Managed instances
Learn what managed instances are, when to use them, and how they differ from pairing your own runtime.
Managed instances are available on the Pro plan. If you are using Starter, you connect your own runtime instead.
What a managed instance is
A managed instance is a ClawControl-operated OpenClaw environment. It is meant for teams that want ClawControl to provision and operate the host side of the system instead of bringing their own machine.
What ClawControl manages
With managed instances, ClawControl handles the infrastructure side of the setup, including the hosted runtime lifecycle.
That includes things such as:
- provisioning the hosted environment
- tracking setup progress
- checking readiness before the instance is considered usable
- showing operation status and timelines in the app
- supporting reprovision and destroy workflows
What you still provide
Managed does not mean model usage is bundled.
You still provide the AI provider credentials needed for the models your agents will use. ClawControl manages the OpenClaw infrastructure layer, but your model access remains tied to your own provider setup.
When managed instances are a good fit
Managed instances are a strong fit when:
- you want a faster path to a hosted setup
- you do not want to operate the OpenClaw host yourself
- you want lifecycle visibility in the ClawControl app
- your team prefers one place to monitor hosted runtime operations
Typical managed-instance lifecycle
1. Create the managed instance
You start the create flow from ClawControl and provide the credentials needed for the hosted environment.
2. ClawControl provisions the environment
ClawControl creates the hosted OpenClaw runtime environment and tracks the operation in the dashboard.
3. Readiness checks run before the instance is marked ready
The platform waits for setup milestones and runtime health checks before the managed instance is treated as usable.
4. You operate it from the dashboard
After creation, you can review status, inspect the latest operation, update credentials, reprovision, or destroy the instance from ClawControl.
What you see in the app
The managed instances area is designed to answer three questions quickly:
- Can this workspace create more hosted runtimes?
- What is the current state of each managed runtime?
- What was the latest managed operation and where is it now?
When to choose a paired runtime instead
Choose a regular paired runtime if:
- you want full control over the host machine
- you already operate OpenClaw yourself
- you are on the Starter plan
- you prefer to keep infrastructure ownership entirely on your side