# witcheer's Wingtips #30: back up your agent before you need to

Written by [witcheer](https://x.com/witcheer) at Nous Research. Republished with credit.

Canonical: https://hermeswatcher.com/wingtips/30  
Published: 2026-07-25  
[Original](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/wingtips/30-back-up-your-agent-before-you-need-to/) · [On X](https://x.com/witcheer/status/2081051573254549904) · [Full collection](https://notwitcheer.github.io/hermes-recipes/) · [Official docs](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/reference/cli-commands)

[Source Markdown](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/notwitcheer/hermes-recipes/8653fb699a137a32e81936fa33cabacd3f4f2095/docs/wingtips/30-back-up-your-agent-before-you-need-to.md): use this file as the base for relative links in the verbatim text below.

Sources: [Hermes docs: Cli Commands](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/docs/reference/cli-commands)


Hermes Wingtips #30: back up your agent before you need to

(1) `hermes backup` 

it writes `~/hermes-backup-<timestamp>.zip` with config.yaml, .env, auth, memories, skills, sessions, cron and profiles. it copies the databases through SQLite's own backup API, so you can run it while Hermes is live.

(2) `hermes import ~/hermes-backup-<timestamp>.zip` puts it all back.

for a fast one, you can use `hermes backup --quick`, which targets critical state only: config.yaml, state.db, .env, auth and cron jobs.

`hermes backup` is super useful if you are moving to a new box, if you want to duplicate your agent or before doing any experiment!