Guides & Tutorials

Learn OpenClaw

Troubleshooting fixes, setup guides, and everything you need to get the most out of your AI assistant.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Fix: OpenClaw 401 Invalid Bearer Token — Auth Config Mismatch

Getting 401 errors or 'No API key found for provider anthropic'? Your OpenClaw config files are probably out of sync. Here's the fix.

Fix: Context Overflow & Token Burn from Large Tool Outputs in OpenClaw

OpenClaw burning through tokens or crashing from context overflow? Large tool outputs are bloating your session. Here's how compaction works and when to reset.

Fix: OpenClaw Cron Jobs Created But Never Fire

Created a cron job in OpenClaw via the API but it never runs? It's probably missing nextRunAtMs. Here's why and how to fix it with the CLI instead.

Fix: Discord 'Failed to Resolve Application ID' in OpenClaw

Getting 'Failed to resolve Discord application id' in OpenClaw? You're probably confusing the bot token with the application ID. Here's the full fix.

Fix: Discord WebSocket Resume Loop in OpenClaw (Code 1005)

Your OpenClaw Discord bot processes messages but can't deliver responses? Here's how to fix the infinite WebSocket resume loop with code 1005 — and how to prevent it.

Fix: OpenClaw Not Responding — No Output After Install

OpenClaw installed but getting no response? Blank terminal, silent WhatsApp/Telegram? Run through this diagnostic checklist to find the problem.

Fix: OpenClaw OAuth Tokens Keep Expiring (Claude Code + OpenClaw Together)

Running both Claude Code and OpenClaw with the same Anthropic account? Your OAuth tokens are fighting each other. Here's how to fix the refresh race.

Fix: OpenClaw Gives Bad Responses with Ollama (Local AI Acting Weird)

Your OpenClaw bot acts dumb with Ollama? It's not the bot — it's the model config. Here's how to fix context windows, model selection, and settings.

Fix: OpenAI 400 Error 'Reasoning Item Without Following Item' in OpenClaw

Getting '400 Item rs_... of type reasoning was provided without its required following item' from OpenAI? Here's the reasoning mode config fix.

Fix: 'Unknown Model' Error with Qwen or Custom Providers in OpenClaw

Getting 'Unknown model' errors when using Qwen, DeepSeek, or other custom providers in OpenClaw? Your config looks right but doesn't work. Here's why.

Fix: OpenClaw 'Channel Telegram Does Not Support Pairing' Error

Getting 'Channel telegram does not support pairing' when setting up Telegram in OpenClaw? Here's the correct approval flow to connect your bot.

Fix: 'Max Payload Size Exceeded' When Sending Images in OpenClaw

Getting 'Max payload size exceeded' when sending images through OpenClaw webchat? You've hit the 512KB WebSocket limit. Here's how to fix it.

Fix: WhatsApp Disconnected (1006) in OpenClaw

Getting 'disconnected (1006): no reason' in OpenClaw? Your WhatsApp WebSocket dropped. Here's how to reconnect and stop it from happening again.

Why OpenClaw Is Burning Through Your API Tokens (And How to Fix It)

OpenClaw costing more than expected? Context dragging, cron burns, and no compaction are likely the cause. Here's how to cut your API spend.

📦 Setup Guides

Running OpenClaw on WhatsApp, Telegram, AND Discord Simultaneously

How to run your OpenClaw AI assistant across multiple messaging channels at once. Covers config, session isolation, group chat behavior, and which channel works best for what.

Connecting Notion to Your OpenClaw AI Assistant

Step-by-step guide to integrating Notion with OpenClaw. Create pages, update databases, and search your workspace — all through your AI assistant.

Complete Guide: Setting Up Ollama with OpenClaw (Free Local AI)

Step-by-step guide to running Ollama with OpenClaw for free, private, local AI. Covers installation, model selection by hardware, configuration, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.

Setting Up OpenAI (GPT-5.2) with OpenClaw — Complete Guide

How to configure OpenAI's GPT-5.2 and other models with OpenClaw. Covers API key setup, reasoning modes, the Responses API, real pricing, and Codex vs API comparison.

Sharing Your OpenClaw AI Assistant with Family Members

How to share your OpenClaw AI assistant with family members. Covers group chats, separate profiles, API key protection, permissions, and what each person can do.

Setting Up Telegram with OpenClaw — Complete Guide (2026)

Step-by-step guide to connecting Telegram to your OpenClaw AI assistant. Covers BotFather setup, bot tokens, pairing codes, and common pitfalls.

📚 Learn

10 Things You Didn't Know Your AI Assistant Could Do

Your AI assistant can do way more than answer questions. Browse the web, remember everything, monitor your email, control your smart home, and run tasks while you sleep. Here are 10 capabilities you're probably not using.

5 Mistakes People Make When Self-Hosting an AI Assistant

Avoid the most common self-hosting pitfalls: running on your laptop, skipping security, using OAuth, ignoring context costs, and forgetting updates. Learn from other people's mistakes.

AI Agent Security: What You Need to Know Before Giving AI Access to Your System

Your AI assistant can run any terminal command on your server. That's powerful — and dangerous. An honest guide to AI agent security: real risks, real incidents, and how to protect yourself.

The Complete Guide to AI API Pricing in 2026

Every major AI API's pricing in one place. Claude, GPT, Gemini — input, output, cached tokens, real monthly costs, and why BYO-key beats subscription models.

How to Build a Daily Routine with Your AI Assistant

Turn your AI assistant into a personal chief of staff. Morning briefings, workday support, evening summaries, and automated check-ins — with real HEARTBEAT.md templates and cron configs.

AI Data Residency: Where Does Your AI Data Actually Live?

A practical guide to where your data goes when you use an AI assistant. Three layers — your server, the API provider, and training data — explained for privacy-conscious users.

Using an AI Assistant to Manage ADHD: A Practical Guide

ADHD means your brain is great at ideas and terrible at follow-through. An AI assistant can be the external system your brain needs — without judgment, without nagging, always available.

AI Assistant for Entrepreneurs: Your 24/7 Digital Chief of Staff

How entrepreneurs are using always-on AI assistants to handle email, scheduling, research, content, and CRM — without hiring a human assistant. Real workflows, real examples.

AI Privacy Myths Debunked: What Really Happens to Your Data

Six common AI privacy myths — debunked with facts. Do AI companies read your messages? Is self-hosting always safer? Does your data go to China? Here's what actually happens.

How AI Memory Actually Works (and Why OpenClaw's Is Different)

ChatGPT's memory is a party trick. OpenClaw's is a filing cabinet. Here's how AI memory really works, why most implementations suck, and what persistent file-based memory changes.

Running OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi (Budget AI Assistant)

Build a $50 AI assistant with a Raspberry Pi and OpenClaw. Step-by-step setup, performance expectations, voice wake words, and home automation — the ultimate budget project.

15 Telegram Tips for Getting the Most Out of OpenClaw

Unlock the full power of OpenClaw on Telegram. Topics, voice notes, commands, image analysis, group chats, documents, and more — 15 practical tips from heavy daily users.

How to Use AI Without Giving Away Your Data

ChatGPT and Gemini collect your conversations. Here's how to use AI privately — self-hosted, API-only, EU data residency, and why the lobsterfarm model keeps your data yours.

Context Windows Explained: Why Your AI 'Forgets' Mid-Conversation

What context windows are, why they matter, why your AI gets worse in long conversations, and how to work within the limits. Plain English, no PhD required.

OpenClaw Skills Explained: Teaching Your AI New Abilities

Skills are how you give your AI assistant new powers — weather, GitHub, Notion, Slack, and more. Here's how they work, what's available, and how to create your own.

OpenClaw API Costs Explained: How Much Will You Actually Spend?

Real breakdown of AI API costs when running OpenClaw. Claude and OpenAI pricing explained with examples, typical monthly bills, and tips to reduce spending.

Using Local Models (LMStudio, Ollama) with OpenClaw

How to run OpenClaw with local AI models using LMStudio or Ollama. Covers setup, configuration, common errors, and performance expectations.

How to Run OpenClaw on Hetzner Cloud (Step-by-Step)

Complete step-by-step guide to deploying OpenClaw on Hetzner Cloud. Covers server creation, security hardening, installation, and running as a service.

Security Guide: Hardening Your OpenClaw Instance

How to properly secure your self-hosted OpenClaw instance. Covers firewall rules, token security, pairing, sandboxing, and the mistakes that get people hacked.

Running OpenClaw in Docker — Complete Guide

How to run OpenClaw in Docker with docker-compose. Covers Dockerfile, persistent volumes, headless browser, network config, environment variables, and production deployment.