How to Use Browser Automation with OpenClaw
Give your AI agent a real browser to navigate websites, fill forms, click buttons, and extract data from any web page.
Introduction
Browser automation gives your OpenClaw agent a real web browser. Instead of just fetching HTML, the agent can navigate pages, click buttons, fill forms, handle JavaScript-rendered content, and interact with web applications -- just like a human user would.
Prerequisites
- A KiwiClaw account with an active agent (setup guide)
- Standard or Enterprise plan (browser automation requires sandbox access)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Enable Browser Automation
In your agent settings, ensure sandbox mode is enabled. Browser automation runs in a secure sandboxed environment on your dedicated machine.
Step 2: Test Basic Navigation
Ask your agent to visit a website: "Go to news.ycombinator.com and tell me the top 5 stories." The agent opens the page in its browser, reads the content, and responds.
Step 3: Try Interactive Tasks
The agent can interact with web apps:
"Go to Google Flights, search for round-trip flights from Houston to Tokyo in April 2026, and show me the 5 cheapest options."
Step 4: Use for Data Extraction
Browser automation excels at extracting data from JavaScript-heavy sites that simple HTTP requests cannot handle. See our web scraping guide for details.
Step 5: Combine with Other Skills
Browser automation works alongside other skills. The agent can browse a website, extract data, analyze it with Python, and post results to Slack -- all in one task.
Pro Tips
- Be specific about what to click -- Describe buttons and links precisely so the agent navigates correctly.
- Use for form filling -- The agent can fill out web forms, submit applications, and interact with web-based tools.
- Screenshot capability -- The agent can take screenshots of web pages for visual reference.
- Respect site policies -- Browser automation should respect website terms of service and rate limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is browser automation the same as web scraping?
Browser automation is more powerful than basic web scraping. While scraping typically fetches static HTML, browser automation renders JavaScript, interacts with page elements, handles authentication, and navigates through multi-step flows. It is a real browser controlled by your AI agent.
Can the agent log into websites?
Yes. The agent can fill login forms and navigate authenticated pages. Store credentials securely in your agent configuration. For sites with 2FA, you may need to handle the authentication step manually or use API-based access instead.
How fast is browser automation?
Browser actions take a few seconds per page, similar to a human browsing. For bulk data extraction, consider combining browser automation with direct API calls where available for better performance.