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OpenClaw can run on a laptop, but its Gateway is available only while the laptop is running and reachable. If you need the Gateway to keep working when your laptop is asleep, powered off, or offline, host it on a Linux server or VPS and connect remotely. OpenClaw’s documentation supports both approaches; it does not publish laptop-specific performance, battery, or uptime figures.
What OpenClaw needs to run on a laptop
OpenClaw’s installation overview lists macOS, Linux, and Windows as supported operating systems. It requires Node.js 24.16+ or 26.1+, and recommends Node 26. See the official installation requirements. The documentation does not specify a minimum processor, memory, or laptop model, so these requirements alone do not establish how well it will perform on a particular computer.
The project describes OpenClaw as an assistant running on your own infrastructure and identifies the Gateway as its always-on control plane. Its FAQ explicitly says the Gateway can run on a laptop. OpenClaw’s FAQ explains the Gateway’s role.
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Sleep, shutdown, and loss of connectivity
A laptop-hosted Gateway depends on the laptop being on and reachable. If the computer sleeps, shuts down, or loses its network connection, the Gateway cannot remain available through that host. This follows from the Gateway running on the laptop; it is not a published OpenClaw benchmark or a measured uptime claim.
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Startup services do not keep the laptop awake
OpenClaw’s installation guidance describes managed startup options: a LaunchAgent on macOS, a systemd user service on Linux or WSL2, and a Scheduled Task on native Windows. On Windows, the guide also describes a startup-folder fallback if task creation is denied. These options can start or manage the Gateway while the host is on; they do not prevent the laptop itself from sleeping or being powered off. The install guide lists the platform-specific startup options.
Performance and battery claims are not established
The official installation, FAQ, and hosting pages do not provide laptop-specific measurements for CPU, memory, battery use, performance, or uptime. Without measurements for your device and workload, there is no supported basis for claiming a particular laptop will be too slow, drain a certain amount of battery, or deliver a specific level of availability.
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Choose between a laptop and a Linux VPS
| Consideration | Gateway on your laptop | Gateway on a Linux VPS |
|---|---|---|
| When the Gateway should be available | While the laptop is on and reachable. | Independent of whether your laptop is on; connect from a laptop or phone. |
| Who manages the host | You manage the computer running OpenClaw. | You administer the remote Linux server or VPS. |
| Remote access | Not specified as a universal laptop setup in the cited documentation. | The guide recommends loopback binding with an SSH tunnel or Tailscale Serve. For `lan` or `tailnet` binding, it requires a shared secret unless authentication is delegated to a trusted proxy. |
| State and workspace | The cited sources do not specify a laptop backup procedure. | The hosting guide says the VPS is the source of truth and advises regular backups of state and workspace. |
| Price, power use, and performance comparison | Not stated in the cited official sources. | Not stated in the cited official sources. |
The remote-hosting details are in OpenClaw’s Linux server guide. It presents the VPS as a way to run the Gateway independently and connect from a laptop or phone; it does not establish that every VPS will be cheaper, faster, or more reliable than every laptop.
How to decide which setup fits
- Choose a laptop if you want OpenClaw on a computer you already use and can accept that Gateway availability depends on that computer being on and reachable.
- Choose a Linux VPS if you need the Gateway available independently of your laptop and are comfortable administering a remote host.
- Plan remote access and backups if you use a VPS: follow the guide’s access-security recommendations and maintain regular backups of state and workspace.
What to know before moving the Gateway off your laptop
The VPS guide recommends keeping the Gateway bound to loopback and reaching it through an SSH tunnel or Tailscale Serve. If you bind to `lan` or `tailnet`, the guide requires a shared secret unless a trusted proxy handles authentication. Treat these as remote-hosting security instructions, not as evidence that a laptop installation is automatically secure.
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For a VPS, OpenClaw’s documentation states: “Treat the VPS as the source of truth and back up the state + workspace regularly.” The responsibility to keep those backups belongs in the deployment plan, rather than being assumed to happen automatically.
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