When Hermes Agent reports “Update failed”, the message usually identifies a blocked update path rather than a single bug. The correct fix depends on how Hermes was installed and which layer failed: source checkout, Desktop handoff, Python environment, Node/npm assets, Docker image, permissions, or a gateway that did not restart.
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Start by identifying the installation that owns your Hermes files. For a managed source checkout, use hermes update --check, protect state with a snapshot or hermes update --backup, then run hermes update. For Docker, do not run the updater inside the container: pull the new image and recreate the container while retaining its data volume. Nix and package-managed installations must be upgraded with their owning package manager.
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Hermes Agent has different update mechanisms for different installation types. A command that is correct for a managed source checkout can be unsupported for a Docker image, a Nix profile, or a signed Desktop application. Running the wrong updater can leave code, dependencies, and gateway processes out of sync.
| Installation or runtime | Correct update approach | Do not do this | What to verify afterward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed source checkout | Preview with hermes update --check, then run hermes update (optionally --backup) |
Do not replace the managed flow with ad-hoc Git or pip commands | Version, configuration, health, gateway status, and one harmless workflow |
| Docker image | Run docker pull nousresearch/hermes-agent:latest, recreate the container, and keep the existing data volume |
Do not expect hermes update inside an immutable image to update the host installation |
Container image, mounted data, configuration, gateway, and a real workflow |
| Nix installation | Use nix flake update hermes-agent or upgrade the profile that owns Hermes |
Do not mix a Nix-managed binary with an unrelated checkout update | The Nix profile revision and Hermes version |
| Package-manager installation | Use the package manager that installed Hermes | Do not overwrite package-owned files manually | Package state, executable path, and runtime health |
| Desktop application | Retry the Desktop update only after checking the terminal updater and logs | Do not assume a Desktop “Update failed” message proves the CLI update failed | Desktop logs, bootstrap installer log, update log, and backend startup |
Run these commands before changing anything:
which hermes
hermes --version
hermes doctorwhich hermes shows the executable being invoked, hermes --version establishes the current build, and hermes doctor reports installation and environment problems that may otherwise be mistaken for an update defect.
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Use the safe recovery sequence
The following order minimizes the chance of turning a recoverable refusal into a half-updated checkout. Stop at the first step that explains the failure and fix that layer before retrying.
- Identify the active installation. Run
which hermes,hermes --version, andhermes doctor. Confirm that the shell, Desktop backend, and any service are using the same installation. - Preview the update. Run
hermes update --check. This checks the target without applying code or restarting gateways. - Protect important state. Use the normal Hermes snapshot process or run
hermes update --backup. Confirm that the disk has enough free space for the backup, dependency installation, and build artifacts. - Close conflicting processes. Exit Desktop windows, REPLs, and gateways that may hold files open. This is especially important on Windows, where locked files can block replacement.
- Use the owner’s update method. Run
hermes updateonly for a managed source checkout. Pull and recreate a Docker image, update a Nix flake or profile, or use the package manager for package-owned installations. - Read refusal messages literally. A lock, unwritable path, Python mismatch, Node/npm engine error, or concurrent repair each has a different remedy. Do not keep rerunning the same command without correcting the stated condition.
- Check configuration. Run
hermes config check. If options are missing after a version change, runhermes config migrate, then check the configuration again. - Verify the running system. Run
hermes --version,hermes doctor, andhermes gateway status. Finish with one harmless tool call or channel workflow so that a merely updated file tree is not mistaken for a working installation.
Hermes deliberately stops in several of these situations because continuing could leave a half-updated checkout or a gateway running old code. A refusal is safer than forcing the process past a lock, permission error, or failed dependency step.
Cause: the wrong update method
The most common failure is using a source-checkout command on an installation that is not owned by that updater. A Docker image is built as an immutable artifact; changing files inside a running container does not update the image you will use next time. Likewise, Nix and other package managers expect to control the files, hashes, and dependency closure themselves.
Managed source checkout
Use the built-in sequence:
hermes update --check
hermes update --backup
hermes updateThe backup flag protects important state before the update applies changes. If you already have a normal snapshot policy, follow it; do not create several ad-hoc copies in the live state directory while an update is running.
Docker
Pull the new image and recreate the container:
docker pull nousresearch/hermes-agent:latestUse the same environment variables, ports, mounts, and data volume as the existing container. The volume is what preserves profiles and other state; deleting it while recreating the container can look like a successful update followed by missing data. After recreation, check the container logs, confirm the mounted state is present, and run the Hermes health and gateway checks from the new container.
Nix and package managers
For Nix, update the flake input with nix flake update hermes-agent or upgrade the profile that owns Hermes. A package-owned installation must be upgraded by that package manager. If which hermes points into a Nix profile or another managed prefix, changing a separate checkout will not change the executable your shell runs.
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Hermes protects the update process from two launches modifying the same checkout. The official refusal text is:
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hermes: another Hermes launch is finishing an interrupted 'hermes update'; launch again in a moment.
Another documented message is Another launch is repairing an interrupted update. Both indicate that Hermes is completing owed repair work, not that a second update should be forced immediately.
What to do
- Wait for the repair process to finish. Do not delete lock files while a Hermes process is still active.
- Launch Hermes again after the short repair window.
- If a Desktop backend was started during the repair and appears to have failed, close and reopen Desktop after the repair completes.
- Inspect
~/.hermes/logs/update.logif the state is unclear. The log records the update output even when a terminal or SSH session disappears.
If the message persists after no Hermes process is running, first confirm the process list and ownership of the state directory. Remove a stale lock only when you have established that no updater or repair process remains and the log shows that the previous operation has ended.
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Cause: Git checkout or permission failure
A source update needs to write the checkout and its metadata. A Desktop build may report an error such as .../.git/hermes-update.lock is not writable. The updater can also stop when the gateway restart-record directory is unwritable, which is more likely on multi-profile installations.
Fix ownership and directory permissions
- Check the active user, the checkout owner, the
.gitdirectory, and the Hermes state directory. - Make the active user the owner of files that user is expected to update.
- Ensure the gateway restart-record directory is writable by the account that launches Hermes.
- Retry the preview command before applying another update.
Avoid blanket sudo. Running one update as root can create root-owned caches, lock files, or state entries that prevent the normal account from updating later. Use elevated permissions only for a narrowly identified ownership correction, then return to the normal Hermes user.
When multiple profiles are involved
Each profile may have its own gateway state and restart records. Verify that the profile being updated is the one whose directory is writable and whose gateway appears in hermes gateway status. Correcting permissions for one profile does not automatically fix another.
Cause: Python runtime mismatch
Current Hermes documentation states that Hermes runs on Python 3.14 after its migration. A legacy Python 3.11–3.13 environment may complete the migration, but ordinary pip installations on those versions are unsupported. This distinction matters: a migration may finish in an older environment while a fresh or routine pip installation remains outside the supported path.
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Diagnose the interpreter actually in use
- Run
hermes doctorand note the interpreter it reports. - Compare that interpreter with the Python environment used by the shell, Desktop backend, service, or container.
- Check that the update is not writing into one virtual environment while Hermes launches from another.
- After moving to a supported Python 3.14 environment, rerun the preview and update from that environment.
Do not “fix” a Python error by copying packages from an unrelated environment. That can produce an apparently updated version whose commands fail when a gateway or Desktop process loads a different interpreter.
Cause: Node or npm dependency mismatch
Hermes can update its Python code while Desktop, dashboard, or TUI assets remain mixed if the Node workspace cannot install or build. The resulting symptoms include a current Hermes version paired with an old interface, a failed asset build, or a Desktop backend that starts but serves stale files.
Check the runtime before reinstalling
node --version
npm --versionCompare both versions with the repository’s required engine range. The exact range is defined by the Hermes workspace; do not substitute an arbitrary Node release simply because it is newer. Use a supported LTS combination, then repair the failed workspace using the project’s normal dependency and build procedure.
Recognize a mixed update
- The Python package reports the target version, but the Desktop or dashboard still displays old behavior.
- The update log ends during npm installation or an asset build.
- Node reports an engine incompatibility, peer-dependency failure, or unsupported syntax.
- A TUI or dashboard opens but has missing controls or stale resources.
After repairing Node/npm, rerun the update or the failed workspace step as directed by the log. Then reopen the affected surface and test it separately from the gateway.
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A Desktop message that says only “Update failed” does not prove that the Hermes updater itself failed. A GitHub issue opened October 7, 2026, describes a macOS user whose Desktop update failed while the terminal update worked. The report lists Hermes Agent v0.21.5+8076.g85db7c3, Python 3.14.7, and macOS 26.6.2, but does not establish a root cause.
Treat this pattern as an independent Desktop handoff problem. Use the terminal updater, then inspect:
bootstrap-installer.log~/.hermes/logs/update.log- the Desktop application logs
- Close Desktop and any backend it started.
- Run
which hermes,hermes --version, andhermes doctorin a terminal. - Run
hermes update --check, protect state, and complete the CLI update if the installation is a managed checkout. - Run
hermes config checkandhermes gateway status. - Reopen Desktop only after the terminal path is healthy.
If the CLI update succeeds but Desktop still reports failure, compare the executable path and environment used by Desktop with the terminal values. A GUI can be pointed at a different checkout, virtual environment, or state directory.
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Cause: a stale gateway after the code update
A successful code update does not guarantee that every running gateway loaded the new code. Hermes compares live gateway versions and records a follow-up when one remains stale.
Verify before restarting
- Run
hermes gateway status. - Identify the profile whose live version differs from the updated code.
- Run
hermes config checkbefore restarting. - Restart only the affected gateway profile.
- Run the status command again and perform one harmless tool or channel workflow.
Restarting every gateway at once can create avoidable downtime and makes it harder to identify which profile was unhealthy. A targeted restart preserves working profiles while you validate the stale one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cause: SSH disconnect, terminal closure, or deliberate interruption
Current updates ignore SIGHUP and mirror output to ~/.hermes/logs/update.log. A dropped SSH session therefore should not automatically kill the update. Reconnect and read the log before starting another update; launching a second updater can trigger the concurrent-repair protection.
A deliberate Ctrl-C, system shutdown, or forced termination is different. Hermes may leave dependency installation, a build, or a gateway restart owed to the next launch. Start Hermes again, allow the repair to finish, and then inspect the log and run the normal verification sequence.
How to interpret a partial-update message
Partial-update output usually names the layer that stopped. Use the wording to choose the remedy rather than deleting the checkout or reinstalling blindly.
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| Message or symptom | Likely layer | Action | Success check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another launch is repairing an interrupted update | Concurrent or interrupted updater | Wait, let repair finish, then relaunch | A new launch proceeds and the update log has no active repair |
.git/hermes-update.lock is not writable |
Checkout ownership or permissions | Correct ownership and write access for the active user | hermes update --check completes |
| Gateway restart-record directory is unwritable | State-directory permissions | Fix the profile’s state directory; avoid running the updater as root | Gateway status and restart bookkeeping work |
| Node engine or npm install failure | Desktop, dashboard, or TUI dependency layer | Use the workspace’s supported LTS Node/npm combination and repair the failed workspace | Assets build and the affected interface loads the new version |
| Python environment or migration error | Interpreter or package environment | Use the supported Python 3.14 environment and rerun the owned update path | hermes doctor is clean and commands run from the intended interpreter |
| Desktop says only “Update failed” while terminal succeeds | Desktop handoff | Complete and verify the CLI update; inspect bootstrap, update, and Desktop logs; reopen Desktop | Desktop starts against the same healthy installation |
| Code version is current but gateway version is old | Running process | Restart only the affected gateway profile | hermes gateway status shows the target version |
Docker recovery without losing Hermes data
Docker updates are image replacements, not in-place source updates. The safe sequence is:
- Record the current container’s image, mounts, environment variables, ports, and restart policy.
- Confirm which host path or named volume contains Hermes state.
- Pull the target image with
docker pull nousresearch/hermes-agent:latest. - Stop and remove only the old container, not the data volume.
- Recreate the container with the same volume and configuration.
- Check container logs and run Hermes diagnostics inside the replacement container.
- Verify configuration, gateway status, and one harmless workflow.
If the replacement starts with an empty profile, stop and inspect the volume mapping before doing any further work. An empty profile usually means the new container was created without the original data volume, not that the image update erased valid state.
Configuration checks after an update
Run:
hermes config checkIf options are missing or have changed format, migrate them:
hermes config migrateRun hermes config check again after migration. Review the output for removed, renamed, or invalid options before starting a gateway. A code update can succeed while an obsolete setting prevents a service from starting cleanly.
Verification: prove that the installation works
Use all four checks rather than relying on a version string:
- Binary:
hermes --versionconfirms which build the shell invokes. - Environment:
hermes doctorchecks runtime and installation health. - Configuration:
hermes config checkconfirms that settings are valid after migration. - Gateway:
hermes gateway statusconfirms that live processes are on the expected version.
Finish with one low-risk tool call or channel workflow. This catches failures that static checks cannot: authentication loading, channel routing, gateway communication, and interface assets can all fail after the files themselves look current.
What not to do
- Do not run
hermes updatein a Docker image and assume the host installation changed. - Do not mix Git, pip, Nix, and package-manager operations on the same installation without first determining which system owns it.
- Do not delete
~/.hermes, the checkout, or a Docker volume as a first response. - Do not remove a lock file while another Hermes launch may still be repairing an interrupted update.
- Do not use blanket
sudo; it can create root-owned caches and state that block later updates. - Do not declare success because
hermes --versionchanged while a gateway or Desktop process still runs old code. - Do not repeatedly retry an npm or Python failure without correcting the runtime mismatch named in the output.
When a reinstall is justified
A reinstall is a last resort after you have identified the owner, protected state, and captured logs. Consider it only when the checkout cannot be repaired, the package manager’s installation metadata is corrupt, or the Desktop application itself is damaged. Preserve profiles and configuration first, record the installation path, and reinstall through the same ownership model. Reinstalling a Docker image still requires preserving and remounting the data volume; reinstalling the image alone is not a profile backup.
Before removing anything, retain ~/.hermes/logs/update.log, the relevant Desktop or bootstrap installer log, the output of hermes doctor, and the exact failure message. Those details distinguish a permission problem from a runtime mismatch and prevent the same failure from returning on the new installation.
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A compact decision checklist
- Is Hermes a source checkout, Desktop app, Docker image, Nix profile, or package-managed binary?
- Does
which hermespoint to the installation you intended to update? - Did
hermes update --checkidentify a lock, permission, Python, Node, or gateway issue? - Is important state backed up and is there enough disk space?
- Could another Hermes launch still be repairing an interrupted update?
- Are
.git, state, and gateway restart-record directories writable by the active user? - Are Python 3.14 and the workspace’s supported Node/npm versions in use?
- For Docker, was the image pulled and the container recreated with the original volume?
- Did
hermes config check,hermes doctor, andhermes gateway statuspass? - Did a harmless real workflow succeed after the update?
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