fix(installer): clarify macOS admin requirement for Homebrew

Author: steipete

README.md

@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ These scripts:
 4. Run `openclaw doctor --non-interactive` for migrations (upgrades only)
 5. Prompt to run `openclaw onboard` (new installs)
 
+Troubleshooting:
+- macOS first-run Homebrew bootstrap needs an Administrator account. If install fails with a sudo/admin error, use an admin account (or add the current user to the `admin` group) and rerun the installer.
+
 ## Related
 
 - [OpenClaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw) — Main repository

public/install.sh

@@ -1094,9 +1094,36 @@ detect_openclaw_checkout() {
 }
 
 # Check for Homebrew on macOS
+is_macos_admin_user() {
+    if [[ "$OS" != "macos" ]]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+    if is_root; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+    id -Gn "$(id -un)" 2>/dev/null | grep -qw "admin"
+}
+
+print_homebrew_admin_fix() {
+    local current_user
+    current_user="$(id -un 2>/dev/null || echo "${USER:-current user}")"
+    ui_error "Homebrew installation requires a macOS Administrator account"
+    echo "Current user (${current_user}) is not in the admin group."
+    echo "Fix options:"
+    echo "  1) Use an Administrator account and re-run the installer."
+    echo "  2) Ask an Administrator to grant admin rights, then sign out/in:"
+    echo "     sudo dseditgroup -o edit -a ${current_user} -t user admin"
+    echo "Then retry:"
+    echo "  curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash"
+}
+
 install_homebrew() {
     if [[ "$OS" == "macos" ]]; then
         if ! command -v brew &> /dev/null; then
+            if ! is_macos_admin_user; then
+                print_homebrew_admin_fix
+                exit 1
+            fi
             ui_info "Homebrew not found, installing"
             run_quiet_step "Installing Homebrew" run_remote_bash "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh"
 

src/pages/index.astro

@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ const duration2 = (row2.length / 2 * pixelsPerItem) / pixelsPerSecond;
           <div class="switch-placeholder" id="switch-placeholder" aria-hidden="true"></div>
         </div>
         <div id="code-oneliner" class="code-content">
-          <div class="code-line comment" id="oneliner-comment"># Works everywhere. Installs everything. You're welcome. 🦞</div>
+          <div class="code-line comment" id="oneliner-comment"># Works everywhere. On macOS, first run may need an Administrator for Homebrew.</div>
           <div class="code-line cmd">
             <span class="code-prompt">$</span>
             <span class="os-cmd">curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash</span>