OpenClaw Quick Start

Purpose

This guide connects OpenClaw to AnyRoute and verifies that the model service responds correctly. Channel integrations and background-service deployment are outside this guide.

If Node.js is not installed, complete the Node.js Installation Guide first.

1. Before you begin

Confirm that:

You created an API key on the AnyRoute API Keys page.

You know the exact model ID you want to use.

Your environment meets OpenClaw's requirements: Node.js 24 is recommended, and Node.js 22.16 or later is supported by the source guide.

On Windows, WSL2 with Ubuntu is the recommended environment.

Supported models

OpenAI-compatible

gpt-5.4-mini

gpt-5.4

gpt-5.5

gpt-5.6-sol

gpt-5.6-terra

gpt-5.6-luna

Anthropic-compatible

claude-opus-4-8

claude-opus-4-7

claude-opus-4-6

claude-fable-5

claude-sonnet-5

claude-sonnet-4-6

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

For the complete current list, see Supported Models.

2. Recommended setup: OpenClaw onboarding wizard

Step 1: install OpenClaw

On macOS, Linux, or WSL2, the source guide uses the official installer:

--no-onboard installs the CLI without starting the wizard automatically.

Review remote installation scripts before running them in a managed or production environment.

Verify the installation:

Step 2: start the onboarding wizard

Step 3: configure a custom provider

Select Custom provider, then use:

Field	Value
Compatibility	`Anthropic-compatible` or `OpenAI-compatible`
Base URL	See below
Model ID	For example, `claude-sonnet-4-6` or `gpt-5.4`
Provider ID	`anyroute`
API key	Your AnyRoute API key

Base URL:

Anthropic-compatible: https://cc.anyroute.io

OpenAI-compatible: https://cc.anyroute.io/v1

Step 4: validate the setup

Keep the default gateway port, binding, and background-service settings for the first test, then run:

Send a test message in the local dashboard. Receiving a model response confirms the connection.

3. Non-interactive setup

For scripts, server provisioning, or managed images, export the key:

Then run:

With --secret-input-mode ref, OpenClaw normally stores a reference to an environment variable instead of embedding the key. Inspect ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json to confirm the actual variable name used by your installed version.

4. Manual configuration reference

The OpenClaw configuration file is ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json. Preserve unrelated settings when editing an existing file.

{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: { primary: "anyroute/gpt-5.6-sol" },
    },
  },
  models: {
    providers: {
      anyroute: {
        baseUrl: "https://cc.anyroute.io",
        apiKey: "${CUSTOM_API_KEY}",
        api: "openai-completions",
        models: [
          {
            id: "gpt-5.6-sol",
            name: "gpt-5.6-sol",
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
}

The default model must use provider-id/model-id, for example anyroute/gpt-5.6-sol.

5. Success checklist

The correct AnyRoute base URL is configured for the selected compatibility mode.

The API key is active, unexpired, and has remaining balance.

The default model uses anyroute/<model-id>.

openclaw doctor and openclaw status report no configuration error.

A dashboard message receives a response.

Troubleshooting

The service cannot be reached

Check the base URL and remove accidental trailing spaces. Use the compatibility-specific value shown above.

OpenClaw starts, but the model is not found

Confirm that the model ID is currently available to your AnyRoute group and that the default model includes the anyroute/ prefix.

The non-interactive command reports a missing API key

Confirm that the environment variable is exported in the same shell and matches the variable referenced by openclaw.json.

WhatsApp or Telegram does not work

That is normally a channel-configuration issue, not a model-provider issue. Continue with the OpenClaw Channels documentation.

Next steps

Claude Code Quick Start

Codex CLI Quick Start

Frequently Asked Questions

Purpose#

1. Before you begin#

Supported models#

OpenAI-compatible#

Anthropic-compatible#

2. Recommended setup: OpenClaw onboarding wizard#

Step 1: install OpenClaw#

Step 2: start the onboarding wizard#

Step 3: configure a custom provider#

Step 4: validate the setup#

3. Non-interactive setup#

4. Manual configuration reference#

5. Success checklist#

Troubleshooting#

The service cannot be reached#

OpenClaw starts, but the model is not found#

The non-interactive command reports a missing API key#

WhatsApp or Telegram does not work#

Next steps#