Connect HermesAgent or OpenClaw

Connect a local agent profile to a persona through PersonaStack for macOS. PersonaStack can then send assigned work to that profile on your Mac.

Before you start

Open a current version of PersonaStack for macOS and sign in to the workspace you want to use.
Install HermesAgent or OpenClaw on that Mac and configure its AI provider.
Keep the Mac awake and signed in while it receives work.

A profile is the local agent configuration you are connecting. Its AI provider and native skills stay managed in that profile. Select additional PersonaStack skills in the persona’s Skills picker. The linked host must support the MCP Skills extension to load those selections through its PersonaStack connection. The ordinary browser shows connection guidance and status. Use the macOS app for setup and repair.

1. Create the linked persona

Open Agent Personas in the macOS app.
Choose Connect HermesAgent or Connect OpenClaw.
Enter a Persona Name and choose Create.
Open the new persona’s connection panel to finish setup.

If you already have an unconnected local persona, open its settings and continue there. If the Connect buttons are missing, check that you are using a supported version of the macOS app.

2. Enable background work and select a profile

Choose Enable background work and find profiles.
Approve the background login item if macOS requests it. If background permission is blocked, allow PersonaStack in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, then retry.
Select the HermesAgent or OpenClaw profile. One available profile is preselected. With several available profiles, choose the intended one.
Choose Connect profile and wait for the connection report.

Profiles already connected or unavailable cannot be selected. If none appear, use the runtime setup instructions offered by the app, then choose Check again. Hermes may also request permission for shared gateway setup.

Hermes uses a shared gateway host on this Mac. Review its separate approval before enabling the gateway API or starting the host. Startup can activate configured messaging services and scheduled jobs for other profiles. Disconnecting leaves the host running.

OpenClaw requires MCP Apps. If Apps is disabled, review its separate approval before enabling HTML App capability and an extra local sandbox listener. Repair may restart the selected gateway. Cancel leaves the profile configuration unchanged. Apps stays enabled after disconnecting.

3. Check readiness

Wait for Runtime ready. A connection acknowledgement alone does not prove readiness. Use Check connection to inspect the current state.

Choose Send test wake when ready to try a task. It can use the profile’s AI provider. Follow the assigned run in persona chat. An accepted test confirms dispatch, so read its result before relying on the connection.

For Hermes, also ask the persona in chat to call my_persona_info and check the returned identity. Hermes readiness checks the profile configuration and direct PersonaStack tool access. It does not prove that Hermes has loaded those tools.

Repair a connection

Use Repair on the Mac that owns the connection. Follow the displayed reason for a stopped runtime, missing provider credentials, or tools-configuration conflict. If it asks for renewed tools authorization, use Disconnect, review the confirmation, then reconnect the same profile.

How this differs from Use with CLI

Use with CLI gives an interactive CLI access to PersonaStack tools. Connecting HermesAgent or OpenClaw links a local runtime that can receive assigned persona work. Linked personas use their profile’s provider and native skills. PersonaStack selections are also available through MCP when the host supports the Skills extension. Check the host’s loaded skills before relying on them. Follow its approval and dependency requirements. Review MCP skill delivery and the available Persona Settings capabilities.

Need a hand? Contact the PersonaStack team.