Hermes Agent 0.22.0 adds guided setup, connectors, and local models

What changed

The v0.22.0 notes call this the Threshold release and date it October 13, 2026. GitHub published the tag at 2026-10-14T03:21:46Z. The notes say it fully documents the v0.21.1 through v0.21.7 patches, and they count the window since v0.21.0 at about 24,200 commits, 6,080 merged pull requests, and about 2,520 contributors.

What they lead with:

• Setup chat. A desktop install on a computer that has never run Hermes starts a short chat instead of a settings screen. It asks your name, an accent color, a layout, which apps to connect, and which plugins to install, then offers up to four first tasks. It runs on a free trial model, nous/welcome, once per OS user, so it does not need an API key. Skip setup ends it. Settings, then Run onboarding again, brings it back.
• Connectors. The agent can act in hosted apps such as Linear and Notion through the Nous tool gateway. You sign in once in the browser. The first time you use an app, Hermes creates a free connectors-only identity. You do not need a Nous account to start. Desktop puts hosted apps and your MCP servers on one Connectors page. Several named accounts of one app are supported, managed with /connectors or hermes connectors.
• Local models. Hermes can install and run llama.cpp for your hardware (CPU, CUDA, Metal, Vulkan, or ROCm), rate catalog models against your GPU and RAM, and run them with no account and no API key. The catalog named in the notes includes Qwen3.8 27B, Qwen3.8 Flash Next, Qwen3.6 35B-A3B, DeepSeek V4 Flash, and any GGUF from Hugging Face. Start from Settings, Providers, Local Models, or from hermes model.
• Release channels. Installs follow tested SemVer releases by default instead of every commit on main. hermes update --set-channel main, or the channel switch in Settings, About, tracks main. A move to an older release is labeled a rollback and asks first.
• Signed desktop packages. Windows gets a signed MSIX, including the Microsoft Store. macOS gets a signed, notarized Apple Silicon build. hermes pm builds a new environment and switches only after it passes, so a killed update is less likely to leave a half-applied install.
• Plugin catalog. The notes say the catalog reached 600 reviewed plugins, each pinned to a reviewed commit.
• Password managers and Bot Screen. The browser agent can log in with 1Password, Bitwarden, or Hermes's own vault without the model seeing the password. A bot on a Linux gateway can stream its desktop into Hermes Desktop so you can take over a login, a 2FA prompt, or a CAPTCHA and hand control back.

The model list in this release's notes includes Claude Fable 5.1, Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, GPT-6 Astra, Sol, and Luna, GPT-6.1 Sol, and Gemini 4 Argon, on the providers that offer them.

Why it matters

Someone can install the desktop app and talk to Hermes before they have an API key. The trial model is once per OS user. After that, connectors or a local model are how the install keeps working without a paid Nous account.

Connectors are a different path from MCP servers you host yourself. The notes put both on one page. A free connectors-only identity is created the first time you use a hosted app. Named accounts (work and home) are how you keep those logins apart.

Local models are the offline option. llama.cpp is installed for the GPU you actually have, and the picker is supposed to refuse a model that does not fit. That claim is only as good as the rating step. Check the fit before you download a large GGUF.

Source installs no longer follow main unless you opt in. If you depended on living at HEAD, set the channel back to main on purpose.

Frequently asked questions

Can I try Hermes without an API key?

Yes. The v0.22.0 notes say a new desktop install runs a setup chat on nous/welcome, once per OS user. Skip setup leaves the app without finishing that chat.

Do connectors require a Nous account?

The notes say no. The first use of a hosted app creates a free connectors-only identity. You sign in to the app in the browser.

Which date is the release?

The release notes say October 13, 2026. GitHub published the tag at 2026-10-14T03:21:46Z.

Sources

• Hermes Agent v0.22.0