Complete OpenClaw Docker Setup Guide (2026)

Why Use Docker?

Dependency Isolation - No conflicts with system Python/Node
Easy Deployment - Same setup on dev, staging, production
Resource Control - Limit CPU/memory usage
Quick Rollbacks - Revert to previous versions instantly

Prerequisites

Before starting, generate your config file using our Config Wizard (takes 30 seconds).

Required: Docker Desktop installed (Download here)

Step 1: Create docker-compose.yml

Create this file in your project directory:

version: '3.8'

services:
  openclaw:
    image: openclaw/openclaw:latest
    container_name: openclaw-agent
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ./clawhub.json:/app/clawhub.json
      - ./data:/app/data
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production
    restart: unless-stopped
    mem_limit: 2g
    cpus: 1.0

Step 2: Place Your Config File

Put your clawhub.json in the same directory as docker-compose.yml.

Don't have a config yet? Use our Config Wizard to generate one in 30 seconds.

Step 3: Start the Container

Terminal

docker-compose up -d

You should see:

✓ Container openclaw-agent  Started

Step 4: Verify It's Running

docker ps

You should see openclaw-agent in the list.

Useful Docker Commands

docker-compose logs -f

View live logs

docker-compose restart

Restart the agent

docker-compose down

Stop and remove container

Troubleshooting

If you see errors, run our Local Doctor:

npx clawkit-doctor@latest

Common issues:

Port 3000 already in use - Change port in docker-compose.yml to 3001:3000
Config file not found - Ensure clawhub.json is in the same directory
Permission denied - Run sudo docker-compose up -d (Linux)

Production Best Practices

Use .env for secrets

Never hardcode API keys in docker-compose.yml

Set resource limits

Prevent runaway memory usage with mem_limit

Enable auto-restart

Use restart: unless-stopped for reliability

Monitor logs

Set up log rotation to prevent disk fill-up

Need a server to run this?

Run OpenClaw 24/7 on a cloud VPS. Start small — a $6/mo Droplet handles most personal agents.

DigitalOcean — $200 free credit Vultr — from $2.50/mo

Affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Next Steps

Install Plugins

Add browser control, memory, and more

Cost Optimization

Reduce API costs with caching and model routing

Last Updated: February 6, 2026 | Setup Time: 5 minutes