kernel-auth

name	kernel-auth
description	Setup and manage Kernel authentication connections for any website (Gmail, GitHub, Outlook, or custom domains). Handles managed auth flows with automatic reauthentication support.
metadata	{"openclaw":{"requires":{"bins":["kernel"]}}}

Kernel Auth Skill

Setup and manage Kernel managed authentication connections for any website with safety checks and reauthentication support.

Quick Start

kernel-auth setup gmail

Then visit the URL printed to complete login.

Works for any website — See Using Custom Domains for any other site.

Usage

kernel-auth setup <service> [--profile-name <name>]

Built-in Services

• gmail → gmail.com
• github → github.com
• outlook → outlook.com

Using Custom Domains

For any other website, use the --domain flag:

kernel-auth setup --domain amazon.com --profile-name amazon-main
kernel-auth setup --domain linkedin.com
kernel-auth setup --domain example.com --profile-name custom-site

Examples

kernel-auth setup gmail
kernel-auth setup github --profile-name github-work
kernel-auth setup outlook

Authentication Flow

1. Create auth connection — Sets up a managed auth profile (domain + profile name)
2. Initiate login session — Generates a hosted login URL
3. You visit URL — Complete the login flow on your device/browser
4. Login state stored in profile — Kernel saves your authenticated session
5. Use authenticated browser — Create browser sessions with that profile, automatically logged in

Key Concepts

Auth Connections

• Each connection ties a service domain to a profile name
• Connections can be reused for multiple browser sessions
• Status: AUTHENTICATED (user completed login, state stored) or NEEDS_AUTH (never logged in or login session expired)

Login Sessions

• Login sessions (the hosted URL) expire after a generous timeframe as cleanup
• If you don't complete login within that window, the session is deleted
• The connection itself stays — just initiate a new login session

Check connection status:

kernel auth connections list  # Check status
kernel auth connections get <id>  # Get connection details

If a connection shows NEEDS_AUTH:

kernel-auth setup <service>  # Re-initiate login session with fresh URL

Why Manual URL Visit?

• Login sessions are time-bound — If you don't visit within the window, they expire (cleanup)
• Prevent auto-opening — Avoid Telegram/email clients accidentally consuming the link
• Control is yours — You visit the URL when you're ready

Checking Status

# List all auth connections
kernel auth connections list -o json

# Check specific connection
kernel auth connections get <connection-id> -o json | jq '.status'

Using Authenticated Browsers

Once auth is connected, create browser sessions with that profile:

# Create browser with Gmail auth already loaded
kernel browser create --profile-name gmail-main --stealth -o json

# Browser will be logged into Gmail automatically

Important Notes

⚠️ Profile Deletion = Cascade Delete

Deleting a Kernel profile deletes ALL connections attached to it:

kernel profile delete gmail-main  # Deletes ALL gmail-main connections

Use sparingly. Better to refresh auth than delete and recreate.

🔗 Telegram & Link Previews

If you send auth URLs via Telegram, disable link previews in settings:

• Settings → Privacy & Security → Link Preview → Never show

Otherwise Telegram auto-opens the URL and consumes the code.

🌐 Network Requirements

Kernel auth requires:

• Outbound HTTPS to Kernel's managed auth service
• Browser with JavaScript enabled
• Cookie/session storage support

Scripts

• setup — Create connection, generate login URL, display instructions
• No background watchers — You control when/if you visit the URL

Troubleshooting

"Code already used"

The auth code was consumed. This happens if:

• You visited the URL twice
• Telegram/email client auto-opened it
• Someone else completed the login first

Solution: Run kernel-auth setup <service> again to get a fresh code.

"Code expired"

Codes expire after ~40 minutes. Re-run setup to generate a new one.

"Connection not found"

The connection may have been deleted. Run setup again to create it.

Auth Status is NEEDS_AUTH

You didn't complete the login within the session window, or you need to re-authenticate. Re-initiate login:

kernel-auth setup gmail

Integration with OpenClaw

The auth skill integrates with OpenClaw cron jobs:

1. Cron job checks auth status before running
2. If AUTHENTICATED, proceeds with browser automation
3. If not, sends message requesting reauthentication
4. User confirms, system re-runs auth flow

Example from GMAIL_DAILY_WORKFLOW.md:

# Daily cron checks this before scraping
AUTH_STATUS=$(kernel auth connections list -o json | jq -r ".[] | select(.domain == \"gmail.com\") | .status")
if [ "$AUTH_STATUS" != "AUTHENTICATED" ]; then
  echo "Reauthentication needed"
  exit 1
fi

Advanced

Programmatic Auth Check

# Get auth status
kernel auth connections list -o json | jq '.[] | {id, status, domain}'

# Delete and recreate
kernel profile delete gmail-main --yes
kernel-auth setup gmail

Multiple Accounts

Create separate profiles for each account:

kernel-auth setup gmail --profile-name gmail-personal
kernel-auth setup gmail --profile-name gmail-work

Then use the appropriate profile when creating browsers:

kernel browser create --profile-name gmail-work --stealth