How to Get OpenClaw 2026.9.5 for Free | Run OpenClaw Locally with Ollama, by FixTechHub on YouTube. 14 min 42 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 42 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Download OpenClaw 2026.9.5 only from the official project site or its official repository. Skip any third-party installer, mirror or bundled download you find in ads or search results.
Run the installer for your system: the.exe on Windows, the.dmg on Mac, or the package for your Linux distribution. Follow the prompts and let it finish.
Install Ollama from ollama.com and open a terminal. Run ollama pull with a model name that fits your RAM, such as a small 7B model on 8 GB.
Confirm Ollama is running by opening http://localhost:11434 in a browser. You should see a short confirmation message from the Ollama service.
In OpenClaw settings, point the model connection at Ollama's native API on localhost port 11434. Do not use the /v1 endpoint, which OpenClaw does not use for local Ollama setups.
Pick the model you pulled from the list and save. If tool calling fails, check that the model supports tools and raise the context window setting.
Run a simple test task, such as asking OpenClaw to summarize a short note. Then try phone access if you want to control it from your device.
Review installed skills and remove any you did not add yourself. Keep OpenClaw updated only through its official update path.
Tips and common mistakes
A model that runs but ignores tools is usually too small or lacks tool support, so switch models rather than reinstalling.
Fake installers and bundled skills are the main risk here, so verify the download source before running anything.
Larger models need much more RAM and run slower, so start small and scale up once things work.
Keep the Ollama service running in the background or OpenClaw will report a connection error.
Questions
Is OpenClaw really free with Ollama?
The software is free, and local models through Ollama avoid hosted model fees. You still pay in electricity and hardware, and larger models need more RAM.
Why does OpenClaw fail to connect to my model?
Usually the endpoint or port is wrong, or Ollama is not running. Use the native API on localhost port 11434 and check the service is up.
Can I use OpenClaw on a laptop with 8 GB of RAM?
Yes, but stick to small models. Bigger models may load slowly or fail, so test with a small one first.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
