How to Check for OpenClaw Leftovers After Uninstall

Uninstalled OpenClaw but not sure if everything is gone? This guide walks you through every common leftover location.

Why leftovers matter

Leftover files are not just clutter:

• Wasted disk space — cached packages, old logs, and duplicated config can quietly consume hundreds of megabytes.
• Privacy and security exposure — tokens, API keys, and session files left behind can be read by other software or exposed in backups.
• Startup impact — orphaned launch agents, scheduled tasks, or background services may still run at boot.
• Reinstall conflicts — stale config or old tokens can silently break a fresh install.

Step 1: Search for OpenClaw directories

Look for any folder named openclaw or .openclaw in your home directory and common app data locations:

macOS:

find ~ -maxdepth 3 -name '*openclaw*' -type d 2>/dev/null

Linux:

find ~ -maxdepth 3 -name '*openclaw*' -type d 2>/dev/null

Windows (PowerShell):

Get-ChildItem -Path $env:USERPROFILE -Recurse -Depth 3 -Directory -Filter '*openclaw*' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Step 2: Check platform-specific locations

macOS

Windows

Linux

Step 3: Check startup items and services

macOS:

launchctl list | grep -i openclaw
ls ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ | grep -i openclaw

Linux:

systemctl --user list-units | grep openclaw
crontab -l | grep openclaw

Windows (PowerShell):

Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object { $_.TaskName -like '*OpenClaw*' }

Step 4: Check shell profile entries

Look for OPENCLAW_* environment variables, PATH modifications, aliases, and source lines in:

• ~/.zshrc, ~/.zprofile (macOS)
• ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile, ~/.profile (Linux)
• PowerShell $PROFILE (Windows)

Step 5: Review tokens and credentials

Deleting local files does not revoke server-side access. Check:

• .env files in project directories
• Config files in ~/.openclaw or ~/.config/openclaw
• Provider dashboards (OpenAI, Claude, GitHub, cloud providers) — revoke old tokens if needed.

FAQ

Is it safe to delete leftover OpenClaw files?

Yes. After confirming the main app or CLI is uninstalled, leftover config, cache, and log files serve no purpose.

Can leftover files affect a future reinstall?

Yes. Stale config or expired tokens can cause a fresh install to behave unexpectedly.

How do I know if a background service is still running?

On Mac: launchctl list | grep openclaw. On Windows: Task Scheduler. On Linux: systemctl --user list-units | grep openclaw.

Do I need to revoke tokens separately?

Yes. Deleting local token files removes them from your machine, but they may still be valid server-side.

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