How to Uninstall OpenClaw

This guide covers how to fully uninstall OpenClaw from your system, including removing the package, config files, data, services, and Docker containers. Follow the steps for your platform.

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Before You Uninstall OpenClaw

Before removing OpenClaw, consider backing up your data first. Once deleted, your agent memory, conversation history, skills, and configuration cannot be recovered.

You may want to save:

Your agent instructions and personality settings.
Memory files stored in ~/.openclaw/memory/.
Conversation logs and session history.
Custom skills and plugins you installed.
Your openclaw.json config file for future reference.
Cron jobs and scheduled tasks.

To create a backup before uninstalling:

openclaw backup create

This saves a local backup archive you can restore later if needed.

How to Uninstall OpenClaw on Linux and Mac

Stop the OpenClaw gateway

Make sure the gateway is not running before uninstalling.

openclaw gateway stop

If OpenClaw is running as a systemd service:

systemctl --user stop openclaw
systemctl --user disable openclaw

Uninstall the OpenClaw package

If you installed OpenClaw with npm:

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Verify it was removed:

which openclaw

This should return nothing or "not found."

Remove config and data files

OpenClaw stores its data in the ~/.openclaw/ directory. To remove everything:

rm -rf ~/.openclaw

This removes:

Your agent configuration (openclaw.json)
Memory files
Conversation history
Installed skills and plugins
Logs
Cron jobs
Media files

If you used a custom state directory (OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR), remove that as well.

Remove the systemd service file (if installed)

If you set up OpenClaw as a systemd service:

rm ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw.service
systemctl --user daemon-reload

Clean up npm cache (optional)

npm cache clean --force

After these steps, OpenClaw is fully removed from your Linux or Mac system.

How to Uninstall OpenClaw on Windows

Stop OpenClaw

Close any terminal running OpenClaw, or stop the gateway:

openclaw gateway stop

Uninstall the package

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Remove config and data files

OpenClaw stores data in %USERPROFILE%\.openclaw\. Open File Explorer or Command Prompt and delete this folder:

rmdir /s /q %USERPROFILE%\.openclaw

Or in PowerShell:

Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw"

Verify removal

openclaw --version

This should return "not recognized" or "not found."

How to Uninstall OpenClaw from Docker

If you run OpenClaw in a Docker container:

Stop the container

docker stop openclaw

Remove the container

docker rm openclaw

Remove the Docker image

docker rmi openclaw/openclaw

Or if you used a specific tag:

docker images | grep openclaw
docker rmi <image-id>

Remove Docker volumes (if used)

docker volume ls | grep openclaw
docker volume rm <volume-name>

Remove bind-mount data (if used)

If you mounted a local directory for OpenClaw data, delete that directory manually.

How to Uninstall OpenClaw from a VPS

If you self-host OpenClaw on a VPS (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, AWS, etc.):

SSH into your server

ssh user@your-server-ip

Stop the gateway and service

openclaw gateway stop
systemctl stop openclaw
systemctl disable openclaw

Uninstall the package

npm uninstall -g openclaw

Remove data and config

rm -rf ~/.openclaw
rm -f ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw.service
systemctl daemon-reload

Remove the server (optional)

If the VPS was only used for OpenClaw, you can delete the server from your hosting provider dashboard to stop billing.

If you want to avoid managing VPS infrastructure for OpenClaw, consider using managed hosting like Ampere.sh instead of running your own server.

Deploy OpenClaw Now

How to Remove OpenClaw Plugins and Skills

Before uninstalling OpenClaw, you can remove individual plugins:

openclaw plugins list
openclaw plugins uninstall <plugin-name>

To remove all installed skills:

rm -rf ~/.openclaw/skills/

Skills from ClawHub are stored locally and will be removed when you delete the ~/.openclaw/ directory.

How to Remove OpenClaw Channels

If you connected messaging channels like WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, or Slack, uninstalling OpenClaw disconnects them automatically. However:

For WhatsApp: Your WhatsApp account is not affected. The OpenClaw bridge simply stops.
For Telegram: Your bot token remains active on Telegram. Revoke it through @BotFather if needed.
For Discord: Remove the bot from your Discord server through Server Settings → Integrations.
For Slack: Remove the OpenClaw app from your Slack workspace through Slack admin settings.

Uninstalling OpenClaw does not delete your accounts on these platforms. It only removes the OpenClaw side of the connection.

Common Issues When Uninstalling OpenClaw

"Command not found" after uninstall

This means OpenClaw was already removed or installed in a different location. Check:

npm list -g openclaw
which openclaw

"Permission denied" when deleting files

Use sudo if needed:

sudo rm -rf ~/.openclaw

Or fix ownership:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/.openclaw

OpenClaw still running after uninstall

Check for background processes:

ps aux | grep openclaw

Kill any remaining processes:

pkill -f openclaw

Systemd service still active

systemctl --user stop openclaw
systemctl --user disable openclaw
rm ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw.service
systemctl --user daemon-reload

Want to Reinstall OpenClaw Later?

If you change your mind, you can reinstall OpenClaw anytime:

npm install -g openclaw@latest
openclaw onboard

Or skip the server setup entirely and use Ampere.sh for managed hosting. Deploy in 60 seconds without VPS, Docker, or manual configuration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I uninstall OpenClaw entirely?

Stop the gateway, uninstall the CLI package, delete ~/.openclaw, remove any systemd service files, and clean up Docker containers and volumes if used. This removes everything.

How do I uninstall OpenClaw on Windows?

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell, run npm uninstall -g openclaw, then delete the %USERPROFILE%\.openclaw folder. This removes the CLI, config, and all local data.

How do I uninstall the OpenClaw CLI?

Run npm uninstall -g openclaw if you installed with npm. If you used pnpm, run pnpm remove -g openclaw. For bun, run bun remove -g openclaw.

How do I uninstall OpenClaw from Docker?

Run docker stop openclaw and docker rm openclaw to remove the container. Then docker rmi openclaw/openclaw to remove the image. Use docker volume rm to delete any volumes with saved data.

Will uninstalling OpenClaw delete my agent memory?

Yes. Agent memory is stored in ~/.openclaw/memory/. Deleting the ~/.openclaw folder removes all memory. Back up with openclaw backup create before uninstalling.

Why is OpenClaw still running after uninstall?

The gateway may still be running as a background service. Check with ps aux | grep openclaw and kill remaining processes. Also remove the systemd service file if one exists.

How do I stop OpenClaw before uninstalling?

Run openclaw gateway stop to stop the gateway. If it runs as a systemd service, use systemctl stop openclaw. For Docker, use docker stop openclaw.

What should I back up before uninstalling OpenClaw?

Back up your openclaw.json config, memory files in ~/.openclaw/memory/, conversation history, installed skills list, and any cron jobs. Use openclaw backup create for a full backup.

How do I disconnect OpenClaw from Telegram, Discord, Slack, or WhatsApp?

Uninstalling OpenClaw stops the bridge automatically. For Telegram, revoke the bot token through BotFather. For Discord, remove the bot from Server Settings. For Slack, remove the app from workspace settings.

Can I reinstall OpenClaw after uninstalling it?

Yes. Run npm install -g openclaw@latest to reinstall anytime. If you saved a backup, you can restore your data. Otherwise you start fresh.

Also Read

Installation

How to Install and Configure OpenClaw on Debian

Installation

How to Install OpenClaw on a VPS (Step-by-Step Guide)

Installation

How to Set Up OpenClaw on Ubuntu and Connect Your AI Agent

Written by

Michael Park

Senior Technical Writer & DevRel

Michael creates comprehensive installation and setup guides for developers and system administrators. With experience across Linux, macOS, Windows, and embedded systems, he has written over 200 technical tutorials used by millions of developers. He focuses on clear, step-by-step instructions that work the first time, covering everything from Raspberry Pi to enterprise servers.

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