Set Up OpenClaw on Local (macOS)

Quick Overview

Running OpenClaw locally on macOS is perfect for testing and development. It's free, but only works while your Mac is on and awake.

Prerequisites

• macOS 13+ (Ventura or later)
• Docker Desktop for Mac installed

Setup Steps

# 1. Make sure Docker Desktop is running (check the whale icon in menu bar)

# 2. Create a project directory
mkdir -p ~/openclaw && cd ~/openclaw

# 3. Create docker-compose.yml
cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
services:
  openclaw:
    image: ghcr.io/nicepkg/openclaw:latest
    container_name: openclaw
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    environment:
      - OPENAI_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
      - GATEWAY_TOKEN=your-secret-token
EOF

# 4. Start OpenClaw
docker compose up -d

Verify

Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser.

Common Issues

Docker Desktop not running: You'll get "Cannot connect to the Docker daemon." Open Docker Desktop from Applications first.

Port 3000 in use: If another app uses port 3000, change the port mapping to "3001:3000" in docker-compose.yml.

Sleep kills the container: Prevent Mac from sleeping: System Settings → Energy → Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off.

macOS-Only Integrations

Running on macOS unlocks native integrations unavailable on Linux or VPS:

• Apple Notes — create, search, and edit notes via OpenClaw
• iMessage — send and receive iMessages