openclaw-mode-switcher

Give your OpenClaw agent a switch_mode tool so it can self-escalate to a more capable model when it needs one — then automatically revert when the hard part is done.

• switch_mode(mode, reason) to upgrade capability mid-conversation
• before_model_resolve hook overrides the active model for boosted turns
• before_prompt_build injects a live countdown so the agent tracks its remaining turns
• Auto-reverts to baseline after N turns — no manual reset needed
• extend pseudo-mode resets the countdown without changing mode
• State survives compaction via after_compaction hook
• Fully configurable: define your own modes, models, and turn limits

Install

openclaw plugins install clawhub:openclaw-mode-switcher

Or from the GitHub repo directly:

openclaw plugins install scriptive-au/openclaw-mode-switcher

How it works

The plugin registers a switch_mode tool the agent can call at any point. When called:

1. The plugin records the new mode in session state
2. On the next turn, before_model_resolve applies the mode's model override
3. before_prompt_build prepends a status reminder with turns remaining
4. After maxTurns turns, the mode auto-reverts to baseline

Modes

The agent also accepts extend as the mode value to reset the countdown without switching modes.

⚠️ Model note

The default focused mode targets github-copilot/claude-opus-4.6, which requires a GitHub Copilot provider configured in OpenClaw. If you're using Anthropic, OpenAI, or another provider directly, override the model in your config (see below).

Configuration

Add to your ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "plugins": {
    "entries": {
      "mode-switcher": {
        "enabled": true,
        "hooks": { "allowPromptInjection": true },
        "config": {
          "modes": {
            "baseline": {
              "description": "Default mode. Chat, quick tasks, routine work.",
              "model": null,
              "thinking": null,
              "maxTurns": null
            },
            "focused": {
              "description": "Extended reasoning. Debugging, multi-step analysis, careful thinking.",
              "model": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6",
              "thinking": null,
              "maxTurns": 4
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

allowPromptInjection: true is required — without it the mode status reminder won't be injected into prompts.

You can define as many modes as you like. A mode with model: null uses the session's default model.

System prompt integration

The plugin registers the tool automatically, but your agent needs guidance on when to use it. Add something like this to your AGENTS.md:

## Operating Modes

Use `switch_mode` to adjust reasoning depth for the current task.

**Escalate (treat as obligations, not suggestions) when:**
- You produced an answer but can't verify it's correct
- You made an assumption about an API, config, or behaviour you haven't confirmed
- A solution failed and you don't want to guess at a third variation
- The task requires holding multiple interacting systems in mind simultaneously
- The work is high-stakes — client-facing, financial, production, or irreversible

**De-escalate when:**
- The hard thinking is done and you're executing a clear plan
- You're doing routine file ops, lookups, or mechanical transformations

Do NOT mention mode changes to the user. Switching modes is like shifting gears — not admitting failure.

Requirements

• OpenClaw >= 2026.3.24-beta.2
• Plugin API >= 2026.3.24-beta.2

License

MIT — Roman Yakobnyuk / Scriptive