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“OpenClaw not running on Windows” is not one failure. The cause may be a missing Git executable during installation, a global npm path that PowerShell cannot see, a Gateway service that never started, a Windows Hub WSL2 setup problem, or a healthy Gateway that cannot authenticate or reach a channel. Identify which Windows mode owns your installation, then test that layer with the matching command and log. Do not reinstall everything or start a second Gateway until you know whether Windows Hub, native Windows, or WSL2 owns the existing process.
What does “OpenClaw not running on Windows” actually mean?
OpenClaw has several Windows deployment paths, and each fails differently. Windows Hub is a managed desktop companion that can provision an app-owned WSL Gateway. A native Windows installation runs the CLI and Gateway directly from Windows. A manual WSL2 installation runs the Gateway inside a Linux distribution. The same symptom—nothing appears to happen—can therefore originate in the installer, shell environment, service lifecycle, WSL provisioning, or channel connectivity.
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The official Windows documentation describes WSL2 as “the most Linux-compatible Gateway runtime on Windows.” That makes it a useful option when Linux compatibility is the priority, but it does not guarantee that every native Windows or account problem will disappear. Start by matching your commands, logs, and restart actions to the environment that owns the Gateway.
Which Windows installation mode am I using?
Choose the row that matches how you installed or launched OpenClaw. Run status commands in that same environment; a command run in Windows PowerShell does not report a Gateway running inside a WSL distribution.
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| Mode | Typical workflow | Gateway runtime | Lifecycle and logs | Where commands run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Hub | Desktop companion with guided local setup | App-owned WSL Gateway | Windows Hub Gateway controls, Command Center, and setup log | Windows Hub for management; WSL for Linux-side work when required |
| Native Windows CLI/Gateway | Terminal-first installation and service control | Directly in Windows | Gateway service controls and OpenClaw logs | PowerShell or another Windows terminal |
| Manual WSL2 | OpenClaw installed inside a selected WSL distribution | Linux under WSL2 | The Linux-side Gateway process and its logs | The WSL distribution’s shell |
The platform distinctions and Windows setup paths are documented in OpenClaw’s Windows guide.
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Those messages mean the installer cannot execute Git for Windows. Install Git for Windows, make sure its executable is on the Windows PATH, close the current PowerShell window, open a new one, and retry the OpenClaw installation.
- Install Git for Windows using your organization’s approved software channel.
- During setup, allow Git to be available from the command line so Windows can resolve
git. - Close every PowerShell window that was open before Git was installed or its PATH was changed.
- Open a fresh PowerShell session and verify that the shell can resolve Git with
git --version. - Run the OpenClaw installer again in that new session.
If the error appears only when cloning from GitHub or authenticating with GitHub CLI, the problem may be network access rather than the local Git executable. Some networks block or throttle HTTPS to GitHub; the Windows documentation suggests trying another network, a VPN, or an HTTP/HTTPS proxy in that narrower case.
Why does PowerShell say “openclaw is not recognized” after installation?
Usually the package installed successfully but its global npm command directory is not on the user PATH. Ask npm which prefix it is using, add that directory—not a guessed subfolder—to PATH, then reopen PowerShell.
- Run
npm config get prefixand note the directory returned by npm. - Add the corresponding global npm command directory to your user PATH. The OpenClaw FAQ says this is commonly
%AppData%npm; do not append abinsuffix to that Windows path. - Save the environment-variable change and close the existing terminal.
- Open a new PowerShell window and test
openclaw --version.
Windows Hub’s app-managed CLI can use a different location: %USERPROFILE%.openclawbinopenclaw.cmd. If that folder is not on PATH, invoke that full path or add its containing directory to PATH. These command-discovery fixes are covered in the OpenClaw first-run FAQ.
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How do I verify a native Windows installation?
The Windows guide documents a PowerShell installer followed by version, doctor, and Gateway checks. Treat these as documented commands for the supported setup path, not as a promise that every OpenClaw release or Windows environment is compatible without adjustment.
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- In a new PowerShell window, run
iwr -useb https://openclaw.ai/install.ps1 | iexif you are following the native Windows installation path. - Confirm command discovery with
openclaw --version. - Run
openclaw doctorto surface configuration or environment problems. - Inspect the Gateway state as structured output with
openclaw gateway status --json.
If the version command fails, stay on the PATH branch. If the version works but the Gateway status is unhealthy, move to service ownership and Gateway diagnostics rather than reinstalling the CLI.
How do I check which process owns the Gateway?
Use the control surface belonging to your mode. Starting a second copy can create a port conflict and make a working installation appear broken.
Native Windows Gateway
Run openclaw gateway status --json in PowerShell. Use the Gateway’s owning service controls to stop or restart it, and inspect the Gateway logs when the status reports a failure. If no managed service was installed, run openclaw gateway run in the foreground so the terminal displays the startup error directly.
Manual WSL2 Gateway
Open the WSL distribution where OpenClaw was installed and run the status check there. Windows PowerShell is not the authoritative shell for a Linux-side process, so a Windows command can mislead you about the WSL Gateway’s state.
Windows Hub
Open Windows Hub’s Gateway controls and Command Center. Let the app manage its app-owned WSL Gateway instead of launching an unrelated native process from PowerShell.
Why does the Gateway start and then stop?
A Gateway that launches and exits has a runtime error that must be fixed before a restart policy can help. The official Windows guide gives an occupied port as one example: the process starts, cannot bind successfully, and exits.
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- Read the error in the Gateway log or the foreground output from
openclaw gateway run. - Check whether another OpenClaw Gateway or unrelated process is already using the configured port.
- Correct the logged cause, then run
openclaw gateway startfor the managed service.
The Windows guide notes that Task Scheduler’s RestartOnFailure behavior may not restart a process that launches and then exits with an error. Restarting repeatedly without fixing the logged cause therefore does not address this failure mode.
How do I troubleshoot Windows Hub local setup?
When Windows Hub cannot provision its local Gateway, begin with the setup log rather than the general Windows Event Viewer. Open the log from the app or directly at %LOCALAPPDATA%OpenClawTrayLogsSetupeasy-setup-latest.txt.
The Windows documentation identifies four recurring categories:
- WSL is disabled: enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature and retry the app setup.
- Virtualization is blocked: hardware or firmware virtualization restrictions can prevent the WSL environment from starting.
- Stale app-owned WSL state: an earlier partial setup can leave the managed distribution in a state the app cannot reuse.
- Gateway package download failure: network filtering or an interrupted download can stop provisioning before the Gateway is installed.
Use the exact error and timestamp from easy-setup-latest.txt to decide which category applies. Do not treat a Hub provisioning failure as proof that a native Windows CLI installation is broken; they have different owners and logs.
How do I set up OpenClaw manually under WSL2?
Manual WSL2 is a separate Linux environment, not merely another Windows terminal. Follow the Windows guide’s sequence inside the selected distribution, and keep Linux-side commands inside that distribution.
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- Install or select a WSL distribution.
- Configure systemd in
/etc/wsl.confas required by the OpenClaw Linux setup. - From Windows, restart the WSL virtual machine with
wsl --shutdown. - Reopen the distribution and install OpenClaw using its Linux quickstart.
- Check Gateway status from the WSL shell, then keep the Gateway lifecycle under that environment’s controls.
The WSL2 procedure and the distinction between app-managed and manual environments are described in the official Windows documentation. WSL2 can provide the closest Linux-compatible runtime, but it still depends on enabled WSL, working virtualization, and a successful package download.
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What should I check when the Gateway runs but no replies arrive?
A running Gateway does not prove that model authentication, channel permissions, or the client connection is correct. Run the official health sweep on the Gateway host, then follow the first failing result.
- Run
openclaw statusfor an overall health view. - Run
openclaw models statusto verify model authentication on the machine that actually hosts the Gateway. - Run
openclaw channels statusto inspect channel connectivity and state. - Run
openclaw logs --followwhile sending a test message so you can correlate the request with the error.
Common causes at this layer include missing model credentials on the Gateway host, channel pairing that has not been completed, an allowlist that excludes the sender, or a missing or incorrect WebChat/Dashboard token. For a remote setup, also verify the tunnel or Tailscale connection and that the client can reach the Gateway’s WebSocket endpoint. These checks narrow the fault; they do not by themselves establish which setting is wrong.
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Network and permission failures are narrower branches and should be matched to their symptoms.
GitHub and package-network failures
If Git cannot clone, GitHub CLI authentication fails, or Windows Hub cannot download the Gateway package, test the network path. The Windows documentation specifically mentions networks that block or throttle HTTPS to GitHub and suggests another network, a VPN, or an HTTP/HTTPS proxy.
Device and notification permissions
If the Gateway starts but camera, microphone, screen-capture, or notification features fail, inspect Windows privacy and application permissions. Those permissions explain a device-feature symptom; they do not explain an installer that cannot find Git or a Gateway service that exits immediately.
What is the fastest order for diagnosing this problem?
Work from the outside in so that an earlier failure does not hide a later one:
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- Identify Windows Hub, native Windows, or manual WSL2 ownership.
- Resolve installer prerequisites such as Git when the installer reports
git not foundorspawn git. - Resolve command discovery when PowerShell reports that
openclawis not recognized. - Check Gateway status in its owning environment and avoid starting a competing copy.
- Read the startup or setup log if the process exits or Windows Hub provisioning fails.
- Only after the Gateway is healthy, test model authentication, channel pairing, allowlists, tokens, and remote WebSocket connectivity.
This order separates installation, process lifecycle, provisioning, and messaging faults instead of applying a single reinstall to unrelated symptoms.
What should I record before asking for help?
Capture the deployment mode, Windows or WSL shell used, the exact command that failed, and the complete error text. Include the output of the relevant status command—especially openclaw gateway status --json—plus the timestamped setup or Gateway log lines around the failure. State whether the issue is command discovery, Gateway startup, Hub provisioning, or missing replies; that classification lets someone troubleshoot the correct owner without asking you to repeat every installation step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep Windows Hub and a manual WSL2 Gateway installed on the same PC?
You can have both environments present, but treat them as separate installations with separate lifecycle controls. Keep only the Gateway you intend to use active for a given endpoint; two active copies can compete for the same port and produce misleading status results.
Does switching to WSL2 guarantee that OpenClaw will work?
No. WSL2 is documented as the most Linux-compatible Gateway runtime on Windows, not as a universal repair. It still requires functioning WSL, virtualization, a valid Linux setup, and successful authentication and channel configuration.
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Include the installation mode, the shell or WSL distribution involved, the exact failing command, and a timestamped excerpt from the relevant log. Add status output and describe whether the failure is installation, Gateway startup, provisioning, or message delivery.
Should I reinstall OpenClaw before trying these checks?
Usually no. Reinstallation cannot add Git to PATH, repair a blocked virtualization setting, release an occupied port, or authorize a channel. Identify the failing layer first so you do not erase useful logs or create a second Gateway.
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