Complete OPenClaw Tutorial: How to Register, Bind API Keys, and Switch Between Multiple Accounts

OPenClaw is a popular AI proxy platform, but many beginners get stuck when registering, binding APIs, or switching between accounts. This tutorial walks you through the full process—from account creation to managing multiple accounts—based on the official interface. Just follow along.

Account Registration: Email Verification & Basic Setup

Go to the OPenClaw website and click the "Sign Up" button in the top-right corner. We recommend using a Gmail or Outlook email address—QQ email from China may occasionally fail to receive verification messages. After entering your email, check your inbox (and spam folder) for a six-digit code to complete verification.

When setting your password, ensure it's at least 8 characters long and includes both uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers. After successful registration, you'll be asked to enter your name and intended use. You can fill this in casually, but it's best to honestly select "Developer" or "Personal Use" so the system unlocks the appropriate permissions later.

API Key Binding: Generation & Authorization

Log in and go to the Dashboard. Find "API Keys" in the left menu. Click "Create New Key" and a key starting with "oc_" will be generated. Copy and save it immediately—once you close the page, the key will no longer be fully displayed.

After copying the key, paste it into the client or script where you want to use OPenClaw, either in environment variables or configuration files. Be careful not to share it with others. Once bound, you'll see the key status as "Active" in the API Keys list, confirming successful authorization.

Switching Between Multiple Accounts: The Right Way to Log Out & Log In

If you have multiple OPenClaw accounts (e.g., work and personal), don't just click "Logout" and then log into another one—that may lose temporary session data from the current account. Instead, use the "Switch Account" feature in your account settings. Click it, and a login window will pop up where you can enter the new account's email and password.

Note that after switching, API calls from the old account will be temporarily disabled until you log back in or refresh the key. To avoid confusion, consider using different browsers or incognito windows for each account. If you switch frequently, a password manager can help you store multiple account keys securely.

Things to Keep in Mind & Common Mistakes

Avoid using unofficial third-party registration tools—they often lead to account bans. If your API key is ever exposed, immediately revoke it in the dashboard and generate a new one. Also, OPenClaw does not officially support account sharing; sharing accounts can cause IP conflicts and lockouts. If you don't receive the verification email, try a different email address or wait 10 minutes before retrying.

This guide is based on the current version of OPenClaw. If the interface changes in the future, the update logs will be posted on the official site. We hope this saves you some time and gets you up and running smoothly.