# Mcp Serve: Hermes Agent plugin

> Run Hermes as an MCP server: `hermes mcp-serve` lets any MCP client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex) list and read your messaging conversations, poll live events, send messages and answer approvals over stdio.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins/mcp-serve  
Tier: Official  
Official page (Nous Research): https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/mcp-serve  
Last updated in catalog: 2026-10-21

Run Hermes as an MCP server: `hermes mcp-serve` lets any MCP client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex) list and read your messaging conversations, poll live events, send messages and answer approvals over stdio. `--tools` (off by default) also exposes Hermes' web, browser, vision, image generation, skills and TTS tools; terminal, file and kanban tools are never exposed. Formerly built into Hermes core as `hermes mcp serve` (MCP clients change their args to ["mcp-serve"]).

## Good to know before installing

The connecting MCP client reads the active profile's conversation history (state.db) and can send messages as your connected platform accounts; with `--tools` it also runs Hermes tools under your configured provider credentials, which can spend provider credits. The plugin itself makes no network or model calls beyond those tool calls and sends.

From the plugin's catalog listing.

## How to install

1. Install it. Hermes asks for any API keys it needs, then asks whether to turn it on.

```bash
hermes plugins install mcp-serve
```

2. Said no? Turn it on later:

```bash
hermes plugins enable mcp-serve
```

3. Restart Hermes so it loads the plugin.

Some plugins also need a sign-in or settings: see the official page. Memory plugins ask whether to become your memory provider instead. Steps follow the official plugins guide: https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/features/plugins

## Facts

- Category: Coding & developer tools
- Maintained by: NousResearch (Official)
- Needs: No API keys declared
- Requires Hermes: `>=0.22.0`
- Version: 1.0.0
- In the catalog since: 2026-10-21

## Links

- [Full setup and settings (official page)](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/plugins/mcp-serve)
- [Source code](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-official-plugins/tree/main/mcp-serve)
- [All plugins](https://hermeswatcher.com/plugins.md)

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