How OpenClaw Handles Fallback Models

Your OpenClaw agent is designed to be always available. Even if your primary AI provider experiences issues, your agent can automatically switch to a backup model. This guide explains how fallback models work, how to check your fallback list, and what to do when the primary model recovers.

What Is a Fallback Model?

A fallback model is a secondary AI model that your OpenClaw agent automatically uses if the primary model becomes unavailable.

Why Fallback Models Matter

• Zero Downtime: Your agent keeps responding even if your primary provider has an outage.
• Automatic Recovery: No manual action needed; the switch happens instantly and silently.
• Provider Redundancy: If one AI provider (e.g., OpenAI) is down, another (e.g., Anthropic or Ollama) takes over.

How Fallback Works Automatically

The fallback system is fully automatic. Here's what happens behind the scenes:

Normal Operation

• Your agent uses the primary model for all conversations.
• All responses come from your chosen primary provider.

When the Primary Model Fails

If the primary model encounters an issue (e.g., API timeout, rate limit, service outage):

1. Instant Detection: OpenClaw immediately detects that the primary is unavailable.
2. Automatic Switch: The system routes the request to the first available fallback model in your list.
3. Seamless Response: Your user receives a response (from the fallback) without any error message or interruption.

Reactivating Your Primary Model

When your primary model recovers from an issue, it becomes available again; but your agent won't automatically switch back within an active conversation.

Why?

• Each conversation session locks in the model at the start to ensure consistency.
• Switching models mid-conversation could confuse the AI or break context.

How to Switch Back to Primary

To start using your primary model again for new messages:

• Web Chat - Click the 'New Session' button in the chat window.

• Telegram - Type /new in the bot chat.

• WhatsApp - Type /new in the conversation.

This command starts a fresh session, and your agent will load the primary model as the default.

Need Further Assistance?

If you face any issues or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out — our support team is always ready to help!

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Updated on: 03/03/2026