Openclaw Backup Skill

Run and schedule local OpenClaw backup operations with a bundled Bash script. Use when the user wants to create, prune, or automate local OpenClaw backups, inspect retention behavior, or manage backup retention windows.

Use the bundled script scripts/openclaw-backup.sh for real operations. Do not rewrite backup logic inline when the bundled script already covers the task.

When to use

Use this skill when the user wants to:

• create a local OpenClaw backup;
• create a manual backup before risky changes;
• prune old regular backups;
• schedule recurring backup runs;
• inspect or adjust retention behavior.

Preconditions

This skill assumes:

• Linux;
• Bash 4+;
• OpenClaw CLI installed and working;
• local filesystem access.

Primary commands

• Show the current CLI contract directly from the script:
  • scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --help
• Regular backup:
  • scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --backup
• Manual backup:
  • scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --manual
• Dry-run prune:
  • scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --prune --dry-run --keep-hours 24 --keep-days 7 --keep-weeks 4
• Automatic backup + prune:
  • scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --auto --keep-hours 24 --keep-days 7 --keep-weeks 4

Recommended scheduled run

For recurring local backups, a good default pattern is:

• scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --auto --keep-hours 24 --keep-days 7 --keep-weeks 4

On Linux hosts, use the system scheduler (for example cron) when the goal is a direct local script run without chat delivery.

Operational notes

The current backup format includes:

• workspace contents, including assistant identity and continuity files (for example SOUL.md, USER.md, AGENTS.md, and other workspace-level context files);
• OpenClaw config;
• cron export and human-readable cron summary;
• software versions;
• restore instructions;
• manifest.

The current backup format intentionally excludes:

• backup storage inside a workspace (legacy support);

• temp artifacts;

• environment variables / system env / system override.

• Regular archives are subject to prune; manual archives are excluded from normal prune.

• Retention is based on UTC timestamps encoded in archive filenames, not on mtime / ctime.

• The script resolves the OpenClaw workspace/config automatically unless the caller passes an explicit output directory.

• If the user wants recurring backups, ask before installing or changing scheduled jobs.

• For the full behavior contract, retention model, and archive naming rules, read references/spec.md.