OpenClaw Proxy Series (2): How to fix `web_search` `fetch failed` (2026 Guide)

Use this guide if OpenClaw has proxy configured but web_search / web_fetch still returns fetch failed.

This article is written as an operator runbook:

• restore service first
• identify root cause second
• harden for long-term stability third

1) Symptoms checklist

You are likely in the same failure class if:

• web_search intermittently or continuously returns fetch failed
• web_fetch is also unstable
• chat channels (Telegram/QQ) look online, but web retrieval is broken
• behavior appears inconsistent on the same host

2) 5-minute mitigation (stop user impact first)

Before deep debugging:

1. Keep primary path: web_search
2. Add fallback path: browser-based search on failure
3. Standardize user output:
   • cause
   • recovery action already taken
   • whether manual intervention is required

This prevents raw fetch failed messages from reaching end users.

3) Standard troubleshooting sequence

Step 1: Confirm service health

openclaw status
openclaw gateway status

Step 2: Separate API outage from runtime-path issues

Run side-by-side checks on the same host:

• Python requests to target API (e.g., Brave)
• OpenClaw web_search to same target

If Python works but web_search fails, suspect: Node fetch/undici + proxy runtime path.

Step 3: Inspect systemd proxy environment

systemctl --user cat openclaw-gateway.service

Verify at minimum:

• HTTP_PROXY
• HTTPS_PROXY
• ALL_PROXY
• NO_PROXY

Step 4: Apply high-probability fix

Add this to service env:

Environment="NODE_USE_ENV_PROXY=1"

Example drop-in file (~/.config/systemd/user/openclaw-gateway.service.d/proxy.conf):

[Service]
Environment="HTTP_PROXY=http://192.168.136.1:8016"
Environment="HTTPS_PROXY=http://192.168.136.1:8016"
Environment="ALL_PROXY=http://192.168.136.1:8016"
Environment="NO_PROXY=127.0.0.1,localhost,::1"
Environment="NODE_USE_ENV_PROXY=1"

Reload + restart:

systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user restart openclaw-gateway.service

Step 5: Regression verification

openclaw status
# then run a real web_search request

Pass criteria:

• web_search consistently returns results
• no repeated fetch failed bursts

4) Root cause summary

In this failure pattern, the issue is often not API key/DNS/provider downtime.

If you want the broader context for why OpenClaw has been steadily refining Brave search reliability, proxy behavior, and evidence-oriented retrieval, read: What Actually Matters in OpenClaw 2026.3.8: Backup CLI and Brave LLM Context

Typical root cause:

OpenClaw web tools use Node fetch (undici). In some runtime setups, proxy env vars alone are not enough; NODE_USE_ENV_PROXY=1 is required so Node fetch consistently honors proxy routing.

5) Hardening recommendations

1. Fallback by default: web_search → browser search on failure
2. No raw errors to users: always return diagnosis + recovery status
3. Daily health checks: gateway + recent fetch failures
4. Change tracking: log every proxy/systemd adjustment

6) FAQ

Q1: I already set HTTP_PROXY. Why does it still fail?

A: Verify NODE_USE_ENV_PROXY=1 is set and service has been reloaded/restarted.

Q2: Why is Telegram online while search is broken?

A: Channel connectivity and web retrieval are separate paths; test them independently.

Q3: What if failures still occur occasionally?

A: Keep browser fallback enabled and add retry/backoff, instead of exposing transient failures directly.

Related guides

• OpenClaw Telegram Bot Online but Not Replying: Webhook, 409 Conflict, and Permission Fix Checklist (2026)
• OpenClaw Log Troubleshooting Guide
• OpenClaw Model Fallback Strategy