OpenClaw gateway auth: device token mismatch / pairing required after Node/Homebrew switch
✅Solved
Hey folks — I’m stuck on an OpenClaw gateway auth issue on macOS.
Env
OpenClaw 2026.2.19-2, macOS (Apple Silicon)
Gateway: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Was working on Node 24 (nvm). After installing Node 22 (Homebrew), auth started failing.
Errors
UI: disconnected (1008): unauthorized: device token mismatch (sometimes “gateway token missing”)
CLI: gateway closed (1008): pairing required (e.g., openclaw devices list/clear)
Weird detail
openclaw dashboard --no-open generates a new #token=... URL that connects in a fresh Chrome profile.
But sudo launchctl procinfo <gateway pid> still shows OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN=<old token> in the gateway process env.
CLI still says “pairing required” even when passing --url ws://127.0.0.1:18789 --token <new token>.
Ask
What’s the correct way on macOS to fully reset/rotate gateway + device tokens (and clear the stuck “pairing required”) without wiping ~/.openclaw history?
Happy to paste any specific files/logs you want.
Env
OpenClaw 2026.2.19-2, macOS (Apple Silicon)
Gateway: ws://127.0.0.1:18789
Was working on Node 24 (nvm). After installing Node 22 (Homebrew), auth started failing.
Errors
UI: disconnected (1008): unauthorized: device token mismatch (sometimes “gateway token missing”)
CLI: gateway closed (1008): pairing required (e.g., openclaw devices list/clear)
Weird detail
openclaw dashboard --no-open generates a new #token=... URL that connects in a fresh Chrome profile.
But sudo launchctl procinfo <gateway pid> still shows OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN=<old token> in the gateway process env.
CLI still says “pairing required” even when passing --url ws://127.0.0.1:18789 --token <new token>.
Ask
What’s the correct way on macOS to fully reset/rotate gateway + device tokens (and clear the stuck “pairing required”) without wiping ~/.openclaw history?
Happy to paste any specific files/logs you want.
Solution
Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/web/control-ui#device-pairing-first-connection
- device token mismatch: usually a stale browser device token → clear site data / localStorage for the UI origin, or (gateway-side) move
~/.openclaw/devices/If anyone still hits this after
install --forceIf this thread’s now resolved, please right-click the solution message → Apps →
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