Overview
AgentClaw gives you full control over your instance lifecycle. You can start, stop, and restart instances at any time through the dashboard.
Starting an Instance
From the Dashboard
- Navigate to your dashboard at
/dashboard - Find the instance you want to start
- Click the "Start" button
- Wait for the status to change to "Running" (usually under 60 seconds)
From the Instance Details Page
- Go to your instance details page
- Click the "Start Instance" button in the header
- Monitor the real-time logs to see the startup process
What Happens When Starting
When you start an instance:
- Docker container is provisioned with your configuration
- Environment variables are decrypted and loaded
- OpenClaw agent initializes and connects to messaging platforms
- Health checks confirm the instance is running properly
- You receive an email notification when ready
Stopping an Instance
Why Stop an Instance?
- Save on AI provider costs when not in use
- Pause service temporarily without deleting configuration
- Prepare for configuration changes
- Troubleshoot issues
How to Stop
- Go to your dashboard or instance details page
- Click the "Stop" button
- Confirm the action in the dialog
- Wait for status to change to "Stopped"
What Happens When Stopping
- Active conversations are gracefully terminated
- Docker container is stopped
- Configuration and environment variables are preserved
- No AI provider costs are incurred while stopped
- AgentClaw subscription continues (infrastructure is reserved)
Restarting an Instance
When to Restart
Restart your instance after:
- Updating environment variables
- Changing configuration settings
- Troubleshooting connection issues
- Applying OpenClaw version updates
How to Restart
- Click the "Restart" button
- Confirm the action
- The instance will stop and automatically start again
- Wait for status to return to "Running"
Restart vs. Stop then Start
Using the "Restart" button is equivalent to stopping and starting manually, but more convenient. It ensures the instance comes back up automatically.
Instance Status Indicators
- ● Running: Instance is active and processing messages
- ● Starting: Instance is being provisioned
- ● Stopped: Instance is not running
- ● Stopping: Instance is shutting down
- ● Error: Instance encountered a problem
Automatic Shutdowns
Your instance may be automatically stopped if:
- Your subscription expires or payment fails (after grace period)
- You cancel your subscription (at end of billing period)
- The instance crashes repeatedly (safety measure)
You'll receive email notifications before automatic shutdowns.
Best Practices
- Stop when not needed: Save AI costs by stopping instances during off-hours
- Restart after config changes: Always restart after updating environment variables
- Monitor startup logs: Check logs after starting to ensure proper initialization
- Don't restart too frequently: Allow instances time to fully start before restarting
Troubleshooting
Instance won't start
- Check logs for error messages
- Verify environment variables are correct
- Ensure your subscription is active
- See detailed troubleshooting guide
Instance stops unexpectedly
- Check email for notifications
- Verify payment method is valid
- Review logs for crash information
- Contact support if issue persists
Restart doesn't fix the issue
- Try a full stop, then start manually
- Check if environment variables need updating
- Review recent configuration changes
Next Steps
- Learn about reading real-time logs
- Understand updating environment variables
- Read about safely deleting instances