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OpenClaw runs as a persistent background service managed by runit (via termux-services). This allows it to run continuously without requiring an active terminal session.

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Service Commands

The sv command is used to control the OpenClaw service. All commands follow the pattern sv <action> openclaw.

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Check Service Status

View the current state of the OpenClaw service: 
sv status openclaw
This shows whether the service is running, stopped, or in an error state, along with uptime information.

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Start the Service

Start OpenClaw if it’s not running: 
sv up openclaw
The service will begin in the background and start the OpenClaw gateway.

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Stop the Service

Gracefully stop the OpenClaw service: 
sv down openclaw
This is recommended before performing updates or making configuration changes.

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Restart the Service

Restart OpenClaw (useful after configuration changes): 
sv restart openclaw
This performs a clean stop and start cycle.

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Viewing Logs

Service logs are managed by svlogd and stored in a rotating format. To view real-time logs: 
tail -f $PREFIX/var/log/openclaw/current
This displays the most recent log entries and continues showing new entries as they’re written.
The $PREFIX variable in Termux expands to /data/data/com.termux/files/usr, so logs are stored at /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/var/log/openclaw/current.

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Understanding Service States

The sv status command can return several states:
  • run: Service is running normally
  • down: Service is stopped
  • finish: Service completed execution
  • fail: Service encountered an error and stopped
If the service fails to start, check the logs for error messages that can help diagnose the issue.

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Keeping the Service Alive

Android’s aggressive battery optimization can kill background processes when Termux is minimized. To prevent this: 
termux-wake-lock
The wake lock must be enabled to keep OpenClaw running when you minimize Termux. Without it, the service may be terminated by Android’s process manager.

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What Happens When Termux is Closed

With termux-wake-lock active:
  • OpenClaw continues running in the background
  • The service remains accessible via the web UI
  • All automation and workflows continue executing
Without wake lock:
  • Android may kill the Termux process after a few minutes
  • The OpenClaw service will stop
  • You’ll need to reopen Termux and restart the service

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Disabling Wake Lock

If you need to release the wake lock: 
termux-wake-unlock
This allows Android to manage power normally but may result in service termination.

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Service Configuration

The service is defined by two run scripts: Main Service ($PREFIX/var/service/openclaw/run):
  • Sets required environment variables (PATH, TMPDIR)
  • Starts the OpenClaw gateway using openclaw gateway
Logging Service ($PREFIX/var/service/openclaw/log/run):
  • Manages log rotation and timestamping
  • Writes to $PREFIX/var/log/openclaw/
These scripts are created automatically during installation. Manual modification is generally not needed unless you’re troubleshooting or customizing the setup.

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Common Issues

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Service Won’t Start

  1. Check if the service directory exists: 
    ls $PREFIX/var/service/openclaw
  2. Verify environment variables are set: 
    source ~/.bashrc
  3. Check for errors in logs: 
    tail -50 $PREFIX/var/log/openclaw/current

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Service Keeps Stopping

  • Ensure termux-wake-lock is active
  • Check logs for crash messages
  • Verify that onboarding was completed successfully

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Cannot Access Logs

If the log directory doesn’t exist: 
mkdir -p $PREFIX/var/log/openclaw
sv restart openclaw