Hermes: frequently asked questions¶
Short answers about the Hermes agent. Each answer links to the guide that explains it step by step. For general questions (plans, billing, data), see AI Agents: frequently asked questions.
Getting started¶
Which AI providers can Hermes use?
In the client area Settings tab you can choose Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI or OpenRouter as the Provider. Our guide uses Claude; the others work the same way in Settings.
More: Connect Hermes to Claude.
Where do I put my AI key?
The easiest place is the client area: your agent → Settings tab → Provider and API key → Save and apply. You can also set it inside the agent, but use one place only: whatever is filled in Settings is applied again every time you click Save and apply, and it wins.
More: Connect Hermes to Claude.
The key field is empty after I saved it. Did it work?
Yes, that is normal. For safety the client area does not show the key back to you. To check, open the dashboard and click Models: MAIN MODEL shows the provider and model.
More: Connect Hermes to Claude.
How do I open the Hermes dashboard?
In the client area, open your agent and click Open dashboard (in the Manage agent tab or in the ACTIONS menu). It signs you in directly.
The dashboard asks me for a username and password
The dashboard sign-in is cleared every time the agent restarts, for example after Save and apply. Go back to the client area and click Open dashboard again.
More: The dashboard does not open.
Talking to Hermes¶
How can I talk to Hermes?
- In the browser: the dashboard Chat page. See Chat with Hermes in the dashboard.
- On WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord.
- From the terminal, with the
hermescommand. See Use Hermes from the terminal.
Can I use my personal WhatsApp number?
We do not recommend it. Hermes connects through WhatsApp's linked-devices feature, which is not an official WhatsApp integration for bots. WhatsApp can restrict or ban numbers that behave like bots. Use a spare SIM or a new number with WhatsApp Business.
More: Connect Hermes to WhatsApp.
Can strangers talk to my agent?
No. By default Hermes does not answer people it does not know. On WhatsApp and Telegram, a new person gets a pairing code and you approve them in Pairing. The code is valid for one hour. On Discord, you list the allowed user IDs.
I approved someone, but Hermes still asks them for a code
The approval is per channel: if the person writes on WhatsApp and on Telegram, approve both requests. Messages sent before the approval are not answered, so ask them to send their message again.
My Discord bot is online but never answers
Your Discord user ID is not in ALLOWED DISCORD USER IDS. With no allowed IDs, Hermes ignores all Discord messages. Add your ID in Channels → Discord → CONFIGURE, click SAVE & ENABLE and restart the gateway.
More: Connect Hermes to Discord.
Can I use the same Telegram bot on two agents?
No. Telegram delivers a bot's messages to one program only. Create one bot per agent.
More: Connect Hermes to Telegram.
Models and costs¶
How do I switch to a cheaper model?
In the dashboard, click MODELS → CHANGE, pick the model (for example a Haiku model) and click Switch. The change applies to new chats; click New chat to use it.
Do scheduled tasks cost money?
Each run uses your AI provider, like a normal conversation. A short job is cheap; a job that runs every few minutes is not. Choose a sensible frequency.
More: Schedule a recurring task and How much will the AI cost me?
Memory, skills and schedules¶
Does Hermes remember me between conversations?
Yes. Hermes keeps short facts in its memory and loads them into every conversation. Say "remember this: …" to add a fact, and ask it to forget anything you do not want it to keep. SYSTEM → Memory has Reset buttons that empty the memory (this cannot be undone).
How do I teach Hermes how I like things done?
Create a skill: in the dashboard, SKILLS → Learn a skill, describe the task and the rules in plain words, and click Learn it. Hermes then uses it whenever the task comes up.
More: Teach Hermes a skill.
My skill changed on its own
Hermes can update skills while it works, and a skill curator reviews them once a week. If you do not want a change, edit the skill back.
More: Teach Hermes a skill.
My scheduled task ran, but I received nothing
No home channel is set for that app. Send /sethome in the chat where you want the results, then click Trigger now on the CRON page to test.
More: Schedule a recurring task.
Backups, files and problems¶
How do I back up Hermes?
In the dashboard, SYSTEM → Operations → FULL BACKUP: click Create backup, then Download backup. The .zip file contains your AI key, bot tokens and the WhatsApp session, so keep it safe. To restore a backup, open a ticket and we will help you.
More: Back up your Hermes agent.
Where should I keep my files?
In /opt/data (shortcut ~/hermes). Only this folder is kept when the agent is updated or its settings are saved.
How do I see what went wrong?
In the dashboard, click LOGS and choose ERRORS. The guide explains the most common messages (AI key, credit, memory, Telegram, Discord).
More: Read Hermes' logs.
The logs say memory is running low
Messages such as system memory pressure is elevated or event loop stalled mean the server is running out of memory. Restart the agent (client area → Manage agent → Restart). If it happens often, a bigger plan helps.
More: Read Hermes' logs and Change your plan.
Hermes stopped answering
Check your AI provider's credit and key, check that the agent is Up in Manage agent, then Restart.
More: My agent stopped answering.