OpenClaw maintains persistent memory across sessions — unlike a standard chatbot that starts fresh every time. Here’s how the memory system works.
File-Based Memory Architecture
All memory is stored in plain Markdown files in your workspace directory. This means your memories are readable and editable by you directly, easily backed up, transferable between machines, and searchable with standard tools.
MEMORY.md — Long-Term Memory
The curated, distilled memory file. Think of it like a human’s long-term memory — important facts, preferences, key decisions, recurring patterns. OpenClaw reads this at the start of every main session.
Daily Memory Files
In the memory/ directory, OpenClaw creates daily log files (memory/2026-03-25.md) with raw session notes. These are the short-term working memory — detailed and timestamped, but not curated.
How Memories Are Created
- You explicitly ask it to remember something
- The agent decides something is worth noting
- During heartbeat sessions, it reviews daily files and updates MEMORY.md
Memory Search
Before answering questions about past events or preferences, OpenClaw searches memory files semantically. It finds relevant snippets even if the memory is weeks old — giving contextually accurate responses across long time periods.
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