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🔧 Troubleshooting Guide

Fix It Fast

March 6, 2026 • 12 min read

Troubleshooting OpenClaw: Fix Common Errors Fast

Stuck? This guide covers the most common OpenClaw errors and their solutions. Fix deployment issues, configuration problems, and runtime errors.

Every developer hits snags. The difference between a frustrating hour and a quick fix is knowing where to look. Here's how to solve the most common OpenClaw issues.

❌ Error: "Docker daemon not running"

This appears when Docker Desktop isn't started or the daemon can't be reached.

✅ Solution

  1. Open Docker Desktop application
  2. Wait for whale icon to appear in menu bar
  3. Verify status shows "Docker Desktop is running"
  4. Try your command again

❌ Error: "Permission denied" on files

File permissions prevent reading or writing to the workspace.

✅ Solution

# Fix ownership of your OpenClaw directory
sudo chown -R $(whoami) ~/openclaw

# Or fix specific file
chmod 644 config.json

❌ Error: "Container failed to start"

Docker container exits immediately or fails to launch.

✅ Solution

  1. Check logs: docker-compose logs
  2. Verify config.json syntax is valid JSON
  3. Ensure required ports aren't in use: lsof -i :3000
  4. Try rebuilding: docker-compose down && docker-compose up -d

❌ Error: "Module not found"

Python can't find a required package or module.

✅ Solution

# Rebuild containers after requirements change
docker-compose down
docker-compose build --no-cache
docker-compose up -d

# Or install in running container
docker-compose exec openclaw pip install package-name

❌ Bot not responding in Telegram

Messages aren't being received or processed.

✅ Solution

  1. Verify bot token in config.json is correct
  2. Check that webhook URL is accessible from internet
  3. Try polling mode instead of webhook for testing
  4. Restart the service: docker-compose restart

General Debugging Steps

When you encounter an unfamiliar error:

  1. Read the error message carefully — Often tells you exactly what's wrong
  2. Check the logs — docker-compose logs -f shows real-time output
  3. Verify your config — JSON syntax errors are common
  4. Restart services — Classic "turn it off and on again"
  5. Check resources — Disk space, memory, CPU usage

🆘 Still Stuck?

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