> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs2.openclaw.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Railway

Deploy OpenClaw on Railway with a one-click template and access it through the web Control UI. This is the easiest "no terminal on the server" path: Railway runs the Gateway for you.

## One-click deploy

<a href="https://railway.com/deploy/clawdbot-railway-template" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
  Deploy on Railway
</a>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Deploy the template">
    Click **Deploy on Railway** above.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a volume">
    Attach a volume mounted at `/data` (required for persistent state).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set variables">
    Set the required **Variables** on the service:

    * `OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT=8080` (required -- must match the port in Public Networking)
    * `OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN` (required; treat as an admin secret)
    * `OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR=/data/.openclaw` (recommended)
    * `OPENCLAW_WORKSPACE_DIR=/data/workspace` (recommended)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable public networking">
    Under **Public Networking**, enable **HTTP Proxy** for the service on port `8080`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect">
    Find your public URL in **Railway -> your service -> Settings -> Domains** -- either a generated domain (often `https://<something>.up.railway.app`) or your attached custom domain.

    Open `https://<your-railway-domain>/openclaw` and connect using the configured shared secret. The template uses `OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN` by default; if you replace it with password auth, use that password instead.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What you get

* Hosted OpenClaw Gateway + Control UI
* Persistent storage via the Railway Volume (`/data`), so `openclaw.json`, per-agent `auth-profiles.json`, channel/provider state, sessions, and workspace survive redeploys

## Connect a channel

Use the Control UI at `/openclaw` or run `openclaw onboard` via Railway's shell for channel setup instructions:

* [Discord](/channels/discord)
* [Telegram](/channels/telegram) (fastest -- just a bot token)
* [All channels](/channels)

## Backups and migration

Export your state, config, auth profiles, and workspace:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"min-light","dark":"min-dark"}}
openclaw backup create
```

This creates a portable backup archive with OpenClaw state plus any configured workspace. See [Backup](/cli/backup) for details.

## Next steps

* Set up messaging channels: [Channels](/channels)
* Configure the Gateway: [Gateway configuration](/gateway/configuration)
* Keep OpenClaw up to date: [Updating](/install/updating)