clawdbot/docs/cli/update.md

summary, read_when

summary	read_when
CLI reference for `clawdbot update` (safe-ish source update + optional daemon restart)	You want to update a source checkout safely You need to understand `--update` shorthand behavior

clawdbot update

Safely update a source checkout (git install) of Clawdbot.

If you installed via npm/pnpm (global install, no git metadata), use the package manager flow in Updating.

Usage

clawdbot update
clawdbot update --channel beta
clawdbot update --tag beta
clawdbot update --restart
clawdbot update --json
clawdbot --update

Options

• --restart: restart the Gateway daemon after a successful update.
• --channel <stable|beta>: set the update channel for npm installs (persisted in config).
• --tag <dist-tag|version>: override the npm dist-tag or version for this update only.
• --json: print machine-readable UpdateRunResult JSON.
• --timeout <seconds>: per-step timeout (default is 1200s).

Note: downgrades require confirmation because older versions can break configuration.

What it does (git checkout)

High-level:

1. Requires a clean worktree (no uncommitted changes).
2. Fetches and rebases against @{upstream}.
3. Installs deps (pnpm preferred; npm fallback).
4. Builds + builds the Control UI.
5. Runs clawdbot doctor as the final “safe update” check.

--update shorthand

clawdbot --update rewrites to clawdbot update (useful for shells and launcher scripts).

See also

• clawdbot doctor (offers to run update first on git checkouts)
• Updating
• CLI reference