How to Safely Backup and Reset Your OpenClaw Installation
Ever felt like your OpenClaw config is beyond repair and you want to start fresh — but without losing your current setup? This guide shows you how to safely backup your installation and run a completely isolated fresh install, with the ability to switch back anytime.
The Problem
After tweaking configs, adding models, modifying agents, and debugging issues, sometimes things just... break. You might want to test a fresh install to see if it fixes your problems, but you don't want to lose weeks of customization.
The Solution: Profiles
OpenClaw's --profile flag lets you run completely isolated installations side-by-side. Each profile gets its own:
- State directory (
~/.openclaw-<profile>) - Config file
- Credentials
- Sessions
- Workspace
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Backup Your Current Setup
First, know what you're backing up:
- State dir (config + credentials + sessions):
~/.openclaw(default) - Workspace (AGENTS/SOUL/USER/MEMORY + files):
~/.openclaw/workspace(unless customized viaagents.defaults.workspace)
Important: The state dir contains sensitive tokens and credentials. Always encrypt your backups.
# Stop the gateway for a clean snapshot
openclaw gateway stop
# Backup with encryption (example using tar + gpg)
tar -czf - ~/.openclaw | gpg -c > openclaw-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz.gpg
# Or use your preferred tool: age, zip with password, restic, borg, etc.
# Start the gateway again
openclaw gateway start2. Create a Fresh Install with a New Profile
Run onboarding with a new profile name (e.g., fresh). This creates a completely separate state directory:
openclaw --profile fresh onboard --install-daemonNow you have two isolated setups:
- Current:
openclaw ...(default profile, state in~/.openclaw) - Fresh:
openclaw --profile fresh ...(state in~/.openclaw-fresh)
3. Switching Between Profiles
To use your fresh install:
openclaw --profile fresh gateway start
openclaw --profile fresh statusTo go back to your original:
openclaw --profile fresh gateway stop
openclaw gateway start # uses default profile4. If You Want to Wipe the Fresh Profile Later
openclaw --profile fresh reset --scope full --yes --non-interactiveRisk Assessment
| Risk | Level | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Data loss | Low | Using --profile doesn't touch your original state dir |
| Credential leakage | Medium | Always encrypt backups; never commit ~/.openclaw to git |
| Channel conflicts | Medium | Don't run both gateways simultaneously with same channel credentials |
Channel conflict tip: Many providers (Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp) only allow one active connection per token. Run one gateway at a time, or use separate channel accounts for each profile.
Useful Links
Source: OpenClaw Discord #help — thanks to the community for this question and the Krill bot for the comprehensive answer!
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!