openclaw install — Install Plugins & Tools

Synopsis

openclaw install [OPTIONS] [PACKAGE]

Tool packs extend OpenClaw with additional capabilities — browser automation, database access, email sending, git operations, and more. OpenClaw ships with a curated set of built-in packs and supports community plugins from the official registry.

Options & Flags

Flag	Description
`--list`	List all installed packages and available updates
`--upgrade`	Upgrade an installed package to the latest version
`--remove`	Uninstall a package
`--global`	Install for all users (requires elevated permissions)
`--dry-run`	Show what would be installed without installing
`--registry`	Specify a custom registry URL

Built-in Tool Packs

These packs are maintained by the OpenClaw team and available from the official registry:

Pack	Capabilities	Size
`browser`	Web browsing, screenshot, form fill, scraping	~12 MB
`database`	SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL query execution	~8 MB
`email`	Send/read email via SMTP/IMAP	~3 MB
`filesystem`	Advanced file ops (bundled by default)	~1 MB
`git`	Clone, commit, push, diff, branch management	~5 MB
`telegram`	Telegram bot integration	~4 MB
`discord`	Discord bot integration	~6 MB

Examples

Installing a Pack

# Install the browser tool pack
openclaw install browser

# Install git tools
openclaw install git

Installing browser tools v2.1.0...
Downloading: [====================] 100%
Installing dependencies...
Done. browser tools are now available to your agent.

Listing Installed Packs

openclaw install --list

Installed packages:
  filesystem   v1.0.0  (built-in)   [up to date]
  git          v1.2.1               [up to date]
  browser      v2.0.0               [update available: v2.1.0]

Run 'openclaw install browser --upgrade' to update.

Upgrading a Pack

openclaw install browser --upgrade

Removing a Pack

openclaw install --remove browser
# Are you sure you want to remove browser? [y/N]: y
# browser tools removed.

Community Plugins

Community plugins are published to the OpenClaw registry by third-party developers. Always review the source code of community plugins before installing:

# Search the community registry
openclaw install --search "calendar"

# Install a community plugin by full name
openclaw install community/google-calendar

# Preview what will be installed
openclaw install community/slack-notifier --dry-run

⚠️

Security Warning

Community plugins run with the same permissions as OpenClaw. Only install plugins from authors you trust. Check the plugin source at github.com/openclaw-ai/plugins before installing.

💡

See Also

openclaw update — update OpenClaw itself
Configuration — configure tool permissions
Custom Tool Development

Pack Usage Examples

Browser Tools Pack

openclaw install browser-tools

# Now available:
openclaw run "Open https://example.com and extract the main heading"
openclaw run "Fill in the login form at https://app.example.com and take a screenshot"

Code Execution Pack

openclaw install code-executor

# Execute generated Python code safely
openclaw run "Write a Python function to calculate Fibonacci numbers and test it with n=10"
# AI writes the code, the pack executes it, shows output

Database Pack

openclaw install database-tools

# Query and analyse SQLite databases
openclaw run "Connect to mydb.sqlite and show the top 5 tables by row count" \
  --context mydb.sqlite

Verify Installed Packs

openclaw install --list
# Installed packs:
#   browser-tools  v2.1.0  (official)
#   code-executor  v1.3.0  (official)

openclaw install --list --available
# Available packs: browser-tools, code-executor, database-tools, telegram, discord, ...

# Uninstall a pack
openclaw install --uninstall browser-tools

Exit Codes

Exit Code	Meaning
`0`	Pack installed successfully
`1`	Pack not found in registry
`2`	Dependency conflict or install error
`3`	Network error (try with `--offline`)

Removing and Listing Packs

# List installed packs with version and source
openclaw install --list

# Example output:
# NAME                  VERSION   SOURCE
# web-search            1.2.0     built-in
# code-runner           0.9.3     built-in
# github-tools          2.1.0     community (github.com/openclaw-packs/github-tools)
# my-custom-pack        local     /home/user/packs/my-custom-pack

# Remove a pack
openclaw install --remove github-tools

# Upgrade a specific pack
openclaw install --upgrade github-tools

# Upgrade all community packs
openclaw install --upgrade --all

Global vs User Installation

# Install system-wide (all users on the machine)
sudo openclaw install --global github-tools

# See where packs are stored
openclaw install --list --verbose
# User packs:   ~/.openclaw/packs/
# Global packs: /usr/local/share/openclaw/packs/

Verifying a Community Pack

Always verify community packs before enabling them in production environments:

# Inspect pack manifest before installing
openclaw install --dry-run github-tools

# Check what tools a pack provides and their required permissions
openclaw install --info github-tools

# After install, confirm it loads correctly
openclaw doctor --check-packs

Security note: Community packs can define tool schemas that execute shell commands. Review the pack's manifest.yaml and tools/ directory before installing from an unfamiliar source.

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