OpenClaw v2026.9.7: safer updates, the OpenAI Agents API and a faster Gateway

1 month ago

What changed in OpenClaw 2026.9.7: database backups before every update, the OpenAI Agents API plugin and Sign in with ChatGPT, a Gateway that no longer stalls on one busy chat, and what to check before you upgrade. Release: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.9.7 Changelog: https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/blob/v2026.9.7/CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md Release notes: https://docs.openclaw.ai/releases/2026.9.7 Plugin SDK migration guide: https://docs.openclaw.ai/plugins/sdk-migration

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Chapters

  1. 0:00Database backups before every update
  2. 0:15Upgrades from 2026.9.5
  3. 0:29Restart continuity
  4. 0:3902: New ways to run agents
  5. 0:41OpenAI Agents API
  6. 0:54Sign in with ChatGPT
  7. 1:03Bare opus is Opus 5.5
  8. 1:12Worktree sessions
  9. 1:2303: Faster
  10. 1:24Gateway responsiveness
  11. 1:33Long conversations
  12. 1:4204: In chat
  13. 1:43Chat-driven setup
  14. 1:56One voice context
  15. 2:08Native Apple chat
  16. 2:1805: Before you upgrade
  17. 2:20Bot messages by default
  18. 2:31Known update issues
  19. 2:45Plugin SDK deprecations
Show transcript
  1. OpenClaw 2026.9.7 backs up every state and agent database before an update migrates it. If the update rolls back, those databases are restored, and snapshots stay consistent while the Gateway keeps writing.

    Slide text
    01 02 03 04 05 Safer updates
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md
    OpenClaw

    OpenClaw 2026.9.7 backs up your databases before every update

    Restored on rollback Consistent while the Gateway writes
  2. Coming from 2026.9.5? Managed updates no longer always roll back with a stack overflow. Windows updates finish after the state migration, and interrupted npm updates recover.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Safer updates
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Upgrades from 2026.9.5 stop rolling back

    Managed updates no more stack-overflow rollback
    Windows finishes after the state migration
    npm interrupted package updates recover
  3. An in-flight worker turn now survives a Gateway restart, along with the edits it was making. Active turns also keep working when the configuration reloads.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Safer updates
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Worker turns survive a Gateway restart

    Their edits come through too.

    Active turns keep working through configuration reloads.

  4. New ways to run agents.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 New ways to run agents
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md
    02
    New ways to run agents
  5. A new plugin runs your agents through OpenAI's Agents API, on OpenAI-hosted or self-hosted environments. Replies stream, you can steer them, and agents keep web search and OpenClaw tools.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 New ways to run agents
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Run agents through OpenAI's Agents API

    OpenAI-hosted Self-hosted

    Streamed replies, steering, web search and OpenClaw tools.

  6. OpenAI accounts get a third way in. Sign in with ChatGPT, in beta, now sits beside Codex login and API keys.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 New ways to run agents
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Sign in with ChatGPT (Beta)

    Codex login API keys Sign in with ChatGPT
  7. The bare opus alias, and any new Anthropic setup, now pick Claude Opus 5.5. If you chose Opus 5 by name, that choice stays pinned.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 New ways to run agents
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Plain opus now means Claude Opus 5.5

    An explicit Opus 5 choice stays pinned.

  8. A new chat can start in an isolated, managed worktree, so parallel sessions on the same repository stop colliding. It works from the web, iOS and Android.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 New ways to run agents
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Start a chat in its own worktree

    Parallel sessions on one repository no longer collide.

    Web iOS Android
  9. Faster.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Faster
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md
    03
    Faster
  10. One busy chat no longer stalls everyone else on the Gateway. Transcript writes, history preparation, and file reads now run off its main thread.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Faster
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    A busy chat no longer stalls everyone else

    Transcript writes, history preparation and file reads moved off the Gateway main thread.

  11. Long conversations now scroll smoothly. Typing in the composer stays responsive, and a streaming reply no longer stalls the page.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Faster
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Long conversations stay smooth

    Scrolling smooth in long chats
    The composer keeps up with your typing
    Streaming replies no longer stall the page
  12. In chat.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 In chat
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md
    04
    In chat
  13. Owners can now give their agent an API key or a config change in chat. Tool policy, sandboxing and approvals still decide what needs confirmation, and approvals finish in that same chat.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 In chat
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Hand your agent an API key or a config change in chat

    Tool policy, sandboxing and approvals still decide what needs confirmation.

    Allow once Deny
  14. Talk, Discord voice, FaceTime and Twilio calls now share one agent context, so voice can answer about your other sessions. Lookups that change nothing no longer ask for spoken confirmation.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 In chat
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Every voice channel shares one agent context

    Talk Discord voice FaceTime Twilio

    Lookups that change nothing skip spoken confirmation.

  15. On macOS and iOS, each message shows its time and the model behind the reply. You can attach files and audio, and the Mac app adds a command palette.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 In chat
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Native Mac and iPhone chat catches up

    Every reply shows its time and its model
    Attachments files and audio
    macOS a command palette
  16. Before you upgrade.

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    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Before you upgrade
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md
    05
    Before you upgrade
  17. Discord and Slack now accept bot messages by default when allowBots is not set. Your access and mention rules still apply, and an explicit setting stays as it is.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Before you upgrade
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Discord and Slack now accept bot messages by default

    When allowBots is not set

    Access and mention rules still apply. Explicit settings are unchanged.

  18. On Windows, updating from 2026.9.6 can exit silently with code 13; run the update again. Docker and OverlayFS installs update faster, but can still take several minutes.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Before you upgrade
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Two known update issues

    Windows, from 2026.9.6 may exit silently with code 13; update again
    Docker and OverlayFS faster now, but can still take several minutes
  19. If you write plugins, the deprecated SDK compatibility paths are due for removal. They still work in this release, with removal targets of September thirtieth and October first. The Plugin SDK migration guide covers the move.

    Slide text
    OpenClaw 2026.9.7
    01 02 03 04 05 Before you upgrade
    openclaw/openclaw · CHANGELOG/2026.9.7.md

    Plugin authors: deprecated SDK paths are due for removal

    Still available in 2026.9.7. Removal targets: September 30 and October 1.

    Plugin SDK migration guide

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