# How to Run OpenClaw on Mac M1 (Apple Silicon Guide) > Your Mac M1 is fast, quiet, and always plugged in. Here is how to turn it into a 24/7 AI agent. **Published:** Mar 24, 2026 | **Author:** Michael Park | **Read time:** 10 min read Learn how to install OpenClaw on Mac M1 step by step. Covers Apple Silicon setup, common errors, and tips to keep your AI agent running 24/7. --- Mac M1 is one of the best machines for running [ OpenClaw ](/blog/what-is-openclaw) locally. It is fast, uses very little power, and handles agent workloads well. OpenClaw runs natively on Apple Silicon — no Rosetta, no workarounds. Just install and go. If you want to skip local setup entirely, [ Ampere.sh ](https://www.ampere.sh) gets you running in 60 seconds. Mac M1 is one of the best machines for running [ OpenClaw ](/blog/what-is-openclaw) locally. It is fast, uses very little power, and handles agent workloads well. OpenClaw runs natively on Apple Silicon — no Rosetta, no workarounds. Just install and go. If you want to skip local setup entirely, [ Ampere.sh ](https://www.ampere.sh) gets you running in 60 seconds. ## What You Need Before You Start | Requirement | Details | | --- | --- | | Mac | Any Mac with M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip | | macOS | Monterey 12.0 or newer | | RAM | 8 GB minimum — 16 GB recommended | | Node.js | Node 22 LTS or newer (installer handles this automatically) | | API key | From Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or another supported provider | | Sleep setting | Set Mac to never sleep so the agent stays online | ## How to Install OpenClaw on Mac M1 ### Step 1 — Run the Installer Open Terminal and run this command. It installs OpenClaw and everything it needs, including Node.js if it is not already on your Mac. The installer detects Apple Silicon automatically. No extra flags or settings needed. ### Step 2 — Run Onboarding After the install finishes, run the setup command. The `--install-daemon` flag makes OpenClaw start automatically every time your Mac boots up. The setup will ask you to: - Accept the disclaimer - Choose your AI provider and paste your API key - Confirm the default gateway port (18789) - Connect a messaging app — Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, or others ### Step 3 — Prevent macOS from Sleeping This is the most important step for 24/7 uptime. macOS will put your Mac to sleep when idle and kill the agent. Turn this off in System Settings. - Open **System Settings** - Go to **Battery → Options** - Turn on **Prevent automatic sleeping when display is off** ### Step 4 — Check That It Is Running Confirm OpenClaw is active with this command: You can also open the dashboard in your browser to see your agent live: ## Common Problems and How to Fix Them If you are not sure what is wrong, run `openclaw doctor`. It checks everything and tells you exactly what needs to be fixed. ## Mac M1 Local Setup vs Ampere.sh | Feature | Mac M1 (Local) | Ampere.sh | | --- | --- | --- | | Setup time | 10–20 min | 60 seconds | | Works when Mac sleeps | ❌ Goes offline | ✅ Always on | | Errors to debug | A few possible | None | | Maintenance needed | Manual updates | Fully managed | | True 24/7 uptime | Only if Mac stays on | ✅ Yes | | Free to start | API costs only | ✅ Free credits | Mac M1 is a solid choice for running OpenClaw locally. Here is how it compares to running it on Ampere.sh. ## Want to Run OpenClaw on Mac M1 Without Any Local Setup? Local setup on Mac M1 is straightforward — but your agent is tied to your machine. If your Mac sleeps, restarts, or loses power, the agent goes offline. Deploy on [ Ampere.sh ](https://www.ampere.sh/setup) instead: - No local install — no Node.js, no config files, no sleep settings - Free credits to start — no credit card required - Runs on cloud servers that never go offline - Your agent stays live even when your Mac is shut down ## Run OpenClaw Without Mac Sleep Issues If you want OpenClaw always online without keeping your Mac awake, run it on Ampere.sh and keep your agent available 24/7. [Start your setup](https://www.ampere.sh/setup) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does OpenClaw work on Mac M1? Yes. OpenClaw runs natively on Mac M1 with no Rosetta translation needed. The official installer handles Node.js setup automatically for Apple Silicon. ### What Node.js version do I need on Mac M1? Node 22 LTS or newer. Node 24 is recommended. The OpenClaw installer will install the right version automatically if Node is missing. ### Can I keep OpenClaw running 24/7 on Mac M1? Yes. Run openclaw onboard --install-daemon to install as a background service. Also go to System Settings → Battery → Options and enable Prevent automatic sleeping so macOS does not put your Mac to sleep. ### Does the M1 chip cause any compatibility issues with OpenClaw? No. OpenClaw is built on Node.js which fully supports Apple Silicon. You do not need Rosetta or any workarounds. ### Where is the OpenClaw config file on Mac? It is at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. You can edit it anytime or re-run openclaw onboard to reconfigure. ### What happens to my agent if my Mac M1 restarts? If you used the --install-daemon flag during setup, the gateway starts automatically on every reboot. For true always-on without depending on your Mac, Ampere.sh runs your agent on cloud infrastructure. ### How do I check if OpenClaw is running on Mac M1? Run openclaw gateway status in Terminal. You can also open the dashboard with openclaw dashboard or visit http://127.0.0.1:18789/ in your browser.