# OpenClaw on Mac M3: Install and Run Your AI Agent > Turn your Mac M3 into a personal AI agent that works through Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp. Simple setup, step by step. **Published:** Mar 24, 2026 | **Author:** Michael Park | **Read time:** 10 min read Install OpenClaw on Mac M3 and run your own AI agent in minutes. Works on M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. Simple steps, no experience needed. --- OpenClaw turns your Mac M3 into a personal AI agent that you can talk to through Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp — any time, from any device. It runs quietly in the background, handles tasks for you automatically, and stays online as long as your Mac is on. Mac M3 handles background tasks without slowing anything else down. Whether you have a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac — it all works the same way and the setup is identical. By the end of this guide you will have OpenClaw installed, connected to your messaging app, and ready to use. Everything is explained step by step — no experience needed. - Install OpenClaw on your Mac M3 with one command - Connect it to Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp - Keep your agent running 24/7 even when the screen is off - Fix the most common problems if anything goes wrong ## What You Need Before You Start | What You Need | Details | | --- | --- | | A Mac with M3 | MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac — M3, M3 Pro, or M3 Max all work | | macOS version | macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia — your Mac already has one of these | | An AI provider key | A free or paid API key from Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google | | A messaging app | Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp installed on your phone | | Internet connection | Needed during install and when your agent is responding | Before you begin, make sure you have these things ready: You do not need to install Node.js separately. The OpenClaw installer handles that for you. ## How to Install OpenClaw on Mac M3 ### Step 1: Open Terminal on Your Mac Terminal is a built-in app that lets you type commands. You will only need it for two commands in this guide. Here is how to open it: - Press **Command + Space** on your keyboard - A search bar will pop up — type **Terminal** - Press **Enter** to open it A black or white window will open with a blinking cursor. That is Terminal. You are ready for the next step. ### Step 2: Run the Install Command Copy the command below and paste it into Terminal. Then press **Enter**. Do not change anything in the command — paste it exactly as it is. This will take about 30 to 60 seconds. You will see some text scrolling by — that is normal. It is downloading and installing OpenClaw and everything it needs. When it stops and you see a new line with a cursor, the install is done. ### Step 3: Run the Setup Wizard Now paste this second command into Terminal and press **Enter**. This starts the setup and also makes sure OpenClaw starts automatically every time you turn on your Mac. The setup wizard will ask you a few things one by one: - **Disclaimer** — read it and press Enter to accept and continue - **AI provider** — use the arrow keys to pick your provider (for example Anthropic for Claude) and press Enter - **API key** — paste your API key and press Enter. The key will not show on screen as you type — that is normal - **Gateway port** — just press Enter to use the default. You do not need to change this - **Messaging app** — pick Telegram, Discord, or WhatsApp and follow the steps to connect it. OpenClaw will show you a QR code or link to scan When the wizard finishes, your AI agent is running. You can now open your messaging app and send it a message to test it. ## How to Keep Your Agent Running 24/7 The setup already made OpenClaw start on every reboot. But there is one more thing you need to do. By default, your Mac goes to sleep when you are not using it. When it sleeps, OpenClaw stops working. Here is how to prevent that: - Click the **Apple logo** in the top left corner of your screen - Click **System Settings** - Scroll down and click **Battery** - Click **Options** at the bottom of the Battery page - Find **Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off** and turn it on - Click **Done** to save This tells your Mac to stay awake even when the screen turns off, so your agent keeps running through the night and when you step away. ## How to Check Your Agent is Working Open Terminal and run this command to see if OpenClaw is running: If it says **running**, your agent is live and ready. You can also open a dashboard in your browser to see everything in one place: Or type this address into any browser on your Mac: The dashboard shows your agent status, connected channels, and recent activity. New to OpenClaw? [Read our guide on what OpenClaw is and how it works](/blog/what-is-openclaw). ## Common Problems and How to Fix Them ## Mac M3 Local vs Ampere.sh | Feature | Mac M3 (Local) | Ampere.sh | | --- | --- | --- | | Time to get started | 10 to 20 minutes | Under 2 minutes | | Agent works when Mac is off | No | Yes | | Agent works when Mac sleeps | No | Yes | | Setup needed | Yes — install and configure | No — just sign in | | Maintenance | You handle updates | Fully managed | | Cost to start | Free — pay for API only | Free credits included | Running OpenClaw on your Mac M3 is free and keeps everything on your own machine. The only downside is your agent needs your Mac to be on and awake. If you want your agent running 24/7 without depending on your Mac, [Ampere.sh](https://www.ampere.sh/) hosts it for you in the cloud. Here is how the two options compare. ## Run OpenClaw Without Keeping Your Mac Awake If you want OpenClaw always online without sleep issues or local maintenance, 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 my Mac M3? Yes. OpenClaw works perfectly on all M3 Macs including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac. It runs natively on Apple Silicon so you do not need any extra tools or settings. ### Does it also work on M3 Pro and M3 Max? Yes. M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max all work. If you have a Pro or Max, you get more memory which is helpful if you want to run more than one agent at the same time. ### Do I need to know coding to set this up? No. You just need to open Terminal and copy-paste two commands. This guide walks you through every single step so you do not need any coding knowledge. ### What is Terminal and where do I find it? Terminal is a built-in app on your Mac that lets you type commands. To open it, press Command and Space at the same time, type Terminal, and press Enter. ### What is an API key and where do I get one? An API key is like a password that connects OpenClaw to an AI service like Anthropic or OpenAI. You create a free account on their website and they give you a key to copy and paste. ### Will my agent stop working when my Mac goes to sleep? Yes, it will stop unless you turn off automatic sleeping. This guide shows you exactly how to do that in System Settings so your agent keeps running even when the screen is off. ### Which messaging apps can I connect? You can connect Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp, and several others. During setup the wizard asks you which one you want to use and walks you through connecting it. ### How do I update OpenClaw later? Just run the install command again: curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash. It updates everything without changing your settings or disconnecting your messaging apps.