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The Complete OpenClaw Integration & Setup Guide (2026)

Setting up an autonomous AI agent has become significantly easier in 2026. OpenClaw serves as the central brain, but its real power is unlocked when you integrate it onto your communication platforms and wire it up to high-quality Large Language Models (LLMs).

This guide will walk you through the core installation, hooking up a local model via Ollama, and integrating the agent into Slack or Discord.

Step 1: Base Installation

The fastest way to get OpenClaw running is via the one-liner script (ideal for Linux/macOS users running a Dedicated VPS or Local Machine).

curl -sSL https://install.openclaw.dev | bash

Alternatively, if you prefer a containerized approach for robust self-hosting:

docker run -d \
  --name openclaw-gateway \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -v openclaw-data:/var/lib/openclaw \
  openclaw/gateway:latest

Once running, navigate to http://localhost:3000 to access the Control UI and complete the initial onboarding wizard.

Step 2: Integrating Local AI Models with Ollama

For privacy-conscious users, running models locally is the ultimate goal. The v2026.3.11 release made Ollama integration a first-class citizen.

  1. Install Ollama: Follow the instructions at ollama.com for your specific operating system.
  2. Pull a Model: Open your terminal and pull a capable model, such as Llama 3 or Mistral. 
    ollama run llama3
  3. Configure OpenClaw:
    • In the OpenClaw Control UI, navigate to Settings > Providers > Local Models.
    • Select Ollama as the provider.
    • Enter the Ollama endpoint URL (default is http://localhost:11434 or http://host.docker.internal:11434 if OpenClaw is in Docker).
    • Select llama3 from the populated dropdown list and set it as your default execution model.

Step 3: Connecting to Messaging Channels

Now that your agent has a "brain," you need to give it a "mouth."

Integrating with Slack

  1. Go to the Slack API Dashboard and click Create New App (from scratch).
  2. Enable Socket Mode under Settings. Generate and copy the App-Level Token (starts with xapp-).
  3. Navigate to OAuth & Permissions. Add the following Bot Token Scopes:
    • app_mentions:read
    • chat:write
    • channels:history
  4. Install the app to your workspace. Copy the Bot User OAuth Token (starts with xoxb-).
  5. In the OpenClaw Control UI, go to Channels > Add Channel > Slack. Paste both the xapp- and xoxb- tokens to establish the connection.

Integrating with Discord

  1. Go to the Discord Developer Portal and create a New Application.
  2. Navigate to the Bot tab. Enable the Message Content Intent under Privileged Gateway Intents (crucial for OpenClaw to read your prompts).
  3. Click Reset Token and copy the new Bot Token.
  4. Navigate to OAuth2 > URL Generator. Check the bot scope, and add permissions for Read Messages/View Channels and Send Messages. Use the generated URL to invite the bot to your server.
  5. In the OpenClaw Control UI, go to Channels > Add Channel > Discord. Paste your Bot Token to establish the WebSocket connection.

Next Steps

With your agent live, you can start issuing commands directly via chat. Try asking @YourBotName What time is it currently? to test its reasoning and system execution. From here, you can begin adding custom skills or exploring SEO automation workflows. Ensure you review our security best practices to keep your newly connected agent safe!

By CompareClaw Team•Updated Mar 2026