The Ultimate OpenClaw config.json Guide: Connecting Claude 4.6 Sonnet via Custom Endpoints

Introduction

OpenClaw is a popular AI client that relies heavily on the config.json file for defining models and endpoints. However, many proxy APIs fail to support the standard Anthropic v1/message endpoint, causing frequent crashes and instability. This guide focuses on configuring OpenClaw to connect with Claude 4.6 Sonnet through custom endpoints, specifically using Wisdom Gate—a platform ensuring 100% protocol-native compatibility for stable, efficient API calls.

Understanding OpenClaw and Its Challenges

What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw enables developers to interact with large language models (LLMs) like Claude 4.6 Sonnet via standardized config files.

Common Issues with Proxy APIs

• Many proxies do not fully support Anthropic’s v1/message API standard.
• This leads to crashes, incomplete responses, or excessive latency.
• Debugging these behaviors can waste valuable developer time.

Why Standard v1/message APIs Matter

OpenClaw expects APIs to follow Anthropic’s v1/message specification perfectly. Non-compliance can break key features like:

• Conversation management
• Streaming responses
• Context window handling

Wisdom Gate guarantees 100% native compatibility, eliminating these issues.

Setting Up OpenClaw with Wisdom Gate

Installation Path

• Default config: /root/.openclaw/openclaw.json

Key Benefits of Wisdom Gate Integration

• Full protocol compliance with Anthropic v1/message
• Support for multiple LLM models including Claude 4.6 Sonnet, Opus 4.6, MiniMax
• Stability even under heavy concurrent usage

Configuring config.json for Claude 4.6 Sonnet

To connect Claude 4.6 Sonnet via Wisdom Gate, your config.json should specify:

• models.mode as merge to combine providers
• Define providers like minimax with baseUrl and apiKey
• Declare models within each provider, e.g., "minimax-m2.5" under MiniMax
• Set primary model under agents.defaults.model.primary

Example config.json snippet

{
  "models": {
    "mode": "merge",
    "providers": {
      "minimax": {
        "baseUrl": "https://wisdom-gate.juheapi.com/v1",
        "apiKey": "sk-xxxx",
        "api": "openai-completions",
        "models": [
          {
            "id": "minimax-m2.5",
            "name": "MiniMax M2.5",
            "reasoning": false,
            "input": ["text"],
            "cost": { "input": 0, "output": 0, "cacheRead": 0, "cacheWrite": 0 },
            "contextWindow": 256000,
            "maxTokens": 8192
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "minimax/minimax-m2.5"
      },
      "workspace": "/root/.openclaw/workspace",
      "maxConcurrent": 4,
      "subagents": {
        "maxConcurrent": 8
      },
      "blockStreamingDefault": "off",
      "blockStreamingBreak": "text_end",
      "blockStreamingChunk": {
        "minChars": 800,
        "maxChars": 1200,
        "breakPreference": "paragraph"
      },
      "blockStreamingCoalesce": {
        "idleMs": 1000
      },
      "humanDelay": {
        "mode": "natural"
      },
      "typingIntervalSeconds": 5,
      "timeoutSeconds": 600
    }
  }
}

Notes

• Replace sk-xxxx with your actual Wisdom Gate API key.
• The merge mode allows combining multiple providers and models flexibly.
• Settings like maxConcurrent help manage concurrency for better throughput.

Best Practices for Stability and ROI

• Use Wisdom Gate’s native support to avoid OpenClaw crashes.
• Set realistic maxConcurrent values to prevent overload.
• Regularly update your API keys and configuration to leverage new features.

Leveraging Wisdom Gate's Multi-Model Strategy

High-Low Mixing

• For routine queries, use MiniMax (cost-effective, low latency).
• For complex tasks like code generation or long data analysis, switch to Opus 4.6 or Sonnet 4.6.
• Implement hot-switching in config for dynamic workload balancing.

Benefits

• Optimized cost and performance balance.
• Reliable handling of diverse task complexity.

Advanced Tips for Optimal Performance

• Enable blockStreamingBreak to manage output chunking.
• Tune typingIntervalSeconds for natural typing effects in UI.
• Use humanDelay.mode to simulate human-like delays if needed for UX.

Conclusion

Configuring OpenClaw to connect Claude 4.6 Sonnet through Wisdom Gate’s fully compatible custom endpoints brings remarkable stability and cost-efficiency. The flexible config.json enables developers to deploy multi-model strategies seamlessly, boosting ROI while minimizing downtime and complexity. Follow this guide to get your OpenClaw setup working flawlessly within 5 minutes and unlock powerful AI capabilities with ease.