Install OpenClaw on Android (Termux)

Transform your old Android phone into a personal AI assistant server. Step-by-step guide to install OpenClaw using Termux.

Medium ⏱️ 20 min

Overview

Turn your old Android phone into a dedicated AI assistant server! This guide shows you how to run OpenClaw on Android using Termux, a powerful terminal emulator that provides a Linux-like environment.

💡 Why use an old phone? Old smartphones have powerful ARM processors, built-in battery backup, and are always-on — perfect for running a lightweight AI gateway 24/7.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure your Android device meets these requirements:

  • Android 7.0+ (Nougat or later)
  • At least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
  • 2GB+ free storage
  • Stable WiFi connection
  • Phone should remain plugged in to power

⚠️ Important: Do NOT install Termux from Play Store — it’s outdated. Use F-Droid instead.

Step 1: Install Termux

Download and install Termux from F-Droid:

  1. Visit F-Droid on your Android device
  2. Download the latest Termux APK
  3. Install the APK (you may need to enable “Install from unknown sources”)

Alternatively, use this direct link:

https://f-droid.org/repo/com.termux_118.apk

Step 2: Configure Termux

Open Termux and run these commands:

# Update package repositories
pkg update && pkg upgrade -y

# Grant storage access (for managing files)
termux-setup-storage

# Install essential tools
pkg install git wget curl -y

Step 3: Install Node.js

OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 or later:

# Install Node.js LTS
pkg install nodejs-lts -y

# Verify installation
node --version
# Should display v22.x.x or higher

npm --version

Step 4: Install OpenClaw

# Install OpenClaw globally
npm install -g openclaw@latest

# Verify installation
openclaw --version

Step 5: Run the Setup Wizard

Launch the interactive setup wizard:

openclaw onboard

The wizard will guide you through:

  1. AI Provider Setup — Choose Claude, GPT-4, or another model
  2. API Key Configuration — Enter your API key
  3. Messaging Channels — Connect WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.

Step 6: Start the Gateway

After configuration, start the OpenClaw gateway:

openclaw gateway

Expected output:

🦞 OpenClaw Gateway v2026.1.24
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✓ Gateway running on localhost:18789
✓ WebChat available at http://localhost:18789

Keep OpenClaw Running 24/7

Android aggressively kills background apps. Here’s how to keep OpenClaw running:

Method 1: Termux Wake Lock (Essential)

Pull down the Termux notification and tap “Acquire wakelock”. This prevents Android from killing Termux when the screen is off.

Method 2: Use tmux for Session Persistence

# Install tmux
pkg install tmux -y

# Start a new tmux session
tmux new -s openclaw

# Run OpenClaw inside tmux
openclaw gateway

# Detach from session: Press Ctrl+B, then D
# Reattach later with: tmux attach -t openclaw

Method 3: Use pm2 Process Manager

# Install pm2
npm install -g pm2

# Start OpenClaw with pm2
pm2 start "openclaw gateway" --name openclaw

# Save the process list
pm2 save

# Check status
pm2 status

Disable Battery Optimization

To prevent Android from killing Termux:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Termux
  2. Tap Battery
  3. Select Unrestricted or Don’t optimize

Access from Other Devices

To access OpenClaw from your computer or other devices on the same network:

Find Your Phone’s IP Address

ifconfig
# Look for wlan0 > inet addr

Access the Web Interface

Open a browser on your computer and navigate to:

http://<phone-ip>:18789

Performance Tips

1. Keep Phone Cool

AI processing can generate heat. Place your phone on a cool surface or use a small fan.

2. Use Lightweight Models

For phones with 4GB RAM, use smaller context windows:

# Edit config after onboarding
nano ~/.openclaw/config.yaml

Add:

agent:
  maxContextTokens: 4000

3. Disable Unused Apps

Uninstall or disable unused apps to free up RAM for OpenClaw.

4. Use a Dedicated Phone

For best results, use a phone dedicated only to running OpenClaw — no other active apps.

Next Steps

Your old Android phone is now a personal AI server! Continue with:

Troubleshooting

”Permission denied” Errors

# Fix npm permissions
mkdir -p ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Termux Closes When Screen Off

Make sure you’ve acquired the wakelock (see “Keep OpenClaw Running” section above).

Can’t Connect from Other Devices

  1. Ensure both devices are on the same WiFi network
  2. Check if your router blocks local connections
  3. Try using the phone’s hotspot as a workaround

High Battery Drain

  • Keep the phone plugged in at all times
  • Reduce screen brightness or turn off the display
  • Disable mobile data if using WiFi only