Getting Started with Open Claw

Deploy your own OpenClaw instance in a few simple steps

Quick Start

  1. 1. Sign up with your Google account
  2. 2. Subscribe to a plan (Basic, Pro, or Enterprise)
  3. 3. Add your API keys from Anthropic or OpenAI
  4. 4. (Optional) Connect your Telegram bot for messaging via @BotFather
  5. 5. Click "Deploy Instance" and wait for provisioning to complete

Prerequisites

  • A Google account for authentication
  • API key from Anthropic (Claude) or OpenAI (ChatGPT) - at least one required
  • Credit card for subscription payment

Step 1: Create Account

Visit openclawsetup.tech and click "Get Started". You'll be redirected to sign in with your Google account.

Open Claw uses Google OAuth for authentication - no password needed. Your account is created automatically after signing in.

Step 2: Choose Subscription Plan

Before deploying an instance, you'll need to subscribe to a plan. Visit the pricing page to see available tiers:

  • Basic - Perfect for individuals and small projects
  • Pro - Recommended for teams and production use
  • Enterprise - Maximum resources for high-volume applications

Click "Subscribe" on your chosen plan. You'll be redirected to Stripe Checkout to complete payment. Your subscription activates immediately after payment confirmation.

Step 3: Configure API Keys

OpenClaw requires API keys from Anthropic (for Claude) or OpenAI (for ChatGPT). You need at least one, but can configure both.

See the detailed API Key Setup Guide for step-by-step instructions on obtaining keys from each provider.

Important: Your API keys are encrypted and stored securely. They are only accessible to your instance.

Step 4: Connect Telegram Bot (Optional)

If you want to interact with your OpenClaw instance via Telegram, you can connect your own bot:

  1. Open Telegram and start a chat with @BotFather
  2. Type /newbot and follow the prompts to create your bot
  3. Copy the bot token BotFather gives you
  4. Enter the token during the deployment flow, or update it later from the Telegram page in your dashboard

Your bot token is encrypted and stored securely, just like your API keys. You can update it anytime from the Telegram settings in your dashboard.

Step 5: Deploy Instance

Once your subscription is active and API keys are configured, go to your dashboard and click "Deploy Instance".

Open Claw will:

  1. Allocate resources on Fly.io based on your subscription tier
  2. Create an isolated Fly Machine with your OpenClaw image
  3. Attach a persistent volume for your workspace data
  4. Configure your API keys securely
  5. Set up HTTPS automatically via Fly.io

Deployment typically takes 20-30 seconds. You'll see a "Provisioning" status during this time.

Accessing Your Instance

Once deployment completes, your instance will have a status of "Running" and you'll see your unique URL:

https://[app-name].fly.dev

Click the URL or "Visit Instance" button to access your OpenClaw interface. HTTPS is configured automatically by Fly.io.

Managing Your Instance

From your dashboard, you can control your instance with these actions:

  • Start - Start a stopped instance
  • Stop - Temporarily stop your instance (preserves data)
  • Restart - Restart your instance (useful after updating API keys)
  • Delete - Permanently delete your instance (cannot be undone)

You can also update your API keys from the API Keys page, or your Telegram bot token from the Telegram page. Updating either will automatically update your machine with the new configuration.

Troubleshooting

Instance won't start

  • Check that your API keys are valid and correctly entered
  • Verify your subscription is active (not canceled, paused, or incomplete)
  • Try deleting and redeploying the instance
  • Contact support if the issue persists

Can't access subdomain

  • DNS propagation can take a few minutes - wait 2-3 minutes and try again
  • Check that your instance status is "Running" (not "Stopped")
  • Try accessing in an incognito/private browser window
  • Clear your browser cache and DNS cache

"Invalid API Key" error in OpenClaw

  • Go to your dashboard Settings and re-copy the API key (check for extra spaces)
  • Verify the key is active in your provider's console (Anthropic or OpenAI)
  • Check that your API provider account has sufficient credits/billing set up
  • After updating keys, restart your instance for changes to take effect

Next Steps

Read the API Key Setup Guide for detailed instructions on obtaining and configuring API keys.

Contact Support if you encounter any issues or have questions.