Summary

On my local Mac install, the OpenClaw dashboard loads in the browser at:

http://127.0.0.1:18789/chat?session=main

but the chat panel immediately disconnects with:

disconnected (1008): unauthorized: gateway token missing (open the dashboard URL and paste the token in Control UI settings)

I never see a token prompt or a place to paste a gateway token in the Control UI, and I’m just accessing from the same machine where the gateway is running.

Environment

• Device: Mac mini 2024 M4 (headless server)
• OS: macOS (macOS 15.7.3 Sequoia)
• OpenClaw version: 2026.2.9 (33c75cb)
• Install method: curl installer on a non‑admin user account
• Gateway bind: loopback (127.0.0.1:18789)
• Auth mode during onboarding: token mode (local gateway, loopback only)
• Access method: Chrome on the same Mac, using http://127.0.0.1:18789/chat?session=main

Steps to reproduce

1. Fresh install on macOS non‑admin user:

   curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
   openclaw configure
   # choose local gateway, loopback 127.0.0.1, token mode, etc.
   openclaw gateway install
   openclaw gateway start
   

On my local Mac install, the OpenClaw dashboard loads in the browser at:

http://127.0.0.1:18789/chat?session=main

Environment

• Device: Intel Mac mini (headless server)
• OS: macOS (macOS 15.7.3 Sequoia)
• OpenClaw version: 2026.2.9 (33c75cb)
• Install method: curl installer on a non‑admin user account
• Gateway bind: loopback (127.0.0.1:18789)
• Auth mode during onboarding: token mode (local gateway, loopback only)
• Access method: Chrome on the same Mac, using http://127.0.0.1:18789/chat?session=main

Expected behavior

• On a fresh local install, opening http://127.0.0.1:18789/ from the same machine should either:
  • transparently authenticate the dashboard, or
  • clearly prompt me once for the gateway token and then remember it.

Actual behavior

• I never see a token prompt or a place to paste a gateway token in the Control UI, and I’m just accessing from the same machine where the gateway is running.
  • I seem to be stuck in a “token missing” loop with no obvious way to resolve it from the UI.
• openclaw gateway status shows gateway running and listening on 127.0.0.1:18789 (RPC probe OK).
• When I open http://127.0.0.1:18789/ or /chat?session=main, the dashboard UI loads but the chat panel immediately disconnects with:
• “Disconnected from gateway.”
• disconnected (1008): unauthorized: gateway token missing (open the dashboard URL and paste the token in Control UI settings) (screenshot attached).
• I did not manually set any gateway.token or dashboard token in my config.
• I never see a token prompt or a place to paste a gateway token in the Control UI, and I’m just accessing from the same machine where the gateway is running.
• I’m stuck in a “token missing” loop with no obvious way to resolve it from the UI.

OpenClaw version

2026.2.9 (33c75cb)

Operating system

macOS 15.7.3

Install method

curl installer on a non‑admin user account

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

See attached image file

Impact and severity

Affected users/systems/channels
Severity (annoying, blocks workflow, data gathering etc.)
Frequency (always)
Consequence (missed messages, unobservable data, lack of control, etc.)

Additional information