Openclaw Backup Skill

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name: openclaw-backup-skill description: Run and schedule local OpenClaw backup operations with a bundled Bash script. Use when the user wants to create, prune, or automate local OpenClaw backups, inspect retention behavior, or manage backup retention windows.

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OpenClaw Backup Skill

Use the bundled script scripts/openclaw-backup.sh for real operations. Do not rewrite backup logic inline when the bundled script already covers the task.

When to use

Use this skill when the user wants to:

create a local OpenClaw backup;

create a manual backup before risky changes;

prune old regular backups;

schedule recurring backup runs;

inspect or adjust retention behavior.

Preconditions

This skill assumes:

Linux;

Bash 4+;

OpenClaw CLI installed and working;

local filesystem access.

Primary commands

Show the current CLI contract directly from the script:

- scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --help

Regular backup:

- scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --backup

Manual backup:

- scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --manual

Dry-run prune:

- scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --prune --dry-run --keep-hours 24 --keep-days 7 --keep-weeks 4

Automatic backup + prune:

- scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --auto --keep-hours 24 --keep-days 7 --keep-weeks 4

Recommended scheduled run

For recurring local backups, a good default pattern is:

scripts/openclaw-backup.sh --auto --keep-hours 24 --keep-days 7 --keep-weeks 4

On Linux hosts, use the system scheduler (for example cron) when the goal is a direct local script run without chat delivery.

Operational notes

The current backup format includes:

workspace contents, including assistant identity and continuity files (for example SOUL.md, USER.md, AGENTS.md, and other workspace-level context files);

OpenClaw config;

cron export and human-readable cron summary;

software versions;

restore instructions;

manifest.

The current backup format intentionally excludes:

backup storage inside a workspace (legacy support);

temp artifacts;

environment variables / system env / system override.

Regular archives are subject to prune; manual archives are excluded from normal prune.

Retention is based on UTC timestamps encoded in archive filenames, not on mtime / ctime.

The script resolves the OpenClaw workspace/config automatically unless the caller passes an explicit output directory.

If the user wants recurring backups, ask before installing or changing scheduled jobs.

For the full behavior contract, retention model, and archive naming rules, read references/spec.md.