Configuration Manual
This manual explains the configuration surfaces in NextClaw. It is not the first page for new users; if you have not run NextClaw yet, start with Quickstart.
Configuration areas
Model providers
Providers decide which model service NextClaw calls. This includes provider identity, API base, authentication, and default model.
Related guides:
Channels
Channels decide where users enter NextClaw, such as the local UI, a messaging platform, or another entry point.
Related guide:
Secrets
Secrets store API keys, tokens, and other sensitive values. Keep them managed centrally instead of scattering them through plain text docs or chat history.
Related manual:
Automations
Automations decide which tasks can run on a schedule and whether they should bind to session context.
Related guide:
Appearance
Session switchers, action menus, and dropdown selectors share subtle borders, rounded corners, and soft shadows that adapt to light and dark themes.
In the session switcher, only the list scrolls; the heading, time/project toggle, and search field stay at the top.
Filters, tabs, and menus use subtle hover and selection feedback that adapts to the theme. Desktop conversation rows and sidebar navigation retain their soft gray hierarchy, while mobile conversations keep a light paper surface. Workspace tabs align with the bottom of the tab bar, and tooltips for inline session actions prefer the space above the row.
Open Settings → Appearance to choose the interface theme, language, message layout, and SideDock visibility. Theme choices apply immediately and are kept on the current device across reloads.
“Default” follows the recommended theme, currently “Plain Paper”: warm paper surfaces, light tea-gray user bubbles, deep warm-gray text, and quiet neutral controls for extended reading. The olive-green “Paper & Ink” remains available, alongside Soft White, Minimal, Warm, Natural, and the other themes. Choose a specific name to keep that theme, or Default to follow future recommendations.
The Island theme combines a warm paper canvas, a gently swaying tropical tree, and quieter interface chrome for a calmer, more atmospheric workspace. The tree stays still when reduced motion is enabled. It changes presentation only; tasks, sessions, and tool behavior stay the same.
Privacy and anonymous analytics
NextClaw sends anonymous usage analytics by default to estimate active installations and successful activity for the current day, calendar week, and calendar month. Each window uses an unrelated random one-time receipt. Accounts, login tokens, persistent installation identifiers, messages, replies, tool data, files, URLs, IP addresses, User-Agent, and diagnostic logs are never sent.
You can turn this off at any time under Settings → Privacy & Analytics. NextClaw then stops delivery and removes pending local receipts. Existing server data is anonymous aggregate data and cannot be traced back to an installation for deletion. Counts are estimates of active installations rather than exact people; WAU and MAU use calendar-week and calendar-month windows, not rolling 7/30-day windows.
Check configuration changes
nextclaw status
nextclaw doctorIf a change does not take effect, see Troubleshooting.
When to use commands for configuration
Most users should prefer the UI.
Use nextclaw config when you need scripting, remote maintenance, or exact path-level edits.
For all commands, see Command Index.
User avatars are hidden in every theme; right-aligned bubbles identify user messages.