Introduction
Welcome to Episode 4 of our OpenClaw Mastery series. As we covered in our previous guide on installation and channel setup, OpenClaw is an extensible open-source AI agent that becomes far more powerful with the right skills (plugins). In this episode you'll find the 10 best OpenClaw skills to automate everyday tasks, how to install them, practical workflow examples, and configuration tips so you can start saving time today.
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How to think about OpenClaw skills
OpenClaw skills wrap external APIs, local tools, or automation logic and expose them to the agent. Typical installation patterns you’ll encounter are:
- Python packages (pip installable) that register skill handlers
- Skill folders added to OpenClaw’s skills/ directory with a manifest and restart
- Marketplace or UI-based enables where you paste API keys into OpenClaw’s credential store
If you followed Episode 2 (install guide) you already have OpenClaw running; enabling skills is usually a matter of adding the package and putting credentials into OpenClaw’s config or secret store.
1) Web Search (SerpAPI / Bing)
What it does: Provides live web search results, snippets, and source URLs so OpenClaw can answer factual queries and fetch up-to-date data.
How to install:
- Get a SerpAPI or Bing Web Search API key (both are real services). SerpAPI has a free tier; Microsoft Bing Web Search via Azure has pay-as-you-go billing.
- Install the adapter or set up OpenClaw’s web_search skill connector (often a pip package or a small JSON manifest pointing to the API).
- Add the API key to OpenClaw’s credentials store (env var or config file).
Workflow example:
- Ask OpenClaw: “Find the latest pricing and release notes for Stable Diffusion forks” — it runs a web search, summarizes sources, and returns links.
Configuration tips:
- Set a results limit (3–5) to avoid noisy responses.
- Cache frequent queries to reduce API costs.
2) Browser Control (Playwright / Selenium)
What it does: Allows OpenClaw to control a headless browser for complex site interactions (login, form filling, scraping dashboards behind JS).
How to install:
- Install Playwright (pip or npm) and the corresponding OpenClaw browser_skill connector. Ensure Playwright dependencies are installed (browsers via playwright install).
- Grant the OpenClaw process access to a display environment or use headless mode in production.
Workflow example:
- Automate weekly reports by logging into a vendor portal, scraping CSVs, and saving to your cloud storage.
Configuration tips:
- Use containerized browsers for reproducibility.
- Rotate credentials and use secrets for login data.
3) Calendar Management (Google Calendar / Microsoft 365)
What it does: Read and write calendar events, create meeting invites, check free/busy times.
How to install:
- For Google Calendar, enable the Google Calendar API in Google Cloud, create OAuth credentials, and add them to OpenClaw’s credential store. Use the google-api-python-client or an existing OpenClaw calendar skill.
- For Microsoft 365, register an Azure app and grant Calendars.ReadWrite permissions, then add the client secret to OpenClaw.
Workflow example:
- “Schedule a 30-minute meeting next week with Laura and attach the Q1 deck.” OpenClaw checks free times, proposes slots, creates the event, and attaches a link.
Configuration tips:
- Use delegated access for user accounts or service accounts for shared calendars.
- Limit scopes to minimize risk (calendar-only scopes).
4) Email Automation (IMAP/SMTP / Microsoft Graph)
What it does: Send templated emails, triage inboxes, extract attachments, and automate follow-ups.
How to install:
- Use the Microsoft Graph API for Exchange/Outlook or IMAP/SMTP for generic mailboxes.
- Configure OAuth or app passwords and connect them in OpenClaw’s credentials UI.
Workflow example:
- “Email meeting notes to attendees and set a 3-day follow-up if no reply.” OpenClaw drafts the email, sends it, and schedules a follow-up reminder.
Configuration tips:
- Test templates thoroughly to avoid accidental sends.
- Rate-limit outgoing mail and set approval flows for bulk messages.
5) File Management (Google Drive / Dropbox / S3)
What it does: Read, write, search, and synchronize files across cloud storage providers.
How to install:
- Install provider SDKs (google-drive, boto3 for S3, dropbox SDK) and enable the corresponding OpenClaw storage skill.
- Add API keys or OAuth credentials to OpenClaw.
Workflow example:
- “Compress the monthly reports folder, upload to S3, and give the team a pre-signed link.” OpenClaw zips files, uploads, and returns the link.
Configuration tips:
- Use least-privilege IAM roles for S3.
- Enforce file size and filetype checks in the skill to avoid surprises.
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6) Code Execution (Python Runner / Docker Executor)
What it does: Run code snippets securely, execute tests, and build small automation scripts or data transforms.
How to install:
- Add a sandboxed runner skill that executes code inside containers (Docker) or using restricted Python sandboxes.
- Ensure the skill is configured to limit CPU, memory, and network access.
Workflow example:
- “Run a data-cleaning script on this CSV and produce a summary.” OpenClaw runs the script in a container and returns results and a cleaned file.
Configuration tips:
- Always sandbox code execution to prevent lateral movement.
- Log and audit executed commands for security.
7) Image Generation (Stable Diffusion / DALL·E 3)
What it does: Generate or edit images from prompts, produce assets for marketing, or create visual mockups.
How to install:
- Connect OpenClaw to an image model API (OpenAI’s image API for DALL·E 3, or a local Stable Diffusion instance). Use the appropriate adapter skill.
- Add model API keys or local endpoint URLs into OpenClaw.
Workflow example:
- “Create three social media banner variants using our brand colors.” OpenClaw generates options and uploads them to your Drive folder.
Configuration tips:
- Predefine style presets and aspect ratios.
- Monitor usage—image generation can be costly at scale.
8) News Aggregation (NewsAPI / RSS)**
What it does: Pulls headlines, filters by topic, summarizes stories, and compiles briefings.
How to install:
- Use NewsAPI, vendor-specific feeds, or an RSS aggregator skill. Add API keys as needed.
Workflow example:
- “Prepare a 5-bullet executive news brief every morning about Web3 and AI.” OpenClaw aggregates relevant articles, summarizes them, and emails the brief.
Configuration tips:
- Set keyword filters and source whitelists to reduce noise.
- Use deduplication to avoid repeating the same story from multiple outlets.
9) Smart Home Control (Home Assistant / MQTT)
What it does: Integrates with Home Assistant, Philips Hue, or MQTT brokers to control devices and automate routines.
How to install:
- Connect via Home Assistant’s REST or websocket API, or configure MQTT credentials in an OpenClaw home_automation skill.
- Use tokens or long-lived access tokens held in OpenClaw securely.
Workflow example:
- “When the calendar meeting status is ‘Focus’, set lights to dim, enable ‘Do Not Disturb’ across devices, and pause notifications.” OpenClaw triggers the scene via Home Assistant.
Configuration tips:
- Keep home automation credentials isolated from corporate systems.
- Test automations in simulated or low-impact modes before full deployment.
10) Custom Skill Creation (Skill SDK and Templates)
What it does: Lets you create bespoke automation that ties together APIs, internal tools, and business logic.
How to install:
- Use OpenClaw’s skill SDK or template repository (check your local OpenClaw distro for skill templates).
- Scaffold a new skill directory with a manifest, handler, and tests.
- Register the skill in OpenClaw’s skills.yaml and restart the agent.
Workflow example:
- Build a “Procurement Helper” skill that checks inventory, requests quotes from vendors, and raises purchase orders when thresholds are reached.
Configuration tips:
- Follow the skill SDK’s security model: validate inputs, sanitize output, and include unit tests.
- Version your skills and expose a feature flag to roll out gradually.
Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels | Source
Final tips for production usage
- Secrets management: Use a secrets vault (HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager) rather than plain config files.
- Observability: Enable logging and tracing for each skill so you can audit agent actions.
- Rate limits & quotas: Monitor API usage and add graceful degradation for external failures.
- Permissioning: Give each skill the minimum API scope it requires.
Conclusion
These 10 OpenClaw skills cover the common automation surface most teams need: search, browsing, scheduling, email, files, code, images, news, smart devices, and the ability to build custom logic. Start by enabling the few that give you the biggest productivity wins (calendar, email, and file management), then expand into browser automation and custom skills. If you missed them, check Episodes 1–3 for background on what OpenClaw is and how to install it and integrate channels like Slack and WhatsApp.
Use these skills responsibly: secure credentials, sandbox code, and monitor agent actions. In Episode 5 we’ll show you how to compose multi-skill workflows and orchestrate complex automations safely.
Want hands-on templates? Check the OpenClaw community repo (your distro's community links) for sample skills and workflow examples to adapt to your environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely add API keys to OpenClaw?
Store API keys in a secrets manager or OpenClaw’s credential store (not in repo). Limit scopes and use short-lived tokens when possible.
Can OpenClaw run code from the internet?
Yes, but only through explicitly enabled execution skills. Always sandbox code execution (containers, resource limits) and audit logs to reduce risk.
Which skills should I enable first?
Start with calendar, email, and file management—they deliver immediate productivity gains with lower risk. Add browser control and custom skills as needed.
Are there costs associated with these skills?
Many skills call external paid APIs (search, image models, cloud storage). Monitor usage and set limits; some services offer free tiers for testing.
