Troubleshooting Your Deployed OpenClaw Instance on RunTheAgent
Connection issues, slow responses, browser automation errors — practical fixes for common problems with your 24/7 OpenClaw agent. Most issues resolve in minutes.
Most Issues Have Simple Fixes
Your deployed OpenClaw instance on RunTheAgent runs 24/7 with 99.9% uptime — but occasionally you'll encounter issues. The good news: most problems with OpenClaw (previously known as MoltBot and ClawdBot) have simple solutions that don't require any technical knowledge.
Because RunTheAgent handles all infrastructure — no VPS, no Docker, no SSH — troubleshooting is about configuration and communication, not server management. You won't be debugging Docker containers or SSH-ing into servers. You'll be checking connections and adjusting settings from the RunTheAgent dashboard.
This guide covers the most common issues and their fixes.
Connection Issues
WhatsApp/Telegram Not Responding
Check the RunTheAgent dashboard — the platform connection might need reconnecting. This happens occasionally when messaging platforms update their authentication. Click 'reconnect' in the dashboard. Your 24/7 agent is still running; only the messaging link needs refreshing.
Slack/Discord Messages Not Reaching OpenClaw
Verify the bot permissions in your Slack workspace or Discord server. OpenClaw needs read and write permissions in the channels where you expect it to respond. Check the RunTheAgent dashboard for connection status indicators.
Agent Not Responding on Any Platform
Check the RunTheAgent dashboard for your instance status. In rare cases, a restart may be needed — click 'restart' in the dashboard. RunTheAgent handles this automatically most of the time, but manual restart is available as a fallback.
Browser Automation Errors
Browser Automation Task Failing
Websites change layouts regularly, which can break browser automation. Try rephrasing your task with more specific instructions: include exact URLs, describe what the page looks like, and specify what data you need. OpenClaw will adapt its approach.
Screenshots Are Blank or Incorrect
Some websites have anti-bot measures that block browser automation. Try asking OpenClaw to wait a few seconds before capturing, or specify an alternative page on the same site. If persistent, the site may require additional handling — report it to the OpenClaw community on Discord.
Slow Browser Automation Tasks
Complex browser automation tasks that visit many pages take time. If a task seems stuck, ask OpenClaw for a progress update. You can also break complex tasks into smaller, sequential requests for faster results.
Login-Required Sites Failing
If OpenClaw needs to log into a website for browser automation, ensure you've provided the correct credentials. Some sites use CAPTCHA or two-factor authentication that may require manual intervention — OpenClaw will alert you when it encounters these.
Slow Responses
If OpenClaw is responding slowly:
Check your AI model: Claude tends to provide more thoughtful but slower responses. GPT is often faster for simpler tasks. Switch models from the RunTheAgent dashboard if speed is a priority.
Simplify your requests: Very complex, multi-part requests take longer to process. Break them into individual tasks for faster responses.
Check your API key: Ensure your BYOK API key hasn't hit rate limits with your provider (Claude or GPT). Check your provider's dashboard for usage status.
Browser automation-heavy tasks take longer than text-only responses — this is normal. Opening browsers, navigating sites, and capturing data takes time. Set expectations accordingly and use overnight scheduling for large research tasks.
Common Troubleshooting Scenarios
The Disappearing Connection
Sarah noticed OpenClaw stopped responding on WhatsApp. She checked the RunTheAgent dashboard and saw the WhatsApp connection was 'disconnected.' She clicked 'reconnect,' waited 30 seconds, and messaged OpenClaw again. Connection restored. Total downtime: under 2 minutes. Her agent had continued browser automation tasks throughout — only the messaging link was interrupted.
The Changing Website
Mike's price monitoring task started returning errors. The competitor had redesigned their product page. Mike messaged OpenClaw: 'The pricing page has changed — it's now at /shop/pricing instead of /products/pricing. Update your monitoring.' OpenClaw adjusted the browser automation URL and monitoring resumed. No technical skills required.
API Key Troubleshooting
BYOK API key issues are among the most common problems:
Expired or revoked key: Check your AI provider's dashboard (Anthropic for Claude, OpenAI for GPT) to ensure your API key is active. Generate a new key if needed and update it in the RunTheAgent dashboard.
Rate limits: If you're sending many tasks simultaneously, you may hit your provider's rate limits. Wait a few minutes and try again, or increase your rate limits with your provider.
Insufficient credits: Ensure your AI provider account has sufficient credits or billing set up. OpenClaw can't process requests if your API key has no remaining balance.
Wrong model selected: If you've selected a model that's not available with your API key, switch to a supported model from the RunTheAgent dashboard.
All API key management happens in the RunTheAgent dashboard — no need to SSH into servers or edit configuration files.
When to Contact Support
Most issues resolve with the steps above. Contact RunTheAgent support if:
Your instance status shows 'error' in the dashboard and restarting doesn't help. Browser automation fails consistently across all websites (not just one). Your agent is running but producing incorrect or nonsensical results. Billing or account issues.
You can also post in the OpenClaw Discord community — many issues have been encountered and solved by other users. The community is often the fastest source of help for browser automation troubleshooting and workflow questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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