OpenClaw PWA: Adding DenchClaw to Your Dock

DenchClaw runs as a Progressive Web App (PWA) at localhost:3100. You can install it directly to your macOS Dock, Windows Taskbar, or Linux application menu — giving you one-click access to your AI workspace without opening a browser tab. This guide walks through the installation process on every major platform and browser.

For the full picture of what DenchClaw is, read what is DenchClaw. Not set up yet? Start with the setup guide.

What Is a PWA?#

A Progressive Web App is a website that your browser installs as a native-style application. Once installed:

• It opens in its own window (no browser chrome, tabs, or address bar)
• It appears in your Dock, Taskbar, or app launcher
• It can receive desktop notifications
• It behaves like a native app from your operating system's perspective

The DenchClaw PWA at localhost:3100 is fully installable. Your data still lives locally — the "app" is just a shortcut to the web UI with an improved desktop experience.

Installing on macOS#

With Google Chrome#

1. Open Chrome and navigate to http://localhost:3100
2. In the address bar, click the install icon (looks like a monitor with a down arrow) on the right side
3. In the popup, click "Install"

DenchClaw will open in its own window and appear in your Applications folder. Drag it to the Dock from Applications for permanent placement.

Keyboard shortcut approach:

• Chrome menu (⋮) → Cast, save, and share → Install page as app

With Safari (macOS Ventura+)#

1. Open Safari and navigate to http://localhost:3100
2. From the menu bar: File → Add to Dock
3. Confirm the app name and click Add

The icon appears in your Dock immediately.

With Arc Browser#

Arc treats PWAs similarly to Chrome:

1. Navigate to http://localhost:3100 in Arc
2. Click the ⋯ menu in the toolbar
3. Select Install as App (or Add to Dock depending on Arc version)

Installing on Windows#

With Google Chrome or Edge#

1. Navigate to http://localhost:3100
2. In Chrome: address bar → install icon on the right, click Install
3. In Edge: Settings and more (⋯) → Apps → Install this site as an app
4. The app installs to your Start Menu
5. Right-click it in Start Menu → Pin to Taskbar for quick access

Edge (Chromium) handles PWAs particularly well on Windows — it offers better OS integration than Chrome, including jump lists and notification management.

Installing on Linux#

With Chrome/Chromium#

1. Navigate to http://localhost:3100
2. Click the install icon in the address bar
3. Click Install

The app installs to your app launcher (GNOME Activities, KDE Application Menu, etc.) with the DenchClaw icon.

To add it to a panel or dock, find it in the app launcher and drag it to your panel, or right-click and select "Add to Favorites" (GNOME).

Customizing the PWA#

App Name#

When you install the PWA, the app name comes from DenchClaw's manifest. If you want to rename it after installation:

macOS: Right-click the icon in Applications → Get Info → Edit the name at the top.

Windows: Right-click the Start Menu shortcut → Properties → Change the name field.

App Icon#

The default icon is the DenchClaw logo. On macOS, you can replace it:

1. Find an icon you want to use (512×512 PNG works best)
2. Right-click the app in Applications → Get Info
3. Drag your new image onto the icon in the top-left corner of the Info window

Using the PWA vs. Browser Tab#

Once installed, there are practical differences worth knowing:

Own window: The PWA opens without the browser interface. No accidentally closing DenchClaw when you close your browser.

Separate keyboard shortcuts: ⌘W in the PWA doesn't close your entire browser — it just closes the DenchClaw window.

Dock badge notifications: On macOS and Windows, the PWA can show notification badges on the Dock/Taskbar icon when the agent has something for you.

Focus mode: Because the PWA has no browser chrome, it's less distracting. No tabs visible, no extensions running.

Setting Up for Quick Launch#

A few tricks to make DenchClaw as fast to open as possible:

macOS: Keyboard Shortcut via Automator#

1. Open Automator → New Document → Application
2. Add a "Run Shell Script" action:

   Copy

   open -a "DenchClaw"

3. Save as OpenDenchClaw.app somewhere accessible
4. Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts
5. Add a shortcut for any app → target your new Automator app
6. Assign a key combo like ⌘⌃D

Now pressing ⌘⌃D anywhere opens DenchClaw.

macOS: Spotlight Launch#

Once the PWA is in Applications, Spotlight (⌘Space) finds it. Type "Den" and press Enter.

Windows: Start Typing in Taskbar Search#

The PWA appears in search results. Type "DenchClaw" and press Enter.

Offline Behavior#

DenchClaw's PWA uses service workers for partial offline support. What works offline:

• Viewing the UI: The shell loads even without network
• Reading cached content: Recently viewed data may be accessible

What doesn't work offline:

• Agent queries: The agent requires your gateway to be running and an internet connection for LLM API calls
• Data writes: Changes can't be saved without the gateway connection

The PWA will show a "Reconnecting..." state when the gateway is unreachable. Once the gateway comes back (either you start it locally or your VPS becomes accessible), it reconnects automatically.

PWA vs. the Mobile Companion App#

The PWA and the mobile app serve different use cases:

For phone access, the native mobile companion app is better than the PWA on mobile browsers.

Troubleshooting#

Install Option Not Showing in Chrome#

Chrome requires the site to meet PWA installability criteria:

• Served over HTTPS (or localhost)
• Has a valid Web App Manifest
• Service worker registered

localhost:3100 meets all these criteria. If the install icon isn't showing:

1. Hard refresh the page: ⌘⇧R (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows/Linux)
2. Check Chrome DevTools → Application → Manifest for any errors
3. Ensure DenchClaw is fully loaded (not just partially)

PWA Opens in Browser Instead of Own Window#

This happens if the PWA lost its installed state. Reinstall it using the steps above. In Chrome: chrome://apps → right-click DenchClaw → Remove → reinstall from localhost:3100.

App Icon Is Blank or Default#

The icon loads from the running DenchClaw server. If the gateway wasn't running when you installed, the icon might be blank. Uninstall and reinstall while the gateway is running.

macOS: PWA Not Appearing in Applications Folder#

Chrome installs PWAs to ~/Applications/Chrome Apps/. Open Finder → Go → Home → Applications → Chrome Apps to find it. Drag to your main Applications folder if you prefer.

FAQ#

Can I have multiple DenchClaw workspaces as separate PWA apps?
If you run multiple DenchClaw instances on different ports (e.g., 3100 and 3200), you can install each as a separate PWA. Each gets its own Dock icon and window.

Does the PWA update automatically?
Yes. The PWA loads fresh assets from the gateway server each time you open it. No manual update needed — the app always reflects the current DenchClaw version you have installed.

Is there any performance benefit to using the PWA vs. a browser tab?
Marginally. The PWA window uses slightly fewer resources than a full browser instance. The more meaningful benefit is workflow: a dedicated window without browser chrome is less distracting.

Can I run the PWA on a Chromebook?
Yes. Chrome OS has excellent PWA support — the DenchClaw PWA installs to the Chromebook's app launcher with full desktop behavior.

What happens to the PWA if I uninstall DenchClaw?
The PWA shortcut remains, but it will show a connection error when opened since the gateway is no longer running. You can remove the PWA shortcut from your Dock/Applications separately.

Ready to try DenchClaw? Install in one command: npx denchclaw. Full setup guide →