The OpenClaw gateway runs your AI agent in the background. If it stops, updates don't apply, or you need to reset a connection, you should know the exact commands to manage it.
✅ What you’ll learn
- How to check if the gateway is running
- How to start and stop OpenClaw safely
- How to restart when things get stuck
Step 1: Connect to Your VPS
SSH into the server where OpenClaw is installed.
ssh root@YOUR_VPS_IP
Step 2: Check Gateway Status
This tells you whether OpenClaw is running.
openclaw gateway status
Step 3: Start the Gateway
Use this when the gateway is stopped or after a fresh install.
openclaw gateway start
Step 4: Stop the Gateway
Stop the service safely before making changes.
openclaw gateway stop
Step 5: Restart the Gateway
Use restart after updates or if the agent feels unresponsive.
openclaw gateway restart
✅ Quick Health Check
After restarting, run openclaw gateway status again to confirm it’s running.
Common Issues + Fixes
- “command not found”: Run
openclaw helpto verify installation and PATH. - Gateway won’t start: Try
openclaw gateway stopthenopenclaw gateway start. - Still stuck: Use the full restart command and re-check status.
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Join the AcademyKey Takeaways
- openclaw gateway status tells you if the service is running
- start/stop are the safest ways to manage the daemon
- restart is the fastest fix after changes
