NPM Install Taking forever.

[slate imp]

My Windows NPM install is taking forever to install

[wraith aspen]

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[indigo path]

Yeah, I wouldn’t just let that spin forever.

For Windows, the docs recommend either:

1. Best/smoothest: use WSL2
2. Native Windows: use the PowerShell installer instead of waiting on global npm

iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Docs say WSL2 is the more stable Windows path:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms/windows
https://docs.openclaw.ai/start/getting-started

Can you paste these too:

openclaw --version
node --version
npm --version

and the exact command you ran?

If openclaw installs but is “not recognized”, check:

npm config get prefix

On Windows that usually needs %AppData%\npm on your PATH.

If the error mentions git not found, install Git for Windows and reopen PowerShell.

Also useful reference:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/help/faq

Ah, yep, that’s the mismatch.

You ran the Linux/WSL installer (install.sh) from native PowerShell. I’d stop that one.

Use one of these instead:

If you’re in native Windows PowerShell:

iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

If you specifically want the git install on native Windows PowerShell:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git

If you want to use install.sh, run it inside WSL2, not PowerShell:

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

Docs:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/install
https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/installer
https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms/windows

Also, WSL2 is the more stable Windows path per the docs.

If the PowerShell git install still stalls, paste:

node --version
git --version

and the last few lines of output.

[slate imp]

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method gitamlaptop:~$ curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git
-sh: curl: not found
-sh: bash: not found
amlaptop:~$

[indigo path]

Yep, that shell is the problem.

You’re in a shell that doesn’t have curl or bash, so the Unix installer cannot run there.

Easiest fix

Go back to Windows PowerShell and run:

iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iex

If you want the git install specifically:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git

If you want the WSL2 path instead

First install/open a real Ubuntu WSL terminal:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04

Then inside Ubuntu, run:

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

Docs:
https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/installer
https://docs.openclaw.ai/platforms/windows

So, short version: don’t use that current sh prompt. Use PowerShell + install.ps1 or real WSL Ubuntu + install.sh.

[slate imp]

the powershell one is taking forever again...

[indigo path]

It normally shouldn’t. The docs say install is usually 2 to 5 minutes.

At this point I’d split install from onboarding, so we can see which part is hanging.

Try this in PowerShell

Set-PSDebug -Trace 1
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -NoOnboard
Set-PSDebug -Trace 0

If you want the git path specifically:

Set-PSDebug -Trace 1
& ([scriptblock]::Create((iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1))) -InstallMethod git -NoOnboard

Set-PSDebug -Trace 0

Then, if that finishes

openclaw --version
openclaw onboard --install-daemon

If it still hangs

Paste the last few lines it prints. That’ll tell us whether it’s stuck on:

• installing Node
• cloning/building git
• or starting onboarding

If it looks like it’s hanging on Node, install Node first with: