---
summary: "CLI reference for `openclaw agent` (send one agent turn via the Gateway)"
read_when:
  - You want to run one agent turn from scripts (optionally deliver reply)
title: "Agent"
---

# `openclaw agent`

Run an agent turn via the Gateway (use `--local` for embedded).
Use `--agent <id>` to target a configured agent directly.

Pass at least one session selector:

- `--to <dest>`
- `--session-id <id>`
- `--agent <id>`

Related:

- Agent send tool: [Agent send](/tools/agent-send)

## Options

- `-m, --message <text>`: required message body
- `-t, --to <dest>`: recipient used to derive the session key
- `--session-id <id>`: explicit session id
- `--agent <id>`: agent id; overrides routing bindings
- `--thinking <level>`: agent thinking level (`off`, `minimal`, `low`, `medium`, `high`, plus provider-supported custom levels such as `xhigh`, `adaptive`, or `max`)
- `--verbose <on|off>`: persist verbose level for the session
- `--channel <channel>`: delivery channel; omit to use the main session channel
- `--reply-to <target>`: delivery target override
- `--reply-channel <channel>`: delivery channel override
- `--reply-account <id>`: delivery account override
- `--local`: run the embedded agent directly (after plugin registry preload)
- `--deliver`: send the reply back to the selected channel/target
- `--timeout <seconds>`: override agent timeout (default 600 or config value)
- `--json`: output JSON

## Examples

```bash
openclaw agent --to +15555550123 --message "status update" --deliver
openclaw agent --agent ops --message "Summarize logs"
openclaw agent --session-id 1234 --message "Summarize inbox" --thinking medium
openclaw agent --to +15555550123 --message "Trace logs" --verbose on --json
openclaw agent --agent ops --message "Generate report" --deliver --reply-channel slack --reply-to "#reports"
openclaw agent --agent ops --message "Run locally" --local
```

## Notes

- Gateway mode falls back to the embedded agent when the Gateway request fails. Use `--local` to force embedded execution up front.
- `--local` still preloads the plugin registry first, so plugin-provided providers, tools, and channels stay available during embedded runs.
- Each `openclaw agent` invocation is treated as a one-shot run. Bundled or user-configured MCP servers opened for that run are retired after the reply, even when the command uses the Gateway path, so stdio MCP child processes do not stay alive between scripted invocations.
- `--channel`, `--reply-channel`, and `--reply-account` affect reply delivery, not session routing.
- `--json` keeps stdout reserved for the JSON response. Gateway, plugin, and embedded-fallback diagnostics are routed to stderr so scripts can parse stdout directly.
- When this command triggers `models.json` regeneration, SecretRef-managed provider credentials are persisted as non-secret markers (for example env var names, `secretref-env:ENV_VAR_NAME`, or `secretref-managed`), not resolved secret plaintext.
- Marker writes are source-authoritative: OpenClaw persists markers from the active source config snapshot, not from resolved runtime secret values.

## Related

- [CLI reference](/cli)
- [Agent runtime](/concepts/agent)