Desktop Guide

Hermes Agent Bot Mode: Local Desktop, Remote Brain

Q: What is Hermes Agent Bot Mode?

Hermes Agent Bot Mode is a workflow in the official Hermes Desktop application.

Q: Does Bot Mode run inside a hosted Hermes container?

No. Bot Mode runs in Hermes Desktop, while a hosted Hermes gateway can provide its remote backend.

Q: Can I close my laptop and keep the agent online?

A hosted backend remains online when the laptop is closed, while the local desktop interface reconnects later.

Bot Mode lives in the official Hermes Desktop app. Pair it with a remote Hermes gateway when you want the native desktop workflow and an agent that stays online after your laptop closes.

The important architecture

There are two separate pieces: the Hermes Desktop app, where Bot Mode is presented, and the Hermes gateway, which holds the running agent. They can live on the same computer, or Desktop can connect to a gateway running elsewhere.

Hermes Desktop (Bot Mode UI)
        │ HTTPS + authenticated WebSocket
        ▼
Hermes gateway (local, SSH, or hosted)

Do not confuse the two: current hosted Hermes containers do not load the Electron-only Bot Mode plugin. The supported hosted workflow is Desktop-to-remote-gateway.

Option 1: run everything locally

Install the official Hermes Desktop app for macOS or Windows.
Choose the default local gateway during setup.
Configure your model provider and open Bot Mode in the app.
Keep the computer awake whenever you need the agent available.

This is the simplest route for trying Bot Mode. It also keeps the gateway and desktop interface on one machine, but the bot stops being reachable when that machine sleeps or disconnects.

Option 2: connect Bot Mode to a hosted gateway

Deploy a Hermes Agent instance and open its card in the OpenClaw Launch dashboard.
Click Hermes Desktop and copy the Remote URL, username, and connection password.
In Hermes Desktop, open Settings → Gateway → Connection mode and choose Remote gateway.
Paste the Remote URL, save, then sign in with the username and password from the dashboard.
Open Bot Mode. Desktop is now the interface; the hosted gateway remains the running backend.

The connection password is scoped to one instance and expires. Generate or copy a fresh credential from the dashboard if Desktop later rejects it. The Remote URL is meant for the app; seeing a private-dashboard notice in a normal browser is expected.

What keeps working when Desktop is closed?

Capability	Local gateway	Hosted gateway
Bot Mode window	Only while Desktop is open	Only while Desktop is open
Agent process	Stops when the machine sleeps	Runs 24/7
Remote channels	Depend on the local machine	Stay connected
Maintenance	You manage the machine	Managed service

Troubleshooting

Private dashboard message in a browser: expected. Connect through Hermes Desktop.
Authentication fails: recopy all three values from the same instance; the credential may have expired.
Bot Mode is missing on the server: expected. It is a Desktop feature, not a container command.
Messages stop when the laptop closes: verify Desktop is attached to the remote gateway rather than its default local gateway.

For installer details and all connection modes, see the full Hermes Desktop guide.

Hermes Bot Mode FAQ

What is Hermes Agent Bot Mode?

Bot Mode is a workflow in the official Hermes Desktop app for operating a Hermes-powered bot through a native desktop interface.

Does Bot Mode run inside a hosted Hermes container?

No. The Bot Mode interface and plugin run in Hermes Desktop. A hosted Hermes gateway can supply the always-on backend that the desktop app connects to.

Can I close my laptop and keep the agent online?

Yes, if the backend is hosted. The remote gateway continues running, but the local Bot Mode window is unavailable until your desktop app reconnects.