Plugin Bundles
OpenClaw can install plugins from three external ecosystems: Codex, Claude, and Cursor. These are called bundles — content and metadata packs that OpenClaw maps into native features like skills, hooks, and MCP tools.Bundles are not the same as native OpenClaw plugins. Native plugins run
in-process and can register any capability. Bundles are content packs with
selective feature mapping and a narrower trust boundary.
Why bundles exist
Many useful plugins are published in Codex, Claude, or Cursor format. Instead of requiring authors to rewrite them as native OpenClaw plugins, OpenClaw detects these formats and maps their supported content into the native feature set. This means you can install a Claude command pack or a Codex skill bundle and use it immediately.Install a bundle
What OpenClaw maps from bundles
Not every bundle feature runs in OpenClaw today. Here is what works and what is detected but not yet wired.Supported now
| Feature | How it maps | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Skill content | Bundle skill roots load as normal OpenClaw skills | All formats |
| Commands | commands/ and .cursor/commands/ treated as skill roots | Claude, Cursor |
| Hook packs | OpenClaw-style HOOK.md + handler.ts layouts | Codex |
| MCP tools | Bundle MCP config merged into embedded Pi settings; supported stdio servers launched as subprocesses | All formats |
| Settings | Claude settings.json imported as embedded Pi defaults | Claude |
Detected but not executed
These are recognized and shown in diagnostics, but OpenClaw does not run them:- Claude
agents,hooks.jsonautomation,lspServers,outputStyles - Cursor
.cursor/agents,.cursor/hooks.json,.cursor/rules - Codex inline/app metadata beyond capability reporting
Bundle formats
Codex bundles
Codex bundles
Markers:
.codex-plugin/plugin.jsonOptional content: skills/, hooks/, .mcp.json, .app.jsonCodex bundles fit OpenClaw best when they use skill roots and OpenClaw-style
hook-pack directories (HOOK.md + handler.ts).Claude bundles
Claude bundles
Two detection modes:
- Manifest-based:
.claude-plugin/plugin.json - Manifestless: default Claude layout (
skills/,commands/,agents/,hooks/,.mcp.json,settings.json)
commands/is treated as skill contentsettings.jsonis imported into embedded Pi settings (shell override keys are sanitized).mcp.jsonexposes supported stdio tools to embedded Pihooks/hooks.jsonis detected but not executed- Custom component paths in the manifest are additive (they extend defaults, not replace them)
Cursor bundles
Cursor bundles
Markers:
.cursor-plugin/plugin.jsonOptional content: skills/, .cursor/commands/, .cursor/agents/, .cursor/rules/, .cursor/hooks.json, .mcp.json.cursor/commands/is treated as skill content.cursor/rules/,.cursor/agents/, and.cursor/hooks.jsonare detect-only
Detection precedence
OpenClaw checks for native plugin format first:openclaw.plugin.jsonor validpackage.jsonwithopenclaw.extensions— treated as native plugin- Bundle markers (
.codex-plugin/,.claude-plugin/, or default Claude/Cursor layout) — treated as bundle
Security
Bundles have a narrower trust boundary than native plugins:- OpenClaw does not load arbitrary bundle runtime modules in-process
- Skills and hook-pack paths must stay inside the plugin root (boundary-checked)
- Settings files are read with the same boundary checks
- Supported stdio MCP servers may be launched as subprocesses
Troubleshooting
Bundle is detected but capabilities do not run
Bundle is detected but capabilities do not run
Run
openclaw plugins inspect <id>. If a capability is listed but marked as
not wired, that is a product limit — not a broken install.Claude command files do not appear
Claude command files do not appear
Make sure the bundle is enabled and the markdown files are inside a detected
commands/ or skills/ root.Claude settings do not apply
Claude settings do not apply
Only embedded Pi settings from
settings.json are supported. OpenClaw does
not treat bundle settings as raw config patches.Claude hooks do not execute
Claude hooks do not execute
hooks/hooks.json is detect-only. If you need runnable hooks, use the
OpenClaw hook-pack layout or ship a native plugin.Related
- Install and Configure Plugins
- Building Plugins — create a native plugin
- Plugin Manifest — native manifest schema