# OpenClaw on Android: Easy Setup Guide with Termux > Your Android phone is already in your pocket. Here is how to put an AI agent on it too. **Published:** Mar 24, 2026 | **Author:** Michael Park | **Read time:** 10 min read Run your own AI agent on Android. This guide covers everything from installing Termux to connecting your first messaging app. No server required. --- Most people think you need a server or a laptop to run an AI agent. You do not. [ OpenClaw ](/blog/what-is-openclaw) runs right on your Android phone — and this guide shows you exactly how to set it up. All you need is your phone and a free terminal app called **Termux**. No extra hardware. No complicated tools. Just follow the steps and your personal AI agent will be live on your device. Most people think you need a server or a laptop to run an AI agent. You do not. [ OpenClaw ](/blog/what-is-openclaw) runs right on your Android phone — and this guide shows you exactly how to set it up. All you need is your phone and a free terminal app called **Termux**. No extra hardware. No complicated tools. Just follow the steps and your personal AI agent will be live on your device. ## Android Requirements for OpenClaw | Requirement | Details | | --- | --- | | Android version | Android 10 or newer (older may work but is not recommended) | | RAM | At least 4 GB (2 GB minimum, but expect slowdowns) | | Storage | At least 2 GB free for Termux, proot-distro, and OpenClaw | | Internet | Stable Wi-Fi recommended — mobile data works but may be slower | | Terminal app | Termux — download and install on your Android phone | | Linux environment | proot-distro with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS inside Termux | | API key | An API key from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or another provider | ## How to Install OpenClaw on Android ### Step 1 — Install Termux Download and install Termux from [ Google Play Store ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux) . Open it after installation and update the package list to make sure everything is fresh. This keeps your Termux environment clean and avoids errors when installing packages later. ### Step 2 — Set Up a Linux Environment OpenClaw needs Linux tools to run. Install **proot-distro** and create an Ubuntu environment inside Termux. After running the last command, you will be inside an Ubuntu shell. All the following steps run inside this Ubuntu environment. ### Step 3 — Install Node.js OpenClaw requires Node.js 18 or newer. Install it from the official NodeSource repository to make sure you get a supported version. Check that Node.js installed correctly before moving on. Both commands should return a version number. If they do, you are ready for the next step. ### Step 4 — Install OpenClaw Run the OpenClaw installer from inside your Ubuntu environment. This downloads and sets up all the required files automatically. If curl is not found, install it first and then run the command above again. ### Step 5 — Complete Onboarding After installation, run the onboarding command to configure OpenClaw. The `--install-daemon` flag sets up a background service so OpenClaw keeps running even after you close the terminal. The setup wizard will ask you to: - Accept the disclaimer - Choose your AI provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.) and paste your API key - Confirm the default gateway port (18789) - Choose a messaging app — Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, or others - Follow the on-screen steps to connect your messaging account ### Step 6 — Check That It Is Running Once setup is complete, confirm that OpenClaw is active. You can also open the control dashboard in your Android browser to verify everything is working. If the dashboard loads and the gateway shows as running, your agent is live. Send it a message from your connected app to test it. ## Best Way to Keep It Stable on Android Android is built to manage battery life, which means it will try to kill background processes including your agent. Here is how to prevent that. - **Disable battery optimization for Termux** — Go to Settings → Apps → Termux → Battery → Unrestricted - **Lock Termux in recent apps** — Some Android versions let you lock apps so they are not killed when you swipe away - **Keep the device plugged in** — Charging reduces the chance of aggressive battery saving - **Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data** — Wi-Fi is more stable for long-running connections - **Avoid running heavy tasks at the same time** — Other apps using CPU or RAM can interrupt the agent For true 24/7 uptime without these workarounds, a small server or a [ Raspberry Pi ](/blog/openclaw-on-raspberry-pi) will give you a much more reliable experience. ## Common Problems on Android If you are not sure what is wrong, run `openclaw doctor` inside the Ubuntu environment. It checks your setup and tells you exactly what needs to be fixed. ## Android Local Setup vs Ampere.sh | Feature | Android (Local) | Ampere.sh | | --- | --- | --- | | Setup time | 20–40 min | 60 seconds | | Works when phone sleeps | ❌ Goes offline | ✅ Always on | | Errors to debug | Several possible | None | | Battery drain | High | None | | True 24/7 uptime | Not reliable | ✅ Yes | | Free to start | API costs only | ✅ Free credits | Android works for testing and learning. But if you want your agent running 24/7 without battery limits or background killing, here is how the two options compare. ## Want Your Agent Running 24/7 Without a Phone? Running OpenClaw on Android is great for testing. But your agent stops the moment your phone runs out of battery or Android decides to kill the background process. If you want your agent online all the time without touching your phone, [Ampere.sh](https://www.ampere.sh/setup) is built exactly for that: - Live in 60 seconds — no terminal, no install, no config - Runs on cloud servers that never sleep - Free credits to get started, no card needed - Your agent keeps working even when your phone is switched off ## Run OpenClaw Without Your Phone If you want OpenClaw always online without Termux sessions, battery limits, or keeping your device awake, run it on Ampere.sh and keep your agent available 24/7. [Start your setup](https://www.ampere.sh/setup) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can OpenClaw run directly on Android? Not directly. Android does not have a native Linux shell, so you need a terminal app like Termux and a Linux environment such as proot-distro to give OpenClaw the system tools it needs. ### Do I need root access to run OpenClaw on Android? No. Root is not required. Termux and proot-distro work on any standard Android device without root access. ### Is Android good for running OpenClaw 24/7? Not ideal. Android is designed to manage battery by sleeping background processes. For short sessions and testing it works well, but for always-on uptime a server is a much better option. ### What is the easiest way to set up OpenClaw on Android? Install Termux from the Google Play Store, use proot-distro to create an Ubuntu environment, then run the OpenClaw installer inside that environment. This guide walks through every step. ### Can I connect OpenClaw on Android to Telegram or WhatsApp? Yes. During the onboarding step, you choose which messaging app to connect. You can pick Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, or others. You can also add more channels later by running openclaw configure. ### What Android version do I need? Android 10 or newer is recommended. Termux works on older versions too, but Android 10 and above gives better background process handling and fewer compatibility issues. ### What is the best device to run OpenClaw? For stability and long uptime, a server or a small home server like a Raspberry Pi is much better than a phone. Android works well for testing, learning, and mobile-first use cases.