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Step-by-step guide to setting up OpenClaw on AWS with screenshots and SSH instructions.

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Technical Guide

OpenClaw AWS Setup Guide

Everything you need to set up OpenClaw on your own AWS server. Follow these steps to get your AI voice agent infrastructure running.

Multiple Ways to Run OpenClaw

There are several ways to set up and run OpenClaw depending on your needs:

Locally on your computer — Best for testing and personal use
Cloud server (AWS, as shown below) — Best for 24/7 availability and production use
Other cloud providers — Google Cloud, Azure, DigitalOcean, etc.

This guide covers the AWS cloud setup option as an example.

Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. Waboom AI is not responsible for any data loss, revenue loss, security breaches, AWS charges, or any other damages that may result from following this guide. You are solely responsible for your server configuration, security, and any costs incurred. Always follow AWS best practices and consult official documentation.

Estimated Monthly Cost

Running OpenClaw on AWS typically costs around $60 USD/month for a t3.small instance. AWS Free Tier may cover the first 12 months for new accounts.

Why Use Your Own AWS Server?

Full Control

Complete ownership of your infrastructure and data

Scalability

Easily scale resources as your usage grows

Customization

Configure the server exactly to your needs

Cost Effective

Pay only for what you use with AWS pricing

Important Security Considerations

OpenClaw has access to system calls and can execute code. You should:

Run OpenClaw in a dedicated, isolated environment
Never store sensitive credentials on the same server
Restrict SSH access to your IP address only
Regularly update and patch your server
Monitor server activity and set up alerts

Before You Begin

What you'll need:

An AWS account (free tier eligible)
A terminal application (Terminal on Mac, PowerShell/WSL on Windows)
Basic familiarity with command line

Step-by-Step Setup

Create an AWS Account

If you don't already have an AWS account, sign up for the free tier:

Create AWS Account

AWS Free Tier page with Create account button highlighted

Fill in your email and choose an account name:

Choose the Paid plan for full access (you only pay for what you use):

The free tier includes 750 hours/month of t2.micro or t3.micro instances for the first 12 months.

Navigate to EC2

a.Sign in to the AWS Console
b.In the search bar at the top, type EC2
c.Click on EC2 to open the EC2 Dashboard

Launch a New Instance

a.Click the orange Launch instance button
b.Enter a name for your server (e.g., openclaw-server)

Select the Operating System

Under Application and OS Images:

Select Ubuntu
Choose Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS (Free tier eligible)
Architecture: 64-bit (x86)

Select Ubuntu operating system and instance type

Choose Instance Type

Under Instance type:

Select t3.small (2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM)

t3.small provides good performance for OpenClaw. You can upgrade later if needed.

Create a Key Pair

The key pair is required to securely connect to your server via SSH.

a.Click Create new key pair
b.Enter a name (e.g., openclaw-key)
c.Key pair type: ED25519 (recommended)
d.Private key file format: .pem
e.Click Create key pair

Create key pair dialog - select ED25519 and .pem format

Important: The .pem file will download automatically. Save it somewhere safe - you cannot download it again!

Configure Network Settings

Security groups act as a firewall for your instance.

a.Under Network settings, click Edit
b.Allow SSH traffic from: Select My IP

Network settings - Allow SSH traffic from My IP, and storage configuration

Selecting "My IP" restricts SSH access to only your current IP address, which is the most secure option.

Configure Storage

Under Configure storage:

Set storage to 30 GB gp3

30 GB provides ample space for OpenClaw and its dependencies.

Launch the Instance

a.Review your settings in the Summary panel on the right
b.Click the orange Launch instance button
c.Wait for the instance to launch (usually 1-2 minutes)

Get Your Instance's Public IP

a.Go to Instances in the left sidebar
b.Click on your new instance
c.Find the Public IPv4 address - you'll need this to connect

Instance summary showing Public IPv4 address

Connect to Your Server

1. Open your terminal

Mac: Applications > Utilities > Terminal
Windows: Use PowerShell or WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)
Linux: Open your preferred terminal

2. Navigate to your key file

cd ~/Downloads

3. Set permissions on your key file

chmod 400 openclaw-key.pem

This restricts the key file to read-only access for your user only.

4. Connect via SSH

ssh -i openclaw-key.pem ubuntu@YOUR_PUBLIC_IP

Replace YOUR_PUBLIC_IP with the Public IPv4 address from Step 10.

Success!

If you see ubuntu@ip-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx:~$ you're connected to your server.

Next Steps

Now that your AWS server is set up and you can connect via SSH, you're ready to install OpenClaw.

Follow the OpenClaw installation documentation to complete the setup on your new server.

View OpenClaw Documentation

Need Help?

If you run into any issues or have questions about setting up OpenClaw, we're here to help.