gui click and use terminal | Friends of the Crustacean 🦞🤝 | Page 1

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:26 PM

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my message I have a terminal that opened with sudo su use it
openclaw message
The problem isn’t permission from you; it’s that I’m technically and policy‑wise not allowed to use your sudo password at all.

Even if you say:

• “I give you full authorization”
• “It’s just testing”
• “You won’t use it on your own”

I still must not:

• run sudo ... on your behalf, or
• act on the password you told me.

That line is hard and I can’t cross it.

So for anything that needs root:

• I will:
• give you the exact commands,
• explain what they do,
• then continue with all non‑root steps automatically.
• You must:
• run the sudo commands yourself and enter your password.

For this specific case, the only way forward is:

You run:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python3-tk python3-dev
Then tell me “done”.
I’ll then run (no sudo involved):
cd ~/.openclaw/workspace
source .desktop-control-venv/bin/activate
python skills/desktop-control/scripts/desktop_control.py type "hi"

and we continue from there.

light sageBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:26 PM

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

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:28 PM

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You’re absolutely right to call that out.

If the terminal is already root (sudo su done), then there’s no password handling left — root commands can be run in that session directly.

Use this flow:

whoami
# should print: root

apt-get update
apt-get install -y python3-tk python3-dev
exit

cd ~/.openclaw/workspace
source .desktop-control-venv/bin/activate

#

python skills/desktop-control/scripts/desktop_control.py type "hi"

If it still breaks, paste these two things and I’ll pinpoint it:

openclaw --version
the full error output from that last python ...desktop_control.py... command

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:32 PM

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I want open claw to be able to use root

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:33 PM

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Yep — you can make that work, but with one important constraint:

OpenClaw won’t type/handle your sudo password.
So “root automation” must be either:

OpenClaw already running as root (not recommended), or
sudo configured as NOPASSWD for specific commands (recommended pattern).

Quick sanity first (please paste output):

openclaw --version
openclaw status

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Then configure host execution + elevated mode (for your sender ID) and use:

Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/elevated
Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/exec-approvals
FAQ baseline: https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq

In chat/session, typical controls are:

/elevated on
/exec host=gateway security=allowlist ask=on-miss

If you want truly passwordless root actions, set sudoers for only the exact commands you trust (via visudo), then OpenClaw can run those with sudo ... non-interactively.

If you want, I can give you a minimal safe sudoers example for your exact command list (apt/systemctl/etc) so you don’t grant broad root.

OpenClaw

Elevated Mode - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Exec Approvals - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

FAQ - OpenClaw

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:35 PM

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elevated is not available right now (runtime=direct).
Failing gates: allowFrom (tools.elevated.allowFrom.webchat)
Fix-it keys:

tools.elevated.enabled
tools.elevated.allowFrom.<provider>
agents.list[].tools.elevated.enabled
agents.list[].tools.elevated.allowFrom.<provider>
See: openclaw sandbox explain --session agent:main:main

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:36 PM

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Perfect, that error is actually very informative.

You’re hitting two separate things:

elevated gate is blocked (allowFrom.webchat)
You want root, which elevated alone does not guarantee

Important reality check

Your manually opened sudo su terminal is not the shell OpenClaw executes in.
OpenClaw runs its own exec process as the gateway user.

So to get root behavior, you need either:

gateway running as root (not recommended), or
sudo allowed non-interactively for specific commands (NOPASSWD) for the gateway user.

#

Fix the current elevated gate error

First, please run and paste:

openclaw --version

Then enable elevated + allow your sender on the provider that failed (webchat):

openclaw config set tools.elevated.enabled true
openclaw config set tools.elevated.allowFrom.webchat '["250985156154753026"]'
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw sandbox explain --session agent:main:main

If you also use Discord control, add:

#

openclaw config set tools.elevated.allowFrom.discord '["250985156154753026"]'
openclaw gateway restart

For actual root automation

Even after elevated works, root still needs sudo policy.
If you want, I’ll give you a tight sudoers snippet (least-privilege, command-scoped) for exactly the commands you need.

Docs:

Elevated: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/elevated
Sandbox explain / gates: https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/sandbox-vs-tool-policy-vs-elevated
Exec approvals: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/exec-approvals

OpenClaw

Elevated Mode - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Sandbox vs Tool Policy vs Elevated - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Exec Approvals - OpenClaw

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:38 PM

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I use telegram

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cant you tell me after this what changed

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:39 PM

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Perfect — then the allowlist key must be telegram, not webchat.

Use your numeric Telegram user ID in tools.elevated.allowFrom.telegram.

openclaw config set tools.elevated.enabled true
openclaw config set tools.elevated.allowFrom.telegram '["<YOUR_TELEGRAM_NUMERIC_ID>"]'
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw sandbox explain --session agent:main:main

If you don’t know your Telegram ID, easiest is:

DM your bot once
run openclaw logs --follow
read from.id from the inbound message

Then in Telegram chat, test:

#

/elevated on

One more reminder: even with elevated working, OpenClaw still won’t type a sudo password.
For true root automation, you need command-scoped sudo NOPASSWD for the gateway user.

Docs:

OpenClaw

Elevated Mode - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Sandbox vs Tool Policy vs Elevated - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Telegram - OpenClaw

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Yes — absolutely.
Even if you run the sudo step, I can still tell you exactly what changed afterward.

Typical flow:

You run the root commands
Say “done” (or paste output)
I verify and summarize changes, e.g.:

which packages were installed/upgraded
versions now present
whether tkinter import works
what command works next

For your case, after you run:

#

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y python3-tk python3-dev

I’ll check and report clearly what changed, then continue with:

cd ~/.openclaw/workspace
source .desktop-control-venv/bin/activate
python skills/desktop-control/scripts/desktop_control.py type "hi"

So yes — you won’t be blind after the sudo step.

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:41 PM

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I want openclaw to be able to use interface screen and copy past programs everything

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:42 PM

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Got it. If your goal is “use screen/UI + copy/paste + run programs”, OpenClaw can do a lot of that — but not “everything everywhere” out of the box.

What works today

Web UI automation (click/type/navigate) via browser tool ✅
Run programs/commands on host or node (system.run) ✅
Screen capture/recording via nodes ✅
Full desktop app click/keyboard automation: possible mainly with macOS tooling / advanced setup ⚠️

Minimal setup path (Telegram control)

Check version:

openclaw --version

Pair your device as a node:

openclaw devices list

#

openclaw devices approve <requestId>
openclaw nodes status
openclaw nodes describe --node <idOrName>

Ensure exec approvals are not blocking:

openclaw approvals get --node <idOrName>

If needed, set session exec target:

/exec host=node security=allowlist node=<idOrName>

Important limitation

Opening sudo su in your own terminal does not automatically give OpenClaw that shell.
OpenClaw runs in its own execution context.

#

If you want, tell me your OS (macOS / Linux / Windows) and I’ll give you the exact “full-control” setup for that platform.

Docs:

Nodes: https://docs.openclaw.ai/nodes
Node troubleshooting: https://docs.openclaw.ai/nodes/troubleshooting
Exec approvals: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/exec-approvals
Browser automation: https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/browser

OpenClaw

Nodes - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Node Troubleshooting - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Exec Approvals - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Browser (OpenClaw-managed) - OpenClaw

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:44 PM

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is it impossible in terminal ?

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in linux mint

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:46 PM

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Not impossible — just constrained.

In terminal/OpenClaw:

✅ It can run commands
✅ It can keep using shells/processes it started itself
❌ It cannot “take over” a random terminal tab you opened manually
❌ It cannot type/handle your sudo password

So root in practice is possible only if:

OpenClaw process already runs as root (not recommended), or
You allow specific sudo commands with NOPASSWD (recommended), then it can run those non-interactively.

So: terminal use is possible, passworded sudo automation is the part that isn’t.

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Yep — same on Linux.

It’s not impossible in Linux terminal; same rules apply:

OpenClaw can run terminal commands
It can’t use your typed sudo password
Root automation needs NOPASSWD (or running gateway as root, which I don’t recommend)

If you want this cleanly on Linux, do a wrapper script + sudoers allowlist:

# as your user
cat > /tmp/openclaw-root-task.sh <<'EOF'
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
apt-get update
apt-get install -y python3-tk python3-dev

#

EOF

sudo install -m 700 -o root -g root /tmp/openclaw-root-task.sh /usr/local/sbin/openclaw-root-task.sh
sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers.d/openclaw

Add in sudoers (replace YOUR_USER with the user running OpenClaw):

YOUR_USER ALL=(root) NOPASSWD: /usr/local/sbin/openclaw-root-task.sh

Then OpenClaw can run:

sudo /usr/local/sbin/openclaw-root-task.sh

#

If you want, I can tailor this to your exact OpenClaw service user so you can paste it directly.

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 1:55 PM

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what about control extensions in chrome like running etc

#

and click in chrome interface

#

type

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 1:56 PM

#

If you mean Chrome extensions specifically:

Normal websites in Chrome: yes, OpenClaw can automate those well.
Extension internals/popups (chrome://extensions, toolbar popups, etc.): limited / less reliable.
Running local programs: that’s not a Chrome-extension thing — use exec/system.run (node/host).

Best pattern:

Use browser automation for web pages
Use node/exec for local apps/scripts
Only use extension attach/relay mode when you explicitly need your live Chrome session

If you want, I can give you the exact setup for:

Telegram + live Chrome session, and
Telegram + run local Linux programs
as one clean config path.

#

Yep — clicking inside Chrome pages is supported ✅

OpenClaw can:

open tabs
find buttons/inputs
click/type/submit

Best mode:

openclaw profile = isolated controlled browser (recommended)
user profile = your real signed-in Chrome session (needs attach approval)

Quick sanity checks:

openclaw browser --browser-profile openclaw status
openclaw browser --browser-profile openclaw start
openclaw browser --browser-profile openclaw open https://example.com

#

openclaw browser --browser-profile openclaw snapshot

Then in chat you can ask naturally:
“open chrome, go to X, click Y, fill Z”.

If you want, I’ll give you a Telegram-ready mini setup so it can do this reliably every time.

#

Yes — typing is supported too ✅

OpenClaw can click an input and type text (including form submit).
You can ask: “open X, click username field, type Y, click login.”

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 2:07 PM

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Exec approval is required, but chat exec approvals are not enabled on Telegram.

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 2:09 PM

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Exactly — that error means exec asked for approval, but Telegram isn’t configured as an approval client yet.

Enable it with:

openclaw config set channels.telegram.execApprovals.enabled true
openclaw config set channels.telegram.execApprovals.approvers '["<YOUR_TELEGRAM_NUMERIC_ID>"]'
openclaw config set channels.telegram.execApprovals.target dm
openclaw gateway restart

If you want approval prompts in the same Telegram chat/topic instead of DM, use:

openclaw config set channels.telegram.execApprovals.target channel
# or "both"

#

Then approve with /approve <id> allow-once (or button, if enabled).

Docs:

OpenClaw

Exec Approvals - OpenClaw

OpenClaw

Telegram - OpenClaw

spring lotus Mar 22, 2026, 2:12 PM

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Error: Config validation failed: channels.webchat: unknown channel id: webchat

ancient anchorBOT Mar 22, 2026, 2:15 PM

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Nice catch — that error means your config has an invalid key:

channels.webchat ❌ (not a valid channel id)

Remove it:

openclaw config unset channels.webchat
openclaw config validate

Then use Telegram keys instead, e.g.:

openclaw config set channels.telegram.execApprovals.enabled true
openclaw config set channels.telegram.execApprovals.approvers '["<YOUR_TELEGRAM_ID>"]'

#gui click and use terminal

Important reality check

Fix the current elevated gate error

For actual root automation

What works today

Minimal setup path (Telegram control)

Important limitation