

OpenClaw doctor
│
◇ State integrity ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮

│ Recommendation: run a single gateway per machine for most setups. │
│ One gateway supports multiple agents. │
│ If you need multiple gateways (e.g., a rescue bot on the same host), isolate ports + │
│ config/state (see docs: /gateway#multiple-gateways-same-host). │
│
◇ Gateway service config ───────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ - Gateway service PATH missing

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:10 AM

#

You’re super close — what you ran there is openclaw doctor in read‑only mode. It’s detecting:

multiple gateway-ish services on the machine (it wants only one), and
your LaunchAgent/service PATH is missing your nvm dirs (common on macOS because services don’t load your shell env)

Do this next (this is the “apply the fixes” step):

1) Apply Doctor’s fixes

openclaw doctor --fix

When it asks about updating the gateway service config / PATH → choose Yes.

2) Reinstall + start the gateway LaunchAgent

openclaw gateway install --force

#

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

3) If it still says “could not find service ai.openclaw.gateway”

Paste these two outputs (they’re safe):

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
openclaw gateway status --deep

That will tell us whether your machine is running the gateway under a different label (like ai.openclaw.mac) so we can cleanly end up with one running gateway.

(And separate thing: you’ll still need to add a model key later — but first we need the service reliably running.)

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:11 AM

#

can i not fully unsitall it ?? makes it esaser ?

#

Memory search is enabled but no embedding provider is configured. │
│ Semantic recall will not work without an embedding provider. │
│ │
│ │
│ Fix (pick one): │
│ - Set OPENAI_API_KEY, GEMINI_API_KEY, VOYAGE_API_KEY, or MISTRAL_API_KEY in your │
│ environment │
│ - Configure credentials: openclaw configure --section model │
│ - For local embeddings: configure agents.defaults.memorySearch.provider and local │
│ model path │
│ - To disable: openclaw config set agents.defaults.memorySearch.enabled false │
│ │
│ Verify: openclaw memory status --deep │
│

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:12 AM

#

Yeah — if you want the “clean slate” route, you can absolutely uninstall and start fresh.

You’ve got LaunchAgent/service drift + maybe multiple OpenClaw services, so a reset/uninstall can be the fastest way out.

Option A (usually enough): reset (keeps CLI installed)

This wipes local config/creds/sessions, but doesn’t uninstall the app/CLI:

openclaw reset

(You can preview with openclaw reset --dry-run.)

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli/reset

Option B (full uninstall): remove everything

Close the OpenClaw mac app first, then run:

#

openclaw uninstall

If you want it fully non-interactive:

openclaw uninstall --all --yes --non-interactive

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/uninstall

After that, reinstall and run the wizard/onboarding again (openclaw onboard).

Tell me which one you prefer (reset vs full uninstall) and I’ll tell you the exact “next 2 commands” after it finishes.

#

That warning is safe to ignore for now — it’s only about semantic memory search (embeddings). It won’t stop the gateway or wizard from working.

If you want to silence it until later, run:

openclaw config set agents.defaults.memorySearch.enabled false
openclaw gateway restart

Or, if you do want it enabled, you’ll need to add an embeddings API key via:

openclaw configure --section model

Either way: this isn’t the thing that’s breaking your install.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:15 AM

#

After that, reinstall and run the wizard/onboarding again (openclaw onboard).
hwo to reisntall

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:15 AM

#

If you did a full uninstall, reinstalling on macOS is basically:

Option 1 (recommended): reinstall via the installer script (sets up CLI cleanly)

In Terminal run:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Then run the onboarding wizard (and install the LaunchAgent):

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

That should recreate ~/.openclaw/…, reinstall the gateway service, etc.

Option 2: reinstall the DMG app

Download the latest OpenClaw.dmg again (same place you got it before)

#

Drag OpenClaw.app → Applications
Open the app → Settings → General → Install CLI
Then run in Terminal:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

If you tell me which uninstall you ran (openclaw reset vs openclaw uninstall --all), I can tell you the exact “next command” to confirm everything is clean before reinstall.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:15 AM

#

how unsitall the cli

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:15 AM

#

To uninstall the OpenClaw CLI on macOS:

1) (Recommended) stop + remove the Gateway service first

If you installed the LaunchAgent:

openclaw gateway stop
openclaw gateway uninstall

2) Uninstall the CLI package (pick the tool you used)

Most installs are via npm:

npm rm -g openclaw

If you installed via pnpm instead:

#

pnpm remove -g openclaw

3) Verify it’s gone

which openclaw
openclaw --version

If which openclaw still prints a path, paste that line here and I’ll tell you what’s left.

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/uninstall

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:17 AM

#

zsh: command not found: openclaw
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ % openclaw onboard --install-daemon

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:17 AM

#

zsh: command not found: openclaw means the CLI isn’t installed (or not on your PATH) right now — so openclaw onboard ... can’t run yet.

Reinstall the OpenClaw CLI (fastest)

In Terminal:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Then close Terminal and open it again, and verify:

openclaw --version

Then run onboarding:

#

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Alternative (if you’re using the DMG app)

Open the OpenClaw app → Settings → General → “Install CLI”, then reopen Terminal and run the same two commands.

If `openclaw` is still “not found” after install

Paste the output of:

node -v
npm -v
npm config get prefix
echo $PATH
ls -l "$(npm config get prefix)/bin/openclaw" || true

#

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/install and uninstall reference: https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/uninstall

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:20 AM

#

Refreshing loaded gateway service
✓ Gateway service metadata refreshed
✗ Restarting gateway service failed — re-run with --verbose for details
Gateway restart failed: Error: launchctl kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" in domain for user gui: 501
! Gateway service restart failed; continuing

🦞 OpenClaw installed successfully (2026.2.26)!
Home sweet home. Don't worry, I won't rearrange the furniture.

· Config already present; running doctor
· Running doctor to migrate settings
✓ Doctor complete
· Config already present; skipping onboarding
· Starting setup

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:21 AM

#

That error means the macOS LaunchAgent named ai.openclaw.gateway isn’t loaded/installed, so when OpenClaw tries to kickstart (restart) it, launchd says “service not found”.

Do this (and quit the OpenClaw mac app while doing it, just to avoid competing services):

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

If it still says it can’t find ai.openclaw.gateway, paste the output of:

ls -l ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
openclaw gateway status --deep

#

(That will show whether you only have ai.openclaw.mac loaded, or something else is going on.)

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:28 AM

#

Gateway start failed: Error: launchctl kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" in domain for user gui: 501

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:29 AM

#

That error is very specific: launchd does not currently have a loaded job with the label ai.openclaw.gateway, so kickstart can’t restart it.

Let’s confirm what’s actually installed/loaded on your Mac.

Run these exact commands and paste the output:

ls -la ~/Library/LaunchAgents | grep -i openclaw || true
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
openclaw gateway status --deep

Then try reinstalling the LaunchAgent with verbose logging (this should create + load the ai.openclaw.gateway job):

openclaw gateway install --force --verbose

#

Two common outcomes:

You’ll see that the plist doesn’t exist (so there’s nothing for launchd to load) → gateway install will fix it.
Or you’ll see you actually have a different label loaded (earlier I saw hints of ai.openclaw.mac) → we’ll pick one service label and cleanly standardize on it.

(Also: make sure the OpenClaw macOS app is quit while doing this, so it doesn’t install/manage a second service.)

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:29 AM

#

Other gateway-like services detected (best effort):

ai.openclaw.mac (user, plist: /Users/pieman/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.mac.plist)
Cleanup hint: launchctl bootout gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway
Cleanup hint: rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:30 AM

#

That explains the weirdness: you don’t have a launchd job called ai.openclaw.gateway — you have one called ai.openclaw.mac.

OpenClaw’s macOS services are named like:

default profile → ai.openclaw.gateway
named profile <profile> → ai.openclaw.<profile> (so ai.openclaw.mac == profile name mac)

So right now your commands (without a profile) are trying to restart ai.openclaw.gateway, but your installed service is ai.openclaw.mac.

Option A (easiest): manage the existing `mac` profile service

Run:

openclaw --profile mac gateway status
openclaw --profile mac gateway restart

#

If that works: keep using --profile mac for gateway commands.

Option B: switch back to the default service name (`ai.openclaw.gateway`)

This removes the mac profile’s gateway service and installs the default one:

openclaw --profile mac gateway stop
openclaw --profile mac gateway uninstall

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

If you paste the output of this, we can confirm you end up with one gateway service running (recommended).

Docs note (profiles/service labels): https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms/macos and multiple-gateways/profiles: https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/multiple-gateways

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:32 AM

#

Installed LaunchAgent: /Users/pieman/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
Logs: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:32 AM

#

Nice — that means the correct LaunchAgent (ai.openclaw.gateway) is now installed.

Next run:

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

You’re aiming for Runtime: running and RPC probe: ok.

If it’s running but the dashboard/control UI says unauthorized / token missing, generate/set a token and restart:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart

#

Then open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ and paste the token into Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token → Connect.

After the gateway is solid, the next blocker you’ll hit is model auth (“No API key found for provider anthropic”) — fix with:

openclaw configure --section model

Paste openclaw gateway status output if it’s still not RPC probe: ok.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:32 AM

#

Runtime: stopped (state active)
RPC probe: failed
RPC target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
gateway closed (1006 abnormal closure (no close frame)): no close reason
Gateway target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Source: cli --url
Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Service is loaded but not running (likely exited immediately).
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log
Launchd stdout (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
Launchd stderr (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:32 AM

#

Got it — now the LaunchAgent exists, but the gateway process is crashing on startup (“loaded but not running / exited immediately”).

On macOS that’s almost always one of these:

Node version too old (OpenClaw needs Node >= 22), or
Gateway auth is set to token but the token is missing, so the gateway refuses to start.

Run these and paste the output (don’t paste any actual token value):

1) Check Node + OpenClaw versions

node -v
openclaw --version

2) Check whether a gateway token is configured

#

openclaw config get gateway.auth.mode
openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

If gateway.auth.token is empty/null → generate one:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token

3) Paste the crash reason (this is the key part)

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
tail -n 120 /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log

4) Try starting again

#

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

Once you paste the gateway.err.log tail, I can tell you the exact fix in one step.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:33 AM

#

OPENCLAW_REDACTED

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:33 AM

#

Looks like you pasted a secret (probably your gateway token / key) and it got redacted as __OPENCLAW_REDACTED__. Don’t paste that stuff in Discord.

To figure out why the LaunchAgent starts then exits immediately, we need the non-secret error logs.

Please run these and paste the output:

node -v
openclaw --version

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

#

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
tail -n 120 "$(ls -t /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-*.log | head -1)"

Also paste these (safe; no secrets):

openclaw config get gateway.mode
openclaw config get gateway.auth.mode

Most common causes at this point:

Node < 22 (gateway will exit)
token auth enabled but token missing (gateway refuses to start)
config schema error (gateway refuses to start; details in gateway.err.log)

Once you paste gateway.err.log, we can usually fix it with one command.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:36 AM

#

Runtime: stopped (state active)
RPC probe: failed
RPC target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
gateway closed (1006 abnormal closure (no close frame)): no close reason
Gateway target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Source: cli --url
Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Service is loaded but not running (likely exited immediately).
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log
Launchd stdout (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
Launchd stderr (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

#

Service config looks out of date or non-standard.
Service config issue: Gateway service PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm
Recommendation: run "openclaw doctor" (or "openclaw doctor --repair").
Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:36 AM

#

That status output only tells us “it exited immediately” — the reason will be in stderr or the /tmp/openclaw log.

Please paste the output of these (they should not include secrets):

node -v
openclaw --version

tail -n 200 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
tail -n 200 /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log

And check for a port conflict (common if another OpenClaw service is still around):

#

lsof -nP -iTCP:18789 -sTCP:LISTEN || true

If you want the fastest “show me the real error” path, you can also run the gateway in the foreground (then copy/paste the error it prints):

openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose

(Stop it with Ctrl+C after you’ve copied the error.)

#

That “PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm” warning is about the LaunchAgent environment (services don’t load your shell/nvm). It can definitely cause “exited immediately” if the service can’t find the right Node/npm bits.

Do this (this is the “apply the fix” version of doctor):

openclaw doctor --repair

When it asks to update the gateway service config to recommended defaults → Yes.

Then:

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

#

If it still exits immediately after that, we must look at stderr:

tail -n 200 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
tail -n 200 "$(ls -t /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-*.log | head -1)"

Paste those tails and we’ll know exactly why it’s dying.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:38 AM

#

{"runtime":"node","runtimeVersion":"22.14.0","hostname":"unknown","name":"openclaw","date":"2026-02-27T06:30:05.138Z","logLevelId":3,"logLevelName":"INFO","path":{"fullFilePath":"file:///usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/entry.js:2206:46","fileName":"entry.js","fileNameWithLine":"entry.js:2206","fileColumn":"46","fileLine":"2206","filePath":"usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/entry.js","filePathWithLine":"usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/entry.js:2206","method":"console.log"}},"time":"2026-02-27T06:30:05.140Z"}
{"0":"2026.2.26","_meta":

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:38 AM

#

Good — that confirms the basics are fine:

Node 22.14.0 ✅ (new enough)
OpenClaw 2026.2.26 ✅

Now we need the actual reason the Gateway service exits immediately — it will be in gateway.err.log or the /tmp/openclaw log. Please run this exact block and paste the output:

tail -n 200 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
echo "-----"
tail -n 200 /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log
echo "-----"
openclaw config get gateway.mode
openclaw config get gateway.auth.mode
openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

#

Notes:

If gateway.auth.token prints a token, do not paste it here—just tell me if it’s empty/null or set.
The error we’re looking for is usually something like “token missing”, “config invalid”, or “port already in use”.

If you want the fastest “print the crash to the screen” method, run the gateway in the foreground once:

openclaw gateway --port 18789 --verbose

Copy/paste the first error it prints.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:39 AM

#

[skills-remote] remote bin probe timed out (PIEMAN’s MacBook Pro (c6e7f293ed49a426333b1295a8da670340747d4fb9031cbb9cebacffd940dbab)); check node connectivity for PIEMAN’s MacBook Pro (c6e7f293ed49a426333b1295a8da670340747d4fb9031cbb9cebacffd940dbab)

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:40 AM

#

That line:

[skills-remote] remote bin probe timed out ...

is not the gateway crash reason — it’s just a warning from the skills-remote plugin and can be ignored for now.

Your Gateway is still “exited immediately”, and the real reason will be in stderr or a port conflict (often because ai.openclaw.mac is still around).

Run these and paste the output:

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status --deep

#

echo "---- gateway.err ----"
tail -n 200 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

echo "---- /tmp log ----"
tail -n 200 /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log

echo "---- listeners ----"
lsof -nP -iTCP:18789 -sTCP:LISTEN || true

echo "---- launchd jobs ----"
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true

If you see anything like EADDRINUSE in the logs or something listening on :18789, that’s the smoking gun (two services fighting). If you see “token missing / config invalid”, we’ll fix that next.

Also: don’t paste any tokens/keys—just logs/errors.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:40 AM

#

my mac had pop of node js connecting

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:41 AM

#

That popup is almost certainly the macOS Firewall prompt like:

“Do you want the application ‘node’ to accept incoming network connections?”

That’s normal — OpenClaw’s Gateway is a Node process, so macOS shows it as node.

What to click: choose Allow.

If you clicked Deny earlier, fix it here:

System Settings → Network → Firewall → Options…
Find node (or “OpenClaw”) and set it to Allow incoming connections
Then restart the gateway:

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

#

If it still says Runtime: stopped, paste the error log (it usually contains the real reason it exited). This is safe to share as-is; if you see a long token-looking string, replace it with <redacted>:

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:42 AM

#

unauthorized conn=506c3716-94cc-422f-8640-e36511db89df remote=127.0.0.1 client=openclaw-control-ui webchat vdev reason=token_missing
06:42:18 [ws] closed before connect conn=506c3716-94cc-422f-8640-e36511db89df remote=127.0.0.1 fwd=n/a origin=http://127.0.0.1:18789 host=127.0.0.1:18789 ua=Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/26.3 Safari/605.1.15 code=1008 reason=unauthorized: gateway token missing (open the dashboard URL and paste the token in Control UI settings)
06:42:18 [ws] → close code=1008

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:42 AM

#

Those lines mean the Gateway is running fine — your browser/Control UI is trying to connect without auth, so it gets rejected:

reason=token_missing / gateway token missing

Fix (don’t paste the token into Discord)

Get the token on your Mac:

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

Open the dashboard:

http://127.0.0.1:18789/ (or run openclaw dashboard)

In the Control UI go to:
Control → Overview → Gateway Access

There are two boxes (Token + Password). Paste into Gateway Token, then click Connect.

#

If the token command prints nothing / null

Generate one and restart:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart

After you paste the token in the UI once, the “unauthorized / token_missing” spam should stop.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:43 AM

#

i get open calw readcted in termainl

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:44 AM

#

OPENCLAW_REDACTED is expected when a token/key would otherwise show up in something you paste/share (OpenClaw tries hard to stop you from leaking secrets into Discord).

You do not need to paste the token into Discord — you only need to paste it into the Control UI on your Mac.

Do this on your Mac:

Get the token locally (Terminal):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

Copy that value but don’t post it here.

Open the dashboard:

http://127.0.0.1:18789/

In the dashboard go to:
Control → Overview → Gateway Access → paste into Gateway Token → Connect

#

If openclaw config get gateway.auth.token shows redacted even in your Terminal, open this file locally and copy it from there:
~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (look for gateway.auth.token)

Tell me: do you see the token normally in Terminal and it only gets redacted when pasting into Discord, or is it literally redacted in Terminal output too?

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:45 AM

#

unauthorized: too many failed authentication attempts (retry later)

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:46 AM

#

That means the Control UI (or the macOS app) has been auto-retrying with the wrong/empty token so many times that the gateway temporarily rate-limited auth.

Do this to “unstick” it:

Close every OpenClaw dashboard tab/window (important — otherwise it keeps failing in the background)
Restart the gateway

openclaw gateway restart

Wait ~60 seconds
Open the dashboard in a Private/Incognito window (so it doesn’t reuse the bad saved token):

http://127.0.0.1:18789/

In the UI go to Control → Overview → Gateway Access and paste the token into Gateway Token, then Connect.

#

If you’re not sure the gateway is in token mode, run this and paste the output (safe):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.mode

If you still get locked out after restarting + private window, tell me which browser you’re using (Safari/Chrome), and I’ll give you the exact “clear site data for 127.0.0.1” steps for that browser.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:48 AM

#

🦞 OpenClaw 2026.2.26 (bc50708)
Less clicking, more shipping, fewer "where did that file go" moments.

Restarted LaunchAgent: gui/501/ai.openclaw.gateway
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:48 AM

#

Nice — gateway service restarted cleanly.

Now do exactly this to avoid getting rate-limited again:

Close all dashboard tabs (anything open at 127.0.0.1:18789).
Wait 60 seconds (auth lockout cool-down).
Open a Private/Incognito window and go to:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Paste the token into Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token, then Connect.

Get the token locally with (don’t paste it here):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

If it still says “too many failed authentication attempts”, tell me which browser you’re using (Safari/Chrome/Firefox) and I’ll give you the exact “clear site data for 127.0.0.1” steps.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:51 AM

#

Restarted LaunchAgent: gui/501/ai.openclaw.gateway

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:51 AM

#

Yep — that line just confirms the service restart worked.

Now the important part is stopping the UI from hammering the gateway with a bad/empty token (that’s what caused the “too many failed authentication attempts” lockout):

Quit the OpenClaw mac app (for a minute) and close all tabs at http://127.0.0.1:18789/.
Wait 1–5 minutes (let the lockout cool down).
Open the dashboard in a Private/Incognito window: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Get the token locally (don’t paste it here):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

Paste it into Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token → Connect.

If Safari keeps auto-using the wrong token, clear the saved site data:

Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data… → search 127.0.0.1 / localhost → Remove

If you’re still stuck after that, paste:

#

openclaw gateway status

and tell me which browser you’re using (Safari/Chrome).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 6:51 AM

#

but im trying install thru dmg

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 6:52 AM

#

Totally fine to install via the DMG — the macOS app just isn’t “standalone”. Under the hood it still talks to the local Gateway (Node process) and that Gateway is currently requiring a token, so the app/UI keeps getting token_missing and then rate-limits you.

Do this flow while staying on the DMG app install path:

Quit OpenClaw.app completely (so it stops auto-retrying with a bad/empty token)
Restart the gateway:

openclaw gateway restart

Wait 1–2 minutes (cooldown for “too many failed auth attempts”)
Open the dashboard in a Private/Incognito window:

http://127.0.0.1:18789/

Get your gateway token locally (copy it, don’t paste it here):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

In the dashboard: Control → Overview → Gateway Access → paste into Gateway Token → Connect

#

Now reopen OpenClaw.app and continue the wizard.

If you’re using Safari, you may also need to clear the saved bad token:

Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data… → remove 127.0.0.1 / localhost

After this, the next wizard blocker is usually model credentials (e.g. Anthropic API key/setup-token), but first we need the app/dashboard successfully connected to the Gateway.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:01 AM

#

how to telergam apiriring cod eing dmg

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:02 AM

#

Telegram has two different “codes”, and it’s easy to mix them up:

Bot token (from @BotFather) → used to connect OpenClaw to Telegram
Pairing code (8 chars) → used to approve you to DM the bot (owner approval)

A) Connect Telegram (BotFather token)

In Telegram, talk to @BotFather → /newbot → copy the bot token (keep it private).
On your Mac (where the Gateway runs), set it in config (don’t paste the token here):

openclaw config set channels.telegram.enabled true
openclaw config set channels.telegram.botToken "PASTE_BOTFATHER_TOKEN_HERE"
openclaw config set channels.telegram.dmPolicy "pairing"
openclaw gateway restart

B) Get the Telegram pairing code

In Telegram, DM your new bot and send: /start

#

The bot should reply with a pairing code (8 characters).

C) Approve the pairing code (in Terminal on the Mac)

openclaw pairing list telegram
openclaw pairing approve telegram <CODE>

After approval, your DMs to the bot will work.

Docs:

Telegram setup: https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels/telegram
Pairing: https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels/pairing

If your bot doesn’t reply when you /start, paste openclaw logs --follow output (just the error lines; no tokens) and I’ll tell you what’s missing.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:04 AM

#

why in my oepn claw cli there main and my macbook to select from

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:04 AM

#

That’s normal — OpenClaw has two kinds of “things” and they often both show up in menus:

Agent = “main”
This is the brain/chat worker (your default assistant). Most setups have one agent named main.
Node = “your MacBook Pro”
This is a device connected to the Gateway that provides hardware/tools (screen/camera/canvas/system.run). The DMG macOS app makes your Mac show up as a node.

So when you see a prompt that looks like “select from main and PIEMAN’s MacBook Pro”:

If it’s asking which agent → pick main
If it’s asking which node/device to run things on (camera/screen/exec) → pick your MacBook Pro

If you tell me the exact command/screen where it asks you to choose (or paste 1 screenshot), I can tell you which one it’s asking for.

Useful checks:

#

openclaw agents list
openclaw nodes status

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:09 AM

#

gents:

main (default)
Identity: 😼 _(pending — user asked for a name that can't be used; need a safe alternative) (IDENTITY.md)
Workspace: ~/.openclaw/workspace
Agent dir: ~/.openclaw/agents/main/agent
Model: openai-codex/gpt-5.3-codex
Routing rules: 0
Routing: default (no explicit rules)
Routing rules map channel/account/peer to an agent. Use --bindings for full rules.
Channel status reflects local config/creds. For live health: openclaw channels status --probe.

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:10 AM

#

main and your MacBook Pro are two different things in OpenClaw:

main (default) = your agent (the “brain”: model + memory + workspace). You chat as this.
“PIEMAN’s MacBook Pro” = a node/device (hardware surface for tools like screen/camera/canvas/system.run). The DMG macOS app makes your Mac show up as a node.

So when something asks you to “select”:

for chat / assistant / onboarding → pick main
for where to run device stuff (screenshots, camera, exec on the Mac) → pick your MacBook Pro

Also in your agents output:

Identity: … (pending — user asked for a name that can't be used; need a safe alternative)

That just means the bootstrap “name your assistant” step got an invalid name. Easiest fix: open and edit this file and choose a simple safe name (letters/numbers, no weird symbols):

~/.openclaw/workspace/IDENTITY.md

Then restart the gateway:

#

openclaw gateway restart

Docs: Nodes (devices) vs agents: https://docs.openclaw.ai/nodes and bootstrapping: https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/bootstrapping

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:18 AM

#

set gateway.remote.token to match gateway.auth.token

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:18 AM

#

That message is basically saying: “your client config (remote token) doesn’t match what the gateway server expects (auth token).”

A few key points:

gateway.auth.token = the token the Gateway requires (server-side).
gateway.remote.token = only used when your CLI/app is in remote mode (connecting to a gateway somewhere else).

If you’re running everything locally on the Mac (DMG app)

You usually do not need gateway.remote.* at all.

Check:

openclaw config get gateway.mode
openclaw config get gateway.remote.url

If gateway.mode is local → ignore gateway.remote.token and just paste the token into the Control UI:

#

Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token → Connect.

If you accidentally ended up in remote mode

Switch back to local:

openclaw config set gateway.mode "local"
openclaw config unset gateway.remote.url
openclaw config unset gateway.remote.token
openclaw gateway restart

If you do intend to use remote mode

Then yes: set gateway.remote.token to the same value as the remote gateway’s gateway.auth.token (copy it locally; don’t post it here).

Tell me what openclaw config get gateway.mode prints (local or remote) and I’ll tell you the exact next step.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:21 AM

#

gateway.token: gateway.token is ignored; use gateway.auth.token │
│ instead (auto-migrated on load). │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Doctor changes ────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Moved gateway.token → gateway.auth.token. │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Doctor ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Run "openclaw doctor --fix" to apply compatibility migrations. │
│ │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
Config invalid
File: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Problem:

gateway.token: gateway.token is ignored; use gateway.auth.token instead (auto-migrated on load).
Legacy config keys detected:
gateway.token: gateway.token is ignored; use gateway.auth.token instead (auto-migrated on load).

Run: openclaw doctor --fix
Config uses "gateway.token". This key is ignored; use "gateway.auth.token" instead.

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:21 AM

#

Yep — that’s the blocker right now: your ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json still contains the legacy key gateway.token, and newer OpenClaw treats that as config invalid (even though it can “auto-migrate” at runtime).

Fix (recommended)

Run:

openclaw doctor --fix
openclaw gateway restart

That should rewrite the config to use gateway.auth.token and remove/replace the legacy key.

Verify (safe to paste)

openclaw config get gateway.auth.mode
openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

#

(If gateway.auth.token is empty/null, generate one:)

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart

Don’t paste the token into Discord — only paste it into the dashboard “Gateway Token” field.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:21 AM

#

everytime i restart my mac i need to start server ?? or token

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:21 AM

#

You shouldn’t have to manually start it every reboot if the Gateway LaunchAgent is installed.

After a Mac restart, do I need to start the server?

Normally no: the gateway runs as a macOS LaunchAgent and should auto-start when you log in.
Quick check:

openclaw gateway status

If it says Runtime: stopped, start it:

openclaw gateway start

If it never auto-starts, reinstall the service once:

openclaw gateway install --force

#

Do I need a new token every time?

No. The gateway token is stored in your config (~/.openclaw/openclaw.json under gateway.auth.token) and stays the same across restarts.
You only need to paste it into the Control UI again if:
- you opened the dashboard in a Private/Incognito window, or
- your browser/site data got cleared, or
- you regenerated/changed the token.

If you did regenerate the token, the UI will keep trying the old one and you’ll see “unauthorized / too many failed attempts” until you paste the new token in.

If you tell me what openclaw gateway status shows right after reboot (running vs stopped), I can tell you which bucket you’re in.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:24 AM

#

────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ - ai.openclaw.mac (user, plist: │
│ /Users/pieman/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.mac.plist) │
│ │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Cleanup hints ─────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ - launchctl bootout gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway │
│ - rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
│
◇ Gateway recommendation ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ Recommendation: run a single gateway per machine for most setups. │
│ One gateway supports multiple agents. │
│ If you need multiple gateways (e.g., a rescue bot on the same host), isolate ports + │
│ config/state (see docs: /gateway#multiple-gateways-same-host). │
│ │
├──────────────────────────────────────── │
│ - Gateway service OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN does not match gateway.auth.token in │
│ openclaw.json (service token is stale) │
│ - Gateway service PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm │
│ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:25 AM

#

That doctor output is saying you currently have two different OpenClaw LaunchAgents on your Mac:

ai.openclaw.gateway (the normal/default gateway service)
ai.openclaw.mac (a profile-named gateway service that got installed earlier)

And it’s also warning that the service is starting with a stale token (OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN in the LaunchAgent env) that doesn’t match what’s in your config (gateway.auth.token). That mismatch is what causes the repeated unauthorized / lockouts.

Fix = keep ONE gateway service + make its token match config

1) Remove the extra `ai.openclaw.mac` service (recommended)

Run:

openclaw --profile mac gateway stop
openclaw --profile mac gateway uninstall

(That’s safer than manually rm-ing plists.)

#

2) Repair the default gateway service config (PATH + token)

Run:

openclaw doctor --repair

When it asks to update the gateway service config → Yes.

3) Re-install the default LaunchAgent using the token from your config

This forces launchd’s OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN to match gateway.auth.token:

openclaw gateway install --force --token "$(openclaw config get gateway.auth.token)"
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

After that, you should see only one gateway service, and the “token stale” warning should be gone.

#

If you paste the output of:

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
openclaw gateway status

I can confirm it’s cleaned up.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:25 AM

#

Config overwrite: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json (sha256 30ccf9eea3ee2eb1ce013d65640a99650137e47cd81099be8e810887e128cda9 -> be42d2a89fb96700415034ed5e8eb0c2747f100cc2bf30a32c4ef17df689a312, backup=/Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json.bak)
Updated ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Backup: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.bak
│

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:25 AM

#

Good — that means OpenClaw rewrote your config and made a backup:

New config: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Backup: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.bak

Now do:

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

You want Runtime: running and RPC probe: ok.

If you still see “token stale / does not match” warnings

Run the repair once more so the LaunchAgent env gets updated to match the new config:

#

openclaw doctor --repair
openclaw gateway restart

If you still have the extra `ai.openclaw.mac` service

Remove it (so you only have ONE gateway on the machine):

openclaw --profile mac gateway stop
openclaw --profile mac gateway uninstall

Then check what launchd still has:

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true

#

Once gateway status is healthy, open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ and paste the gateway token into Control → Overview → Gateway Access (don’t paste the token into Discord).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:27 AM

#

ou want Runtime: running and RPC probe: ok. got this

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:27 AM

#

Nice — if you’ve got Runtime: running and RPC probe: ok, the Gateway side is healthy now.

Next steps (DMG path):

Open the dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Paste your token in Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token → Connect (don’t share it here).
Finish onboarding:
- configure a model key (Anthropic/OpenAI/etc)
- then set up Telegram if you want it.

If you want to confirm there’s only one gateway service left (so restarts are stable), run:

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true

Glad that’s unstuck. If this fixed it, please mark the solution (right‑click the solution message → Apps → ✅ Mark Solution) so Answer Overflow can index it for the next person.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:29 AM

#

openclaw --profile mac gateway stop
openclaw --profile mac gateway uninstall i did this since the dash boaed dindt open

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:29 AM

#

That’s fine — those two commands just removed the extra “mac profile” gateway service (ai.openclaw.mac). It shouldn’t be needed, and removing it reduces conflicts.

Now the dashboard comes purely from the default gateway (ai.openclaw.gateway). Let’s make sure that one is up, then open it manually:

1) Check the gateway is running

openclaw gateway status

If it says stopped:

openclaw gateway start

2) Open the dashboard (don’t rely on auto-open)

Run:

#

openclaw dashboard

It will print the URL. You can also just open:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/

3) If it opens but says “unauthorized / token missing”

Copy the token locally (don’t paste it here):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

Then in the dashboard: Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token → Connect.

If you tell me what happens when you open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ (blank page / can’t connect / unauthorized), I’ll tell you the exact next step.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:30 AM

#

ervice: LaunchAgent (loaded)
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log
Command: /usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/index.js gateway --port 18789
Service file: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
Service env: OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=18789

Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Gateway: bind=loopback (127.0.0.1), port=18789 (service args)
Probe target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Probe note: Loopback-only gateway; only local clients can connect.

Runtime: running (pid 56809, state active)
RPC probe: ok

Listening: 127.0.0.1:18789
Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:30 AM

#

Perfect — gateway is 100% healthy (Runtime: running, RPC probe: ok, listening on 127.0.0.1:18789). So if the dashboard “didn’t open”, it’s just a browser/UI issue, not the server.

Do this:

1) Open it manually

In your browser, go to:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/

(or run openclaw dashboard to print/open the URL)

2) If it loads but says unauthorized / token missing

Copy the token locally (don’t paste it here):

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

Then in the UI: Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token → Connect

#

3) If the page is blank / won’t load

Tell me which browser you’re using (Safari vs Chrome). Quick things to try:

Try a different browser
Try a Private/Incognito window (to clear any bad saved token)

At this point you’re past the hard part — the gateway is running correctly.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:32 AM

#

i see the toekn there automaticllly there how do i one for chrome extension

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:33 AM

#

You don’t need a separate token for the Chrome extension — it uses the same Gateway token as your dashboard:

Extension “Gateway token” = gateway.auth.token (same one you pasted into the Control UI)

Set up the Chrome extension (browser relay)

Install the extension files to a stable folder:

openclaw browser extension install
openclaw browser extension path

In Chrome:

go to chrome://extensions
enable Developer mode
Load unpacked
select the folder printed by openclaw browser extension path
Pin the extension

#

Open the extension Options and set:

Port: 18792 (this is default when gateway is on 18789)
Gateway token: paste your Gateway token (get it with openclaw config get gateway.auth.token — don’t paste it into Discord)

Attach to a tab:

open the tab you want controlled
click the extension icon → badge should show ON

Quick test

openclaw browser --browser-profile chrome tabs

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/chrome-extension

If the extension shows ! or keeps failing auth, it’s almost always the wrong token/port in the extension Options.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:38 AM

#

where to get the token

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:38 AM

#

On your Mac (the gateway machine), run this in Terminal:

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

That’s the token you paste into:

the Dashboard: Control → Overview → Gateway Access → Gateway Token
the Chrome extension Options: Gateway token

If that prints nothing / null, generate one:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

#

Don’t paste the token into Discord (treat it like a password).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:39 AM

#

ervice: LaunchAgent (loaded)
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log
Command: /usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/dist/index.js gateway --port 18789
Service file: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
Service env: OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=18789

Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Gateway: bind=loopback (127.0.0.1), port=18789 (service args)
Probe target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Probe note: Loopback-only gateway; only local clients can connect.

Runtime: running (pid 56809, state active)
RPC probe: ok

Listening: 127.0.0.1:18789
Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ % get gateway.auth.token

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:39 AM

#

You typed just get gateway.auth.token — that’s missing the openclaw config part.

Run this in Terminal:

openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

That prints the Gateway token (copy it, but don’t paste it into Discord). Use that same token for:

the dashboard “Gateway Token” field
the Chrome extension “Gateway token” field

If it prints nothing / null, generate one:

openclaw doctor --generate-gateway-token

#

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw config get gateway.auth.token

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 7:49 AM

#

why does open claw crash sometime

#

why do i have to restart the server

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 7:49 AM

#

“OpenClaw crashes sometimes” can mean a few different things on macOS, and the fix depends on which part is dying:

1) Gateway service exits (most common)

This is the background server (LaunchAgent). Usual causes:

config invalid after an update (old keys, bad JSON5)
two gateways running / port conflict on 18789
service env drift (PATH/nvm issues, stale OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN)
macOS firewall/permissions prompts that got denied

Check if the gateway actually restarted or died:

openclaw gateway status

If it says “stopped / exited immediately”, the reason will be in stderr:

#

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

2) Control UI “disconnects” but gateway is fine

This often shows up as websocket closes / unauthorized spam (not a crash). Usually it’s just wrong/missing token in the browser/extension, or too many failed attempts (rate limit).

3) Agent “failed before reply”

That’s usually missing model credentials (Anthropic/OpenAI), not a crash of the server.

If you paste these 3 outputs, I can tell you exactly which case you’re in:

openclaw --version
openclaw gateway status

#

tail -n 80 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

(Those are safe to paste—just don’t include any tokens/keys if you see them.)

#

You usually don’t have to restart it — but there are a few cases where restarting the Gateway (“the server”) is normal:

When you DO need to restart

After config changes (token/model/channel settings): the running gateway won’t always pick up edits.
After updates (openclaw update / new DMG): the old process is still running the old code.
After fixing service env drift (PATH/nvm, stale token in LaunchAgent): restart is needed so launchd starts it with the new env.
If you got rate-limited auth (“too many failed authentication attempts”) and the UI is stuck retrying with a bad token — restarting + clearing the browser token is the quickest reset.

When you should NOT have to restart

After a Mac reboot: the LaunchAgent should auto-start the gateway when you log in.
Check:
```
openclaw gateway status
```

The goal state

You want:

#

openclaw gateway status → Runtime: running + RPC probe: ok
Dashboard works without constantly losing auth

If you feel like you’re restarting all the time, paste:

openclaw gateway status
tail -n 80 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

and I’ll tell you what’s causing the restarts (most often: token mismatch between LaunchAgent env vs config, or multiple services/port conflicts).

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 8:06 AM

#

why does does my gate way crash after feew talks in tg

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 8:06 AM

#

If it “crashes after a few talks in Telegram”, first we need to confirm whether the Gateway process actually stops, or whether Telegram just stops getting replies (pairing/auth/model issues can look like a crash).

1) Right after it “crashes”, check gateway status

Run on your Mac:

openclaw gateway status

If it says Runtime: running / RPC probe: ok → the gateway did not crash. It’s a Telegram/model/policy issue.
If it says Runtime: stopped → it really crashed, and we need the error log.

2) Paste the crash reason (most important)

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log
tail -n 120 "$(ls -t /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-*.log | head -1)"

#

(Please redact/omit any tokens if you see them.)

3) Check Telegram channel health

openclaw channels status --probe

Common causes I’ve seen for “Telegram works a few messages then dies”

Gateway didn’t crash: your bot is in dmPolicy: pairing and you didn’t approve, or sender isn’t allowlisted.
Model auth missing / rate limit: you’ll see Agent failed before reply: No API key found… or 429 in logs (gateway stays running).
Uncaught exception: will show clearly in gateway.err.log (stack trace).

Paste the outputs from steps 1–3 and I’ll tell you exactly which one it is and the fix.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 8:15 AM

#

remeber im using dmg not cli

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 8:15 AM

#

Using the DMG app is totally fine — but the DMG app and the CLI both talk to the same Gateway service. So debugging still comes down to: did the Gateway actually stop, or did Telegram just stop getting replies?

First: what do you mean by “crash”?

When it happens, do you see:

the OpenClaw menubar app showing Gateway Stopped / Disconnected, or
the Gateway looks Running, but Telegram just stops replying?

Those are different problems.

If the Gateway actually stops (real crash)

The DMG app usually won’t show the real stack trace. You need the log file:

Open Finder → press Cmd+Shift+G → paste:

~/.openclaw/logs/

#

Open gateway.err.log (this is the important one) and copy/paste the last error chunk here (remove anything that looks like a token/secret).

Also check:

/tmp/openclaw/ (there are openclaw-YYYY-MM-DD.log files)

If the Gateway stays running (not a crash)

Then it’s usually:

missing/expired model API key (agent “fails before reply”),
Telegram pairing/allowlist blocking you,
or rate limits.

In that case, open the Dashboard (Control UI) and check the Models/Errors section.

If you paste the last ~30–50 lines from ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log, I can tell you immediately whether it’s a real crash or just auth/policy/model.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 8:15 AM

#

Error: launchctl kickstart failed: Could not find service "ai.openclaw.gateway" in domain for user gui: 501
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 8:16 AM

#

That error doesn’t mean the Gateway “crashed” — it means macOS can’t find a launchd service with the label ai.openclaw.gateway, so there’s nothing to kickstart/restart.

Fix is to (re)install the LaunchAgent, then start it:

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

If it still says “Could not find service”, then you’re probably running under a profile (service label becomes ai.openclaw.<profile>). Check:

echo $OPENCLAW_PROFILE
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
ls -la ~/Library/LaunchAgents | grep -i openclaw || true

#

If OPENCLAW_PROFILE shows mac, then the service label would be ai.openclaw.mac and you’d use:
```
openclaw --profile mac gateway status
```

Even though you’re using the DMG app: the DMG app still relies on this same LaunchAgent for “Local gateway”, so getting ai.openclaw.gateway installed + running is the right path.

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 8:21 AM

#

│
│ Gateway target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789 │
│ Source: local loopback │
│ Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json │
│ Bind: loopback

#

Gateway service PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 8:22 AM

#

That snippet just means your CLI/app is targeting the local loopback gateway (ws://127.0.0.1:18789). 👍
But it doesn’t say whether the LaunchAgent service is actually installed + running.

To fix the “Could not find service ai.openclaw.gateway” / random “gateway disappears” issue, run these on your Mac and paste the output:

openclaw gateway status
launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true
ls -la ~/Library/LaunchAgents | grep -i openclaw || true

If `launchctl list` does NOT show `ai.openclaw.gateway`

Reinstall + start the service:

openclaw gateway install --force

#

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

Once openclaw gateway status shows Runtime: running + RPC probe: ok, your DMG app should stop “losing” the gateway.

(And separate from “crash”: if Telegram stops replying but gateway status still says running, that’s not a gateway crash — it’s usually model auth / pairing / rate limit. But first let’s confirm the service exists and is loaded.)

#

That warning means your Gateway LaunchAgent (background service) is starting with a PATH that doesn’t include your nvm directory (/Users/pieman/.nvm). On macOS this is super common because LaunchAgents don’t load your shell setup.

Fix it by letting Doctor rewrite the service config:

openclaw doctor --repair

When it asks to update the gateway service config to recommended defaults → Yes.

Then restart the gateway:

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

#

If you still see the warning after that, paste the output of:

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw || true

crisp swift Feb 27, 2026, 8:23 AM

#

Service config looks out of date or non-standard.
Service config issue: Gateway service PATH missing required dirs: /Users/pieman/.nvm
Recommendation: run "openclaw doctor" (or "openclaw doctor --repair").
Config (cli): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
Config (service): ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Gateway: bind=loopback (127.0.0.1), port=18789 (service args)
Probe target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Dashboard: http://127.0.0.1:18789/
Probe note: Loopback-only gateway; only local clients can connect.

Runtime: stopped (state active)
RPC probe: failed
RPC target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
gateway closed (1006 abnormal closure (no close frame)): no close reason
Gateway target: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Source: cli --url
Config: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Service is loaded but not running (likely exited immediately).
File logs: /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-02-27.log
Launchd stdout (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log
Launchd stderr (if installed): /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

Other gateway-like services detected (best effort):

ai.openclaw.mac (user, plist: /Users/pieman/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.mac.plist)
Cleanup hint: launchctl bootout gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway
Cleanup hint: rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist

Recommendation: run a single gateway per machine for most setups. One gateway supports multiple agents (see docs: /gateway#multiple-gateways-same-host).
If you need multiple gateways (e.g., a rescue bot on the same host), isolate ports + config/state (see docs: /gateway#multiple-gateways-same-host).

Troubles: run openclaw status
Troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/troubleshooting
7823 0 ai.openclaw.mac

-15 ai.openclaw.gateway
1108 0 application.ai.openclaw.mac.debug.1234984390.1234984396
-rw-r--r--@ 1 pieman staff 2072 Feb 27 02:22 ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
-rw-r--r--@ 1 pieman staff 875 Feb 27 02:11 ai.openclaw.mac.plist
pieman@PIEMANs-MacBook-Pro ~ %

waxen duneBOT Feb 27, 2026, 8:24 AM

#

That output shows the Gateway service is actually stopped right now:

Runtime: stopped
plus: service PATH missing /Users/pieman/.nvm
and you still have another LaunchAgent ai.openclaw.mac listed

Let’s get you back to a stable “always running” state.

1) Repair the service config (this fixes the PATH drift)

Run:

openclaw doctor --repair

When it asks to update the gateway service config → Yes.

2) Start the gateway again

#

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status

3) If it starts and immediately stops again → we need the real crash reason

Paste:

tail -n 120 ~/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

(that file is the key; it will say things like EADDRINUSE / config invalid / etc.)

4) Quick sanity check: is the Node that the service uses new enough?

Your LaunchAgent runs /usr/local/bin/node, so check:

/usr/local/bin/node -v

#Wizard error

Quick checks (Terminal)

Fast fix to try (inside the macOS app)

If the app wizard still fails

stderr: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.err.log

stdout: /Users/pieman/.openclaw/logs/gateway.log

1) Update OpenClaw CLI to match (recommended)

2) Generate the missing gateway token + restart

3) Try the wizard again

Option A (recommended): ignore for now and continue onboarding

Option B: disable memory search for now (quick + clean)

Option C: enable it properly

Option 1 (easiest): run the model/auth config wizard

Option 2: paste an Anthropic token directly (CLI)

If you’re using a Claude subscription (setup-token)

Verify

1) Show the actual error

2) Verify the Node path the service is using exists

3) Try a restart once (in case it was mid-restart)

Fix: paste the Gateway token into Control UI (don’t paste it into Discord)

1) Apply Doctor’s fixes

2) Reinstall + start the gateway LaunchAgent

3) If it still says “could not find service ai.openclaw.gateway”

Option A (usually enough): reset (keeps CLI installed)

Option B (full uninstall): remove everything

Option 1 (recommended): reinstall via the installer script (sets up CLI cleanly)

Option 2: reinstall the DMG app

1) (Recommended) stop + remove the Gateway service first

2) Uninstall the CLI package (pick the tool you used)

3) Verify it’s gone

Reinstall the OpenClaw CLI (fastest)

Alternative (if you’re using the DMG app)

If openclaw is still “not found” after install

Option A (easiest): manage the existing mac profile service

Option B: switch back to the default service name (ai.openclaw.gateway)

1) Check Node + OpenClaw versions

2) Check whether a gateway token is configured

3) Paste the crash reason (this is the key part)

4) Try starting again

Fix (don’t paste the token into Discord)

If the token command prints nothing / null

A) Connect Telegram (BotFather token)

B) Get the Telegram pairing code

C) Approve the pairing code (in Terminal on the Mac)

If you’re running everything locally on the Mac (DMG app)

If you accidentally ended up in remote mode

If you do intend to use remote mode

Fix (recommended)

Verify (safe to paste)

After a Mac restart, do I need to start the server?

Do I need a new token every time?

Fix = keep ONE gateway service + make its token match config

1) Remove the extra ai.openclaw.mac service (recommended)

2) Repair the default gateway service config (PATH + token)

3) Re-install the default LaunchAgent using the token from your config

If you still see “token stale / does not match” warnings

If you still have the extra ai.openclaw.mac service

1) Check the gateway is running

2) Open the dashboard (don’t rely on auto-open)

3) If it opens but says “unauthorized / token missing”

1) Open it manually

2) If it loads but says unauthorized / token missing

3) If the page is blank / won’t load

Set up the Chrome extension (browser relay)

Quick test

1) Gateway service exits (most common)

2) Control UI “disconnects” but gateway is fine

3) Agent “failed before reply”

When you DO need to restart

When you should NOT have to restart

The goal state

1) Right after it “crashes”, check gateway status

2) Paste the crash reason (most important)

3) Check Telegram channel health

Common causes I’ve seen for “Telegram works a few messages then dies”

First: what do you mean by “crash”?

If the Gateway actually stops (real crash)

If the Gateway stays running (not a crash)

If launchctl list does NOT show ai.openclaw.gateway

1) Repair the service config (this fixes the PATH drift)

If `openclaw` is still “not found” after install

Option A (easiest): manage the existing `mac` profile service

Option B: switch back to the default service name (`ai.openclaw.gateway`)

1) Remove the extra `ai.openclaw.mac` service (recommended)

If you still have the extra `ai.openclaw.mac` service

If `launchctl list` does NOT show `ai.openclaw.gateway`