30-MINUTE
SETUP GUIDE

Introduction

• OpenClaw needs a server — not your laptop. When your laptop sleeps, your bot dies.
• Hostinger is the easiest place to start: 1-click deploy, beginner-friendly, cheap.
• This takes about 30 minutes.

Setup Your VPS

Pick your plan:

(I earn a small commission if you use these links — costs you nothing extra.)

• Scroll down in the cart, click Ubuntu, then select Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from the dropdown
• Pick a server location close to your location
• Skip all add-ons & checkout
• Your VPS will be ready to install OpenClaw in 2–5 minutes!

SSH In

• Hostinger will email you when your VPS is ready (usually 2–5 minutes after checkout)
• Log in at hpanel.hostinger.com → click VPS in the left menu → click Manage next to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• On the Overview page you'll find your IP address and root password
• Click Browser Terminal on the Overview page to open a terminal session where you will type code

Install OpenClaw

• Copy the code below and paste into that black terminal window (this is how you talk to your VPS)
• This will update the system and then install OpenClaw

apt update && apt upgrade -y && curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

• Wait 5–10 minutes — don't close the terminal
• You're done when you see OpenClaw installed successfully!

Verify & Log In

• Run this in your terminal:

openclaw doctor

• All [✓]? Good. Any [✗]? Jump to Troubleshooting.
• Open a browser and go to http://YOUR_IP:3000
• Log in with the credentials from your terminal
• Change your password and bookmark the page

Connect Telegram

• Open Telegram → search @BotFather → send /newbot → copy your API Token
• In OpenClaw: Channels → Add Channel → Telegram → paste token → Connect
• Send your bot a message in Telegram, then test it in OpenClaw
• You know it works if it replies.

Also supports WhatsApp, Signal, Slack, and Discord — see the channel guides to connect them.

Troubleshooting

• SSH Refused? Hostinger Dashboard → VPS → Firewall → open ports 22 and 3000
• Install Frozen? Ctrl+C, add swap, then retry:

fallocate -l 2G /swapfile && chmod 600 /swapfile && mkswap /swapfile && swapon /swapfile
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.com/install.sh | bash

• Channel Won't Connect? Check your API key — no extra spaces
• Server Sluggish? systemctl restart openclaw
• Command Not Found? echo 'export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc

Add Your API Keys

OpenClaw works with OpenAI, Gemini, and Claude out of the box. Add your keys here so your bot has a brain.

• In OpenClaw: go to Settings → AI Providers
• Click Add Key next to the provider you want
• Paste your API key — no extra spaces
• Click Save, then Test Connection to confirm it works

Where to get your keys:

You only need one. If you're not sure which to use, start with OpenAI — it's the most widely tested with OpenClaw.

Next Steps

OpenClaw is running. Here's where to go from here: