How to Configure OpenClaw Gateway Authentication
The OpenClaw gateway sits between users and your AI backend, making it the perfect place to enforce authentication. Without proper auth, anyone who finds your endpoint can use your OpenClaw instance, burning through API credits and accessing private data. This guide shows you how to configure API key authentication, set up per-user keys, implement rate limiting, and lock down access with IP allowlists.
Why This Is Hard to Do Yourself
These are the common pitfalls that trip people up.
No default authentication
OpenClaw gateway ships with auth disabled. Anyone with the URL can use your instance.
Key management complexity
Generating, rotating, and revoking API keys securely requires proper tooling and processes.
API abuse and cost
Without rate limiting, a single user can flood requests and generate massive API bills.
IP-based attacks
Attackers can brute-force API keys from anywhere unless you restrict by IP range.
Step-by-Step Guide
Enable API key authentication in gateway config
Turn on auth middleware in your gateway.yaml.
Generate API keys for users
Create unique API keys for each user or service.
Warning: Store API keys securely. Never commit api_keys.json to version control. Use environment variables or secret management systems in production.
Configure rate limiting per API key
Prevent abuse by limiting requests per key.
Set up IP allowlists
Restrict gateway access to specific IP ranges.
Test authentication
Verify that requests without keys are blocked.
Set up key rotation reminders
Regularly rotate API keys to limit exposure.
Gateway Auth Getting Messy?
We configure enterprise-grade gateway authentication with SSO, OAuth, multi-tenancy, and audit logging. Get production-ready auth without the trial and error.
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