OpenClaw 2.0: An Easier Setup, With a Few Upgrade Traps

Description and use

Step‑by‑step guide for installing or upgrading OpenClaw 2.0, covering backup, migration, security checks, and optional CometAPI integration.

Problem

Users need a reliable, step‑by‑step guide to install or upgrade OpenClaw 2.0 while preserving existing sessions, plugins, and credentials.

Outcome

Following the recipe ensures a smooth transition to OpenClaw 2.0, preserving user data, updating legacy configurations, and strengthening security posture.

Workflow

• Create a verified backup of the OpenClaw state directory, configuration, sessions, and custom plugins/skills.
• Review the official release notes and updating guides at docs.openclaw.ai/releases/2026.8.1.
• Run the upgrade in an interactive terminal (TTY) to avoid silent skips of migration steps.
• Execute openclaw doctor --fix to migrate bundled plugins, model references, and SDK paths.
• Re‑evaluate per‑session permission modes and re‑apply hardening checklist from prior advisories.
• Verify that sessions, transcripts, and automations appear correctly after migration.
• Check security settings: ensure secret store encryption, sandbox enablement, and shared session controls are configured appropriately.
• Optionally integrate CometAPI by storing the key in ~/.openclaw/.env and editing ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json to add providers.
• Monitor the official tracker for follow‑up patches and release notes.

Evidence

Create a verified backup of your OpenClaw state directory, configuration, sessions, and any custom plugins/skills.

Source

Prefer an interactive terminal (TTY) for the upgrade and doctor steps—early reports showed non-interactive doctor --fix could silently skip 2.0 migrations.

Source

Secret Store values (passwords, API keys) are not encrypted at rest; they rely on filesystem permissions of the state directory.

Source