Kimi K2.5 being usable for free inside OpenClaw is a genuine shift: strong reasoning with low cost means everyday automation becomes viable for more builders. This guide combines field notes and practical setup steps so you can connect K2.5 and ship dependable outcomes fast.
Why Kimi K2.5 Matters
Premium Quality
K2.5 brings reliable reasoning and instruction following—good enough for repeatable Skills, not just one‑off prompts.
Free Access
Zero‑cost usage unlocks high‑volume workflows like bulk document processing, research briefs, and automation pipelines.
Agent Reliability
In OpenClaw, K2.5 pairs with Skills and approvals, making robust tool‑use reliable enough for day‑to‑day operations.
Connection Options
OpenClaw is model‑agnostic. You can connect Kimi K2.5 via cloud API when available, or via local runtime when supported by your toolchain. Use whichever path matches your privacy and cost needs.
Cloud API
Use the provider’s API key or OAuth flow to add K2.5 in the dashboard. Ideal for fastest start and minimal local setup.
Local Runtime
When a local distribution exists or an Ollama recipe is available, you can route sensitive data locally and keep costs predictable.
Step‑by‑Step: Connect Kimi K2.5
Dashboard Path
- Install OpenClaw and open the Control UI dashboard on your gateway host.
- Go to Models and add Kimi K2.5 via API key or provider auth flow.
- Set K2.5 as default for your target workflows, or route per Skill.
- Run a small smoke test: a structured Skill with tool use and a file write.
Local Path
- Ensure your local runtime supports the K2.5 weights or an equivalent recipe.
- Configure the OpenClaw gateway to point at your local inference endpoint.
- Tune context length for your use case and enable approvals for tool operations.
- Run longer sessions to validate reliability—monitor logs and audit trails.
Cost & Reliability Playbook
- Batch work with K2.5 when quality is sufficient, and reserve premium clouds for the hardest tasks.
- Use Skills for repeatability: clear inputs, outputs, and approvals—fewer retries, fewer surprises.
- Log tool invocations and outbound requests; review anomalies regularly to maintain trust.
Security Notes
OpenClaw grants the agent power—shell, filesystem, network—so treat K2.5 like any strong model: run in an isolated environment, keep approvals on, and rotate credentials when you change providers or suspect compromise.
Video
This video walks through OpenClaw + Ollama + Kimi K2.5 and demonstrates why the combo is compelling: powerful, reliable, and free. It shows real workflows, not just chat—so you can see how to set up the stack, run agent tasks, and keep the system stable over longer sessions.