October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
VGSources
Blog

How to Deploy OpenClaw With Docker on a VPS

A practical, security-conscious guide to deploying OpenClaw with Docker on a rented Linux VPS, including image choices, offline installs, Browser Control UI, mounts and upgrades.
Length10 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To deploy OpenClaw on a rented Linux VPS, install Docker and Compose, clone the OpenClaw repository, run the repository’s official ./scripts/docker/setup.sh script, and start the gateway with docker compose up -d openclaw-gateway. The script builds an openclaw:local image by default, but you can point OPENCLAW_IMAGE at an official pre-built image. Secure the VPS before exposing the gateway, and treat memory, release tags and script locations as version-sensitive details.

What this deployment creates

OpenClaw runs as a Dockerized gateway on your VPS. Docker supplies the application environment, while Docker Compose starts and manages the gateway service from the OpenClaw repository. You administer the server over SSH; the gateway should not be placed directly on the public internet without access control.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The maintained starting point is the OpenClaw GitHub repository. The procedure below follows the repository’s Docker workflow. Because image tags, release numbers and setup files can change, check the current repository contents before running a production deployment.

Plan the VPS before installing

Choose a Linux server with SSH access

Provision a rented Linux VPS and create a normal deployment user with SSH access. A tested example in third-party documentation is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, while another Docker project uses Ubuntu 24.04. Neither version was confirmed as an official OpenClaw requirement, so treat both as examples rather than compatibility guarantees.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Gaoye Blue Light Blocking Glasses
  • BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES: Our blue light glasses for women boast UV400 protection, blocking harmful blue rays from computer screens. With these bluelight glasses women, you can enjoy gaming, reading, or watching TV with no worries of eye strain.
  • EYE RELIEF: Our blue light glasses are engineered to reduce blurry vision or strain caused by prolonged screen time. These womens blue light glasses aid in better sleep by preventing blue light from disrupting your natural sleep cycle, helping you fall asleep faster and enjoy a more restful night's sleep, making them the perfect christmas present.
  • COMFORTABLE: Crafted from durable material, our trendy blue light glasses for woman or blue light glasses men ensure long-lasting comfort. The high-transmittance lenses accessories, gamer gifts for men, help keep your eyes relaxed. Perfect stocking stuffers, gifts for gamers men, christmas gifts for men, halloween costumes.
  • LIGHTWEIGHT: These clear blue light glasses feature a lightweight frame, meaning they’ll stay comfy for long-term wear. Perfect as blue blockers glasses for women or mens blue light glasses, these non-prescription fake glasses for men can be worn throughout the day. The blue light blocking glasses women feature polycarbonate HD lenses, which are anti-reflective and restore true color.
  • WORRY-FREE PURCHASE: If you experience any issues, our support team is ready to assist you quickly. These are the perfect costume glasses for cosplay dressing up.

Allow enough memory for the image strategy

Local image builds are the heavier option. Third-party deployment guides commonly recommend at least 2 GB of RAM for a local build and warn that a 1 GB VPS can run out of memory. The official Docker material reviewed here did not establish a RAM figure, so 2 GB is a conservative planning recommendation, not an official minimum.

Do not install Node.js just for the Docker path

The Docker deployment does not require Node.js on the host. A separate, non-Docker installation guide reportedly requires Node.js 22.12.0 or later from release 2026.2.21 onward; that requirement does not apply to the containerized path described here.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Decide whether to build or pull an image

Choice What happens Best fit Main trade-off
Local build The setup script builds and tags openclaw:local. A host with sufficient RAM, or an environment where you want to build from the checked-out source. More build time and memory pressure, especially on a small VPS.
Official pre-built image OPENCLAW_IMAGE points Compose at a published image. Faster installation and smaller build workload. You must select and trust the official registry image and keep its tag under control.
Offline image load An image is transferred to the VPS and loaded before the setup script is run with --offline. Hosts without usable registry access. The exact image must already exist locally; the flag does not fetch it.

Harden the VPS first

Several independent deployment guides identify an exposed OpenClaw instance without firewall controls as a practical risk. These are general server-hardening measures, not a statement of OpenClaw policy.

  • Use a non-root deployment account for Docker administration and application files.
  • Use key-only SSH authentication instead of password login where your provider supports it.
  • Enable a host firewall and allow only the SSH and web or service ports you actually need.
  • Do not publish the OpenClaw gateway port to every internet address. Put it behind an access-control layer, private network, or other authenticated route.
  • Keep the operating system, Docker Engine, Compose plugin and OpenClaw checkout updated according to your maintenance policy.

Docker’s group membership grants broad control over the host. Add only the account that needs to operate Compose, and avoid treating membership in the docker group as equivalent to an unprivileged role.

Install Docker and Compose

Use your distribution’s supported packages when possible

Install Docker Engine and the Docker Compose plugin using the package method supported by your Linux distribution. Confirm that both commands work before cloning OpenClaw:

docker --version
docker compose version

The convenience-script route

Third-party OpenClaw guides often use Docker’s convenience installer at get.docker.com. If you choose that route, review the script and understand that it changes system packages and services:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Add your deployment user to the Docker group if that is how you intend to run Compose:

sudo usermod -aG docker <deploy-user>

Log out of the SSH session and connect again before testing the group change. Running groups after reconnecting should show the new membership. If you do not want to grant group access, run Docker commands with sudo instead.

Rank #2
Windex Gaming Cleaning Wipes, Pre-Moistened Wipes to Instantly Clean all Gaming Gear and Electronics, Resealable Packaging for a Freshness Lock, 25 count (Pack of 1)
  • WINDEX GAMING WIPES: effortlessly clean all your gaming gear and gaming electronics in one easy step with our new Windex Gaming Wipes
  • AMMONIA FREE: our ammonia-free formula is safe to use on all of your favorite gaming equipment like consoles, headsets, controllers, screens, keyboards, and more
  • PRE-MOISTENED WIPES: each wipe instantly removes dust, dirt, and stubborn smudges and fingerprints leaving a streak-free shine
  • ANTI-STATIC: great for cleaning and wiping down your gaming gear and electronics leaving behind no visible residue
  • COMPACT RESEALABLE PACKAGE: store your pack of Windex Gaming Wipes anywhere in your home for whenever a quick and easy wipedown is needed

Clone OpenClaw and inspect the checkout

  1. Connect to the VPS as the deployment user.
  2. Clone the repository and enter its root directory:
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

Run the setup script from this directory. The official Docker instructions use ./scripts/docker/setup.sh. A root-level docker-setup.sh appears in some raw files and third-party projects, but it is not the path to substitute automatically. Confirm that the official script exists in the checkout you cloned:

test -f ./scripts/docker/setup.sh && echo "Docker setup script found"

If that check fails, stop and inspect the current repository documentation or checkout rather than downloading an unrelated script.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Choose an image source

Local build: the default workflow

The official setup flow builds the Gateway image locally and tags it openclaw:local. This keeps the build tied to the source tree you checked out, but it uses more CPU, disk and RAM than pulling an existing image. A small 1 GB VPS may fail during the build; plan for at least 2 GB as a conservative figure, while recognizing that the official snippet reviewed did not publish a formal memory minimum.

Pre-built image from an official registry

Set OPENCLAW_IMAGE to a published image instead of building. The Docker guide identifies GitHub Container Registry as the primary source and a Docker Hub mirror as an alternative. Use the image reference and tag documented by the OpenClaw project. Do not use an image merely because it has “openclaw” in its name: listings such as dhso/openclaw and an alpine/openclaw image used by a third-party project are not official images, and the official guide warns against unofficial mirrors.

Manual local build

If you need to separate image construction from onboarding, build explicitly from the repository root:

docker build -t openclaw:local -f Dockerfile .

After the build finishes, run onboarding and start the gateway with Compose as described in the next sections.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Run the official setup script

From the repository root, run:

./scripts/docker/setup.sh

The script prepares the Docker deployment and, in the normal online workflow, builds the local image unless you have configured OPENCLAW_IMAGE for a published image. Follow any onboarding prompts it presents and keep the generated environment files in the repository directory that Compose will use.

Do not copy a setup script from a blog or a similarly named repository. The path above is the one documented by the OpenClaw Docker instructions; the presence of other filenames is an indication that versions or forks differ.

Rank #3
Sale
LISEN Cell Phone Stand Phone Holder for Desk, Office Decor Gadgets for Men
  • Ergonomic & Adjustable Design: Fight "text neck" and improve your posture. Designed for comfort, it offers an adjustable height (7.1in-8.5in) (1.4in adjustable range) and angle (5°-85°) Please note: cell phone stand is only 9 inches tall—the length of a standard pencil
  • Without blocking subtitles Perfect for office desk Tiktok Face Time Zoom video—this is the ultimate kitchen desk essential for phones! Perfect viewing experience while reducing neck back strain, A must-have for gamers streamers desk, and anyone who values both style and support!
  • Sleek & Stable Design fits Otterbox Case: Say goodbye to bent cables, tangles, and tip-overs! LISEN’s stylish adjustable desk phone holder features a built-in charging hole and smart cable management, keeping your phone secure and your workspace clutter-free cool gadgets for men
  • ANTI-SLIP DESIGN free hands: The under 10.00 items easy gadgets back and the bottom of this kitchen essentials for women are fully covered by anti-skid silicone, which LISEN stand up desk decor can provide maximum protection device from any scratches and slides
  • Your Perfect Viewing Companion:If your product arrives damaged or breaks within 365 days, reach out to LISEN for a quick and hassle-free solution. Struggling with assembly, like tightening the screw? We’ve got your back! Your experience matters to us. (Product including: phone Holder stand*1, screw*1, hexagon screwdriver*1, specification*1)

Start the OpenClaw gateway

Still in the OpenClaw repository root, start the gateway service:

docker compose up -d openclaw-gateway

Compose will use the project’s files and environment settings. Check the service state and follow its logs when diagnosing onboarding or startup problems:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
docker compose ps
docker compose logs -f openclaw-gateway

Leave the log command with Ctrl+C; that stops log viewing, not the container. Use docker compose down only when you intentionally want to stop the Compose application.

Install without registry access

The setup script supports an offline mode, but --offline does not create an image. First obtain the exact image on a connected machine, transfer it to the VPS, and load it into Docker. A conventional transfer workflow is:

# On a connected machine, after obtaining the approved image
docker save -o openclaw-image.tar <approved-image-reference>

# Copy openclaw-image.tar to the VPS, then on the VPS
docker load -i openclaw-image.tar

Use the image reference expected by your Compose configuration. Once the image is present locally, run:

./scripts/docker/setup.sh --offline

Offline mode checks for the image and disables implicit Compose pulls and builds. If the image was not loaded first, the script cannot fetch a replacement and the deployment will fail.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Enable the Browser Control UI

For the Browser Control UI, select the latest-browser tag or a pinned release tag ending in -browser, using the official image source. For an existing Compose installation, change OPENCLAW_IMAGE in the project’s .env file, then pull and recreate the Gateway with the same Compose files.

# Edit .env so OPENCLAW_IMAGE names the approved browser-enabled tag
# Then, from the repository root:
docker compose pull openclaw-gateway
docker compose up -d openclaw-gateway

Pinning a browser tag gives you a repeatable deployment, while latest-browser follows the moving latest tag. Whichever you choose, record the tag so an upgrade or rollback is deliberate rather than accidental.

Rank #4
Ledagic IC+RGBW USB Powered Led Light Bar with App & Remote Control, 2 Pack
  • Easy Installation: Our gaming lights have been designed to enhance your entertainment experience. Simply position the led light bar next to your TV or game console to create a game room environment with ease. They come with USB power and a 60 inch cord for direct mounting and mobility
  • Audio Syncing & Extensive Mode: The built-in high-sensitivity music sensor allows you to sync the TV led lights to your favorite music. Lights react and move to the beat of music, film and game audio, creating an incredible immersive sound and light experience – and all without the need for an additional hub. You can choose from 64+ patterns, including strobe, illusion, jump, energy, gradient, running, chasing, fluttering mode etc. Each mode can be applied to different scenes
  • 64+ Chasing IC+RGB & W Effect: The independent control design of IC+RGB and white all-in-one multifunctional rgbw led bar lights monitor backlight allows you to easily switch the led lights for desk between IC+RGB and white to enjoy a variety of lighting effects, you can choose white lighting mode with high brightness for better illumination when working, etc. Choose IC+RGB lighting mode when you need to create an entertaining atmosphere for the light show, 16 million colours of Color changing rgb light bar let you dance to the beat and create a dynamic party atmosphere
  • Dynamic and Dimmable Lights: 1%-full brightness free brightness adjustment gives you the flexibility to adjust dimmable led light bar for room decorations or a variety of occasions
  • USB Powered: USB light bars for room can be powered by powernank, usb charger, TV, Monitor, laptop PC mainframe, making behind TV led lighting bar easy to install in any location.TV led lights are powered by the TV usb interface / PC mainframe, can be turned on/off synchronously with TV / PC

Handle extra mounts and persistent home storage

If you enable OPENCLAW_EXTRA_MOUNTS or OPENCLAW_HOME_VOLUME, the setup script generates docker-compose.extra.yml. Compose file order matters: the generated extra file must come after any override file so its settings are applied last.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
docker compose 
  -f docker-compose.yml 
  -f docker-compose.override.yml 
  -f docker-compose.extra.yml 
  up -d openclaw-gateway

If you use only the base Compose file, omit the override file. If you have an override but omit docker-compose.extra.yml, the generated mounts or home volume will not be included. Keep mount paths and permissions consistent with the container’s expected user so the gateway can read and write the intended data.

Upgrade without losing control of the deployment

Update the source checkout

Before changing versions, back up any data mounted into the container and record the current Git revision, image reference and environment settings. Pull the desired repository revision, review its Docker instructions and rerun the setup process if the project changes its Compose files or onboarding steps.

Upgrade a pre-built image

Change OPENCLAW_IMAGE in .env to the new approved tag, then pull and recreate the gateway with the same Compose files:

docker compose pull openclaw-gateway
docker compose up -d openclaw-gateway

Do not silently replace an image with a similarly named third-party mirror. The official guide’s registry warning applies during upgrades as well as initial installation.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Pin versions carefully

One 2026 guide lists release 2026.2.21 as a minimum and 2026.3.1 as a recommendation, but those numbers are time-sensitive and were not established as permanent official requirements. Check the current OpenClaw release before pinning an image or source revision. A pinned tag is useful for reproducibility; a moving tag reduces manual update work but can change behavior unexpectedly.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Troubleshoot the common failure modes

The setup script cannot be found

Make sure you are in the cloned repository root and use ./scripts/docker/setup.sh. Do not assume that a root-level docker-setup.sh from another checkout is interchangeable. If the official path is absent, inspect the current repository version before proceeding.

The build runs out of memory

A local build is the most likely pressure point on a tiny VPS. Stop the build, check available memory, and move to a larger server or use an approved pre-built image. The 2 GB planning figure comes from third-party guidance rather than a confirmed official minimum.

Best Value
Sale
HUANUO FlowLift™ Dual Monitor Stand, Fully Adjustable Gaming Monitor Desk Mount for 13–32″ Computer Screens, Full Motion VESA 75x75/100x100 with C-Clamp & Grommet Base, Each Arm Holds 4.4 to 19.8 lbs
  • Compatible with Wide Screens - To ensure compatibility with the dual monitor mount, your each monitor must meet three conditions at the same time: First, computer screens size range: 13 to 32 inches. Second, screen weight range: 4.4 to 19.8 lbs. Third, the back of the monitor screen must have VESA mounting holes with a pitch of 75x75mm or 100x100mm.
  • Regarding the compatibility with desks - Your desk must meet three conditions at the same time: First, desk material: Only wooden desks are recommended, plastic or glass desks cannot be used. Second, desk thickness range: 0.59" - 3.54". Third, the bottom of the desk should not have any cross beams or panels, as this will interfere with installation. We recommend carefully checking that your desk and monitors meets all above conditions before purchasing.
  • Dual C-Clamp Hold - Worried your dual monitors might wobble or slip? Our upgraded base uses a larger platform plus a dual C-clamp structure to lock the dual monitor arm firmly to your desk. Each arm safely keeps your screens steady while you type, click and game—no shaking, no sliding, just a clean and secure setup you can trust every day. It also provides Grommet Mounting installation choice, both options ensure stable and secure fixation for your 0.59" - 3.54" desk.
  • Full-Motion Adjustment For Comfortable View - Pull the screen closer when you’re deep in a spreadsheet, push it back to watch videos, or rotate to portrait for coding — moving everything smoothly with just one hand. The monitor stand offers +85°/-50° tilt, ±90° swivel and 360° rotation. Raise your monitor up to 15.75″ to support a healthy sitting posture. Whether you’re working from home, gaming through the night, or switching between video calls and documents, getting the screens to your natural line of sight helps relieve neck, shoulder and back strain so you can stay focused longer with less fatigue.
  • Keep Your Desk Organized: By lifting both screens off the desktop, this dual monitor stand opens up valuable space for your keyboard, notebook, docking station or a simple, clutter-free work area. Built-in cable management guides wires along the arms, keeping cords out of sight and out of the way. Enjoy a tidy, modern workstation that looks as good as it feels to use.

Compose tries to pull or build in offline mode

Confirm that the exact image named by OPENCLAW_IMAGE is present in the local Docker image list and that you ran ./scripts/docker/setup.sh --offline from the repository root. Offline mode only disables implicit operations; it cannot supply a missing image.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Your Docker group change has no effect

Disconnect and reconnect over SSH after running usermod. A currently open shell keeps its old group list. If you still cannot access the Docker socket, either correct the group membership or run the command with sudo.

The Browser Control UI does not appear

Check that OPENCLAW_IMAGE names latest-browser or a pinned -browser release tag, then pull and recreate the gateway. Merely editing .env does not replace an already running container.

Mounts or the home volume are missing

Verify that the relevant environment variable is enabled and that docker-compose.extra.yml is included after docker-compose.override.yml. Recreate the gateway after changing Compose inputs so the new configuration is applied.

The gateway is reachable from the public internet

Review the VPS firewall and the Compose networking configuration. Restrict inbound access before continuing operation. A running container is not, by itself, an access-control strategy.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Local build or pre-built image: which should you use?

Decision question Local build Pre-built official image
Do you have a small VPS? Riskier because the build consumes more memory; 1 GB systems have been reported to fail. Usually avoids the local build workload.
Do you need an offline deployment? Possible if the resulting image is transferred and loaded first. Possible if the selected official image is transferred and loaded first.
How do you upgrade? Update the source checkout and rebuild according to the current instructions. Change OPENCLAW_IMAGE, pull, and recreate the gateway.
What must you verify? The repository revision, Dockerfile and build result. The registry provenance and exact tag; avoid unofficial mirrors.

For most rented VPSs, a pre-built image is the practical choice when the official registry is reachable and provenance matters more than compiling locally. A local build remains useful when you deliberately want the checkout’s build output and have enough memory to complete it.

Deployment checklist

  • Linux VPS provisioned with SSH access and a non-root deployment account.
  • Key-based SSH and a firewall enabled before public exposure.
  • Docker Engine and Docker Compose verified with docker --version and docker compose version.
  • OpenClaw cloned from https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git.
  • Official script path confirmed as ./scripts/docker/setup.sh.
  • Image strategy selected: local openclaw:local, approved pre-built image, or preloaded offline image.
  • At least 2 GB of RAM planned for a local build as a conservative, non-official recommendation.
  • Gateway started from the repository root with docker compose up -d openclaw-gateway.
  • Browser UI, if required, configured with latest-browser or a pinned -browser tag.
  • Extra mounts and home volumes started with docker-compose.extra.yml after override files.
  • Image tag, source revision and environment settings recorded for upgrades and rollback.

What to re-check before publishing or deploying

This procedure was checked on October 14, 2026. The setup script location, release numbers and image tags are volatile; re-check the current OpenClaw Docker instructions and repository tree before November 13, 2026, or immediately before a production deployment if the project has released a newer version.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More quests from Patch Notes

  1. How to Set Up a RedM (RDR2) Server in 2026: License Key, txAdmin and server.cfg, Step by StepBlog11min
  2. Best RedM (RDR2) Server Hosting in 2026: Comparing Four Hosts on Slots, Memory and PriceBlog10min
  3. How to Host a Mindustry Server in 2026: server-release.jar, Port 6567 and the Commands That MatterBlog7min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.