Openclaw MCP Server

MCP server bridging Claude.ai/Desktop with self-hosted OpenClaw via OAuth 2.1.

Remote serverstreamable-http

What is the Openclaw MCP server?

MCP server bridging Claude.ai/Desktop with self-hosted OpenClaw via OAuth 2.1. Exposed over MCP by the openclaw mcp server, that capability becomes something an assistant can invoke while it works, not something you go and do afterwards.

What it actually does

🦞 Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for OpenClaw AI assistant integration.

Its toolset

Everything the assistant can do here goes through one of these:

  • openclaw_chat — Send messages to OpenClaw and get responses
  • openclaw_status — Check OpenClaw gateway health
  • openclaw_instances — List all configured OpenClaw instances
  • openclaw_chat_async — Queue a message, get task_id immediately
  • openclaw_task_status — Check task progress and get results
  • openclaw_task_list — List your tasks with filtering
  • openclaw_task_cancel — Cancel a pending task
  • Setup — The Setup tool exposed by this server
  • Usage — All tools accept an optional instance parameter to target a specific gateway:

Configuration

You will need 7 environment variables: OPENCLAW_URL, OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN, OPENCLAW_MODEL, OPENCLAW_TIMEOUT_MS, MCP_CLIENT_SECRET, MCP_CLIENT_ID, MCP_ISSUER_URL. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

  • Node.js ≥ 20 - OpenClaw gateway running with HTTP API enabled:

Adding it to your client

Being a remote server, there is no local install. You register the endpoint with your client, authorise it once, and the tools appear.

When to reach for it

Among the planning and project tracking options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Openclaw's toolset — openclaw_chat, openclaw_status, openclaw_instances and 6 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by freema; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Openclaw's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Caveats

  • Your data travels to the provider's service, so the usual questions apply about what you send and what they retain.
  • With 9 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Openclaw.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the openclaw mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
openclaw_chatSend messages to OpenClaw and get responses
openclaw_statusCheck OpenClaw gateway health
openclaw_instancesList all configured OpenClaw instances
openclaw_chat_asyncQueue a message, get task_id immediately
openclaw_task_statusCheck task progress and get results
openclaw_task_listList your tasks with filtering
openclaw_task_cancelCancel a pending task
SetupThe Setup tool exposed by this server.
UsageAll tools accept an optional instance parameter to target a specific gateway:

How to install the Openclaw MCP server

Add to your Claude Desktop config:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openclaw": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["openclaw-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "OPENCLAW_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:18789",
        "OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN": "your-gateway-token",
        "OPENCLAW_MODEL": "openclaw",
        "OPENCLAW_TIMEOUT_MS": "300000"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

  • Node.js ≥ 20 - OpenClaw gateway running with HTTP API enabled:
VariableDescriptionRequired
OPENCLAW_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes
OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKENCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
OPENCLAW_MODELConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
OPENCLAW_TIMEOUT_MSConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
MCP_CLIENT_SECRETCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
MCP_CLIENT_IDConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
MCP_ISSUER_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Openclaw to openclaw chat.
  • Use Openclaw to openclaw status.
  • Use Openclaw to openclaw instances.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Openclaw to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 9 tools (openclaw_chat, openclaw_status, openclaw_instances, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Openclaw directly.