What’s New in Hermes v2026.7.7: WhatsApp Made Simple, Windows Self-Healing & More

Hey there, Hermes fans! The latest update is here, and it’s a big one. We’ve focused on making WhatsApp setup a breeze, added some serious stability improvements for Windows users, and polished a few things under the hood. Let’s dive in.

WhatsApp: Now with a Built-in Bridge (No Meta Account Needed)

One of the most exciting additions is the new WhatsApp integration. Hermes now connects to WhatsApp through a built-in bridge based on Baileys. Think of it as emulating a WhatsApp Web session — no Meta developer account, no Business verification, no hassle.

Quick start: Just run hermes gateway setup and pick WhatsApp for a guided walk-through.

Two Ways to Use It

Mode	How it works	Best for
Separate bot number (recommended)	Dedicate a phone number to the bot. People message that number directly.	Clean UX, multiple users, lower ban risk
Personal self-chat	Use your own WhatsApp. You message yourself to talk to the agent.	Quick setup, single user, testing

A Word of Caution

WhatsApp doesn’t officially support third-party bots outside their Business API. Using this bridge carries a small risk of account restrictions. To stay safe:

Use a dedicated phone number for the bot (not your personal one)
Don’t send bulk or spam messages — keep it conversational
Don’t automate outbound messaging to people who haven’t messaged you first

Also, WhatsApp periodically updates their Web protocol, which can temporarily break compatibility. If the bot stops working after a WhatsApp update, just pull the latest Hermes version and re-pair.

Setting Up WhatsApp: Step by Step

Step 1: Run the Setup Wizard

hermes whatsapp

The wizard will:

Ask which mode you want (bot or self-chat)
Install bridge dependencies if needed
Display a QR code in your terminal
Wait for you to scan it

To scan the QR code:

Open WhatsApp on your phone
Go to Settings → Linked Devices
Tap Link a Device
Point your camera at the terminal QR code

Tip: If the QR code looks garbled, make sure your terminal is at least 60 columns wide and supports Unicode.

Step 2: Getting a Second Phone Number (Bot Mode)

For bot mode, you need a number that isn’t already registered with WhatsApp. Here are your options:

Option	Cost	Notes
Google Voice	Free	US only. Verify WhatsApp via SMS through the Google Voice app.
Prepaid SIM	$5–15 one-time	Activate, verify, then the SIM can sit in a drawer. Keep it active with a call every 90 days.
VoIP services	Free–$5/month	TextNow, TextFree, etc. Some numbers are blocked — try a few.

Step 3: Configure Hermes

Add this to your ~/.hermes/.env file:

# Required
WHATSAPP_ENABLED=true
WHATSAPP_MODE=bot                          # "bot" or "self-chat"

# Access control — pick ONE:
WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS=15551234567         # Comma-separated numbers (country code, no +)
# WHATSAPP_ALLOWED_USERS=*                 # OR allow everyone
# WHATSAPP_ALLOW_ALL_USERS=true            # OR this flag (same as *)

Optional behavior settings in ~/.hermes/config.yaml:

unauthorized_dm_behavior: pair

whatsapp:
  unauthorized_dm_behavior: ignore

unauthorized_dm_behavior: pair is the global default — unknown DM senders get a pairing code.
whatsapp.unauthorized_dm_behavior: ignore keeps WhatsApp silent for unauthorized DMs — usually better for a private number.

Then start the gateway:

hermes gateway              # Foreground
hermes gateway install      # Install as a user service
sudo hermes gateway install --system   # Linux only: boot-time system service

Session Persistence

The bridge saves its session under ~/.hermes/platforms/whatsapp/session. That means:

Sessions survive restarts — no re-scanning QR codes every time
The session data includes encryption keys and device credentials
Do not share or commit this session directory — it grants full access to the account

Re-pairing

If the session breaks (phone reset, WhatsApp update, manually unlinked), you’ll see connection errors in the gateway logs. Just run hermes whatsapp again to generate a fresh QR code and re-pair.

Windows Self-Healing & Stability

We’ve also added self-healing capabilities for Windows. The gateway now automatically detects and recovers from common service failures, reducing downtime and manual intervention. This is part of our ongoing commitment to making Hermes rock-solid across all platforms.

Final Thoughts

This update is all about making Hermes more accessible and reliable. Whether you’re setting up WhatsApp for the first time or running a production bot, we’ve got you covered. As always, pull the latest version and let us know how it goes!

Happy automating! 🚀