# How to Set Up OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi: Complete Step-by-Step Guide Want a personal AI assistant that runs 24/7 on a tiny, silent, low-power device? A **Raspberry Pi** running **OpenClaw** gives you exactly that — your own always-on AI agent for under $100. In this tutorial, we'll walk through setting up OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi from scratch, connecting it to Telegram (or any messaging platform), and having your AI assistant ready to help you anytime. --- ## What You'll Need | Item | Notes | |------|-------| | **Raspberry Pi 4 or 5** (4GB+ RAM recommended) | The Pi 5 with 8GB is ideal | | **MicroSD card** (32GB+) | Class 10 or faster | | **USB-C power supply** | Official Pi power supply recommended | | **Ethernet cable or WiFi** | Stable internet connection | | **An AI provider API key** | Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google | | **A messaging account** | Telegram, Discord, Signal, etc. | --- ## Step 1: Flash Raspberry Pi OS 1. Download the **[Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/)** on your computer. 2. Insert your microSD card. 3. In the Imager, select: - **OS:** Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) — no desktop needed - **Storage:** Your microSD card 4. Click the **gear icon** to configure: - Enable SSH - Set username and password - Configure WiFi (if not using Ethernet) - Set your locale/timezone 5. Click **Write** and wait for it to finish. 6. Insert the microSD into your Pi and power it on. --- ## Step 2: Connect to Your Pi SSH into the Pi from your computer: ```bash ssh your-username@raspberrypi.local ``` If that doesn't work, find the Pi's IP from your router: ```bash ssh your-username@192.168.x.x ``` --- ## Step 3: Update the System ```bash sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y ``` --- ## Step 4: Install Node.js 22+ OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 or later: ```bash curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo bash - sudo apt install -y nodejs ``` Verify: ```bash node --version # Should show v22.x.x npm --version ``` --- ## Step 5: Install OpenClaw Run the official installer: ```bash curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash ``` This installs the CLI globally and launches the onboarding wizard. Or install manually: ```bash sudo npm install -g openclaw openclaw setup ``` --- ## Step 6: Configure Your AI Provider During setup, you'll choose an AI provider: ### Option A: Anthropic (Claude) — Recommended 1. Go to [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com) 2. Create an API key 3. Enter it during OpenClaw setup ### Option B: OpenAI (GPT-4) 1. Go to [platform.openai.com](https://platform.openai.com) 2. Create an API key ### Option C: Google (Gemini) 1. Go to [aistudio.google.com](https://aistudio.google.com) 2. Create an API key > **Tip:** Claude Sonnet is the best balance of cost and capability for Pi. --- ## Step 7: Connect Telegram The easiest messaging setup: 1. Open Telegram and message **@BotFather** 2. Send /newbot 3. Choose a name and username 4. Copy the **API token** 5. Run `openclaw config` and add the Telegram channel with your token --- ## Step 8: Start the Gateway ```bash openclaw gateway start ``` Verify it's running: ```bash openclaw gateway status ``` You should see `Runtime: running` and `RPC probe: ok`. --- ## Step 9: Auto-Start on Boot ```bash openclaw gateway enable ``` This creates a systemd service that survives reboots. --- ## Step 10: Test It! Open Telegram and message your bot. Try: - "What's the weather like?" - "Remind me to check emails in 30 minutes" - "Search the web for Raspberry Pi projects" --- ## Performance Tips ### Add Swap Space ```bash sudo fallocate -l 2G /swapfile sudo chmod 600 /swapfile sudo mkswap /swapfile sudo swapon /swapfile echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab ``` ### Use Lightweight Models - claude-3-5-haiku (fast and cheap) - gpt-4o-mini (good balance) ### Monitor Resources ```bash htop openclaw status ``` --- ## What Can Your Pi AI Do? - **Chat** — Answer questions, have conversations - **Reminders** — Timed reminders via cron - **Web Search** — Search the internet on command - **File Management** — Organize files, run scripts - **Home Automation** — Integrate with smart home - **Monitoring** — Server status, weather, emails - **Code** — Write, review, and execute code All for about **$5/year in electricity**. --- ## Troubleshooting | Problem | Solution | |---------|----------| | Bot doesn't respond | Check openclaw gateway status | | Out of memory | Add swap space (see above) | | Slow responses | Use a lighter model | | SSH drops | Use screen or tmux | | Node.js won't install | Ensure 64-bit Pi OS | --- ## Conclusion A Raspberry Pi running OpenClaw is the perfect personal AI — always on, private, low-power, and capable. Under $100 in hardware and a few dollars a month in API costs gets you a personal AI assistant accessible from anywhere. **Ready?** Grab a Pi, follow these steps, and join the [OpenClaw Discord](https://discord.com/invite/clawd) if you need help. *Explore more: [Free AI Tools](/tools) — BrainstormAI, ClipCaddy, MindSpark, and TimeCapsule.*