The short version
- Runs on iPhone or iPad
- No
- Fully supported
- macOS on Apple Silicon, Windows 10 and 11, Linux and WSL2, Docker
- Best effort
- Nix, and Android through Termux on 64-bit ARM phones
- Termux right now
- The Hermes docs say the package is currently broken, with a fix in progress
- Use Hermes from an iPhone
- Connect to a Hermes running on a computer or server
Why Hermes needs a computer
Hermes Agent is a long-running program, not a chat app. It runs shell commands and edits files with its tools, keeps a messaging gateway running in the background, fires scheduled jobs from that gateway and starts kanban workers as separate processes. It needs an operating system that lets it stay awake and run other programs.
iPhone apps don’t get that. iOS doesn’t let an app run background services or start other programs the way a computer does, and it suspends apps soon after they leave the screen. That is why every iPhone option today is a client: the agent runs somewhere else and the phone talks to it.
Where Hermes can run
| Where | Support | How your iPhone reaches it |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | Fully supported on Apple Silicon | Same Wi-Fi or Tailscale. See Mac setup. |
| Windows PC | Fully supported, natively or through WSL2 | Same Wi-Fi or Tailscale. See Windows with WSL2. |
| Linux computer | Fully supported on 64-bit x86 and ARM | Same Wi-Fi or Tailscale. See Linux setup. |
| VPS or cloud server | Fully supported, on Linux or in Docker | Tailscale or an HTTPS address. See VPS setup. |
| Android phone | Best effort through Termux, currently broken | Runs on the phone itself |
| iPhone or iPad | Not supported | Use a client app instead |
The Android exception
Hermes publishes a Termux package for 64-bit ARM Android phones as a best-effort platform. On 20 October 2026 the Hermes docs say that package is currently broken, with a fix in progress. Even when it works, Android can suspend or close background Termux processes, so the gateway may stop with the screen off.
Separately, a third-party Google Play app called Hermes Agent – Android, by Hen Works, packages the open-source agent with a built-in terminal so it runs on the phone itself. It is not made by Nous Research, nor by Herald, and its listing shows ads and in-app purchases.
How iPhone users use Hermes today
Run Hermes on something that stays on, such as a Mac mini, an old laptop or a small VPS, and reach it from the phone. You can talk to it through its messaging gateway, open its web dashboard in Safari over Tailscale, or use a community app. Using Hermes without Telegram compares the options.
Herald is one of those community apps. It pairs with npx herald-setup and a QR code, then talks straight to your Hermes with no Herald server in between. It is independent and unofficial; the iPhone app roundup covers the alternatives too.
Questions
Will Nous Research release an iPhone app?
As of 20 October 2026 there is no official Hermes Agent app for iPhone or Android, and no release date. See is there an official Hermes Agent app.
Can Hermes run on an iPad?
No, for the same reasons as the iPhone. An iPad makes a good client, though; see Herald on iPad.
Do I need a Mac to use Hermes from an iPhone?
No. Hermes on Windows, Linux, a VPS or in Docker works just as well, as long as the phone can reach it.
Does Herald run Hermes on my phone?
No. Herald is a client. Your Hermes does the work on your computer, with the models you configured there.
