# Memory Wiki search fails because no default agent is configured **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Tags:** agents, configuration, memory, plugins, troubleshooting\ **Created:** [September 14, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78 "2026-09-14T22:31:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/1 "2026-09-14T22:31:10Z")
> **Adapted community discussion:** Paraphrased and condensed from an anonymized public OpenClaw Discord support conversation from September 2026. Technical guidance was reviewed for OpenClaw 2026.9.3. I enabled Memory Wiki, but `openclaw wiki search` exits before searching and says no default Memory Wiki agent is configured. It tells me to pass an agent ID or create another agent. Wiki search used to work without that extra step. Do I really need a new agent? ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/2 "2026-09-14T22:31:10Z")
You do not need to create another agent. With an agent-scoped vault, Memory Wiki must resolve which existing agent owns the command. List the roster and test with an explicit ID: ```bash openclaw agents list --bindings openclaw wiki status --agent main openclaw wiki search "your query" --agent main ``` Replace `main` with an ID from the roster. If this is the agent you want bare agent-scoped commands to use, set `default: true` on that existing entry under `agents.entries`, then run `openclaw config validate`. Keep the plugin enabled and use `openclaw wiki doctor --agent main` if the selected vault itself is unhealthy. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/3 "2026-09-14T22:31:10Z")
That explains it. My older setup searched the wiki without making me name an agent. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/4 "2026-09-14T22:31:10Z")
The current agent-scoped path fails closed instead of guessing when no default can be resolved. Passing `--agent` is the clearest immediate fix. Declaring the intended existing agent as the default restores the convenient bare command without creating a second workspace or vault. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/5 "2026-09-14T22:31:11Z")
Solved. Selecting the existing agent made search work again. The confusing part was that the documentation did not explain this upgrade case. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/6 "2026-09-14T22:31:11Z")
That is a useful distinction. `--agent` may be documented, while the failure mode caused by an agent-scoped vault with no resolvable default is easy to miss. The important lesson is to select an existing agent deliberately rather than creating one just to satisfy the error. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/7 "2026-09-14T22:31:11Z")
If I keep `main` as the default agent, can I still make the wiki vault global for every agent? ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/memory-wiki-search-fails-because-no-default-agent-is-configured/78/8 "2026-09-14T22:31:11Z")
Yes. Default-agent selection and vault scope are separate settings. `agents.entries.main.default: true` selects the default agent for agent-scoped commands. `plugins.entries.memory-wiki.config.vault.scope: "global"` selects one shared vault. Changing scope does not move or copy existing vault data. Preserve the current vault path, back up the vault, validate the configuration, then run `openclaw wiki status` before compiling or importing anything. Keep agent scope when each agent needs a separate knowledge boundary.