Hermes Agent OS on Windows works — Hermes and the Agent OS are cross-platform, so you're not limited to a Mac. Here's how to run the Hermes Agent OS on Windows, the few things to watch for, and the easiest way to get it running.
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Does Hermes Agent OS Work On Windows?
Yes. Hermes (from Nous Research) runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, and the Agent OS dashboard runs in your browser, so it works on Windows just as it does on a Mac. Most video tutorials happen to use a Mac, but nothing about the system is Mac-only.
How To Run Hermes Agent OS On Windows
- Open a terminal — PowerShell or Windows Terminal, or WSL if you prefer a Linux-style environment.
- Install Hermes with the one-line command from its GitHub.
- Pick a model (Grok via OAuth for free, a free API, or a local model) and open the Agent OS dashboard in your browser.
For what you need before you start, see our Hermes Agent OS requirements guide.
Windows-Specific Tips
A few things make Windows smoother: use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) if a tool expects a Unix-style shell; be mindful of file paths (Windows uses backslashes); and if you plan to run local models, install the Windows build of Ollama. Otherwise the experience is the same as on a Mac.
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Windows vs Mac For Hermes
There's no meaningful difference in what Hermes can do on Windows versus Mac — same agent, same models, same Agent OS. The only variations are OS-level (terminal and paths). Use whichever machine you already have.
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The Easiest Way To Run It On Windows
Two shortcuts: run Hermes in the cloud so your operating system barely matters, and get the whole Agent OS pre-built inside the AI Profit Boardroom (zip, video and guide) so Windows setup is handled for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hermes Agent OS run on Windows?
Yes — Hermes and the Agent OS are cross-platform and run on Windows, macOS and Linux. The dashboard runs in your browser and Hermes installs from the terminal.
Do I need WSL to run Hermes on Windows?
Not necessarily, but WSL makes some tools smoother by giving you a Linux-style shell. PowerShell or Windows Terminal work for most setups.
Is Hermes better on Mac or Windows?
There's no real difference in capability — the same agent and models run on both. Use whichever computer you have, or run it in the cloud so the OS barely matters.
The Bottom Line
Hermes Agent OS on Windows works exactly like it does on a Mac — install from the terminal (WSL optional), pick a model, and run the dashboard in your browser. For the smoothest path, run it in the cloud or get the pre-built Agent OS inside the AI Profit Boardroom.
Going Deeper: The Full Windows Playbook For Hermes Agent OS
The steps above get Hermes running on Windows. This section is for doing it properly — choosing between WSL2 and native Windows, matching your hardware to the right model strategy, fixing the errors Windows users actually hit, and getting more speed from the machine you already own.
WSL2 Vs Native Windows: Which Should You Pick?
There are two ways to run the terminal side of Hermes on Windows, and the right choice depends on how you like to work.
Native Windows means PowerShell or Windows Terminal with no extra layers. It is the simplest route: nothing new to install, fewer moving parts, and your files live exactly where you expect them. If you just want Hermes working today, start here.
WSL2 — Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux — gives you a genuine Linux environment inside Windows. Its advantage is compatibility. Most agent tooling is written Unix-first, most tutorials assume a Unix-style shell, and commands copied from a Mac-based video usually run unchanged in WSL2. The trade-offs: one extra install, a second file system to think about, and some memory reserved in the background while it runs.
A sensible rule: start native, and move to WSL2 only if a tool complains about your shell or a tutorial step will not translate. Nothing about Hermes forces either choice — as the guide above says, the agent and the Agent OS dashboard behave the same on both.
Windows Hardware Tiers: Entry, Recommended, Power
Your hardware decides where the model should run — not whether Hermes works at all. Here is how the tiers break down.
| Tier | RAM | CPU | GPU | Storage | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 8GB | Any modern dual-core or better | None needed | A few GB free | Cloud and API models, the full Agent OS dashboard, every skill and workflow |
| Recommended | 16GB | Recent multi-core | Integrated is fine | SSD with tens of GB free | Everything above, plus small local models through Ollama for private, zero-token-cost work |
| Power | 32GB or more | High core count | Dedicated GPU with generous VRAM | Fast NVMe with plenty of space | Large local models (30B and up), several agents running in parallel |
The pattern to remember: cloud and API models make your machine almost irrelevant, and local models through Ollama are the only thing that genuinely demands hardware. Match the model to the machine you own — do not buy a new PC for an agent that would run happily on your current one.
Common Windows Errors And How To Fix Them
- "Command not recognised" straight after installing. The terminal you had open does not know about the new install yet. Close every terminal window, open a fresh one and try again — the PATH refreshes with a new session.
- PowerShell blocks the install script. PowerShell's execution policy can stop downloaded scripts from running. Run the install from Windows Terminal instead, or relax the execution policy for the current session only, then rerun the command.
- Windows Defender or SmartScreen flags the download. New command-line tools with few downloads often trigger a caution screen. Confirm you are installing from the official Hermes GitHub, then choose to allow it.
- Firewall prompt when the dashboard first opens. The Agent OS dashboard is served locally to your browser, so Windows may ask about network access. Allow it on private networks and the dashboard loads normally.
- Strange file errors inside OneDrive folders. Keep your agent workspace out of OneDrive-synced folders. Sync tools can lock files mid-write; a plain folder in your user directory avoids the whole class of problem.
- WSL2 refuses to install. This is usually virtualisation switched off. Enable virtualisation in your BIOS or UEFI settings, run the WSL install command again, and restart when prompted.
- Ollama model downloads stall or fail. Local models are multi-gigabyte files. Check your free disk space first, and use the Windows build of Ollama rather than forcing a Linux build through WSL2 without a reason.
Performance Tuning On Windows
For cloud and API models there is little to tune — the heavy work happens elsewhere. For local models, small changes matter:
- Plug the laptop in and set the power plan to best performance; Windows throttles hard on battery.
- Close memory-hungry apps (and the fifty browser tabs) before a local model session — RAM headroom is what keeps generation smooth.
- Store models on your fastest drive; an SSD noticeably cuts load times.
- If you use WSL2 and it holds too much memory, cap it in the WSL configuration file so Windows and the model are not fighting over RAM.
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More Windows Questions, Answered
Does Hermes run on Windows 10 or only Windows 11?
Both. Hermes is cross-platform, and any reasonably up-to-date Windows 10 or 11 machine can run the CLI and open the dashboard. WSL2 is available on current versions of both if you want the Linux route.
Do I need a GPU on Windows?
Only for local models. Cloud and API models do all their computing off your machine, so integrated graphics are completely fine.
Does WSL2 make Hermes slower?
Not meaningfully for this kind of work. The model — local or remote — dominates the time taken; the shell layer is a rounding error.
If I use WSL2, where should my files live?
Keep your working folder inside the Linux file system. Reaching across from WSL2 into Windows folders works, but it is slower and occasionally flaky with file-watching tools.
Can I switch from native Windows to WSL2 later?
Yes, painlessly. Skills, memory files and workspace folders are just files — copy them across, reinstall the CLI in WSL2, and carry on where you left off.
The Windows Takeaway
Windows is a first-class home for the Hermes Agent OS. Start native for simplicity, adopt WSL2 if your tooling asks for it, size local models to your RAM tier, and let cloud or API models carry everything your hardware cannot. The system runs the same either way — so pick the path of least friction and get building.
