---
summary: "Install and configure Node.js for OpenClaw - version requirements, install options, and PATH troubleshooting"
title: "Node.js"
read_when:
  - "You need to install Node.js before installing OpenClaw"
  - "You installed OpenClaw but `openclaw` is command not found"
  - "npm install -g fails with permissions or PATH issues"
---

OpenClaw requires **Node 22.22.3+, Node 24.15+, or Node 25.9+** (which includes Node 26). **Node 26 is the recommended runtime** — it starts the Gateway noticeably faster and uses less memory than Node 24. The installer provisions Node 26 on macOS and the supported Node 24 LTS line on Linux when Node is missing; CI and release workflows also pin Node 24. Node 22 remains supported via its LTS line. Node 23 is unsupported. The [installer script](/install#alternative-install-methods) detects and installs Node automatically — use this page when you want to set up Node yourself (versions, PATH, global installs).

## Check your version

```bash
node -v
```

`v26` (any release) is the recommended default. `v24.15.0` or newer 24.x remains fully supported (and is what CI pins); `v22.22.3` or newer 22.x is the supported Node 22 LTS path; Node `v25.9.0+` is also supported. Node 23 is unsupported. If Node is missing or outside the supported range, pick an install method below.

## Install Node

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS">
    **Homebrew** (recommended):

    ```bash
    brew install node
    ```

    Or download the macOS installer from [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org/).

  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Linux">
    **Ubuntu / Debian:**

    ```bash
    curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | sudo -E bash -
    sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
    ```

    **Fedora / RHEL:**

    ```bash
    sudo dnf install nodejs
    ```

    Or use a version manager (see below).

  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Windows">
    **winget** (recommended):

    ```powershell
    winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS
    ```

    **Chocolatey:**

    ```powershell
    choco install nodejs-lts
    ```

    Or download the Windows installer from [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org/).

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Accordion title="Using a version manager (nvm, fnm, mise, asdf)">
  Version managers let you switch between Node versions easily. Popular options:

- [**fnm**](https://github.com/Schniz/fnm) - fast, cross-platform
- [**nvm**](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) - widely used on macOS/Linux
- [**mise**](https://mise.jdx.dev/) - polyglot (Node, Python, Ruby, etc.)

Example with fnm:

```bash
fnm install 26
fnm use 26
```

  <Warning>
  Initialize your version manager in your shell startup file (`~/.zshrc` or `~/.bashrc`). If you skip this, `openclaw` may not be found in new terminal sessions because PATH won't include Node's bin directory.
  </Warning>
</Accordion>

## Troubleshooting

### `openclaw: command not found`

This almost always means npm's global bin directory isn't on your PATH.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find your global npm prefix">
    ```bash
    npm prefix -g
    ```
  </Step>
  <Step title="Check if it's on your PATH">
    ```bash
    echo "$PATH"
    ```

    Look for `<npm-prefix>/bin` (macOS/Linux) or `<npm-prefix>` (Windows) in the output.

  </Step>
  <Step title="Add it to your shell startup file">
    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="macOS / Linux">
        Add to `~/.zshrc` or `~/.bashrc`:

        ```bash
        export PATH="$(npm prefix -g)/bin:$PATH"
        ```

        Then open a new terminal (or run `rehash` in zsh / `hash -r` in bash).
      </Tab>
      <Tab title="Windows">
        Add the output of `npm prefix -g` to your system PATH via Settings → System → Environment Variables.
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

  </Step>
</Steps>

### Permission errors on `npm install -g` (Linux)

If you see `EACCES` errors, switch npm's global prefix to a user-writable directory:

```bash
mkdir -p "$HOME/.npm-global"
npm config set prefix "$HOME/.npm-global"
export PATH="$HOME/.npm-global/bin:$PATH"
```

Add the `export PATH=...` line to your `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc` to make it permanent.

## Related

- [Install Overview](/install) - all installation methods
- [Updating](/install/updating) - keeping OpenClaw up to date
- [Getting Started](/start/getting-started) - first steps after install
