The Hermes Agent Microsoft Store app is the free, signed Windows version of Hermes Agent, the open-source AI agent from Nous Research, and it lets any business put a working AI agent on a Windows 11 PC in a few clicks.
You get it from the official Hermes Agent listing on the Microsoft Store, where the publisher is Nous Research Inc. and the price is free.
It needs Windows 11 version 22H2 or newer, it runs on x64 and ARM64 PCs, and the Store keeps it updated for you.
The reason this matters for a business is simple, because it removes the setup work that used to stop non-technical teams from trying agents at all.
In this post I'll explain what the Store app is, how to get it running, and seven practical ways a business can use it, with the limits you should know before you roll it out.
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Hermes Agent Microsoft Store In One Table
Here's the whole thing on one screen, checked against the Store listing, the Hermes docs and the official release notes.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | It is the signed Windows package of Hermes Agent and its desktop app, Hermes Desktop. |
| Who makes it? | Nous Research Inc. publishes it, and Nous Research builds Hermes Agent. |
| What does it cost? | The Store listing shows it as free, and the agent is open source under the MIT licence. |
| What Windows does it need? | It needs Windows 11 22H2 or later, which the Store shows as version 22621.0 or higher. |
| Which PCs does it support? | It ships x64 and ARM64 builds. |
| How big is the download? | The listing gives an approximate size of about 4.3 GB. |
| How does it stay current? | The Microsoft Store updates it, and new stable releases reach the Store automatically. |
| What can it run on? | It can use cloud providers, Nous Portal or local models on your own PC. |
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What The Hermes Agent Microsoft Store App Is, In Plain English
Hermes Agent is an AI agent, which means it doesn't just answer questions, because it can also use tools, remember things and finish tasks for you.
Nous Research describes it on the Store as an open-source, self-improving autonomous AI agent framework, and Hermes Desktop is the native application it runs on.
It remembers your conversations, memories and skills, so you can come back to your work in a later session.
The Microsoft Store version is that same agent packaged the Windows way.
The v0.22.0 release notes say the desktop app is now a sealed, signed package that carries its own Python and Node, so first launch builds nothing.
For a business owner, that means nobody on your team has to install developer tools before they can try it.
The Problem It Solves For A Business
Here's the before state I see all the time.
The owner hears about AI agents, asks someone to set one up, and it stalls on terminals, Python versions and update errors.
The v0.22.0 notes say the old Windows NSIS and MSI installers are gone and the Windows desktop is now MSIX-only.
The new package manager underneath also builds a new environment and only switches once it passes its check, so a failed update can no longer leave you half-applied.
That's the real shift, because an agent is only useful to a business if it keeps working on Monday morning.
How To Get It Running In Four Steps
You don't need a developer for this part.
- Open the Hermes Agent page on the Microsoft Store and check that the publisher is Nous Research Inc.
- Click Get or Install, and Windows downloads and installs the signed package.
- Open Hermes, and the v0.22.0 notes say a fresh install opens on a guided setup chat that runs on a free trial model.
- Pick the model you want to run on, from Nous Portal, your own API key or a local model under Settings, then Providers, then Local Models.
The setup chat covers your name, an accent colour, the layout, the apps to connect, plugins, a tour and up to four first tasks, according to the notes.
If anyone on your team is still on Windows 10, the docs say the MSIX package won't install there, and they should use the install.ps1 script instead.
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7 Ways A Business Can Use The Hermes Store App
These are practical uses built on features Nous documents, not income promises.
1. A desktop assistant for the owner
The simplest win is putting Hermes on the owner's own Windows laptop.
Because it remembers past sessions, you can hand it the same kinds of jobs every week, such as drafting replies, summarising documents or turning notes into a plan.
Start with one boring task you do every week and give it to Hermes first.
2. One version for the whole team
When everyone installs from the Store, everyone gets the same signed package.
The Hermes docs say the Store variant uses its own Store package identity and Store updates, and it doesn't use the sideload feed.
The v0.22.3 notes say the Store build now goes live automatically when a release publishes, so your team isn't stuck on old versions.
That makes support much easier, because you're not debugging five different setups.
3. Connecting the apps you already pay for
The v0.22.0 notes say Connectors carry the agent into the apps you already use, with no account needed to start.
The same notes say the Connectors page replaced the old MCP tab in the desktop app.
For a business, that means Hermes can work with your project tool or your notes instead of living in its own bubble.
4. Private work with local models
Some client work should never leave the building.
The Hermes docs say Local Models can run open models entirely on your own machine, with no account, no API key and no network access after a model is downloaded.
On Windows, the docs say local models run on CUDA for supported NVIDIA cards, on Vulkan on x64, or on the CPU.
Hermes rates each model against your GPU and RAM before you download it, so you don't waste an afternoon on one that won't fit.
5. A customer-facing bot in your messaging apps
Hermes has a messaging gateway for apps like Telegram, Discord and Slack.
That lets you answer common questions or route requests where your customers or staff already talk.
Keep a human in the loop at the start, because an agent that talks to customers needs checking before you trust it.
6. Web research and browser tasks
The docs say a self-contained MSIX includes supported browser tools in its payload.
That means the Store version can browse and research without you installing a separate browser toolkit first.
I use agents for keyword and competitor research all the time, and the rule I follow is to ask for sources and check them.
7. Running agents on newer ARM64 laptops
A lot of new Windows laptops run on ARM chips.
The Store ships an ARM64 build alongside x64, so you don't have to keep a separate Intel machine around just for your agent.
The docs note that on Windows ARM64, the pinned Chromium and browser binaries can use Windows' x64 emulation, which is worth knowing if browser tasks feel slower.
If you want help working out which of these fits your business first, grab a free strategy session with my team and we'll look at your site, your offers and where agents can save you the most time.
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Rolling It Out Safely On Work Machines
This is the bit most businesses skip, and it's the bit that matters most.
The Hermes docs have a whole page on running Hermes on a personal or work machine, and it says the defaults already do most of the work.
- Dangerous commands need approval before they run.
- Approval prompts fail closed, so an unanswered prompt is denied after the timeout.
- Writes to sensitive credential files and project secret files are blocked.
- Secrets that look like API keys or passwords are redacted from tool output.
For a shared or work machine, the docs suggest switching approvals to manual so you see every flagged command yourself.
approvals:
mode: manual
The Store listing also shows the app "Uses all system resources" and writes some registry entries and files that aren't cleaned up on uninstall, so tell your IT person before you roll it out.
What It Costs To Run
The app is free on the Store, and Hermes Agent is open source.
Your running cost is the model you connect.
| Model choice | What you pay for |
|---|---|
| Nous Portal | You pay for a Nous subscription, which the docs call the recommended way to run Hermes. |
| Your own API key | You pay the provider directly for what you use. |
| Local models | You pay nothing per message, but you need hardware that fits the model. |
I'm not going to quote prices here, because they change and they depend on your provider.
The honest advice is to start on the free trial model in the setup chat, then pick a paid or local brain once you know what you'll use it for.
The Updates You Should Know About
The Store version is new, and the release notes show it settling in.
- v0.22.1 on 14 October 2026 shipped a handful of fixes for the Windows Store.
- v0.22.2 on 15 October 2026 says v0.22.1 was built from the wrong commit and the Microsoft Store app could stick on "Connecting", and 0.22.2 fixed it.
- v0.22.3 on 21 October 2026 made the Store build go live automatically when a release publishes.
- v0.22.4 on 21 October 2026 stopped Desktop showing suggestion pills above the composer.
If someone on your team says the app is stuck on "Connecting", the first thing to check is a Store update.
Limits Before You Commit
It won't install on Windows 10, because the MSIX package needs Windows 11 22H2 or later.
It's a big download at roughly 4.3 GB.
The Store listing had no user ratings yet when I checked, so there's no crowd verdict to lean on.
The Hermes website's Windows button pointed to Hermes-Setup.exe when I checked on 22 October 2026, and the docs say that's a different bootstrap installer, so send your team to the Store listing directly.
I run Hermes on a Mac, so I haven't used the Store version myself, and everything in this post comes from the Store listing, the Hermes docs and the official release notes.
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Who Should Use The Hermes Store App
Solo owners on Windows 11 should install it today, because it's the lowest-effort way to try a real agent.
Small teams should use it as the standard install, because one signed package and Store updates make support simple.
Teams with sensitive client data should pair it with local models and manual approvals.
If you'd rather see the desktop app in action first, my Hermes Desktop video shows the interface and how sessions work.
For the full picture of what changed in the same release, my Hermes Agent v0.22 breakdown covers the setup chat, connectors and local models.
If you're picking how to host your agent long term, my guide to the best Hermes Agent setup compares the main options.
Related Reading
- My Hermes Agent v0.22 breakdown explains the release that brought the Microsoft Store version.
- My best Hermes Agent setup guide helps you choose where your agent should live.
- My Nemotron 3.5 Bolt Hermes post shows how a business can run NVIDIA's new local model inside Hermes.
Also On Our Network
- 🌐 The four-step Hermes Agent Microsoft Store install walkthrough
- 🌐 Every part of the Hermes Store app, reviewed and scored
- 🌐 How the Hermes Store app fits an Agent OS workflow
- 🌐 The models behind the Hermes Store app, compared on GoldieBench
FAQ: Hermes Agent Microsoft Store For Business
What is the Hermes Agent Microsoft Store app?
It is the signed MSIX package of Hermes Agent and Hermes Desktop for Windows, published by Nous Research Inc.
It is free, carries its own Python and Node, and updates through the Store.
Is it free for businesses?
The Store listing shows it as free, and Hermes Agent is open source under the MIT licence.
You still pay for whichever cloud model you connect, unless you run a local model on your own hardware.
Can I install it on Windows 10 work PCs?
No, because the docs say the MSIX package needs Windows 11 22H2 or later.
Windows 10 PCs can use the install.ps1 source installer instead.
Is Hermes Agent safe to run on a work machine?
The docs say dangerous commands need approval, unanswered prompts are denied and secrets are redacted by default.
For work machines, the docs suggest manual approvals and your own deny rules.
How do updates work for a team?
Each Store install updates through the Microsoft Store.
The v0.22.3 notes say the Store build now goes live automatically when a release publishes.
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About Julian
I'm Julian Goldie, an SEO entrepreneur, author and founder of the AI Profit Boardroom, which has 3,400+ members.
I help business owners scale with AI agents, automation and SEO.
- I've built a 7-figure SEO and link-building agency, Goldie Agency, with 70+ people in Bangkok.
- I've grown a YouTube channel to 400,000+ subscribers.
- I wrote the book "Link Building Mastery", which covers nine link building strategies.
- I run GoldieBench, where I score AI models on real one-shot builds.
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Install it on one Windows 11 PC, hand it one weekly task and add your team once it earns its place, and you'll find out quickly whether the Hermes Agent Microsoft Store app deserves a place in your business.
