# OpenClaw Installation Documentation

## Overview
The documentation provides comprehensive installation guidance for OpenClaw, emphasizing the installer script as the recommended approach. The page covers system requirements, multiple installation methods, and troubleshooting steps.

## Key Installation Methods

**Recommended approach:** The installer script handles both CLI setup and onboarding automatically.

**System prerequisites** include Node version 22 or higher, compatibility with macOS/Linux/Windows (WSL2), and pnpm only for source builds.

## Installation Options

1. **Installer script** - Automates global npm installation and runs onboarding
2. **Manual global install** - Direct npm or pnpm installation with optional flags
3. **Source installation** - Git clone approach for developers
4. **Alternative methods** - Docker, Nix, Ansible, and Bun options available

## Post-Installation

After setup completion, users should run the onboarding command and verify functionality with diagnostic tools. Run onboarding: `openclaw onboard --install-daemon` followed by health checks.

## Common Issues

The guide addresses PATH configuration problems, providing diagnostic commands and shell configuration solutions for systems where the `openclaw` command isn't recognized after installation.

## Additional Resources

References to related documentation include updating procedures, migration guidance, and uninstall instructions, with a pointer to the complete documentation index.