OpenClaw Model Switching

1. Course Content

This course will systematically introduce OpenClaw's model selection mechanism and three methods for switching models.

2. Temporary Session Model Switching

2.1 Open TUI Session

• Terminal input

openclaw tui

2.2 Use /model to Switch Session Model

• Type /model in the session box and press Enter. For example, here we select to switch to bailian/qwen3.5-plus. Use keyboard up/down keys to select model, then press Enter

3. Switch Default Model

3.1 Switch via CLI

The simplest way is to use CLI command to directly set the default model:

• Here we use switching to bailian/qwen3.6-plus model as an example

xxxxxxxxxx
openclaw models set bailian/qwen3.6-plus

3.2 Switch via Configuration File

• Edit openclaw.json configuration file to modify Agent's default model

  xxxxxxxxxx
  nano $HOME/.openclaw/openclaw.json
  # Or use your preferred editor, such as vim, code, etc.
  

In openclaw.json, specify the default primary model through the agents.defaults.model.primary configuration item:

xxxxxxxxxx
{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "bailian/qwen3.5-plus"
      }
    }
  }
}

• Verify if configuration takes effect:

xxxxxxxxxx
openclaw models status

4. Add Model Options List

• agents.defaults.models is OpenClaw's allowed list/catalog that controls the range of usable models. When this configuration item is set, users can only use models contained in the list. This list serves as the model range control basis for both the /model command and session overrides.

4.1 Add Models via Configuration File

Configure agents.defaults.models in openclaw.json and add required models to the allowed list:

xxxxxxxxxx
"agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "bailian/qwen3.5-plus"
      },
      "models": {
        "bailian/qwen3.5-plus": {},
        "bailian/MiniMax-M2.5": {},
        "bailian/glm-4.7": {}
      },
      "workspace": "/home/jetson/.openclaw/workspace",
      "compaction": {
        "mode": "safeguard",
        "memoryFlush": {
          "enabled": false
        }
      }
    }
  }

4.2 Model Reference Format Specification

In OpenClaw, all model references use a unified format:

xxxxxxxxxx
provider/model-id

Examples:

Note: If the model ID itself contains / (e.g., moonshotai/kimi-k2), you must provide the complete reference in the format openrouter/moonshotai/kimi-k2.

5. Appendix: CLI Command Quick Reference