Install ZeroClaw AI Agent Runtime
Single Rust binary, multiple install paths. Pick what works for you.
checklist System Requirements
Rust toolchain (stable) via rustup.rs — only needed for source builds
Linux (x86_64, aarch64, armv7), macOS (x86_64, aarch64), Windows (x86_64)
Runtime: <5MB RAM. Build from source: 2GB+ RAM, 4GB recommended
Binary: ~8.8MB. Build from source: 6GB free disk, 10GB recommended
Optional: Docker (for sandboxed runtime), Git (for source builds)
Internet for AI API calls. Local models via Ollama work fully offline.
One-liner scripts that handle everything. Recommended for most users.
Remote One-Liner
macOS / Linux. Single command.
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zeroclaw-labs/zeroclaw/main/scripts/bootstrap.sh | bash Local Bootstrap
Clone first, then bootstrap. More options.
git clone https://github.com/zeroclaw-labs/zeroclaw.git cd zeroclaw && ./bootstrap.sh # With system deps + Rust: ./bootstrap.sh --install-system-deps --install-rust # With onboarding: ./bootstrap.sh --onboard --api-key "sk-..." --provider openrouter verified Verify Your Installation
Run these commands to confirm ZeroClaw is installed correctly.
zeroclaw --version Should print the installed version. Runs in ~0.02s with ~3.9MB peak memory.
zeroclaw doctor Runs system diagnostics: Rust version, config files, provider connectivity, channel health.
zeroclaw onboard --interactive Interactive setup wizard for API keys, provider selection, and channel configuration.
settings Initial Configuration
After installation, the onboard wizard guides you through setup. Here's what each step does.
Choose Your AI Provider
Select from the provider catalog: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, xAI, Mistral, DeepSeek, OpenRouter (100+ models), or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint including Ollama for local models.
Add Your API Key
Paste your API key. Keys are stored locally in config.toml — never sent anywhere except the AI provider. Subscription auth (OpenAI Codex, Anthropic) also supported with encrypted profiles.
Connect a Channel
Link Telegram (paste bot token), Discord (paste bot token), Slack (workspace app), WhatsApp (QR code), or any of the 17+ supported channels. Deny-by-default allowlist policy.
Start the Agent
Run 'zeroclaw agent -m "Hello!"' for a quick test, 'zeroclaw daemon' for full autonomous runtime, or 'zeroclaw service install' for background service.
.env — All configuration is stored in ~/.zeroclaw/config.toml. Edit directly to change providers, channels, memory backends, tunnels, and security settings. See docs/reference/README.md for the full reference.
system_update_alt Upgrading ZeroClaw
Keep ZeroClaw up to date to get the latest features, integrations, and security patches.
brew upgrade zeroclaw cargo install zeroclaw --force cd zeroclaw && git pull && cargo build --release --locked ./bootstrap.sh --docker --skip-build Check the changelog at github.com/zeroclaw-labs/zeroclaw/releases for what's new in each version.
build Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to fix them.
Need Help?
Join our community for installation support and troubleshooting.