Node.js Version Too Old
Error: Node.js 22+ required. Found: v18.x.x / SyntaxError: Unexpected token
OpenClaw troubleshooting · Updated 2026
Error Message
Error: Node.js 22+ required. Found: v18.x.x / SyntaxError: Unexpected token
What Causes This
OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 or higher. Older versions cause cryptic syntax errors or explicit version check failures during installation or startup.
How to Fix It
Upgrade Node.js to version 22:
# Check current version
node --version
# Upgrade via nvm (recommended)
nvm install 22
nvm use 22
nvm alias default 22
# Or via Homebrew (macOS)
brew install node@22
# Or via NodeSource (Linux/WSL)
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
# Verify and reinstall OpenClaw
node --version # Should show v22.x
npm install -g openclaw@latest