Download and Install Hermes Agent on Windows (Desktop / PowerShell / WSL2)

Windows users have three official paths: the Desktop installer (easiest), a native PowerShell one-liner, or WSL2 for a full Linux toolchain.

Who this is for：Windows 10/11 users. Beginners: pick Desktop. Engineers: pick WSL2.

Steps

  1. Option 1: Official Desktop installer (recommended)

    Download the Hermes Desktop installer from the official site and run it; dependencies are handled automatically.

  2. Option 2: Native PowerShell

    Open PowerShell and run the official native install command.

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

  3. Option 3: WSL2 (full Linux environment)

    Inside your WSL2 Linux shell, use the same official command as Linux. See the WSL2 guide for details.

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

  4. Reload your shell and start

    Reload the shell or open a new window, then run hermes.

    hermes

  5. Configure a model provider

    On first start, choose an LLM provider and set an API key.

    hermes model

How to verify

FAQ

Gateway keeps disconnecting in WSL2?

The official FAQ notes systemd is unreliable in WSL. Use foreground mode: hermes gateway run, or keep it alive with tmux new -s hermes 'hermes gateway run'.

Control Windows Chrome from Hermes in WSL2?

Officially recommended: run Hermes in WSL2 and use chrome-devtools-mcp as an MCP server instead of /browser connect.

Native PowerShell or WSL2?

For chat and basic automation, native or Desktop is enough; for heavy Linux toolchain workflows, WSL2 is the common recommendation.

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