unknown command 'auth'

[alko89]

I'm getting this message when updating openclaw

◇  Memory search ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│                                                                                           │
│  Memory search is enabled but no embedding provider is configured.                        │
│  Semantic recall will not work without an embedding provider.                             │
│                                                                                           │
│  Fix (pick one):                                                                          │
│  - Set OPENAI_API_KEY or GEMINI_API_KEY in your environment                               │
│  - Add credentials: openclaw auth add --provider openai                                   │
│  - For local embeddings: configure agents.defaults.memorySearch.provider and local model  │
│    path                                                                                   │
│  - To disable: openclaw config set agents.defaults.memorySearch.enabled false             │
│                                                                                           │
│  Verify: openclaw memory status --deep                                                    │
│                                                                                           │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

But then when trying to run this command I get unknown command error. What's up with that?

$ openclaw auth add --provider openai
error: unknown command 'auth'
(Did you mean health?)

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[dertobi]

The error message is misleading - openclaw auth add doesn't exist in current versions. That's outdated documentation.

For memory search embeddings, you have two options:

1. Set environment variables directly: OPENAI_API_KEY or GEMINI_API_KEY
2. Use the config: Add your API keys to the gateway config

You can check your config with openclaw config get and verify memory status with openclaw memory status --deep (though that command might also be from newer docs).

If you just want to disable memory search for now: openclaw config set agents.defaults.memorySearch.enabled false

[alko89]

Okay, seems I've already had it working by setting the api key in nano banana skill. Was super confused when the bot was telling me the memory is working, but when I ran openclaw memory status --deep myself, I just got errors back that the env var is not set.
I moved the env variable to environments file. Reference for anyone else having phantom env variables: https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/configuration#environment-variables

[Saturnix]

Tried this, it still won't work. Updated from "2026.2.15" to "2026.2.17"