#what is ha ppening

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

thin flax
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────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
nino@Ninins:~$ openclaw install
error: unknown command 'install'
(Did you mean uninstall?)
nino@Ninins:~$ openclaw update
Updating OpenClaw...

Update Result: SKIPPED
Root: /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw
Reason: not-git-install
Before: 2026.3.2

Total time: 90ms
Skipped: this OpenClaw install isn't a git checkout, and the package manager couldn't be detected. Update via your package manager, then run openclaw doctor and openclaw gateway restart.
Examples: npm i -g openclaw@latest or pnpm add -g openclaw@latest
nino@Ninins:~$

forest cedarBOT
#

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

somber ivyBOT
#

openclaw install isn’t a command (there’s uninstall, and separately openclaw gateway install for installing the daemon/service).

What your output means:

  • You’re on an npm-style global install (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw), not a git checkout
  • openclaw update can’t self-update here because it couldn’t detect your package manager in PATH

Fix = update via your package manager, then run Doctor + restart:

pnpm add -g openclaw@latest # preferred
# or: npm i -g openclaw@latest

openclaw doctor
openclaw gateway restart
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If you meant “install the background service”, use onboarding or the gateway subcommand:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon
# or:
openclaw gateway install

Docs:

If that still says “package manager couldn’t be detected”, paste:

which openclaw; which pnpm; which npm; echo "$PATH"
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If this fixes it, please mark the solution message (right-click → Apps → Mark Solution) so Answer Overflow can index it.

thin flax
#

🦞 OpenClaw 2026.3.2 (85377a2) — I can run local, remote, or purely on vibes—results may vary with DNS.

Restarted systemd service: openclaw-gateway.service
openclaw update
Found stale gateway process(es): 1087.
Stopping stale process(es) and retrying restart...
Restarted systemd service: openclaw-gateway.service
nino@Ninins:~$ openclaw update
Updating OpenClaw...

Update Result: SKIPPED
Root: /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw
Reason: not-git-install
Before: 2026.3.2

Total time: 91ms
Skipped: this OpenClaw install isn't a git checkout, and the package manager couldn't be detected. Update via your package manager, then run openclaw doctor and openclaw gateway restart.
Examples: npm i -g openclaw@latest or pnpm add -g openclaw@latest
nino@Ninins:~$

somber ivyBOT
#

That output is still “working as designed”: openclaw update cannot upgrade an npm/global install by itself. It can only (a) git pull a git checkout, or (b) call your package manager if it can find one — and right now it can’t detect npm/pnpm in your PATH, so it skips.

Two quick checks on the box:

openclaw --version
command -v npm && npm -v
command -v pnpm && pnpm -v
node -v

If npm or pnpm exists

Upgrade OpenClaw via that tool:

pnpm add -g openclaw@latest # preferred
# 
# or: npm i -g openclaw@latest

openclaw doctor
openclaw gateway restart

If you don’t have npm/pnpm

That’s why detection fails. Easiest path is to reinstall via the installer (it sets you up cleanly), then run onboarding/doctor:

https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/updating
https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq#whats-the-recommended-way-to-install-and-set-up-openclaw

Also: your version is already 2026.3.2 — it might genuinely be the latest stable right now. The npm … @latest step will confirm either way.

thin flax
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Reinstall with: openclaw gateway install --force
nino@Ninins:~$ openclaw update
Updating OpenClaw...

Update Result: SKIPPED
Root: /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw
Reason: not-git-install
Before: 2026.3.2

Total time: 94ms
Skipped: this OpenClaw install isn't a git checkout, and the package manager couldn't be detected. Update via your package manager, then run openclaw doctor and openclaw gateway restart.
Examples: npm i -g openclaw@latest or pnpm add -g openclaw@latest
nino@Ninins:~$ openclaw --version
command -v npm && npm -v
command -v pnpm && pnpm -v
node -v
2026.3.2
/usr/local/bin/npm
11.9.0
v24.14.0
nino@Ninins:~$ pnpm add -g openclaw@latest # preferred
Command 'pnpm' not found, did you mean:
command 'npm' from deb npm (9.2.0~ds1-2)
Try: sudo apt install <deb name>

#

@somber ivy

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@somber ivy

somber ivyBOT
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Next step is just to actually run the package-manager update (since pnpm isn’t installed, use npm):

npm view openclaw version
sudo npm i -g openclaw@latest
openclaw --version
openclaw doctor
openclaw gateway restart

If after that you still see the hint about reinstalling the systemd unit, run:

openclaw gateway install --force
openclaw gateway restart