---
summary: "CLI reference for `openclaw approvals` and `openclaw exec-policy`"
read_when:
  - You want to edit exec approvals from the CLI
  - You need to manage allowlists on gateway or node hosts
title: "Approvals"
---

# `openclaw approvals`

Manage exec approvals for the **local host**, **gateway host**, or a **node host**. With no target flag, commands read/write the local approvals file on disk. Use `--gateway` to target the gateway, or `--node <id|name|ip>` to target a specific node.

Alias: `openclaw exec-approvals`

Related: [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals), [Nodes](/nodes)

## `openclaw exec-policy`

`openclaw exec-policy` is the **local-only** convenience command that keeps requested `tools.exec.*` config and the local host approvals file in sync in one step:

```bash
openclaw exec-policy show
openclaw exec-policy show --json

openclaw exec-policy preset yolo
openclaw exec-policy preset cautious --json

openclaw exec-policy set --host gateway --security full --ask off --ask-fallback full
```

Presets (`yolo`, `cautious`, `deny-all`) apply `host`, `security`, `ask`, and `askFallback` together. `set` applies only the flags you pass; each accepted value is validated (`--host auto|sandbox|gateway|node`, `--security deny|allowlist|full`, `--ask off|on-miss|always`, `--ask-fallback deny|allowlist|full`).

Scope:

- Updates the local config file and local approvals file together; does not push policy to the gateway or a node host.
- `--host node` is rejected: node exec approvals are fetched from the node at runtime, so local `exec-policy` cannot synchronize them. Use `openclaw approvals set --node <id|name|ip>` instead.
- `exec-policy show` marks `host=node` scopes as node-managed at runtime instead of deriving an effective policy from the local approvals file.

For remote host approvals, use `openclaw approvals set --gateway` or `openclaw approvals set --node <id|name|ip>` directly.

## Common commands

```bash
openclaw approvals get
openclaw approvals get --node <id|name|ip>
openclaw approvals get --gateway
```

`get` shows the effective exec policy for the target: the requested `tools.exec` policy, the host approvals-file policy, and the merged effective result. Nodes with a host-native policy, such as the Windows companion, show that policy directly instead of applying OpenClaw approvals-file policy math.

For file-backed nodes, the merged view requires a host-resolved policy snapshot. Older nodes show the effective policy as unavailable instead of assuming the Gateway's requested policy also applies on the host.

<Note>
Per-session `/exec` overrides are not included. Run `/exec` in the relevant session to inspect its current defaults.
</Note>

Precedence:

- The host approvals file is the enforceable source of truth.
- Requested `tools.exec` policy can narrow or broaden intent, but the effective result is derived from host rules.
- `--node` combines the node host approvals file with gateway `tools.exec` policy (both apply at runtime).
- If gateway config is unavailable, the CLI falls back to the node approvals snapshot and notes that the final runtime policy could not be computed.

## Replace approvals from a file

```bash
openclaw approvals set --file ./exec-approvals.json
openclaw approvals set --stdin <<'EOF'
{ version: 1, defaults: { security: "full", ask: "off", askFallback: "full" } }
EOF
openclaw approvals set --node <id|name|ip> --file ./exec-approvals.json
openclaw approvals set --gateway --file ./exec-approvals.json
```

`set` accepts JSON5, not only strict JSON. Use either `--file` or `--stdin`, not both.

Host-native Windows nodes use their own policy shape:

```bash
openclaw approvals set --node <id|name|ip> --stdin <<'EOF'
{
  defaultAction: "deny",
  rules: [{ pattern: "hostname", action: "allow" }]
}
EOF
```

The CLI reads the node's current hash first and sends it with the update, so concurrent local edits are rejected instead of overwritten. `rules` is required because this operation replaces the node's complete rule list; `defaultAction` is optional. A node that reports its native policy as disabled cannot be configured remotely; enable or configure the policy on that host first. Host-native policies do not support the `allowlist add|remove` helpers.

## "Never prompt" / YOLO example

Set the host approvals defaults to `full` + `off` for a host that should never stop on exec approvals:

```bash
openclaw approvals set --stdin <<'EOF'
{
  version: 1,
  defaults: {
    security: "full",
    ask: "off",
    askFallback: "full"
  }
}
EOF
```

For nodes that expose an OpenClaw approvals file, use the same body with `openclaw approvals set --node <id|name|ip> --stdin`. Host-native nodes require their owner-specific shape shown above.

This changes the **host approvals file** only. To keep the requested OpenClaw policy aligned, also set:

```bash
openclaw config set tools.exec.host gateway
openclaw config set tools.exec.security full
openclaw config set tools.exec.ask off
```

`tools.exec.host=gateway` is explicit here because `host=auto` still means "sandbox when available, otherwise gateway": YOLO is about approvals, not routing. Use `gateway` (or `/exec host=gateway`) when you want host exec even with a sandbox configured.

Omitted `askFallback` defaults to `deny`. Set `askFallback: "full"` explicitly when upgrading a no-UI host that should keep never-prompt behavior.

Local shortcut for the same intent, on the local machine only:

```bash
openclaw exec-policy preset yolo
```

## Allowlist helpers

```bash
openclaw approvals allowlist add "~/Projects/**/bin/rg"
openclaw approvals allowlist add --agent main --node <id|name|ip> "/usr/bin/uptime"
openclaw approvals allowlist add --agent "*" "/usr/bin/uname"

openclaw approvals allowlist remove "~/Projects/**/bin/rg"
```

## Common options

`get`, `set`, and `allowlist add|remove` all support:

- `--node <id|name|ip>` (resolves id, name, IP, or id prefix; same resolver as `openclaw nodes`)
- `--gateway`
- shared node RPC options: `--url`, `--token`, `--timeout`, `--json`

No target flag means the local approvals file on disk.

`allowlist add|remove` also supports `--agent <id>` (defaults to `"*"`, applying to all agents).

## Notes

- The node host must advertise `system.execApprovals.get/set` (macOS app, headless node host, or Windows companion).
- Approvals files are stored per host in the OpenClaw state dir: `$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/exec-approvals.json`, or `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` when the variable is unset.

## Related

- [CLI reference](/cli)
- [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals)
