How to Uninstall OpenClaw Completely: Mac, Windows & Linux (2026)

TL;DR

Run openclaw uninstall for the quick method
The official uninstaller leaves behind credentials and config files
You must manually delete ~/.openclaw, revoke OAuth tokens, and remove the CLI
This guide covers Mac, Windows, and Linux complete removal
Looking for a simpler AI tool? Try Y Build — no self-hosting required

Why People Uninstall OpenClaw

OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot) is a powerful open-source AI assistant with 190K+ GitHub stars. But many users decide to remove it for valid reasons:

Privacy concerns — OpenClaw runs shell commands and accesses files on your machine
Resource usage — the gateway service runs in the background consuming CPU and memory
Complexity — managing API keys, gateway configs, and CLI updates is tedious
Security risks — long-lived OAuth tokens remain active even after you stop using it
Switching to simpler tools — many users prefer hosted solutions that just work

Whatever your reason, this guide ensures you remove OpenClaw completely — not just the CLI binary, but all configuration, cached data, and OAuth access.

Method 1: Quick Uninstall (Official)

If you just want a fast removal, OpenClaw has a built-in uninstaller:

bash

openclaw uninstall

For non-interactive (scripted) removal:

bash

openclaw uninstall --all --yes --non-interactive

Important: This does NOT remove everything. Security researchers at OX Security confirmed the official uninstaller leaves behind credentials and configuration files. Continue reading for a complete removal.

Method 2: Complete Uninstall (Recommended)

Step 1: Stop the Gateway Service

The OpenClaw gateway runs as a background service. Stop it first:

bash

openclaw gateway stop
openclaw gateway uninstall

Verify it's stopped:

bash

# Mac/Linux
ps aux | grep openclaw

# Windows (PowerShell)
Get-Process | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*openclaw*"}

Step 2: Run the Official Uninstaller

bash

openclaw uninstall --all --yes

Step 3: Delete Configuration and State Files

The official uninstaller misses these. Remove them manually:

Mac:

bash

rm -rf ~/.openclaw
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/openclaw
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/openclaw
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/openclaw*
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/openclaw

Linux:

bash

rm -rf ~/.openclaw
rm -rf ~/.config/openclaw
rm -rf ~/.cache/openclaw
rm -rf ~/.local/share/openclaw

Windows (PowerShell):

powershell

Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw"
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:APPDATA\openclaw"
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\openclaw"

Step 4: Remove the CLI Binary

Depending on how you installed OpenClaw:

bash

# npm
npm rm -g openclaw

# pnpm
pnpm remove -g openclaw

# bun
bun remove -g openclaw

# Homebrew (Mac)
brew uninstall openclaw

# If installed via curl script, find and delete the binary
which openclaw && rm $(which openclaw)

Step 5: Clean Up Environment Variables

Check your shell profile for OpenClaw-related variables:

Mac/Linux — check ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, ~/.bash_profile:

bash

# Remove any lines containing:
# OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR
# OPENCLAW_API_KEY
# OPENCLAW_GATEWAY
# OPENCLAW_HOME

Windows — remove from System Environment Variables via Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables.

Step 6: Remove Docker Containers (If Applicable)

If you ran OpenClaw via Docker:

bash

docker stop openclaw
docker rm openclaw
docker rmi openclaw/openclaw

Revoke OAuth Tokens (Critical)

OpenClaw uses long-lived OAuth tokens to connect to third-party services. These remain active even after uninstalling. You must revoke them manually.

Check each service you connected:

Service	Where to Revoke
Google	myaccount.google.com > Security > Third-party apps
GitHub	Settings > Applications > Authorized OAuth Apps
Slack	Settings > Manage Apps
Telegram	BotFather > /revoke
Discord	Settings > Authorized Apps
WhatsApp	Settings > Linked Devices
Notion	Settings > Connections
Twitter/X	Settings > Security > Apps and sessions

Do not skip this step. Any connected service could still be accessed through the tokens OpenClaw stored.

Verify Complete Removal

Run these checks to confirm OpenClaw is fully removed:

bash

# Check if CLI is still accessible
which openclaw
# Should return "openclaw not found"

# Check if state directory exists
ls -la ~/.openclaw
# Should return "No such file or directory"

# Check if gateway is running
ps aux | grep openclaw
# Should show no openclaw processes

# Check for lingering npm packages
npm list -g openclaw
# Should show "empty"

Looking for a Simpler Alternative?

If you're uninstalling OpenClaw because of the complexity, you're not alone. Many users switch to hosted AI platforms that don't require:

Self-hosting and CLI setup
API key management ($10-50/month for tokens)
Gateway configuration and maintenance
Security risks from local OAuth tokens

Y Build lets you build AI-powered apps and SaaS products without any technical setup:

No self-hosting — everything runs in the cloud
No API keys — AI is built into the platform
No CLI commands — visual builder with instant deploy
Build real products — not just chat, but full web apps
Free to start — launch your MVP today

Instead of spending hours configuring an AI assistant, spend that time actually building your product. Get started with Y Build →

FAQ

Does `openclaw uninstall` remove everything?

No. Security research by OX Security showed the official uninstaller leaves behind credentials, configuration files, and OAuth tokens. Follow the complete removal steps in this guide.

Will uninstalling OpenClaw delete my chat history?

Your chat history in messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) will remain. OpenClaw's local logs and state will be deleted when you remove ~/.openclaw.

Can I reinstall OpenClaw later?

Yes. Uninstalling is fully reversible. You can reinstall anytime with npm install -g openclaw or your preferred package manager.

Is OpenClaw dangerous?

OpenClaw itself is open-source and MIT-licensed. However, it has deep system access (shell commands, file system, browser control), which carries inherent risk. If you're uncomfortable with that level of access, consider cloud-hosted alternatives like Y Build.

How do I uninstall Clawdbot or Moltbot?

Clawdbot and Moltbot were the previous names for OpenClaw. The uninstall steps are the same — look for .clawdbot or .moltbot directories in your home folder in addition to .openclaw.

bash

rm -rf ~/.clawdbot
rm -rf ~/.moltbot
rm -rf ~/.openclaw

What's the difference between OpenClaw and Y Build?

OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI assistant you control via messaging apps. Y Build is a cloud-hosted platform for building AI-powered web applications without coding. OpenClaw focuses on personal automation; Y Build focuses on building and launching products.

Method 2: Complete Uninstall (Recommended)

Step 1: Stop the Gateway Service

The OpenClaw gateway runs as a background service. Stop it first:

bash

openclaw gateway stop
openclaw gateway uninstall

Verify it's stopped:

bash

# Mac/Linux
ps aux | grep openclaw

# Windows (PowerShell)
Get-Process | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*openclaw*"}

Step 2: Run the Official Uninstaller

bash

openclaw uninstall --all --yes

Step 3: Delete Configuration and State Files

The official uninstaller misses these. Remove them manually:

Mac:

bash

rm -rf ~/.openclaw
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/openclaw
rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/openclaw
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/openclaw*
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/openclaw

Linux:

bash

rm -rf ~/.openclaw
rm -rf ~/.config/openclaw
rm -rf ~/.cache/openclaw
rm -rf ~/.local/share/openclaw

Windows (PowerShell):

powershell

Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.openclaw"
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:APPDATA\openclaw"
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\openclaw"

Step 4: Remove the CLI Binary

Depending on how you installed OpenClaw:

bash

# npm
npm rm -g openclaw

# pnpm
pnpm remove -g openclaw

# bun
bun remove -g openclaw

# Homebrew (Mac)
brew uninstall openclaw

# If installed via curl script, find and delete the binary
which openclaw && rm $(which openclaw)

Step 5: Clean Up Environment Variables

Check your shell profile for OpenClaw-related variables:

Mac/Linux — check ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, ~/.bash_profile:

bash

# Remove any lines containing:
# OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR
# OPENCLAW_API_KEY
# OPENCLAW_GATEWAY
# OPENCLAW_HOME

Windows — remove from System Environment Variables via Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables.

Step 6: Remove Docker Containers (If Applicable)

If you ran OpenClaw via Docker:

bash

docker stop openclaw
docker rm openclaw
docker rmi openclaw/openclaw

Revoke OAuth Tokens (Critical)

OpenClaw uses long-lived OAuth tokens to connect to third-party services. These remain active even after uninstalling. You must revoke them manually.

Check each service you connected:

Service	Where to Revoke
Google	myaccount.google.com > Security > Third-party apps
GitHub	Settings > Applications > Authorized OAuth Apps
Slack	Settings > Manage Apps
Telegram	BotFather > /revoke
Discord	Settings > Authorized Apps
WhatsApp	Settings > Linked Devices
Notion	Settings > Connections
Twitter/X	Settings > Security > Apps and sessions

Do not skip this step. Any connected service could still be accessed through the tokens OpenClaw stored.

Verify Complete Removal

Run these checks to confirm OpenClaw is fully removed:

bash

# Check if CLI is still accessible
which openclaw
# Should return "openclaw not found"

# Check if state directory exists
ls -la ~/.openclaw
# Should return "No such file or directory"

# Check if gateway is running
ps aux | grep openclaw
# Should show no openclaw processes

# Check for lingering npm packages
npm list -g openclaw
# Should show "empty"

Looking for a Simpler Alternative?

If you're uninstalling OpenClaw because of the complexity, you're not alone. Many users switch to hosted AI platforms that don't require:

Self-hosting and CLI setup
API key management ($10-50/month for tokens)
Gateway configuration and maintenance
Security risks from local OAuth tokens

Y Build lets you build AI-powered apps and SaaS products without any technical setup:

No self-hosting — everything runs in the cloud
No API keys — AI is built into the platform
No CLI commands — visual builder with instant deploy
Build real products — not just chat, but full web apps
Free to start — launch your MVP today

Instead of spending hours configuring an AI assistant, spend that time actually building your product. Get started with Y Build →

FAQ

Does `openclaw uninstall` remove everything?

No. Security research by OX Security showed the official uninstaller leaves behind credentials, configuration files, and OAuth tokens. Follow the complete removal steps in this guide.

Will uninstalling OpenClaw delete my chat history?

Your chat history in messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) will remain. OpenClaw's local logs and state will be deleted when you remove ~/.openclaw.

Can I reinstall OpenClaw later?

Yes. Uninstalling is fully reversible. You can reinstall anytime with npm install -g openclaw or your preferred package manager.

Is OpenClaw dangerous?

How do I uninstall Clawdbot or Moltbot?

Clawdbot and Moltbot were the previous names for OpenClaw. The uninstall steps are the same — look for .clawdbot or .moltbot directories in your home folder in addition to .openclaw.

bash

rm -rf ~/.clawdbot
rm -rf ~/.moltbot
rm -rf ~/.openclaw

TL;DR

Why People Uninstall OpenClaw

Method 1: Quick Uninstall (Official)

Be first to build with AI

Method 2: Complete Uninstall (Recommended)

Step 1: Stop the Gateway Service

Step 2: Run the Official Uninstaller

Step 3: Delete Configuration and State Files

Step 4: Remove the CLI Binary

Step 5: Clean Up Environment Variables

Step 6: Remove Docker Containers (If Applicable)

Revoke OAuth Tokens (Critical)

Verify Complete Removal

Looking for a Simpler Alternative?

FAQ

Does openclaw uninstall remove everything?

Will uninstalling OpenClaw delete my chat history?

Can I reinstall OpenClaw later?

Is OpenClaw dangerous?

How do I uninstall Clawdbot or Moltbot?

What's the difference between OpenClaw and Y Build?

Be first to build with AI

TL;DR

Why People Uninstall OpenClaw

Method 1: Quick Uninstall (Official)

Be first to build with AI

Method 2: Complete Uninstall (Recommended)

Step 1: Stop the Gateway Service

Step 2: Run the Official Uninstaller

Step 3: Delete Configuration and State Files

Step 4: Remove the CLI Binary

Step 5: Clean Up Environment Variables

Step 6: Remove Docker Containers (If Applicable)

Revoke OAuth Tokens (Critical)

Verify Complete Removal

Looking for a Simpler Alternative?

FAQ

Does openclaw uninstall remove everything?

Will uninstalling OpenClaw delete my chat history?

Can I reinstall OpenClaw later?

Is OpenClaw dangerous?

How do I uninstall Clawdbot or Moltbot?

What's the difference between OpenClaw and Y Build?

Be first to build with AI

Does `openclaw uninstall` remove everything?

Does `openclaw uninstall` remove everything?