Path
Confirm the correct owning path
Check the real path before editing instead of trusting a plausible memory.
Check allowed values
Use real enum values instead of guessing similar-looking strings.
OpenClaw config
Schema lookup, patching, and validation in OpenClaw
Use this page when you need to inspect the real config path, apply a narrow change safely, and validate it quickly instead of guessing.
Schema is the source of truth
Do not invent config structure when OpenClaw can tell you the real one.
Look up the real shape first
The path matters as much as the setting name
Many config errors come from choosing the right idea but putting it under the wrong parent object. Schema-guided lookup helps you verify both the field itself and the object that owns it.
Use patching as the default edit model
Patching is safer than replacement for narrow changes
If you only need to change one field or keyed entry, patch the narrow layer instead of replacing the full object. This protects sibling settings in merge-sensitive areas.
Common schema-guided wins
The biggest saves usually come from the same few checks
Enum
Shape
Verify expected value form
Confirm whether a field accepts plaintext, SecretRef, or another shape.
Scope
Patch one entry, not the whole map
Avoid broad replacement that silently wipes unrelated siblings.
Validate, then verify
Structural correctness still needs runtime proof
Validation should happen immediately after a narrow change so malformed JSON5, wrong types, invalid enum guesses, and broken nesting are caught early. Then verify runtime behavior, because a structurally correct config still does not prove the live system changed the way you intended.