OpenClaw Launches Companion Apps for iOS and Android to Connect to Self-Hosted AI Gateways

OpenClaw has unveiled its new companion applications for iOS and Android, designed to integrate with self-hosted AI agent gateways. These apps transform smartphones into nodes within a broader network.

3 min readTechnology

OpenClaw has introduced its native companion applications for both iOS and Android platforms, allowing smartphones to function as nodes in a self-hosted AI agent network. The iOS app, titled 'OpenClaw – AI that does things,' is free to download and is not a standalone chatbot. Instead, it connects to a separate Gateway that manages the AI assistant's operations. This architecture ensures that all processing occurs on the Gateway, while the mobile devices enhance functionality by providing access to hardware features such as cameras and location services.

The Gateway operates on macOS, Linux, or Windows (via WSL2) and facilitates communication through WebSocket connections. Users must approve node connections explicitly, ensuring a focus on privacy. The apps support various features, including real-time chat, media sharing, and voice interactions. Each platform has unique capabilities, with the iOS app allowing for QR code pairing and the Android app supporting streaming replies and a live Canvas surface for interactive tasks. Overall, these apps enhance the OpenClaw experience by integrating mobile device capabilities into the AI workflow.

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