Skip to content

[Bug]: Windows node Scheduled Task opens persistent cmd window at login #81254

Description

@civiltox

Bug type

Behavior bug (incorrect output/state without crash)

Beta release blocker

No

Summary

On Windows 11 Pro with OpenClaw 2026.5.7, openclaw node install creates an OpenClaw Node Scheduled Task that runs C:\Users\[Username]\.openclaw ode.cmd, and at Windows login that task opens a persistent visible openclaw-node cmd window in the taskbar instead of running invisibly in the background.

Image

Steps to reproduce

  1. On Windows 11 with OpenClaw 2026.5.7, run PowerShell as Administrator.
  2. Run:
openclaw node uninstall
openclaw node install --host 192.168.0.96 --port 18789 --display-name PC --force
  1. Confirm install output says:
Installed Scheduled Task: OpenClaw Node
Task script: C:\Users\Admin\.openclaw
ode.cmd
  1. Restart/sign in to Windows.
  2. Observe a persistent visible cmd window titled openclaw-node in the taskbar.
  3. Confirm the Startup-folder fallback is absent and the Scheduled Task is running:
openclaw node status --json
schtasks /Query /TN "OpenClaw Node" /FO LIST

Expected behavior

Per the openclaw node docs, openclaw node install installs the headless node host as a background user service, so after Windows login the OpenClaw Node Scheduled Task should be running without leaving a persistent visible openclaw-node cmd window in the taskbar. Ref: https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli/node

Actual behavior

Observed result: after openclaw node install --host 192.168.0.96 --port 18789 --display-name PC --force reported Installed Scheduled Task: OpenClaw Node and Task script: C:\Users\Admin\.openclaw ode.cmd, Windows login still opened a persistent visible cmd window titled openclaw-node in the taskbar; openclaw node status --json showed the node service runtime.status as running, and schtasks /Query /TN "OpenClaw Node" /FO LIST showed Status: Running, Logon Mode: Interactive only, and Task To Run: C:\Users\Admin\.openclaw ode.cmd.

OpenClaw version

2026.5.7

Operating system

Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26200 Build 26200

Install method

npm global

Model

N/A

Provider / routing chain

N/A

Additional provider/model setup details

No response

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Impact and severity

No response

Additional information

No response

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    bugSomething isn't workingbug:behaviorIncorrect behavior without a crash

    Type

    No type

    Fields

    Priority

    None yet

    Projects

    No projects

    Milestone

    No milestone

    Relationships

    None yet

    Development

    No branches or pull requests

    Issue actions