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).

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.

Step 3: Start the Container

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

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

Next Steps

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