# Desktop: manage conversations and inspect artifacts visually

> Use the native desktop interface to work with the same Hermes core, sessions, configuration, skills, and memory.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/tools/desktop  
Kind: Surface · Everyday administration  
Last reviewed: Oct 19, 2026  
Basis: Explained from the official Hermes Agent docs and repository (Nous Research). Steps follow the linked official sources.

## What it is for

Hermes Desktop provides a visual surface for conversation and management around the same agent core used by the CLI and gateway. The official guide describes shared settings, tool activity, file attachments, and side-by-side previews. This can make research and artifact review easier for people who do not want every task to begin in a terminal. The interface does not remove the need to know which profile or remote connection owns the work.

## What you need

- A supported operating system and a current desktop build appropriate to the platform.
- An intended profile or connection, configured model credentials, and access to the project files involved.

## Setting it up

1. Follow the official installation or launch route and verify the selected environment before changing settings.
2. Open a small project, attach a harmless file, and request one inspectable artifact. Use the preview to compare the result with the original request before attempting broader automation.

## How to check it works

- Confirm where the artifact was saved and whether that path belongs to the local or remote environment.
- Inspect meaningful tool results and use a fresh conversation to check shared configuration or skill changes.

## Limits

- Desktop, terminal, and browser dashboard are distinct interfaces even when they share agent state.
- Feature availability can differ by build and platform. A polished preview or completed chat does not establish successful external delivery or task correctness.

## Related workflows

- [Carry project knowledge into the next session](https://hermeswatcher.com/workflows/project-knowledge.md)
- [Collect content ideas without losing the evidence](https://hermeswatcher.com/workflows/content-research-queue.md)

## Sources

- [Official Hermes Desktop](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/user-guide/desktop)

---

HermesWatcher is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nous Research. The [official Hermes Agent documentation](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs) and [repository](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent) from Nous Research are the authority; each page here lists the official sources it was written from. If this site and the official docs disagree, trust the official docs. Index for agents: https://hermeswatcher.com/llms.txt