How to Install Hermes Agent: Complete Guide for All Platforms

Prerequisites

Before installing Hermes Agent, make sure your system meets these requirements:

• Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 11+), macOS 12+, WSL2, or Android Termux
• Node.js: v18 or higher
• Git: latest version
• An AI API key: OpenRouter, OpenAI, Anthropic, or any OpenAI-compatible provider

Tip: Don't have an API key yet? We recommend OpenRouter — it gives you access to 200+ models with a single key.

Quick Install (Recommended)

The fastest way to get Hermes Agent running:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/main/install.sh | bash

This script will:

Check your system requirements

Install Hermes Agent globally

Create a default configuration

Run the initial setup wizard

After installation, verify it's working:

hermes --version
# Expected output: hermes-agent v0.8.x

Manual Installation

If you prefer manual installation or the quick script didn't work:

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent.git
cd hermes-agent

Step 2: Install Dependencies

npm install

Step 3: Configure Your API Key

Create a .env file in the project root:

cp .env.example .env

Edit .env and add your API key:

OPENROUTER_API_KEY=sk-your-api-key-here
DEFAULT_MODEL=anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet

Step 4: Start Hermes

npm start

You should see:

🚀 Hermes Agent is active and ready.
Type your message or use /help for commands.

Platform-Specific Notes

macOS

On macOS, you may need to install Xcode Command Line Tools first:

xcode-select --install

WSL2 (Windows)

Make sure you're using WSL2, not WSL1:

wsl --set-default-version 2

Then follow the Linux installation steps inside your WSL2 terminal.

Android Termux

pkg install nodejs git

Then follow the manual installation steps.

Troubleshooting

Error: "Permission denied"

chmod +x install.sh
sudo ./install.sh

Error: "Node.js version too old"

Update Node.js using nvm:

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
nvm install 18
nvm use 18

Error: "API key invalid"

Double-check your API key in .env. Make sure there are no extra spaces or quotes.

Next Steps

Now that Hermes is installed, you're ready to:

• Have your first conversation — Learn the basics of chatting with Hermes
• Choose the right AI model — Compare models and optimize for your use case
• Master CLI commands — Essential commands every user should know

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Last updated: April 15, 2026 · Hermes Agent v0.8