OpenClaw as Desktop Cowork (AionUi) — Remote Rescue & Multi-Agent Hub
Use OpenClaw from a desktop Cowork UI, access it from Telegram or WebUI when you’re away, and fix it remotely when it won’t connect. AionUi is a free, open-source app that runs OpenClaw as a first-class agent alongside 12+ others (Claude Code, Codex, Qwen Code, etc.), with a built-in OpenClaw deployment expert for install, diagnose, and repair — including remote rescue when OpenClaw is down and you’re not at the machine.
Why OpenClaw + AionUi
| If you want… | AionUi gives you… |
|---|---|
| Use OpenClaw with a real desktop UI | Cowork workspace where you see OpenClaw (and other agents) read/write files, run commands, browse the web — not just terminal/chat. |
| Fix OpenClaw when it’s broken and you’re remote | Open AionUi via Telegram or WebUI from anywhere → use the OpenClaw deployment expert to run openclaw doctor, fix config, restart gateway. Many users rely on this. |
| One place for OpenClaw + other agents | OpenClaw, built-in agent, Claude Code, Codex, etc. in one app; switch or run in parallel, same MCP config for all. |
| Remote access to your OpenClaw | WebUI, Telegram, Lark, DingTalk — talk to the same AionUi instance (and thus OpenClaw) from phone or another device. |
Pain Point
You already use OpenClaw from CLI or Telegram, but:
- You want to see what the agent is doing (files, terminal, web) instead of inferring from logs.
- When OpenClaw won’t connect and you’re not at the machine, you have no way to run
openclaw doctoror fix config — you need remote access to something that can repair OpenClaw. - You use several CLI agents (OpenClaw, Claude Code, Codex, …) and don’t want to juggle apps or reconfigure MCP for each.
What It Does
- OpenClaw as a Cowork agent: Install AionUi and OpenClaw; AionUi auto-detects OpenClaw. Use OpenClaw from the same Cowork UI — file-aware workspace, visible actions.
- Remote OpenClaw rescue: When OpenClaw is broken or unreachable, open AionUi via Telegram or WebUI and use the built-in OpenClaw deployment expert. It helps with install, runs
openclaw doctor, fixes config, restarts gateway, and walks you through recovery. A common pattern for users who run OpenClaw headless or on another machine. - Multi-agent in one app: Run OpenClaw next to built-in agent (Gemini/OpenAI/Anthropic/Ollama), Claude Code, Codex, and 12+ others — one interface, parallel sessions.
- MCP once, all agents: Configure MCP servers in AionUi once; they sync to OpenClaw and every other agent — no per-agent MCP setup.
- Remote access: Use WebUI, Telegram, Lark, or DingTalk to reach your AionUi instance (and OpenClaw) from anywhere.
- Optional automation: AionUi cron can run OpenClaw (or other agents) on a schedule for 24/7 tasks.
Skills You Need
- OpenClaw (e.g.
npm install -g openclaw@latest). AionUi’s OpenClaw Setup assistant can guide install, gateway, and config. - API keys or auth for your models (OpenClaw config + any built-in agent keys in AionUi).
How to Set It Up
- Install AionUi: AionUi Releases (macOS / Windows / Linux).
- Install OpenClaw (if needed):bash
npm install -g openclaw@latest openclaw onboard --install-daemon # optional: daemon for 24/7 - Open AionUi: It auto-detects OpenClaw. If not, use the in-app OpenClaw Setup assistant.
- Create a Cowork session and choose OpenClaw. Same workspace, MCP, and (if enabled) remote channels.
For remote access or cron, configure channels and automation in AionUi settings.