Uninstall OpenClaw (aka clawdbot aka moltbot) (2026)

uninstall_openclaw.sh

#!/bin/bash

# --- OpenClaw (2026) Scorched Earth Uninstaller ---
# Supports: macOS & Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Raspberry Pi OS)

echo "🦞 Starting OpenClaw Deep Clean..."

# 1. Attempt the "Easy Path" if the CLI is still working
if command -v openclaw &> /dev/null; then
    echo "Stopping gateway and running built-in uninstaller..."
    openclaw gateway stop &> /dev/null
    openclaw uninstall --all --yes --non-interactive &> /dev/null
fi

# 2. Stop and Remove Services (System-Specific)
if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "linux-gnu"* ]]; then
    echo "Detected Linux. Cleaning systemd user services..."
    systemctl --user stop openclaw-gateway.service 2>/dev/null
    systemctl --user disable openclaw-gateway.service 2>/dev/null
    rm -f ~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw-gateway.service
    # Disable lingering if it was enabled for the gateway
    sudo loginctl disable-linger "$USER" 2>/dev/null
    systemctl --user daemon-reload
elif [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
    echo "Detected macOS. Cleaning launchd agents..."
    launchctl bootout gui/$UID/ai.openclaw.gateway 2>/dev/null
    launchctl bootout gui/$UID/bot.molt.gateway 2>/dev/null
    rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ai.openclaw.gateway.plist
    rm -f ~/Library/LaunchAgents/bot.molt.gateway.plist
    rm -rf /Applications/OpenClaw.app
fi

# 3. Uninstall Global Packages (npm, pnpm, bun)
echo "Removing global CLI packages..."
npm uninstall -g openclaw &> /dev/null
pnpm remove -g openclaw &> /dev/null
bun remove -g openclaw &> /dev/null
sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/openclaw /usr/bin/openclaw

# 4. Wipe All Data and Legacy Directories
echo "Purging configuration and state data..."
# Includes current and legacy directory names (Clawdbot/Moltbot)
DIRS=(
    "$HOME/.openclaw"
    "$HOME/.clawdbot"
    "$HOME/.moltbot"
    "$HOME/clawdbot"
    "$HOME/.identity"
)

for dir in "${DIRS[@]}"; do
    if [ -d "$dir" ]; then
        echo "Removing $dir..."
        rm -rf "$dir"
    fi
done

# 5. Verification
echo "---"
if ! command -v openclaw &> /dev/null; then
    echo "✅ OpenClaw has been successfully removed."
    echo "Your system is now ready for a fresh install."
else
    echo "⚠️ Warning: If 'openclaw' command still responds at $(which openclaw), you may need to delete that binary manually."
fi