How to Set Up Clawdbot: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Own Personal AI Assistant (2026 Edition)
In this post we are going to learn to install Clawdbot and then use it. I will also show you commands to install and configure.
In the age of AI assistants, Clawdbot is one of the most exciting projects to emerge. Unlike traditional cloud-hosted assistants, Clawdbot lets you run your own AI assistant on your computer or server and connect it directly to your favorite messaging apps — such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, or iMessage — so it becomes truly personal and always available.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what Clawdbot is, why it’s different, and exactly how to set it up step by step.
What Is Clawdbot and Why It Matters
Clawdbot is an open-source personal AI assistant you run yourself. It acts like an intelligent agent that lives inside the messaging platforms you already use. You don’t need to open a separate app — just talk to Clawdbot like you talk to a friend, and it can:
- Remember your preferences and past conversations over time.
- Proactively send reminders, briefings, or alerts instead of waiting for questions.
- Perform real computer-level tasks like browser automation, web research, and file operations.
- Give you full control over your data and configuration by being self-hosted.
Because it’s self-hosted and extensible, Clawdbot bridges the gap between AI chatbots and full-fledged AI assistants that perform work for you.
Prerequisites Before You Start
Before you begin setting up Clawdbot, make sure you have:
✔ Node.js (version 22 or higher) installed
✔ A terminal or command-line interface (macOS, Linux, or Windows with WSL2)
✔ Basic familiarity with command-line tools
✔ Optional: API key for large language models (Anthropic Claude or OpenAI)
Step 1: Install Clawdbot
The first step is to install Clawdbot globally so you can use its CLI (command-line interface). You can do this using npm or pnpm:
npm install -g clawdbot@latest
# or, if you prefer pnpm:
pnpm add -g clawdbot@latest
This installs the core Clawdbot CLI tools you’ll need to configure and run your assistant.
Step 2: Run the Onboarding Wizard
Once Clawdbot is installed, you’ll want to run the onboarding wizard — the recommended way to get started.
clawdbot onboard --install-daemon
What the wizard does:
✔ Sets up the local Gateway (the control plane for Clawdbot)
✔ Configures your LLM provider (Claude/OAI)
✔ Guides you through messaging platform connections (like WhatsApp/Telegram/Discord)
✔ Creates the agent workspace and initial skills
This wizard simplifies much of the configuration and is ideal for beginners.
Step 3: Start the Clawdbot Gateway
The Gateway is the engine that runs Clawdbot and routes messages between messaging platforms and your LLM.
Run the gateway with:
clawdbot gateway --port 18789
If everything is configured correctly, the gateway should start listening on the default port (18789). You’ll leave this running in the background while you use Clawdbot.
Step 4: Pair and Connect Messaging Platforms
Now that the gateway is running, you need to connect your messaging platforms so Clawdbot can send and receive messages through them.
For WhatsApp, you’ll pair via the CLI:
clawdbot login
This will show a QR code that you scan with the phone linked to your assistant number. From that point on, your Clawdbot can send and receive WhatsApp messages as itself.
Telegram
To connect with Telegram:
- Create a bot through the Telegram Botfather.
- Copy the bot token.
- Add it to Clawdbot’s config (DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN equivalent for Telegram).
Discord
For Discord:
- Create an application on the Discord Developer Portal.
- Add a bot to the application.
- Enable necessary intents and invite the bot to your server.
- Set DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN in your Clawdbot config.
Each platform has slightly different steps, but Clawdbot’s onboarding wizard and docs help streamline them.
Step 5: Configure Your Workspace
Clawdbot uses a workspace directory — typically ~/clawd — where it stores memory files, agent instructions, tools, and custom prompts. You can treat this directory like your assistant’s brain:
- AGENTS.md: agent instructions
- SOUL.md: personality & behavior
- TOOLS.md: tools it can invoke
- IDENTITY.md: identity details
You can change the workspace location or customize these files to tailor Clawdbot’s behavior.
Step 6: Customize Skills and Automations
Clawdbot supports skills, which are modular capabilities that extend what your assistant can do — from summarizing your email to automating workflows. You can install skills from community hubs or write your own.
Because Clawdbot is open source, the sky’s the limit: create skills for project management, automation, research assistance, or business tasks.
Tips for a Smooth Setup
✔ Start simple: Pair just one messaging channel first before adding others.
✔ Add API keys early: If you use Claude or OpenAI, add your key during onboarding.
✔ Keep the gateway running as long as you want your assistant available.
✔ Secure your configuration: Don’t expose your gateway publicly without secure authentication.
✔ Backup your workspace: Treat it like your assistant’s memory vault.
What Clawdbot Can Do for You
Once set up, Clawdbot becomes more than a chatbot — it becomes a true AI assistant:
0- 24/7 availability on your messaging apps.
- Contextual and persistent memory across conversations.
- Proactive alerts and reminders instead of passive replies.
- Automation of real-world tasks like fetching data, organizing files, or managing calendars.
Many users even deploy Clawdbot to a small VPS so it runs nonstop, giving them a private AI assistant that works while their personal devices are off.
Conclusion: Your AI Assistant, Your Rules
Clawdbot represents a new wave of AI personal assistants — ones you control. By hosting it yourself, configuring your own workflows, and integrating the messaging platforms you actually use, you create an assistant that is truly yours.
Whether you’re a developer, productivity enthusiast, or just curious about personal AI, Clawdbot offers an unmatched combination of power, privacy, and flexibility.
1Ready to build your own personal AI assistant? Dive in — and let Clawdbot take care of the rest.