# I closed PowerShell during setup. Do I need to reinstall?

**URL:** <https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27>\
**Category:** Troubleshooting\
**Tags:** gateway, installation, onboarding, troubleshooting, windows\
**Created:** [September 10, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27 "2026-09-10T16:23:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/1 "2026-09-10T16:23:27Z")

</div>

> **Adapted community discussion:** Paraphrased and condensed from an anonymized public OpenClaw Discord support conversation from August 2026. Technical guidance was reviewed for OpenClaw 2026.9.3.

I accidentally closed PowerShell while OpenClaw was asking for an API key. When I tried the installer again, it said OpenClaw was already installed even though I had not finished configuring anything. Do I need to remove it and start over?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/2 "2026-09-14T20:44:41Z")

</div>

You probably completed installation and interrupted onboarding. There is no need to reinstall. Open a new PowerShell window and run:

```powershell
openclaw.cmd --version
openclaw.cmd onboard

```

If setup still looks incomplete afterward, run `openclaw.cmd doctor`. Enter credentials only in OpenClaw’s protected prompt, never in a forum post.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/3 "2026-09-14T20:44:41Z")

</div>

PowerShell says the `openclaw.ps1` file cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/4 "2026-09-14T20:44:42Z")

</div>

That is a PowerShell execution-policy issue, not a failed OpenClaw installation. Use the Windows command launcher instead:

```powershell
openclaw.cmd --version
openclaw.cmd onboard

```

If Windows cannot find it, run:

```powershell
& "$env:APPDATA\npm\openclaw.cmd" onboard

```

This avoids broadening the machine’s PowerShell execution policy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/5 "2026-09-14T20:44:42Z")

</div>

What keys do I press to do that?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/6 "2026-09-14T20:44:42Z")

</div>

Press the Windows key, type `PowerShell`, and press Enter. Type `openclaw.cmd --version`, press Enter, then type `openclaw.cmd onboard` and press Enter. During onboarding, use the arrow keys to choose an option and Enter to select it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/i-closed-powershell-during-setup-do-i-need-to-reinstall/27/7 "2026-09-14T20:44:42Z")

</div>

Okay, thanks.