macOS app

The macOS app is the OpenClaw menu bar companion: native tray UI, macOS permission prompts, notifications, WebChat, voice input, Canvas, and Mac-hosted node tools such as system.run.

Only need the CLI and Gateway? Start with Getting started.

Download

Get macOS app builds from OpenClaw GitHub releases. When a release ships macOS app assets, look for:

• OpenClaw-<version>.dmg (preferred)
• OpenClaw-<version>.zip

Some releases only ship CLI, evidence, or Windows assets. If the newest release has no macOS app asset, use the newest one that does, or build from source with macOS dev setup.

First run

1. Install and launch OpenClaw.app.
2. Pick This Mac for a local Gateway, or connect to a remote Gateway.
3. Local mode: wait while the app installs its user-space runtime and Gateway.
4. Complete provider setup and the macOS permission checklist.
5. Send the onboarding test message.

For the CLI/Gateway setup path, use Getting started. For permission recovery, use macOS permissions.

Choose a Gateway mode

Mode	Use it when	Detail page
Local	This Mac should run the Gateway and keep it alive with launchd.	Gateway on macOS
Remote	Another host runs the Gateway; this Mac controls it over SSH, LAN, or Tailnet.	Remote control

Local mode needs an installed openclaw CLI. On a fresh Mac, the app installs the matching CLI and runtime automatically before starting the Gateway wizard. See Gateway on macOS for manual recovery.

What the app owns

• Menu bar status, notifications, health, and WebChat.
• macOS permission prompts for screen, microphone, speech, automation, and accessibility.
• Local node tools: Canvas, camera/screen capture, notifications, and system.run.
• Exec approval prompts for Mac-hosted commands.
• Remote-mode SSH tunnels or direct Gateway connections.

The app does not replace the Gateway or general CLI docs. Gateway configuration, providers, plugins, channels, tools, and security live in their own docs.

macOS detail pages

Task	Read
Install or debug the CLI/Gateway service	Gateway on macOS
Keep state out of cloud-synced folders	Gateway on macOS
Debug app discovery and connectivity	Gateway on macOS
Understand launchd behavior	Gateway lifecycle
Fix permissions or signing/TCC issues	macOS permissions
Connect to a remote Gateway	Remote control
Read menu bar status and health checks	Menu bar, Health checks
Use the embedded chat UI	WebChat
Use voice wake or push-to-talk	Voice wake
Use Canvas and Canvas deep links	Canvas
Host PeekabooBridge for UI automation	Peekaboo bridge
Configure command approvals	Exec approvals, advanced details
Inspect Mac node commands and app IPC	macOS IPC
Capture logs	macOS logging
Build from source	macOS dev setup

Related

• Platforms
• Getting started
• Gateway
• Exec approvals