How to Run OpenClaw on Mac Mini (Apple Silicon + Intel Guide)

Mac Mini is a great choice for running OpenClaw locally — it stays on, uses minimal power, and handles agent workloads without any extra hardware.

Don't want to deal with local setup? Ampere.sh gets you running without installing anything.

Mac Mini Requirements for OpenClaw

Device	Mac Mini 2018 or later (Intel or Apple Silicon)
macOS	Monterey 12.0 or newer
RAM	8GB minimum — 16GB recommended for multiple agents
CPU	Intel Core i5+ or any Apple Silicon chip
Node.js	Node 22 LTS (22.16+) minimum — Node 24 recommended
API Key	Anthropic, OpenAI, or any supported provider
Network	Stable internet — wired Ethernet preferred over WiFi
Important	Mac Mini must stay awake for agent to stay online

If managing Node.js, config files, and keeping your Mac awake feels like too much — you can get OpenClaw running on Ampere.sh in 60 seconds with no local setup at all.

How to Install OpenClaw on Mac Mini

Step 1 — Run the Official OpenClaw Installer

The recommended way to install OpenClaw on Mac Mini. It automatically detects your Node.js version, installs Node 24 if needed, and sets up everything in one step:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Works on both Apple Silicon and Intel Mac Mini — PATH configuration handled automatically.

Step 2 — Run OpenClaw Onboarding

After install, run onboarding. This sets up your API key, configures the Gateway, and installs OpenClaw as a background service that starts on every boot:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Onboarding walks you through:

Adding your AI provider API key (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.)
Configuring the Gateway
Installing the daemon so OpenClaw runs on every Mac Mini boot
Optionally connecting channels ( WhatsApp , Discord , Telegram)

Step 3 — Check the OpenClaw Gateway Status

openclaw gateway status

Step 4 — Open the Control UI

openclaw dashboard

Or visit http://127.0.0.1:18789/ in your browser. If it loads, your Gateway is live.

Step 5 — Stop Mac Mini from Going to Sleep

System Settings → Battery → Options → “Prevent automatic sleeping when display is off” → Enable

Step 6 — Verify Your Config File (Optional)

cat ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json   # view config
nano ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json  # edit config

openclaw gateway status    # check state
openclaw gateway restart   # restart if needed

Common Problems When Running OpenClaw on Mac Mini

openclaw: command not found after install

This happens when your shell doesn't know where the OpenClaw binary is. On Apple Silicon Mac Mini, the PATH isn't updated automatically after install, so your terminal can't find the command even though it was installed correctly.

Fix

Run `source ~/.zprofile` (Apple Silicon) or `source ~/.bash_profile` (Intel), then restart Terminal. If it still fails, run `export PATH="$(npm prefix -g)/bin:$PATH"` and add it to your shell startup file.

OpenClaw agent goes offline after 30 minutes

This is the most common Mac Mini issue. macOS automatically puts the machine to sleep when idle, which kills all running processes including the OpenClaw Gateway — even when the daemon is installed.

Fix

Go to System Settings → Battery → Options → Enable 'Prevent automatic sleeping when display is off'. Without this, your agent will go offline every time your Mac Mini is idle.

Error: Invalid API key

OpenClaw can't authenticate with your AI provider. This usually happens after a key is rotated, revoked, or entered incorrectly during onboarding setup.

Fix

Re-run `openclaw onboard` to reconfigure your API key from scratch. Or open `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json` directly, update the key, and restart the gateway.

Not sure what's broken

Sometimes multiple things go wrong at once — outdated config, wrong token, PATH issues, gateway not running. Debugging each manually takes time and often misses the real issue.

Fix

Run `openclaw doctor` — the official OpenClaw diagnostic tool. It scans your full setup, checks config, validates tokens, and tells you exactly what needs fixing.

If you're hitting multiple errors in a row, the local Mac environment is fighting you. If you don't want to deal with this,Ampere.sh gets OpenClaw running without any local config, PATH issues, or sleep management.

Mac Mini Local Setup vs Ampere.sh

Feature	Mac Mini (Local)	Ampere.sh
Setup time	15–30 min	60 seconds
Runs when Mac sleeps	❌ Goes offline	✅ Always on
Errors to debug	Several 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

Skip the Setup: Run OpenClaw Without Touching Your Mac Mini

Local setup works — but your agent is tied to your Mac Mini. If it sleeps, restarts, or loses power, the agent goes offline.

Deploy on Ampere.sh instead:

No local install — no Node.js, no installer script, no config files
Free credits to start — no credit card required
Pre-configured with memory, tools, and channel connections
Runs on cloud infrastructure — your Mac can sleep, restart, or be turned off

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OpenClaw work on Apple Silicon Mac Mini?

Yes. OpenClaw runs natively on Apple Silicon Mac Mini with no Rosetta translation needed. The official installer script handles Node detection and setup automatically.

What Node.js version do I need for OpenClaw on Mac Mini?

Node 24 is recommended. Node 22 LTS (22.16+) is still supported for compatibility. The official OpenClaw installer script installs Node 24 automatically if it's missing.

Can I keep OpenClaw running 24/7 on Mac Mini?

Yes — Mac Mini is one of the best devices for this. It uses only 6-10 watts at idle. Run 'openclaw onboard --install-daemon' to install as a background service, and enable 'Prevent automatic sleeping' in Battery settings.

Where is the OpenClaw config file on Mac?

The config file is at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. It's configured during onboarding with 'openclaw onboard' and editable anytime.

What happens to my OpenClaw agent if Mac Mini restarts?

If you ran 'openclaw onboard --install-daemon', 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 Mini?

Run 'openclaw gateway status' in Terminal. Open the browser Control UI with 'openclaw dashboard' or visit http://127.0.0.1:18789/.

How do I add skills to OpenClaw on Mac Mini?

Run 'clawhub install ' in Terminal. Restart the gateway after installing. Browse all available skills on Ampere.sh.

Want OpenClaw running 24/7 without keeping your Mac on?

Deploy on Ampere.sh — managed infrastructure, free credits, live in 60 seconds.

Get Started on Ampere.sh →