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How to Use Brave Search in Openclaw: Step-by-Step Guide

ai tools brave search configuration openclaw web search
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Quick Start

Brave Search gives your Openclaw agent privacy-focused web search capabilities without tracking. This guide walks you through setup and usage in under 5 minutes.

Openclaw Brave Search Integration

Get Your API Key

  1. Go to the Brave Search API portal and create an account.
  2. Choose the Data for Search plan and generate your API key.

Important: The "Data for AI" plan is not compatible with the web_search tool.

Configuration Options

Option A: CLI Wizard (Recommended)

Run the configuration wizard to securely store your key:

openclaw configure --section web

Option B: Environment Variable

Set the key on your Gateway host:

export BRAVE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Option C: Manual Configuration

Edit your ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json file:

{
  "tools": {
    "web": {
      "search": {
        "enabled": true,
        "provider": "brave",
        "apiKey": "BRAVE_API_KEY_HERE",
        "maxResults": 5,
        "timeoutSeconds": 30
      }
    }
  }
}

For more web tool options, check out our guide on Web Tools Openclaw. If you are new to Openclaw, you might also want to read about Elevated Mode Openclaw for advanced permissions.

Example Usage

Once configured, your agent can search the web:

User: "Search for the latest Openclaw release notes"

Agent: [Uses web_search tool with Brave provider]
Result: Finds and summarizes the latest Openclaw updates...

Troubleshooting

  • "Data for AI" plan error: Switch to the "Data for Search" plan in your Brave dashboard.
  • Search not working: Verify BRAVE_API_KEY is set and the web tool is enabled.
  • Rate limits: Brave offers generous free tiers; upgrade if you hit limits.

Best Practices

  • Keep your API key in environment variables or the config file—never hardcode it.
  • Set maxResults between 3-10 for optimal performance.
  • Use timeoutSeconds: 30 to avoid hanging requests.

Ready to search? Your Openclaw agent now has privacy-first web search at its fingertips.

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