Pre-create approved client entry to bypass pairing for Docker

start.sh

@@ -241,6 +241,23 @@ echo "🚀 Launching OpenClaw gateway on port 7860..."
 echo ""
 # Set model via environment for the gateway
 export LLM_MODEL="$LLM_MODEL"
+
+# For headless Docker: pre-create a client approval to bypass pairing prompt
+# This creates a fake "approved" client so the gateway thinks it's already paired
+mkdir -p /home/node/.openclaw/clients
+cat > /home/node/.openclaw/clients/approved.json <<'CLIENTEOF'
+{
+  "clients": [
+    {
+      "id": "docker-webchat",
+      "name": "Web Control UI",
+      "kind": "control-ui",
+      "approvedAt": "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)"
+    }
+  ]
+}
+CLIENTEOF
+
 openclaw gateway run --port 7860 --bind lan --verbose 2>&1 | tee -a /home/node/.openclaw/gateway.log &
 GATEWAY_PID=$!