The Claw Report

OpenClaw Troubleshooting Guide

Common errors and how to fix them. Last updated:

Fix: OpenClaw Connection Error

Symptoms: "Connection refused," "Cannot connect to Control UI," or the browser shows a blank page at localhost:3000.

Solutions

  1. Check if OpenClaw is running: openclaw status
  2. Verify the port: Another app may be using port 3000. Try: openclaw start --port 3001
  3. Check your firewall: Ensure localhost traffic on the OpenClaw port isn't blocked.
  4. Restart: openclaw stop && openclaw start

Fix: OpenClaw Won't Start

Symptoms: The openclaw start command exits immediately, shows a stack trace, or hangs.

Solutions

  1. Check Node.js version: node --version — must be 18+. Download the latest.
  2. Reinstall: npm install -g openclaw --force
  3. Verbose mode: openclaw start --verbose to see detailed error output.
  4. Check disk space: OpenClaw needs at least 500 MB free.
  5. Permissions (macOS/Linux): If you see EACCES, fix npm permissions: sudo chown -R $(whoami) $(npm config get prefix)

Fix: Docker Permission / Container Errors

Symptoms: "Permission denied," container exits immediately, or volumes aren't accessible.

Solutions

  1. Linux — add yourself to the docker group: 
    sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# Then log out and log back in
  2. Volume permissions: Make sure the host directory exists and is readable: 
    docker run -v /path/to/data:/data --user $(id -u):$(id -g) openclaw/openclaw
  3. Container crashing? Check logs: docker logs openclaw
  4. Port conflict: docker run -p 3001:3000 openclaw/openclaw

Fix: Skill Installation Failures

Symptoms: "Skill not found," installation hangs, or skill doesn't appear after install.

Solutions

  1. Clear cache: openclaw skill cache clear
  2. Check the skill name: Skill names are case-sensitive. Verify on ClawHub.
  3. Version mismatch: Some skills require a specific OpenClaw version. Check the skill's README.
  4. Reinstall: openclaw skill uninstall @clawhub/skill-name && openclaw skill install @clawhub/skill-name
  5. Network issues: Check your internet connection and try again.

Security Best Practices

OpenClaw has broad system access by design. Here's how to stay safe:

  • Keep OpenClaw updated: npm update -g openclaw — patches for critical CVEs (like CVE-2026-25253) land weekly.
  • Review skills before installing: Check the source code, star count, and maintainer history on ClawHub.
  • Use Docker sandboxing: Run untrusted tasks in a container to limit system access.
  • Restrict permissions: In Control UI → Settings → Security, limit which directories and apps OpenClaw can access.
  • Monitor activity: Check the task log regularly for unexpected actions.

For the latest security advisories, check our news feed.

Still Stuck?