Error [ERR_UNSUPPORTED_ESM_URL_SCHEME]: Only URLs with a scheme

[exotic burrow]

Openclaw 2026.4.24
│
◇ Model/auth provider
│ OpenRouter
Error [ERR_UNSUPPORTED_ESM_URL_SCHEME]: Only URLs with a scheme in: file, data, and node are supported by the default ESM loader. On Windows, absolute paths must be valid file:// URLs. Received protocol 'c:'

[wet tartan]

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[short nexus]

This looks like the native Windows C:\... ESM path bug, not an OpenRouter auth/key problem. There’s an OpenClaw issue with the exact Received protocol 'c:' failure during provider setup on Windows. (github.com)

You’re on 2026.4.24 stable; beta is newer right now, so I’d try:

openclaw update --channel beta
openclaw --version
openclaw models status

openclaw update --channel beta is the documented channel-switch/update path and should also run checks/restart where possible. (docs.openclaw.ai)

If it still fails, please paste:

openclaw status --all

node -v
openclaw update status

Also: if this is native Windows, WSL2 is still the pragmatic fallback if beta doesn’t clear it.

[exotic burrow]

Beta working 👍🏻

[short nexus]

Nice, glad beta cleared it 🎉

If that fixed it, please right-click the solution message → Apps → ✅ Mark Solution so Answer Overflow indexes it for the next Windows/OpenRouter person. 🦐