PetClaw Quick Start Guide

What Is Petclaw

Petclaw is an AI pet assistant that lives right on your desktop.

You can talk to it directly and hand over everyday tasks — like setting reminders, organizing content, drafting replies, summarizing information, or handling small things related to work and study.

It's not a tool hidden inside a web page. It's an assistant that stays on your desktop at all times, ready to do things whenever you call on it.

What You Need

Before getting started with Petclaw, all you need is:

  • A supported computer — The official website provides Mac and Windows download entry.
  • Petclaw installed on your machine.
  • A small task in mind — you can start with the simplest things, such as:
    • Remind me about a 3 PM meeting
    • Summarize this piece of content
    • Help me draft an email
    • Do a quick research for me
    • Help me organize my thoughts or notes

How to Set It Up

Download Petclaw

Visit the official website and download the version that matches your operating system.

Launch it once

After installation, launch Petclaw. It will automatically complete the basic setup required, and you'll be able to see and start using your AI companion within a very short time.

Complete the basic setup

On first launch, simply follow the on-screen prompts to finish the basic setup.

There's no need to explore too many features right away. Start by treating it as a desktop assistant that understands you.

You can begin with the most natural interactions, for example:

  • Hey Petclaw
  • Help me note down what I need to do today
  • Summarize this content
  • Help me draft a reply
  • Help me sort out my thoughts

Let it learn your routine

As you continue using it, treat Petclaw as a desktop companion that gradually gets to know you.

Keep letting it encounter your common expressions, preferences, and project contexts. The official website describes this capability as: Petclaw remembers your "preferences, projects, and passing thoughts," slowly shaping itself into a companion that fits you better.

Explore more skills over time

Once you're comfortable with the basics, gradually hand over more tasks to it.

Petclaw is not a one-time-use tool.

The longer you use it, the better it adapts to your habits.

Over time, let it know:

  • Your preferred way of expressing things
  • What projects you're currently working on
  • What types of tasks you handle most often
  • Whether you prefer concise or detailed output

This way, the next time you ask it to do something, it will feel much more natural.

Your First 5 Things to Try

Reminders

Log meetings, to-dos, and daily arrangements.

"Remind me about a meeting tomorrow at 2 PM."

"Remind me to rest at 10 PM tonight."

Summarization

Organize a piece of text, a webpage, or scattered information.

"Help me summarize this content."

"Organize the key points in simpler language."

Drafting replies

Write short emails, messages, or reply drafts.

"Help me write a polite reply."

"Help me respond to this message in a natural tone."

Organizing thoughts

Turn your messy ideas into something clear.

"Help me organize these points into a list."

"Help me sort these in order of priority."

Research

Get a quick overview of a topic or a structured research direction.

"Help me look up the general situation on this topic."

"Help me put together a simple market research outline."

Privacy and Data

One of Petclaw's core commitments is: your data belongs to you.

  • Petclaw is a local AI desktop pet built on OpenClaw
  • Data Default Local Storage.
  • Without your permission, data will not leave the device.
  • Will not use your personal data to train the model .
  • Necessary network communication will be end-to-end encrypted.

New user problem prompt

Please try to avoid:

  • Assigning overly complex tasks from the start Start with a small action.
  • **It sounds too much like writing instructions ** Just speak directly in natural language, just like you normally do when talking.
  • Treat it as a disposable tool Petclaw is more suitable for long-term use. The more often you use it, the more it becomes like a true desktop companion who knows you well.
  • Want to do everything all at once A better way is: **First, let it help you complete the first step, then proceed to the next step. **

Recommend using it like this on your first day

If you are starting to use Petclaw for the first time today, you can follow this order:

| Time | What to try | |------|-------------| | Morning | Ask it to note your 3 most important tasks for the day | | Midday | Ask it to summarize a piece of information or an article | | Afternoon | Ask it to help you draft a reply | | Evening | Ask it to organize what you did today, or remind you of tomorrow's plans |

If You Don't Know How to Start

The simplest formula is:

Help me + one specific small thing

For example:

  • Help me remind…
  • Help me summarize…
  • Help me organize…
  • Help me draft…
  • Help me look up…

As long as you describe the task clearly, Petclaw will be ready to take it from there.

PetClaw Quick Start Guide