--- summary: "Full reference for CLI onboarding: every step, flag, and config field" read_when: - Looking up a specific onboarding step or flag - Automating onboarding with non-interactive mode - Debugging onboarding behavior title: "Onboarding reference" sidebarTitle: "Onboarding Reference" --- This is the full reference for `openclaw onboard`. For a high-level overview, see [Onboarding (CLI)](/start/wizard). For step-by-step behavior and outputs, see [CLI setup reference](/start/wizard-cli-reference). ## Flow details (local mode) - `--reset` resets state before setup runs; without it, re-running onboarding keeps existing config and reuses it as defaults. - `--reset-scope` controls what `--reset` removes: `config` (config file only), `config+creds+sessions` (default), or `full` (also removes the workspace). - If the config file is invalid, onboarding stops and tells you to run `openclaw doctor` first, then re-run setup. - Reset moves state to Trash (never deletes directly). - First run (or any run before `wizard.securityAcknowledgedAt` is set) asks you to confirm you understand that agents are powerful and full system access is risky. - `--non-interactive` requires `--accept-risk` explicitly; without it, onboarding exits with an error instead of prompting. - Interactive runs get a confirm prompt instead of the flag; declining cancels setup. - **Anthropic API key**: uses `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` if present or prompts for a key, then saves it for daemon use. - **Anthropic Claude CLI**: preferred local path when a Claude CLI sign-in already exists; OpenClaw still supports Anthropic setup-token auth as an alternative. - **OpenAI Code (Codex) subscription (OAuth)**: browser flow; paste the `code#state`. - On a fresh setup with no primary model, sets `agents.defaults.model` to `openai/gpt-5.6-sol` through the Codex runtime. - **OpenAI Code (Codex) subscription (device pairing)**: browser pairing flow with a short-lived device code. - On a fresh setup with no primary model, sets `agents.defaults.model` to `openai/gpt-5.6-sol` through the Codex runtime. - **OpenAI API key**: uses `OPENAI_API_KEY` if present or prompts for a key, then stores it in auth profiles. - On a fresh setup with no primary model, sets `agents.defaults.model` to `openai/gpt-5.6`; the bare direct-API model id resolves to the Sol tier. - Adding or reauthenticating OpenAI preserves an existing explicit primary model, including `openai/gpt-5.5`. If the account does not expose GPT-5.6, select `openai/gpt-5.5` explicitly; OpenClaw does not silently downgrade the model. - **xAI OAuth**: device-code browser sign-in with no localhost callback required, so it works over SSH/Docker/VPS too (`--auth-choice xai-oauth`). - **xAI API key**: prompts for `XAI_API_KEY` (`--auth-choice xai-api-key`). - `--auth-choice xai-device-code` still works as a manual-only compatibility alias for the same xAI OAuth device-code flow; use `xai-oauth` for new scripts. - **OpenCode**: prompts for `OPENCODE_API_KEY` (or `OPENCODE_ZEN_API_KEY`, get it at https://opencode.ai/auth) and lets you pick the Zen or Go catalog. - **Ollama**: offers **Cloud + Local**, **Cloud only**, or **Local only** first. `Cloud only` prompts for `OLLAMA_API_KEY` and uses `https://ollama.com`; the host-backed modes prompt for the Ollama base URL (default `http://127.0.0.1:11434`), discover available models, and auto-pull the selected local model when needed; `Cloud + Local` also checks whether that Ollama host is signed in for cloud access. - More detail: [Ollama](/providers/ollama) - **API key**: stores the key for you. - **Vercel AI Gateway (multi-model proxy)**: prompts for `AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY`. - More detail: [Vercel AI Gateway](/providers/vercel-ai-gateway) - **Cloudflare AI Gateway**: prompts for Account ID, Gateway ID, and `CLOUDFLARE_AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY`. - More detail: [Cloudflare AI Gateway](/providers/cloudflare-ai-gateway) - **MiniMax**: config is auto-written; hosted default is `MiniMax-M3`. API-key setup uses `minimax/...`, and OAuth setup uses `minimax-portal/...`. - More detail: [MiniMax](/providers/minimax) - **StepFun**: config is auto-written for StepFun standard or Step Plan on China or global endpoints. - Standard currently defaults to `step-3.5-flash`; Step Plan also includes `step-3.5-flash-2603`. - More detail: [StepFun](/providers/stepfun) - **Synthetic (Anthropic-compatible)**: prompts for `SYNTHETIC_API_KEY`. - More detail: [Synthetic](/providers/synthetic) - **Moonshot (Kimi K2)**: config is auto-written. - **Kimi Coding**: config is auto-written. - More detail: [Moonshot AI (Kimi + Kimi Coding)](/providers/moonshot) - **Custom Provider**: works with OpenAI-compatible, OpenAI Responses-compatible, or Anthropic-compatible endpoints. Non-interactive flags: `--auth-choice custom-api-key`, `--custom-base-url`, `--custom-model-id`, `--custom-api-key` (optional; falls back to `CUSTOM_API_KEY`), `--custom-provider-id` (optional; auto-derived from the base URL), `--custom-compatibility openai|openai-responses|anthropic` (default `openai`), `--custom-image-input` / `--custom-text-input` (override inferred vision-model detection). - **Skip**: no auth configured yet. - Pick a default model from detected options (or enter provider/model manually). For best quality and lower prompt-injection risk, choose the strongest latest-generation model available in your provider stack. - Onboarding runs a model check and warns if the configured model is unknown or missing auth. - API key storage mode defaults to plaintext auth-profile values. Use `--secret-input-mode ref` to store env-backed refs instead (for example `keyRef: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENAI_API_KEY" }`); the referenced env var must already be set, or onboarding fails fast. - Auth profiles live in `~/.openclaw/agents//agent/auth-profiles.json` (API keys + OAuth). `~/.openclaw/credentials/oauth.json` is legacy import-only. - More detail: [OAuth](/concepts/oauth) Headless/server tip: complete OAuth on a machine with a browser, then copy that agent's `auth-profiles.json` (for example `~/.openclaw/agents//agent/auth-profiles.json`, or the matching `$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/...` path) to the gateway host. `credentials/oauth.json` is only a legacy import source. - Default `~/.openclaw/workspace` (configurable). - Seeds the workspace files needed for the agent bootstrap ritual. - Full workspace layout + backup guide: [Agent workspace](/concepts/agent-workspace) - Port (default **18789**), bind, auth mode, tailscale exposure. - Auth recommendation: keep **Token** even for loopback so local WS clients must authenticate. - In token mode, interactive setup offers: - **Generate/store plaintext token** (default) - **Use SecretRef** (opt-in) - Quickstart reuses existing `gateway.auth.token` SecretRefs across `env`, `file`, and `exec` providers for onboarding probe/dashboard bootstrap. - If that SecretRef is configured but cannot be resolved, onboarding fails early with a clear fix message instead of silently degrading runtime auth. - In password mode, interactive setup also supports plaintext or SecretRef storage. - Non-interactive token SecretRef path: `--gateway-token-ref-env `. - Requires a non-empty env var in the onboarding process environment. - Cannot be combined with `--gateway-token`. - Disable auth only if you fully trust every local process. - Non-loopback binds still require auth. - [WhatsApp](/channels/whatsapp): optional QR login. - [Telegram](/channels/telegram): bot token. - [Discord](/channels/discord): bot token. - [Google Chat](/channels/googlechat): service account JSON + webhook audience. - [Mattermost](/channels/mattermost) (plugin): bot token + base URL. - [Signal](/channels/signal) (plugin): optional `signal-cli` install + account config. - [iMessage](/channels/imessage): `imsg` CLI path + Messages DB access; use an SSH wrapper when the Gateway runs off-Mac. - Discord, Feishu, Microsoft Teams, QQ Bot, Slack, and other channels ship as plugins onboarding can install for you. Full catalog: [Channels](/channels). - DM security: default is pairing. First DM sends a code; approve via `openclaw pairing approve ` or use allowlists. - Pick a supported provider such as Brave, Codex (Hosted Search), DuckDuckGo, Exa, Firecrawl, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, MiniMax Search, Ollama Web Search, Parallel, Perplexity, SearXNG, or Tavily (or skip). - API-backed providers can use env vars or existing config for quick setup; key-free providers use their provider-specific prerequisites instead. - Skip with `--skip-search`. - Configure later: `openclaw configure --section web`. - macOS: LaunchAgent - Requires a logged-in user session; for headless, use a custom LaunchDaemon (not shipped). - Linux (and Windows via WSL2): systemd user unit - Onboarding attempts to enable lingering via `loginctl enable-linger ` so the Gateway stays up after logout. - May prompt for sudo (writes `/var/lib/systemd/linger`); it tries without sudo first. - Native Windows: Scheduled Task first; if task creation is denied, OpenClaw falls back to a per-user Startup-folder login item and starts the Gateway immediately. - **Runtime selection:** Node is required because the canonical runtime state store uses `node:sqlite`. Legacy Bun services are migrated to Node during repair. - If token auth requires a token and `gateway.auth.token` is SecretRef-managed, daemon install validates it but does not persist resolved plaintext token values into supervisor service environment metadata. - If token auth requires a token and the configured token SecretRef is unresolved, daemon install is blocked with actionable guidance. - If both `gateway.auth.token` and `gateway.auth.password` are configured and `gateway.auth.mode` is unset, daemon install is blocked until mode is set explicitly. - Starts the Gateway (if needed) and runs `openclaw health`. - Tip: `openclaw status --deep` adds the live gateway health probe to status output, including channel probes when supported (requires a reachable gateway). - Reads the available skills and checks requirements. - Lets you choose a node manager: **npm / pnpm / bun**. - Auto-installs optional dependencies for trusted bundled skills (some use Homebrew on macOS). - Skips skills whose Homebrew, uv, or Go installer prerequisite is unavailable, groups them with manual setup guidance, and points you at `openclaw doctor` once the prerequisite is installed. - Summary + next steps, including the **How do you want to hatch your agent?** prompt for Terminal, Browser, or later. If no GUI is detected, onboarding prints SSH port-forward instructions for the Control UI instead of opening a browser. If the Control UI assets are missing, onboarding attempts to build them; fallback is `pnpm ui:build` (auto-installs UI deps). ## Non-interactive mode Use `--non-interactive --accept-risk` to automate or script onboarding (the flag is the required risk acknowledgement; onboarding exits with an error without it): ```bash openclaw onboard --non-interactive --accept-risk \ --mode local \ --auth-choice apiKey \ --anthropic-api-key "$ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \ --gateway-port 18789 \ --gateway-bind loopback \ --install-daemon \ --daemon-runtime node \ --skip-skills ``` Add `--json` for a machine-readable summary. Gateway token SecretRef in non-interactive mode: ```bash export OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN="your-token" openclaw onboard --non-interactive --accept-risk \ --mode local \ --auth-choice skip \ --gateway-auth token \ --gateway-token-ref-env OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN ``` `--gateway-token` and `--gateway-token-ref-env` are mutually exclusive. `--json` does **not** imply non-interactive mode. Use `--non-interactive --accept-risk` (and `--workspace`) for scripts. Provider-specific command examples live in [CLI Automation](/start/wizard-cli-automation#provider-specific-examples). Use this reference page for flag semantics and step ordering. ### Add agent (non-interactive) ```bash openclaw agents add work \ --workspace ~/.openclaw/workspace-work \ --model openai/gpt-5.6-sol \ --bind whatsapp:biz \ --non-interactive \ --json ``` `main` is a reserved agent id and cannot be used for `openclaw agents add`. ## Gateway wizard RPC The Gateway exposes the onboarding flow over RPC (`wizard.start`, `wizard.next`, `wizard.cancel`, `wizard.status`). Clients (macOS app, Control UI) can render steps without re-implementing onboarding logic. ## Signal setup (signal-cli) Onboarding detects whether `signal-cli` is on `PATH` and, if missing, offers to install it: - Linux x86-64: downloads the official native GraalVM build from the `signal-cli` GitHub releases and stores it under `~/.openclaw/tools/signal-cli//`. - macOS and other architectures: installs via Homebrew instead. - Native Windows: not supported yet; run onboarding inside WSL2 to get the Linux install path. - Writes `channels.signal.cliPath` to your config either way. ## What the wizard writes Typical fields in `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`: - `agents.defaults.workspace` - `agents.defaults.skipBootstrap` when `--skip-bootstrap` is passed - `agents.defaults.model` / `models.providers` (if Minimax chosen) - `tools.profile` (local onboarding defaults to `"coding"` when unset; existing explicit values are preserved) - `gateway.*` (mode, bind, auth, tailscale) - `session.dmScope` (local onboarding defaults this to `"per-channel-peer"` when unset; existing explicit values are preserved. Details: [CLI Setup Reference](/start/wizard-cli-reference#outputs-and-internals)) - `channels.telegram.botToken`, `channels.discord.token`, `channels.matrix.*`, `channels.signal.*`, `channels.imessage.*` - Channel DM allowlists when you opt in during the channel prompts. Discord, Matrix, Microsoft Teams, and Slack resolve names to IDs when possible; other channels take IDs directly (for example numeric Telegram sender IDs or WhatsApp phone numbers). - `skills.install.nodeManager` - `setup --node-manager` accepts `npm`, `pnpm`, or `bun`. - Manual config can still use `yarn` by setting `skills.install.nodeManager` directly. - `wizard.lastRunAt` - `wizard.lastRunVersion` - `wizard.lastRunCommit` - `wizard.lastRunCommand` - `wizard.lastRunMode` - `wizard.securityAcknowledgedAt` `openclaw agents add` writes `agents.list[]` and optional `bindings`. WhatsApp credentials go under `~/.openclaw/credentials/whatsapp//`. Active sessions and transcripts are stored in `~/.openclaw/agents//agent/openclaw-agent.sqlite`. The `~/.openclaw/agents//sessions/` directory is used for legacy migration inputs and archive/support artifacts. Some channels are delivered as plugins. When you pick one during setup, onboarding will prompt to install it (npm or a local path) before it can be configured. ## Related docs - Onboarding overview: [Onboarding (CLI)](/start/wizard) - CLI setup reference: [CLI setup reference](/start/wizard-cli-reference) - macOS app onboarding: [Onboarding](/start/onboarding) - Config reference: [Gateway configuration](/gateway/configuration) - Providers: [WhatsApp](/channels/whatsapp), [Telegram](/channels/telegram), [Discord](/channels/discord), [Google Chat](/channels/googlechat), [Signal](/channels/signal), [iMessage](/channels/imessage) - Skills: [Skills](/tools/skills), [Skills config](/tools/skills-config)