[All guides](https://bot-ai.run/guides)

# How to Import Hermes Agents into Bot AI

Import your Hermes Agent profiles into Bot AI. Choose what to bring over, review instructions, memories and skills, and check your agents after import.

Oct 27, 2026 Norbert Bodziony

You can move your Hermes Agent setup into Bot AI without rebuilding every agent from scratch. Each Hermes profile becomes a Bot AI agent, with its own instructions, saved memories and custom skills where available.

Bot AI shows you what it found before you import. You choose the profiles to bring over, check which items will move and allow any optional items you want to include. Your original Hermes profiles stay where they are.

## Before you start

Update Bot AI and decide where your imported agents should live. For the folder method below, use the Bot AI desktop app on the same computer as Hermes and select that computer as your destination.

If Hermes is on another computer, or you use Bot AI in the browser or on a joined server, use the ZIP export method later in this guide.

## 1. Open Import in Bot AI

Open **Server settings → Import**, then choose **Hermes Agent**.

![Bot AI Import settings with Hermes Agent, Grok Bot and another Bot AI computer as source options.](https://bot-ai.run/assets/import-source-BMWDElDp.png)

Choose Hermes Agent in the Import settings.

Choose the option that matches where Hermes runs and how you want to prepare the import.

## 2. Choose an import option

| Option in Bot AI | When to use it |
| --- | --- |
| **Read this computer** | Hermes is on the same computer as the Bot AI desktop app. No ZIP is needed. |
| **Install with a command** | Add the export skill in Hermes with one command, then import its ZIP into Bot AI. |
| **Set it up yourself** | Save the supplied skill file in Hermes yourself, then use the same ZIP export flow. |

For the two ZIP options, prepare the export on the computer where Hermes runs. You can then import it through the Bot AI desktop app, the browser or a joined server.

### Option 1: Read this computer

Select **Read the Hermes folder**. Bot AI reads the profiles it finds without changing the Hermes folder.

![Hermes import controls with Read this computer selected and the Read the Hermes folder button.](https://bot-ai.run/assets/read-folder-DM2qYxbm.png)

Read this computer: open the local Hermes profiles directly.

The usual folder is `~/.hermes`. If Bot AI cannot find your profiles, use **Choose the Hermes folder** and select the folder your installation uses. On the profile preview, **Choose another folder** lets you change it.

You do not need to make a ZIP for this method. Bot AI takes you straight to the profiles it found.

Once the folder has been read, continue to step 3 to review the profiles.

### Option 2: Install with a command

This option adds the Bot AI export skill to Hermes. It is useful when Hermes runs on another computer, or when you want to import through the browser or into a joined Bot AI server.

In **Server settings → Import → Hermes Agent**, choose **Install with a command**. Copy the command into a Hermes chat:

![Hermes import controls with Install with a command selected, showing the skill installation command.](https://bot-ai.run/assets/install-command-BX5laHbT.png)

Install with a command: add the export skill from a Hermes chat.

```
/skills install jorge123255/bot-ai/resources/agent-import/hermes-agent
```

Hermes scans the skill before installing it. If you prefer the terminal, use:

```
hermes skills install jorge123255/bot-ai/resources/agent-import/hermes-agent
```

After installing the skill, follow the ZIP export steps below.

### Option 3: Set it up yourself

Use this option if you prefer to add the export skill as a file. On the Hermes Agent import page in Bot AI, choose **Set it up yourself**.

![Hermes import controls with Set it up yourself selected and Copy and Save file actions for SKILL.md.](https://bot-ai.run/assets/manual-setup-BzZT9AFT.png)

Set it up yourself: copy or save the export skill file in Hermes.

Select **Save file…** to save the supplied `SKILL.md`, or use **Copy** and paste its complete contents into a file with that name.

Save it at `~/.hermes/skills/bot-ai-export/SKILL.md`. If your Hermes installation uses a different home folder, put it in that folder under `skills/bot-ai-export/SKILL.md`. Create the `bot-ai-export` folder if needed.

Start a new Hermes chat so it can find the skill. The export leaves this helper skill out of the ZIP. You do not need to run the installation command as well.

### Export a ZIP for options 2 and 3

Both **Install with a command** and **Set it up yourself** continue with the same export step. In Hermes, send:

```
/bot-ai-export
```

Choose the profiles you want to export and wait for the completed ZIP in Downloads. Its name will look like `bot-ai-export-hermes-2026-10-28.zip`.

This export can carry your persona, saved memories, custom skills and supported recurring jobs. It leaves out credentials, chat sessions, bundled skills and MCP server settings. The ZIP export skill also leaves out one-time jobs; read its summary of skipped items.

Return to Bot AI, select **Choose export file**, and choose the completed ZIP without unzipping it. Bot AI opens a preview. Continue to step 3 to review it before importing.

## 3. Review what will move

You can review the import before Bot AI adds the agents. The preview depends on whether you read the Hermes folder or selected a ZIP.

### If you read the Hermes folder

Use the checkbox beside each profile to choose which agents you want in Bot AI. You can start with one profile and bring over the others later. The default profile appears as **Hermes**; named profiles appear separately.

Expand the item count beside a profile, such as **4 items**, to see its contents. The labels explain what will happen:

- **Imports** means the item will come with the selected profile.
- **Allow** means the item needs a separate choice before it can be included. For example, a custom skill that runs code needs your approval.
- **Not imported** means the item will stay behind. Read the reason shown under it.

In the example below, `SOUL.md` will become the agent's instructions. The built-in Hermes skills, secrets and past sessions are marked **Not imported**. Your list may contain different items and counts.

![One selected Hermes profile with SOUL.md marked Imports, built-in skills, secrets and past sessions marked Not imported, and an Import 1 agent button.](https://bot-ai.run/assets/review-profiles-Do7-HxeC.png)

Select the profiles you want, then check what imports and what stays in Hermes.

If a profile has saved memories, Bot AI can bring over entries from `MEMORY.md` and `USER.md`. Custom skills can come too; skills bundled with Hermes are left out. If the profile only has Hermes's starting persona text, the new agent keeps Bot AI's starting instructions.

Supported scheduled jobs become Bot AI routines. Check their schedules and enabled state before importing: enabled routines can remain enabled. Jobs that only run a script and unsupported schedules are left out with a reason.

If the list includes MCP servers, these are connections to tools and services. You can allow supported connection settings to be added. They arrive turned off, with sensitive connection values cleared, so you can check them before use.

### If you selected a ZIP

Select the agents you want in the ZIP preview. Check the counts of included memories, skills, routines and files, and read any warnings about items that will not move.

A ZIP import creates separate agents. If a name already exists, Bot AI asks you to confirm the duplicate when you start the import. It does not offer the folder method's linked-profile update.

## 4. Import the selected agents

Check your selected agents and any items you allowed, then select the Import button. Its label shows your selection, such as **Import 1 agent**.

When the process finishes, Bot AI shows **Import finished** and lists the imported agents. Read any warnings or **Not imported** results, then open an agent from the list or select **Done**.

![Hermes Agent import result showing Import finished, 1 agent imported, the Hermes agent and a Done button.](https://bot-ai.run/assets/import-finished-BkDt9GDl.png)

The result screen lists the agents imported into Bot AI.

If you read the same Hermes folder again later, Bot AI recognizes profiles it imported before. **Update it** updates the linked agent while keeping its Bot AI chats. **Leave it** keeps that agent as it is.

## 5. Check the agent before its first task

Open the imported agent and check its instructions, memories, skills and routines. Choose the provider and model you want it to use in Bot AI, then complete any sign-in it needs.

If a custom persona was too long for the instructions field, folder import saves the full version in `imported/hermes/SOUL.md` and leaves a shorter instruction pointing to it.

If you allowed MCP settings, check them in Bot AI's MCP settings, supply any required values and enable the connection when ready. Messaging connections and Hermes terminal backends also need to be set up for the way you work in Bot AI.

Project documents and a complete working directory are not part of the standard Hermes profile import. Bring any files your agent needs separately.

A useful first request is:

> Check your instructions, saved memories and installed skills. Tell me which tools and files are available and which connections still need setting up. Do not send messages, publish content or change project files.

## What stays in Hermes?

Full chat history stays in Hermes. Bot AI brings over saved memory entries, subject to its memory limits. Read any warnings to see what could not be included.

Credential files and login sessions are not transferred. Reconnect providers and services in Bot AI. Also check any sensitive information you may have written into your own instructions or memories.

For the folder method, the reader leaves the source profiles unchanged. For a ZIP import into a joined server, the file goes through the host connection to the computer running that server. Check the selected destination before importing.

## Frequently asked questions

**Will each Hermes profile become a separate agent?** Yes. Select the profiles you want on the preview screen.

**Can I keep the same personality and memories?** Your custom persona and saved memory entries can be brought over. A different model or set of tools can still change how the agent behaves, so start with a small task.

**Will all tools work immediately?** Some items need your approval or a new connection. MCP settings imported from a folder arrive turned off. Provider sign-ins, credentials and messaging connections need to be set up again.