How to fix: API key not set / invalid API key
For API key not set, run hermes model to reconfigure, or hermes config set OPENROUTER_API_KEY your_key. Invalid keys usually mean the key doesn't match the provider.
Who this is for：Anyone stuck at model setup or failing after switching providers.
Steps
-
Reconfigure the provider
hermes model -
Or set the key directly
hermes config set OPENROUTER_API_KEY your_key -
Inspect current settings
hermes config show -
Config missing after an update?
hermes config check hermes config migrate
How to verify
- hermes config show shows the right provider
- Chat replies normally
FAQ
The key is correct but still fails?
Official FAQ: keys must match the provider. An OpenAI key does not work with OpenRouter and vice versa.
Model not available?
List models with hermes model, or pin one: hermes config set HERMES_MODEL anthropic/claude-opus-4.7.
Related pages
- Download and Install Hermes Agent on macOS
- Download and Install Hermes Agent on Windows (Desktop / PowerShell / WSL2)
- Download and Install Hermes Agent on Linux
- Install Hermes Agent on WSL2 (Advanced Windows Path)
- Hermes Agent Model Provider and API Key Setup
- Migrate from OpenClaw to Hermes Agent (official hermes claw migrate)
- How to fix: hermes: command not found
- How to fix: Hermes requires Python 3.11 or newer
- How to fix: context length exceeded
- Telegram + Hermes Agent: Known Pitfalls and Fixes
- Curated official issues
- School solution cards