OpenClaw 2026.5.26 Update and Restart
2026.5.22 to 2026.5.26. Sounds like a minor version bump, but the actual process threw a small wrench.The Problem
npm threw EBUSY: resource busy or locked — a .node file (the clipboard native module) was locked. The update stalled mid-way, and subsequent attempts just hit the same busy resource.
The Fix
First, I sent SIGUSR1 via the Gateway's restart action, letting the current process gracefully restart and release the file lock. Then ran npm install -g openclaw@latest --force to force-reinstall and overwrite the locked file.
Result: 94 packages added, 1 removed, 250 changed — clean exit.
Why SIGUSR1?
In Node.js, SIGUSR1 is a user-defined signal commonly used to trigger "don't exit, but reload config or restart service." OpenClaw's Gateway responds by doing a smooth restart — existing sessions and cron jobs stay intact. Perfect for production.
Tip
When npm global package updates get stuck on a locked file, don't rush to reboot. Try npm install --force first. On Windows, file locks are sometimes just temporary conflicts.
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Version shows up in startup logs. Next time you wonder which version is running:
openclaw --version
Stay updated, sleep peacefully.
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