What do I need before installing OpenClaw?

A Mac, Linux, or Windows machine with WSL2 and a recent Node.js. The installer provisions what it can; onboarding then reuses an existing Claude Code or Codex login or a provider API key and verifies with a real completion.

How do I know OpenClaw setup worked?

The onboarding finishes by opening the dashboard and running a verified completion. Afterwards, openclaw mcp list shows your registered servers and the gateway stays up in the foreground until you install it as a background service.

How do I add Locus Pro to OpenClaw?

Register the hosted MCP server with one command, approve access with openclaw mcp login, and confirm with openclaw mcp list. From then on the agent discovers paid tools by outcome and every call settles from one prepaid balance.

Is Locus Pro required to use OpenClaw?

No. OpenClaw works with free MCP servers on its own. Locus Pro is the step that adds paid capabilities — specialist search, enrichment, finance, voice, and verification — without a separate account at each provider.

What do I need before installing OpenClaw?

A Mac, Linux, or Windows machine with WSL2 and a recent Node.js. The installer provisions what it can; onboarding then reuses an existing Claude Code or Codex login or a provider API key and verifies with a real completion.

How do I know OpenClaw setup worked?

The onboarding finishes by opening the dashboard and running a verified completion. Afterwards, openclaw mcp list shows your registered servers and the gateway stays up in the foreground until you install it as a background service.

How do I add Locus Pro to OpenClaw?

Register the hosted MCP server with one command, approve access with openclaw mcp login, and confirm with openclaw mcp list. From then on the agent discovers paid tools by outcome and every call settles from one prepaid balance.

Is Locus Pro required to use OpenClaw?

No. OpenClaw works with free MCP servers on its own. Locus Pro is the step that adds paid capabilities — specialist search, enrichment, finance, voice, and verification — without a separate account at each provider.

Guide

How to set up OpenClaw

Published 2026-09-15 · Updated 2026-09-15 · By Locus

OpenClaw is an open-source agent framework with a gateway, a control UI, and a CLI. Setup takes six steps: install, onboard, and connect your tools — including Locus Pro for paid APIs. Work through them in order.

Setup, step by step

Step 1
Check Node.js
OpenClaw needs a recent Node. Check yours first; the installer provisions the rest.
```
node --version
```
Step 2
Install OpenClaw
On macOS, Linux, or WSL2, run the installer. On Windows, use the PowerShell installer instead.
```
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
```
Step 3
Onboard
Start onboarding, connect your model access, and let it verify with a real completion. Keep the gateway in the foreground until everything works.
```
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
```

Step 4

Add Locus Pro

openclaw mcp set locus '{"url":"https://api.paywithlocus.com/api/credits/mcp","transport":"streamable-http","auth":"oauth"}'

Step 5
Approve access
Complete OAuth for the Locus Pro server, then confirm it is registered.
```
openclaw mcp login locus
```
Step 6
Verify tools
List registered servers and ask the agent to search the Locus catalog for a capability, such as company enrichment, to confirm paid calls work.
```
openclaw mcp list
```

What the Locus Pro step buys you

Steps 1 to 3 give you a working agent with free tools. Steps 4 and 5 add the paid layer: thousands of specialist APIs the agent discovers by outcome, each with its price shown up front, settled per call from one balance with policy controls. No per-provider accounts, keys, or subscriptions. For what to install next, see the best tools for an OpenClaw agent.

Locus Pro connection guide See pricing

How to set up OpenClaw

Setup, step by step

What the Locus Pro step buys you

Keep going

Frequently asked questions