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AnnouncementsJanuary 28, 2025•10 min read

OpenClaw is now OpenClaw: What Changed and How to Update

Important rebranding announcement: OpenClaw is now OpenClaw. Learn what changed, how to update your installation, and why this matters for your AI assistant setup.

Important: If you're seeing this, you likely knew us as "OpenClaw." We've rebranded to OpenClaw due to trademark considerations. This guide explains everything you need to know about the transition.

Why the Rebrand?

After careful consideration, we made the decision to rebrand from OpenClaw to OpenClaw. This change ensures we can continue developing and distributing this open-source AI assistant without legal complications.

What this means for you:

  • Same codebase, same features, same team
  • Better long-term sustainability for the project
  • No breaking changes to core functionality
  • Your existing configurations and skills will continue to work

⚠️ Critical Security Warning: Crypto Scams on X/Twitter

WARNING: There are currently cryptocurrency scams impersonating OpenClaw on X (formerly Twitter). These accounts claim to offer "OpenClaw tokens" or "MOLT crypto" – these are fake and have no affiliation with our project.

Official sources ONLY:

Red flags to watch for:

  • ❌ Any account promising "airdrops" or "tokens"
  • ❌ Accounts asking for crypto payments or wallet connections
  • ❌ URLs that don't match our official GitHub domain
  • ❌ Accounts not verified in our official Discord server

We will NEVER:

  • Ask for cryptocurrency or payments
  • Launch a token or coin
  • Request your wallet credentials
  • DM you first about investment opportunities

Stay safe. If it's not in our official GitHub repository, it's not us.

How to Update Your Installation

If you have an existing OpenClaw installation, follow these steps to migrate to OpenClaw.

macOS (Homebrew)

Old command (OpenClaw):

brew install clawbot

New command (OpenClaw):

brew install moltbot
brew upgrade moltbot

Migration steps:

# 1. Uninstall the old OpenClaw
brew uninstall clawbot

# 2. Install OpenClaw
brew install moltbot

# 3. Verify installation
moltbot --version
# Expected output: moltbot v2.x.x

# 4. Your existing config should auto-migrate
moltbot doctor

Linux (APT)

# Remove old OpenClaw repository
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/clawbot.list

# Add new OpenClaw repository
curl -fsSL https://packages.moltbot.ai/apt/gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/moltbot.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/moltbot.gpg] https://packages.moltbot.ai/apt stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/moltbot.list

# Update and install
sudo apt update
sudo apt install moltbot

Windows (WSL2)

If you're using Windows with WSL2, follow the Linux instructions above within your WSL2 instance.

Your existing ~/.clawbot/ configuration directory will be automatically detected and migrated to ~/.moltbot/ on first run.

Need help with WSL2 setup? Check out our Windows WSL2 Installation Guide for detailed instructions.

Python pip

# Uninstall old package
pip uninstall clawbot

# Install new package
pip install moltbot

# Verify
moltbot --version

Docker

# Old image (deprecated)
FROM clawbot/clawbot:latest

# New image (use this instead)
FROM moltbot/moltbot:latest

Update your Docker Compose files:

services:
  moltbot:
    image: moltbot/moltbot:latest
    container_name: moltbot
    volumes:
      - ./moltbot-config:/root/.moltbot
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"

What's Staying the Same

Good news: almost everything you love about OpenClaw remains unchanged in OpenClaw.

Feature Parity

All your favorite features work exactly the same:

  • ✅ Browser automation and control
  • ✅ System monitoring and health checks
  • ✅ Discord integration
  • ✅ Calendar and scheduling
  • ✅ Voice assistant capabilities
  • ✅ Smart home automation
  • ✅ Gateway device pairing
  • ✅ Custom skill development

Configuration Compatibility

Your existing configuration files will be automatically migrated:

# Old location
~/.clawbot/

# New location (auto-migrated on first run)
~/.moltbot/

Migration happens automatically when you first run moltbot start. You don't need to manually copy anything.

Skills and Plugins

All existing skills remain compatible:

  • Your custom skills in ~/.moltbot/skills/ will continue to work
  • Community skills from the original OpenClaw ecosystem are forward-compatible
  • No code changes required for skill developers

Mac Mini M4 Performance: Still Perfect

Great news for Mac Mini M4 users: The OpenClaw optimization guide works identically to the OpenClaw setup. If you followed our previous optimization guide, you're already set.

The architecture hasn't changed – OpenClaw still benefits from:

  • ✅ M4's unified memory architecture for efficient AI processing
  • ✅ Low-power background execution (24/7 availability)
  • ✅ Hardware-accelerated video encoding for browser automation
  • ✅ Thermal efficiency for continuous operation

Update Your M4 Mac Mini Setup

If you have an existing M4 Mac Mini running OpenClaw:

# 1. Stop the old service
sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.clawbot.daemon.plist

# 2. Install OpenClaw
brew install moltbot

# 3. Update the launch daemon plist
sudo nano /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.moltbot.daemon.plist

Updated plist content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.moltbot.daemon</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/opt/homebrew/bin/moltbot</string>
        <string>daemon</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
    <key>StandardOutPath</key>
    <string>/var/log/moltbot.log</string>
    <key>StandardErrorPath</key>
    <string>/var/log/moltbot.err</string>
</dict>
</plist>

# 4. Load the new service
sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.moltbot.daemon.plist

# 5. Verify it's running
moltbot status

For the complete Mac Mini M4 optimization guide, including energy saver settings, network configuration, and performance tuning, see our Best-in-class Mac Mini M4 Setup Guide. This is the definitive resource for getting maximum performance from OpenClaw on Apple Silicon.

CLI Command Reference

Here's a quick reference for common commands. Note that all commands now use moltbot instead of clawbot:

Old Command (OpenClaw) New Command (OpenClaw) Description
clawbot start moltbot start Start the OpenClaw daemon
clawbot stop moltbot stop Stop the daemon
clawbot status moltbot status Check running status
clawbot doctor moltbot doctor Run diagnostics
clawbot logs moltbot logs View daemon logs
clawbot pair moltbot pair Pair a new gateway device
clawbot skills list moltbot skills list List installed skills
clawbot skills install <name> moltbot skills install <name> Install a skill
clawbot config get <key> moltbot config get <key> Get config value
clawbot config set <key> <val> moltbot config set <key> <val> Set config value

Breaking Changes

We've minimized breaking changes, but here are a few things to be aware of:

1. CLI Command Name Change

All CLI commands now use moltbot instead of clawbot. Update your scripts, aliases, and documentation.

Check your shell aliases:

# In ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc, remove or update:
alias clawbot='moltbot'  # Optional: add this for a transition period

2. Systemd/Launchd Service Names

If you're running OpenClaw as a system service, update the service file names:

macOS (launchd):

  • Old: com.clawbot.daemon.plist
  • New: com.moltbot.daemon.plist

Linux (systemd):

  • Old: clawbot.service
  • New: moltbot.service

3. Environment Variables

If you're using environment variables in your configuration:

# Old
CLAWBOT_HOME=/path/to/config
CLAWBOT_LOG_LEVEL=debug

# New
MOLTBOT_HOME=/path/to/config
MOLTBOT_LOG_LEVEL=debug

The old CLAWBOT_* variables are deprecated but still supported for now. We recommend updating to MOLTBOT_* prefixes.

4. Package Repository URLs

If you've pinned our package repositories in your configuration, update the URLs:

  • Homebrew: brew tap moltbot/moltbot
  • APT: packages.moltbot.ai/apt
  • Docker Hub: moltbot/moltbot

GitHub Repository Migration

The main development repository has moved:

  • Old: github.com/clawbot/clawbot (archived, read-only)
  • New: github.com/moltbot/moltbot (active development)

What you need to do:

If you have forked or starred the old repository, please update to the new one:

# If you have a local clone
cd clawbot
git remote set-url origin https://github.com/moltbot/moltbot.git
git fetch origin
git checkout main
git pull origin main

If you're submitting pull requests or reporting issues, use the new repository at github.com/moltbot/moltbot.

Documentation Updates

Our documentation is being updated to reflect the OpenClaw branding. Here are the key pages you should reference:

Essential Setup Guides

Skill Documentation

All skill documentation remains relevant and has been updated to use OpenClaw CLI examples:

Migration Checklist

Use this checklist to ensure you've fully migrated to OpenClaw:

  • Uninstalled old OpenClaw package (brew uninstall clawbot or equivalent)
  • Installed new OpenClaw package
  • Verified installation with moltbot --version
  • Checked that auto-migration moved your config to ~/.moltbot/
  • Updated systemd or launchd service files
  • Updated shell aliases and scripts
  • Updated Docker images (if applicable)
  • Updated CI/CD pipelines (if applicable)
  • Updated GitHub remote URLs (if you're a contributor)
  • Verified all skills are working: moltbot skills list
  • Tested core functionality: moltbot doctor
  • Bookmarked new GitHub repository
  • Joined official Discord (linked from GitHub README)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to reinstall my skills? A: No. Your installed skills in ~/.moltbot/skills/ will continue to work without modification.

Q: Will my OpenClaw gateway devices still work? A: Yes. Gateway devices are compatible with OpenClaw. No re-pairing required.

Q: What happens to my logs and data? A: Your data is automatically migrated to ~/.moltbot/ on first run. The old ~/.clawbot/ directory is preserved as a backup.

Q: Is OpenClaw still safe to use? A: OpenClaw will receive security updates for a limited time, but we strongly recommend migrating to OpenClaw as soon as possible. New features will only be developed for OpenClaw.

Q: What if I find a OpenClaw reference in the docs? A: We're in the process of updating all documentation. If you spot outdated references, please open an issue to help us improve.

Q: Can I run OpenClaw and OpenClaw side-by-side? A: We don't recommend this. They use the same ports and resources. Please fully migrate to OpenClaw.

Q: Will there be another rebrand? A: No. We've secured the OpenClaw trademark and this name is permanent.

What's Next for OpenClaw?

The rebrand clears the way for exciting new features we've been planning:

  • Enhanced Gateway V2 – Next-generation hardware with improved latency
  • Web Dashboard – Browser-based management interface
  • Multi-language Support – Better internationalization
  • Plugin Marketplace – Discover and install community skills
  • Cloud Sync – Sync configurations across devices (optional, opt-in only)

Follow our progress on GitHub and join our Discord community for early access announcements.

Need Help?

If you encounter issues during migration:

  1. Check the troubleshooting guide – Gateway Troubleshooting
  2. Run diagnostics – moltbot doctor will identify common issues
  3. Search existing issues – GitHub Issues
  4. Join our Discord – Get real-time help from the community (link in GitHub README)
  5. Open a new issue – Include moltbot doctor output and your OS/version

Summary

What Changed Status
Project name OpenClaw → OpenClaw
CLI command clawbot → moltbot
Config directory ~/.clawbot/ → ~/.moltbot/ (auto-migrated)
GitHub repository clawbot/clawbot → moltbot/moltbot
Package name clawbot → moltbot
Core functionality ✅ Unchanged
Skills compatibility ✅ Fully compatible
Hardware support ✅ Including Mac Mini M4
Your data ✅ Auto-migrated

Thank you for your patience during this transition. We're excited to continue building the best open-source AI assistant under our new name: OpenClaw.

Last updated: January 28, 2025

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