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Checked on Hermes Agent v0.22.5 · Oct 25, 2026

Install Hermes Agent: every path, every command

The install itself takes a few minutes. Plan about half an hour until your model and first messenger are running.

Which path fits you?

You just want to get started on Windows or Mac Desktop app Linux, Mac or Windows with WSL2, happy in a terminal Terminal install Windows without WSL Native Windows (PowerShell) Hermes should run 24/7, including Telegram and co. Server or VPS You work with containers anyway Docker

1. Desktop app (Windows and Mac)

Download the package from hermes-agent.nousresearch.com. It contains the agent, Python and all dependencies; nothing is built on first launch.

  • ✓Windows: open the .appinstaller file. Windows installs the signed package and keeps it updated.
  • ✓Mac: open the DMG and drag Hermes.app into Applications. Apple Silicon only (M1 and newer).

Already installed Hermes in the terminal? Start the app with:

$ hermes desktop

2. Terminal: Linux, Mac and WSL2

One command. The installer fetches the code, brings its own Python (currently 3.14) and creates the hermes command. All you need is Git, curl and tar.

$ curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/install.sh | bash

Then reload your shell and start:

$ source ~/.bashrc
$ hermes

Ubuntu, Debian and other distributions work the same way. If a minimal system lacks the libatomic library, the installer adds it and asks for your sudo password once.

3. Native Windows (PowerShell)

No WSL, straight in PowerShell. If Git is missing, the installer brings its own copy.

PS> iex (irm https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/install.ps1)

Native or WSL2? Native is simpler. WSL2 pays off if you already work with Linux tools.

4. Server or VPS: Hermes around the clock

For Hermes to work at night and answer on Telegram, it needs a machine that is always on. The install is the same as on Linux. Three things make the difference:

  1. Connect via SSH, not your host's browser console. It alters characters when pasting and silently breaks commands.
  2. Install as a dedicated user that Hermes will run under, not as root.
  3. Keep the service running after you log out: set up messengers, install the gateway as a background service, check its status.
$ sudo loginctl enable-linger YOUR_USER
$ hermes gateway setup
$ hermes gateway install
$ hermes gateway status

Proxmox: a VM or an LXC container with Debian or Ubuntu, then the normal Linux install inside it.

5. Docker

The official image is nousresearch/hermes-agent. All data (settings, keys, chats, skills) lives in one folder that you mount at /opt/data. Set up first, then run it permanently:

$ mkdir -p ~/.hermes && docker run -it --rm -v ~/.hermes:/opt/data nousresearch/hermes-agent setup
$ docker run -d --name hermes --restart unless-stopped -v ~/.hermes:/opt/data nousresearch/hermes-agent gateway run

Update the container with docker pull nousresearch/hermes-agent:latest and a restart, not with hermes update. The desktop app is not part of the image.

After installing: set it up

These four commands are all you need at the start. The first one does almost everything at once.

$ hermes setup

The setup wizard: model, tools and messengers in one pass.

$ hermes model

Pick a model and provider, or switch later.

$ hermes gateway setup

Connect Telegram, WhatsApp, Slack or other messengers.

$ hermes doctor

Health check: shows what is missing and how to fix it.

Shortcut: hermes setup --portal signs you in to Nous Portal, where one subscription covers many models plus web search, images and text-to-speech. Check the portal's privacy terms before using it with company data.

When something goes wrong

hermes: command not found Reload your shell with source ~/.bashrc (or ~/.zshrc) or open a new terminal.
API key not set Set up a provider with hermes model.
Settings missing after an update Run hermes config check, then hermes config migrate.
Commands arrive garbled on the server Don't use your host's browser console; connect via SSH. Browser consoles alter characters such as : or @ when pasting.

Update later with hermes update. Coming from OpenClaw? Read the comparison with migration guide.

Rather have it set up?

We install Hermes as B.R.A.I.N. for your business: on managed hosting at Mittwald in Germany, with your email, calendar and knowledge. The server belongs to you.

See B.R.A.I.N.

FAQ

How do I install Hermes Agent?

The easiest way is the desktop app from the Hermes website (Windows and Mac). In a terminal on Linux, Mac or WSL2, one command is enough: curl -fsSL https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/install.sh | bash. Then run hermes setup to configure model and messengers.

Does Hermes Agent run on Windows?

Yes, in two ways: natively with the desktop app or the PowerShell command iex (irm https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/install.ps1), or inside WSL2 with the Linux install. WSL2 makes sense if you already work with Linux tools.

Does Hermes Agent run on an Intel Mac?

No. On macOS, Hermes supports Apple Silicon only (M1 and newer). According to the documentation, Intel Macs are not a supported platform.

Do I need to install Python myself?

No. The installer brings its own pinned Python (currently 3.14) plus Node.js, ripgrep and FFmpeg. For the terminal install you only need Git, curl and tar on your machine.

Can I install Hermes Agent on Proxmox?

Yes, in a Linux VM or an LXC container running Debian or Ubuntu. Inside it, use the normal terminal install or Docker. There is no separate Proxmox path, and none is needed.

As of Oct 25, 2026, Hermes Agent v0.22.5. Source: official documentation at hermes-agent.nousresearch.com. Unofficial, not sponsored by Nous Research. Back to the Hermes guide