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OpenClaw CLI Commands: The Complete Reference

This is the full list of OpenClaw CLI commands, ranked by how often they come up in real usage. If you run your OpenClaw bot on ClawCloud, you can execute these directly from the Console tab in your dashboard without SSH access.

Everyday Commands

These are the ones you'll use most. Health checks, logs, and quick status overviews.

CommandWhat it does
openclaw doctorFull health check with auto-fixes — flags DM policy issues, broken allowlists, gateway problems, model mismatches
openclaw statusQuick overview of sessions, models, usage, and connected channels
openclaw sessionsList active sessions and conversation history
openclaw logsTail the gateway logs (add --follow for live streaming)
openclaw gateway restartRestart the gateway — required after config changes like DM policy or model switches
openclaw config getView any setting (openclaw config get channels.telegram for one channel)
openclaw config setChange a setting (openclaw config set channels.telegram.dmPolicy allowlist)

Most users run doctor first, then status, then logs if something looks off.

Channel and Security Commands

These matter when you're adjusting who can talk to your bot. See also: How to Unlock DM Access and How to Change the OpenClaw DM Policy.

CommandWhat it does
openclaw channels listList all configured channels
openclaw channels statusShow connection state per channel
openclaw pairing list <channel>Show pending pairing requests (e.g. pairing list telegram)
openclaw pairing approve <channel> <code>Approve a pairing request
openclaw config set channels.<ch>.dmPolicy <policy>Change DM policy: open, pairing, allowlist, or disabled
openclaw config set channels.<ch>.allowFrom '["+15551234567"]'Set the DM allowlist (JSON array of user IDs)

After any DM policy change, run openclaw gateway restart and then openclaw doctor to confirm.

Model Commands

Switch models or check what's available. For a walkthrough, see How to Switch AI Models.

CommandWhat it does
openclaw models list --all --plainList every available model ID
openclaw models list --provider openrouter --all --plainList models for a specific provider
openclaw models statusShow the currently active model
openclaw models set <model>Switch to a different model

Agent, Tools, and Skills

CommandWhat it does
openclaw agents listList configured agents
openclaw agents addAdd a new agent
openclaw tools listList installed tools
openclaw tools install <name>Install a tool
openclaw tools uninstall <name>Remove a tool
openclaw skills listList available skills
openclaw cron listList scheduled cron jobs
openclaw cron statusCheck cron job state

Messaging

CommandWhat it does
openclaw message send --to <id> --message "text"Send a message from the bot
openclaw agent --message "Do X for me"Run a one-off agent task

Setup Commands (Run Once)

These are only needed during initial setup or after large configuration changes. On ClawCloud, provisioning handles all of this automatically.

CommandWhat it does
openclaw onboardInteractive setup wizard
openclaw setupCreate workspace and config
openclaw configureFull interactive config wizard

Chat Slash Commands

Once your bot is running, you can also use these inside the chat itself (Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp):

CommandWhat it does
/statusBot status and uptime
/helpList available commands
/commandsSame as /help
/whoamiShow your sender ID (alias: /id) — useful for finding your Telegram or Discord user ID
/modelShow or switch the active model
/resetReset conversation context
/newStart a new conversation
/compactSummarize and compress the conversation history
/think highEnable extended thinking mode
/allowlistView or modify the DM allowlist

Daily Workflow Cheat Sheet

openclaw doctor          # check everything
openclaw status          # see what's running
openclaw logs            # check recent logs
openclaw channels status # verify channel connections

If you're on ClawCloud, open the Console tab in your dashboard and click any of the quick-command buttons to run these.

For more details on specific topics, see the OpenClaw documentation or the OpenClaw model providers guide.

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