The Setup Wizard is a guided, step by step flow that gets your Managed AI Agent ready to work. Instead of hunting for settings across different tabs, you walk through the key configuration in one place: the AI model your agent uses, how it behaves, what it can do, and where you can talk to it.
You can come back to the wizard whenever you want to review or change your setup.
This guide explains what the Setup Wizard covers, how to open it, how to complete or skip each step, and how to reopen it later.
Before You Start
Before opening the Setup Wizard, make sure you have:
An active paid Cloudways account with access to Managed AI Agents.
A Managed AI Agent already deployed on the Cloudways Platform. If you have not deployed one yet, see How to Get Started with Managed AI Agents on Cloudways.
An API key from a supported LLM provider, if you want to connect one during setup.
Access to the messaging app you want to connect, if you plan to set up a channel.
What Does the Setup Wizard Cover?
The Setup Wizard has four steps, always shown in the same order. A step indicator at the top shows where you are and how many steps are left.
Step | What it does |
1. LLM Provider | Connects the AI model your agent uses to think and respond, and lets you select its default model. |
2. Configure Souls | Defines the personality and behavior of your agent using preconfigured Souls. |
3. Configure Skills | Lets you enable or disable Community skills and Cloudways skills. |
4. Channel Connection | Connects the messaging apps where you want to chat with your agent. |
How to Open the Setup Wizard
Step #1. Go to AI Agents
Log in to your Cloudways Platform account.
From the left side navigation menu, click AI Agents under the Cloudways AI section.
This opens the Managed AI Agents page, where all your agents are listed.
Step #2. Find Your Agent
Find the agent you want to set up.
Each agent shows its setup state in the listing, so you can quickly tell which agents are configured.
Step #3. Launch the Wizard
If your agent has not been configured yet, click Setup next to the agent.
If your agent already has an LLM provider connected, the Setup button is no longer shown on the listing. Click the three dot menu next to the agent and select Setup instead.
Note: The wizard only changes the agent you opened it from. Your other agents are not affected.
How to Complete the Setup Wizard
Step #1. Choose Your LLM Provider
An LLM (Large Language Model) is the AI model your agent uses to read your instructions and respond. Your agent cannot process requests until a provider is connected.
Click the provider you want to use. The supported providers are Anthropic, DigitalOcean, Gemini, OpenAI, and OpenRouter.
Paste your API key into the API key field. Click the eye icon if you want to review the key before submitting it.
If you do not have a key yet, click Get API Key to open your provider's website and generate one.
Select the default model your agent should use from the model list for that provider.
Click Next.
Cloudways checks your key with the provider before marking this step as complete. If the key is not accepted, you will see an error under the field and you will not be able to continue until you fix it. You can also leave the field empty and click Skip.
Treat your API key like a password. Do not share it publicly or paste it into public documents, tickets, or screenshots.
Important: LLM usage is billed directly by your provider and is separate from your Cloudways subscription. You are responsible for monitoring your API usage and any costs from your provider.
Important: Treat your API key like a password. Do not share it publicly or paste it into public documents, tickets, or screenshots.
Step #2. Configure Souls
A Soul is a set of instructions that describes who your agent is and how it should behave, such as its tone, role, and priorities. If you do not choose one, your agent keeps its default behavior.
Browse the preconfigured Souls and select one or more that fit how you want your agent to behave.
If you want more control, customize the Soul to match your needs, such as adjusting its tone, role, or priorities.
Click Next.
If you do not select anything, your agent stays on its default behavior and this step is marked Skipped
Step #3. Configure Skills
A Skill is an add-on that teaches your agent how to do a specific task. Skills are grouped into two lists. Community skills are shared by the wider agent community, and Cloudways skills are provided and maintained by Cloudways.
Browse the Community and Cloudways (Coming soon) skill lists. They appear as separate groups, and you can choose from each one independently.
Turn on the skills you want your agent to have, and turn off the ones you do not need. This works the same way for both Community skills and Cloudways skills.
Click Next.
You can also continue without changing any skills and update them later.
Step #4. Connect a Channel
A Channel is a messaging app, such as Slack or Telegram, that lets you and your team talk to your agent from the apps you already use.
Select the messaging app you want to connect.
Follow the on-screen instructions for that app.
Repeat for any other channel you want to add. You can connect one, several, or none.
Check the connection status shown next to each channel to confirm it is connected.
Finish Your Setup
Once you are done with the last step, save your setup. Your configuration is applied to the agent right away, and you do not need to reinstall or redeploy anything.
How to Update Your Setup Later
You can reopen the Setup Wizard whenever you want to review or change your configuration.
Go to AI Agents and find your agent.
Click Setup, or open the three dot menu and select Setup if an LLM provider is already connected.
The wizard opens with all your saved values already filled in.
Troubleshooting
I cannot find the Setup button on my agent
Once an LLM provider is saved, the Setup button is removed from the listing. Click the three dot menu next to your agent and select Setup.
The Next button is not clickable
One of the fields on the current step has invalid input. Fix the error shown under the field, or clear the field and click Skip.
My API key is not accepted
Check that the key was copied in full, with no extra spaces before or after it. Also confirm on your provider's website that the key is active and has usage credits available. If needed, generate a new key and try again.
My agent is not responding after setup
Confirm that the LLM Provider step shows Complete. If it shows Skipped or Incomplete, reopen the wizard and add a valid API key.
My changes are not showing
Reopen the wizard and check that the step shows Complete. Only steps with input are saved, so a skipped step will not change your agent.
I want to change only one thing
Reopen the wizard, update that one step, and save. Your other steps are left untouched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to complete every step?
No. Every step is optional. You can skip any step and finish it later.
Will the wizard overwrite my existing settings?
No. The wizard opens with your saved values prefilled, and only the steps you update are changed.
Does setting up one agent affect my other agents?
No. The wizard applies only to the agent you opened it from.
Do I need to reinstall my agent after changing my setup?
No. Changes take effect without reinstalling or redeploying your agent.
What happens if I close the wizard halfway?
Whatever you already saved is kept. You can reopen the wizard and continue from where you left off.
Can I use the wizard on both OpenClaw and Hermes agents?
Yes. The wizard is available for Managed AI Agents. Labels or options may differ slightly between agents.
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Need More Help?
If you get stuck, reach out to our support team via chat. You can also learn from and share tips with other users in our communities.
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