How do I uninstall OpenClaw quickly? The shortest answer is to run the openclaw uninstall, but if you want to clean it up, remember to work with the gateway service, state/config, workspace, and macOS apps. The official uninstall command will only remove the gateway service + local data by default, and the CLI itself will still be retained.
The most stable uninstallation sequence
- Make backups first:
openclaw backup createto avoid regrets. - If you just want to stop the service:
openclaw uninstall --service --yes --non-interactive. - If you want to clear the configuration and status: add
--state. - If you want to delete the workspace together: add
--workspace, use--allfor thorough cleanup.
OpenClaw's documentation clearly distinguishes "uninstall clean": '--service' deletes gateway service, '--state' deletes status and configuration, '--workspace' deletes workspace directory, '--app' deletes macOS apps, and '--all' deletes all four. If you just want to reinstall, it's usually enough to use '--service' and '--state' first; If you suspect you still have old memories, templates, or project data in your workspace, bring '--workspace' with you.
When is it really unloaded?
There are three more reliable ways to check: one is 'openclaw status' to see if the service is still available; second, confirm that the local state and workspace directories are free of OpenClaw residue; Third, if you have installed the macOS app, make sure that the app itself has also been deleted. The official also provides '--dry-run', so you can see what will be deleted before deciding whether to actually execute it.
If you just want to temporarily remove OpenClaw, '--service' is sufficient; If you are planning not to use it for a long time, it is recommended to directly use '--all', which is the most worry-free.