Usage Guide

OpenClaw usage methods, core skills, common commands, and practical examples

Usage Methods

Method 1: Web UI (Recommended)

The simplest method, no external services required:

openclaw dashboard

Your browser will open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ where you can chat directly in the web interface.

Web UI is the recommended method as it works directly without any proxy requirements.

Method 2: Telegram Bot

1. Search for @BotFather on Telegram
2. Send /newbot to create a bot
3. Get the Bot Token
4. Enter the Token during openclaw onboard

If you’re in a region where Telegram requires a proxy:

export https_proxy=http://127.0.0.1:proxy-port
export http_proxy=http://127.0.0.1:proxy-port
openclaw gateway restart

Method 3: Other Platforms

OpenClaw also supports:

• WhatsApp (scan QR to connect)
• Discord (requires creating a Bot)
• Slack, Signal, iMessage, Microsoft Teams, etc.

Core Skills

OpenClaw comes with rich built-in skills for various tasks:

File Operations

Skill	Function
fs.read	Read files (text/images)
fs.write	Write/create files
fs.edit	Edit file content

System Operations

Skill	Function
shell.exec	Execute terminal commands
shell.process	Manage running commands
browser.*	Browser automation (open pages, screenshot, click, etc.)

Smart Features

Skill	Function
web_search	Web search
web_fetch	Fetch web content
memory_search	Search memory
memory_get	Retrieve memory
cron.*	Scheduled tasks (reminders, automation)
tts	Text-to-speech

Common Commands

Terminal Commands

Command	Function
openclaw onboard	Run setup wizard
openclaw gateway start	Start Gateway service
openclaw gateway restart	Restart Gateway service
openclaw gateway stop	Stop Gateway service
openclaw status	Check running status
openclaw doctor	Diagnose configuration issues
openclaw doctor --fix	Auto-fix configuration issues
openclaw dashboard	Open Web control panel
openclaw logs --follow	View real-time logs
openclaw configure	Modify configuration
openclaw update	Update to latest version

Chat Commands

Commands available in the chat window:

Command	Function
/help	Show help
/new	Start new conversation
/reset	Reset conversation
/stop	Stop current task
/think <level>	Set thinking depth
/model <id>	Switch model
/verbose on/off	Toggle verbose mode
/status	Check status
/skills	View available skills

Usage Examples

Chat naturally with OpenClaw and it will understand and execute tasks:

File Operations

> Create a test.txt file on my desktop with content "hello world"

> Read the content of ~/Documents/notes.txt

> Move all .png files from desktop to Pictures folder

Terminal Commands

> List all files on my desktop

> Check current system memory usage

> Install the Python requests library

Browser Control

> Open browser and visit google.com

> Search for the latest MacBook Pro prices

> Take a screenshot of the current webpage

Scheduled Tasks

> Remind me to drink water every day at 9am

> Remind me to take a break every hour

> Remind me about the meeting tomorrow at 3pm

Programming Assistance

> Write a Python script to batch rename files

> What's wrong with this code: [paste code]

> Create a simple HTML page for me

Recommended Models

OpenClaw supports 400+ mainstream AI models through APIYI. Choose the right model for different tasks.

View Model Recommendations

Check the latest scenario-based model recommendations, including text creation, programming, quick response, long document processing, and more.

Scenario-Based Recommendations

Task Type	Recommended Model	Reason
Complex Task Execution	Claude Sonnet 4	Strong comprehension, accurate execution
Daily Conversation	GPT-5.4	Natural responses, good versatility
Code Writing	DeepSeek V3.2	Strong coding ability, cost-effective
Long Document Processing	Gemini 3.1 Pro	Supports ultra-long context