---
sidebar_position: 2
title: "Slash Commands Reference"
description: "Complete reference for interactive CLI and messaging slash commands"
---

# Slash Commands Reference

Hermes has two slash-command surfaces, both driven by a central `COMMAND_REGISTRY` in `hermes_cli/commands.py`:

- **Interactive CLI slash commands** — dispatched by `cli.py`, with autocomplete from the registry
- **Messaging slash commands** — dispatched by `gateway/run.py`, with help text and platform menus generated from the registry

Installed skills are also exposed as dynamic slash commands on both surfaces. (`/plan` used to be one of these; it is now a built-in command — see the Session table below.)

## Permissions and admin/user split

Every messaging platform that supports a per-user allowlist (Telegram, Discord, Slack, Matrix, Mattermost, Signal, …) also supports a two-tier slash command split: **admins** get every registered command, **regular users** only get the names you list in `user_allowed_commands` (plus the always-allowed floor `/help` and `/whoami`). Configure `allow_admin_from` and `user_allowed_commands` (and the per-group equivalents `group_allow_admin_from` / `group_user_allowed_commands`) inside the platform's `extra:` block in `~/.hermes/gateway-config.yaml`.

See the per-platform docs for examples — the structure is identical across platforms:

- [Telegram](../user-guide/messaging/telegram.md#slash-command-access-control)
- [Discord](../user-guide/messaging/discord.md)
- [Slack](../user-guide/messaging/slack.md)
- [Matrix](../user-guide/messaging/matrix.md)
- [Mattermost](../user-guide/messaging/mattermost.md)
- [Signal](../user-guide/messaging/signal.md)

If `allow_admin_from` is unset for a scope, that scope stays in unrestricted backward-compat mode — every allowed user can run every command.

## Interactive CLI slash commands

Type `/` in the CLI to open the autocomplete menu. Built-in commands are case-insensitive.

### Session

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/new [name]` (alias: `/reset`) | Start a new session (fresh session ID + history). Optional `[name]` sets the initial session title — e.g. `/new my-experiment` opens a fresh session already titled `my-experiment` so it's easy to find later with `/resume` or `/sessions`. Append `now`, `--yes`, or `-y` to skip the confirmation modal — e.g. `/reset now`, `/new --yes my-experiment`. |
| `/clear` | Clear screen and start a new session |
| `/history` | Show conversation history (respects `/timestamps`) |
| `/save` | Save the current conversation |
| `/prompt` (alias: `/compose`) | Compose your next prompt in `$EDITOR` (markdown) instead of the inline input — useful for long, multi-line, or carefully-formatted prompts. |
| `/retry` | Retry the last message (resend to agent) |
| `/undo` | Remove the last user/assistant exchange |
| `/title` | Set a title for the current session (usage: /title My Session Name) |
| `/compress [here [N] \| focus topic]` | Manually compress conversation context (flush memories + summarize). `/compress here [N]` summarizes everything except the most recent N exchanges (default 2), kept verbatim — pick your own compression boundary. A focus topic narrows what a full summary preserves. |
| `/rollback` | List or restore filesystem checkpoints (usage: /rollback [number]) |
| `/diff [staged\|all\|session] [--stat] [path...]` | Show git changes in the working directory. Default: unstaged changes plus untracked files. `staged` shows what's staged for commit, `all` everything since HEAD, and `session` the cumulative diff of everything Hermes changed here (from the earliest retained checkpoint baseline — requires checkpoints to be enabled; complements `/rollback diff <N>`). `--stat` prints just the changed-file summary; path arguments restrict the diff. |
| `/snapshot [create\|restore <id>\|prune]` (alias: `/snap`) | Create or restore state snapshots of Hermes config/state. `create [label]` saves a snapshot, `restore <id>` reverts to it, `prune [N]` removes old snapshots, or list all with no args. Database restores write through SQLite's backup API so live processes (gateway, dashboard) see the restored data safely; if that path fails while another process still holds the database open, the restore refuses instead of risking corruption — stop the holder and retry. |
| `/stop` | Kill all running background processes |
| `/queue <prompt>` (alias: `/q`) | Queue a prompt for the next turn (doesn't interrupt the current agent response). |
| `/steer <prompt>` | Inject a mid-run note that arrives at the agent **after the next tool call** — no interrupt, no new user turn. The text is appended to the last tool result's content once the current tool completes, giving the agent new context without breaking the current tool-calling loop. Use this to nudge direction mid-task (e.g. "focus on the auth module" while the agent is running tests). |
| `/goal <text>` | Set a standing goal Hermes works toward across turns — our take on the Ralph loop. After each turn an auxiliary judge model decides whether the goal is done; if not, Hermes auto-continues. Subcommands: `/goal status`, `/goal pause`, `/goal resume`, `/goal clear`. Budget defaults to 20 turns (`goals.max_turns`); any real user message preempts the continuation loop, and state survives `/resume`. See [Persistent Goals](/user-guide/features/goals) for the full walkthrough. |
| `/subgoal <text>` | Append a user-supplied criterion to the active goal mid-loop. The continuation prompt surfaces all subgoals to the agent verbatim, and the judge factors them into its DONE/CONTINUE verdict — so the goal isn't marked done until the original goal **and** every subgoal are met. Subcommands: `/subgoal` (list), `/subgoal remove <N>`, `/subgoal clear`. Requires an active `/goal`. |
| `/heartbeat every <interval> <prompt>` (alias: `/hb`) | Set a recurring prompt that re-enters **this session** as a normal user turn whenever it's idle and the interval has elapsed (min 60s; missed ticks coalesce). Subcommands: `/heartbeat status`, `/heartbeat pause`, `/heartbeat resume`, `/heartbeat clear`. Session-scoped and in-process — use `hermes cron` for durable isolated schedules. See [Session Heartbeats](/user-guide/features/heartbeat). |
| `/refine [focus]` | Run the background memory/skill self-improvement review **now** instead of waiting for the automatic post-turn trigger. Optional focus text steers the review (e.g. `/refine save the deploy workflow as a skill`). Runs in a background fork against a conversation snapshot — the live session and prompt cache are untouched; results are reported when done. |
| `/review [instructions]` | Spawn an independent, full-privilege reviewer subagent to review the work just discussed — a PR, code, docs, any artifact referenced in the last 10 chat messages. It investigates in the background (opens the PR, reads the diff, runs code) and its full review re-enters this session as a background-subagent completion the primary agent can act on. Pin a dedicated review model via `auxiliary.review` in config.yaml (defaults to your main model). See [Subagent Delegation](/user-guide/features/delegation#the-review-command). |
| `/moa <prompt>` | Run a single prompt through the default [Mixture of Agents](/user-guide/features/mixture-of-agents) preset, then restore your current model. One-shot — does not change your session model. |
| `/resume [name]` | Resume a previously-named session |
| `/sessions` (TUI alias: `/switch`) | Classic CLI: browse and resume previous sessions in an interactive picker. TUI: open the live session switcher for currently open TUI sessions. Use `/sessions new` in the TUI to start another live session immediately. |
| `/egress [status]` | Show Docker egress proxy status — enabled/configured/running state, credential source, token mappings, uncovered providers, and next remediation step. Works in CLI, TUI, Desktop chat, and messaging gateway. |
| `/redraw` | Force a full UI repaint (recovers from terminal drift after tmux resize, mouse selection artifacts, etc.) |
| `/status` | Show session info — model, provider, profile, session ID, working directory, title, created/updated timestamps, token totals, agent-running state — followed by a local **Session recap** block (recent user/assistant turn counts, tool result count, top tools used, last few files touched, the latest user prompt, and the latest assistant reply). The recap is computed locally from the in-memory conversation; no LLM call, no prompt-cache impact. |
| `/context [all]` (alias: `/ctx`) | Visual context-window breakdown. On the CLI/TUI: a 5×20 glyph block grid (each cell ≈ 1% of the model window) plus an estimated per-category table — system prompt, tool definitions, rules, skills index, MCP, subagents, memory, conversation — versus free space. On messaging platforms: a usage gauge with auto-compression threshold/headroom, compression stats, cumulative throughput, and the same category table in plain text. `/context all` appends per-skill and per-toolset cost listings (index cost vs SKILL.md load cost; schema tokens per toolset). Read-only and computed locally — no LLM call, no prompt-cache impact. |
| `/agents` (alias: `/tasks`) | Show active agents and running tasks across the current session. |
| `/bg <prompt>` | Run a prompt in a separate background session. The agent processes your prompt independently — your current session stays free for other work. Results appear as a panel when the task finishes. See [CLI Background Sessions](/user-guide/cli#background-sessions). |
| `/btw <question>` | Ask a quick side question **about the current conversation** without interrupting it. A one-shot auxiliary LLM call answers from a read-only snapshot of the transcript — the live session's history and prompt cache are untouched, and the current turn keeps running. For independent work with a fresh context, use `/bg`. |
| `/branch [name]` (alias: `/fork`) | Branch the current session (explore a different path) |
| `/worktree [new [name]\|list]` | **CLI only.** Inspect or create isolated git worktrees mid-session (inspired by Copilot CLI's `/worktree new`). Bare `/worktree` shows the active worktree; `/worktree list` lists the repo's worktrees; `/worktree new [name]` creates a worktree under `.worktrees/` (branched from the freshly-fetched remote tip, honoring `worktree_sync`) and retargets the session's terminal and file tools into it. Named trees use your name (`hermes/<name>` branch); unnamed ones get a random `hermes-<id>`. On exit the tree is kept only if it has unpushed commits — same lifecycle as `hermes -w`. See [Git Worktrees](/user-guide/git-worktrees). |
| `/handoff <platform>` | **CLI only.** Hand the current session off to a messaging platform (Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Matrix). The gateway picks it up immediately, creates a fresh thread on platforms that support threads (Telegram topics, Discord text-channel threads, Slack message-anchored threads), re-binds the destination to your CLI session_id so the full role-aware transcript replays, and forges a synthetic user turn so the agent confirms it's working in the new place. Your CLI exits cleanly on success with a `/resume` hint; resume locally any time with `/resume <title>`. Refused mid-turn. Requires the gateway to be running and a home channel configured for the target platform (`/sethome` from the destination chat). See [Cross-Platform Handoff](/user-guide/sessions#cross-platform-handoff). |
| `/journey [list\|delete <id>\|edit <id>]` (aliases: `/learning`, `/memory-graph`) | Open the learning journey timeline of learned skills + memories. Works in the classic CLI, as a TUI overlay, and in the desktop app (Star Map panel). Not available on messaging platforms. See [Learning Journey](/user-guide/features/memory#learning-journey-journey). |

### Configuration

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/config` | Show current configuration |
| `/model [model-name]` | Show or change the current model. Supports: `/model claude-sonnet-4`, `/model provider:model` (switch providers), `/model custom:model` (custom endpoint), `/model custom:name:model` (named custom provider), `/model custom` (auto-detect from endpoint), and user-defined aliases (`/model fav`, `/model grok` — see [Custom model aliases](#custom-model-aliases)). Flags: `--global` persists the change to config.yaml; `--session` forces session-only; `--once` applies to the next turn only; `--refresh` re-fetches the provider's model list; `--provider <name>` switches backend (session-only unless `--global`). A plain `/model <name>` is session-only unless `model.persist_switch_by_default: true` is set — except when no `model.default`/`model.provider` is configured yet, in which case the first pick persists so the profile gets a real default. The same rule governs the desktop composer picker. **Interactive picker:** running `/model` with no arguments opens the provider→model picker; on the model list you can **type to fuzzy-filter** the models (e.g. type `grok` to narrow to matching models), Backspace to trim the filter, Esc to clear it (or close the picker). Selection always resolves to one concrete model — the filter only narrows the list, it never guesses. **Note:** `/model` can only switch between already-configured providers. To add a new provider, exit the session and run `hermes model` from your terminal. **Cost note:** switching models mid-conversation resets the prompt cache — the cache key includes the model, so your next turn re-reads the entire conversation at full input price instead of the ~75%-discounted cached rate. Expected and unavoidable, but worth knowing on long sessions. |
| `/codex-runtime [auto\|codex_app_server\|on\|off]` | Toggle the optional [Codex app-server runtime](../user-guide/features/codex-app-server-runtime) for OpenAI/Codex models. `auto` (default) uses Hermes' standard chat completions; `codex_app_server` hands turns to a `codex app-server` subprocess for native shell, apply_patch, ChatGPT subscription auth, and migrated Codex plugins. Effective on next session. |
| `/personality` | Set a predefined personality. `/personality none` (or `default` / `neutral`) clears the overlay and returns to base behavior. |
| `/verbose` | Cycle tool progress display: off → new → all → verbose. Can be [enabled for messaging](#notes) via config. |
| `/focus [on\|off\|status]` | Toggle **focus view** — a display-only reduced-output mode showing just your prompt and the final response. Composes with `/verbose`: turning it on snaps tool progress to `off` and remembers your previous mode, and `/focus off` restores it. Each turn ends with a dim recovery line (`⋯ 7 tool lines hidden · /focus off to show`) and a persistent `◉ focus` badge sits in the status bar so you always know you're in the reduced view. Nothing is sent differently to the model — detail is hidden, never discarded. |
| `/fast [normal\|fast\|auto\|cold\|status]` | Fast mode — OpenAI Priority Processing / Anthropic Fast Mode. `fast` = every request; `auto` = only requests in the first `agent.fast_auto_seconds` (default 60s) of each turn; `cold` = that same window on the first turn of a session only. Default `normal` (off). See [Fast mode](../user-guide/configuration.md#fast-mode). |
| `/reasoning [level\|show\|hide\|full\|clamp] [--global]` | Manage reasoning effort and display. Levels include `none` / `minimal` / `low` / `medium` / `high` / `xhigh` / `max` / `ultra`. `show` / `hide` (or `on` / `off`) toggle reasoning display; `full` and `clamp` adjust how reasoning is shown. `--global` persists effort to config. |
| `/skin` | Show or change the display skin/theme |
| `/export [profile] [-o out.tar.gz]` | **CLI only.** Pack a profile into a shareable `.tar.gz` — skills, memory, persona, crons, plugins, settings, and (from the desktop) themes and layout. Credentials (`auth.json`, `.env`) are stripped. Defaults to the active profile and `<name>.tar.gz` in the current directory. Same archive as `hermes profile export`; for a versioned, updatable share use a [profile distribution](../user-guide/profile-distributions.md) instead. |
| `/import <archive.tar.gz> [--name <name>]` | **CLI only.** Install a profile archive as a new profile, inferring the name from the archive unless `--name` is given. Refuses to overwrite an existing profile and cannot import as `default`. Creates a shell wrapper when the name is free. See [Export and import a profile file](../user-guide/profile-distributions.md#export-and-import-a-profile-file). |
| `/statusbar` (alias: `/sb`) | Toggle the context/model status bar on or off |
| `/battery [on\|off\|status]` | Toggle a color-coded battery read-out as the first status-bar element (off by default; no-op without a battery). |
| `/voice [on\|off\|tts\|status]` | Toggle CLI voice mode and spoken playback. Recording uses `voice.record_key` (default: `Ctrl+B`). |
| `/yolo` | Toggle YOLO mode — skip all dangerous command approval prompts. |
| `/approvals [manual\|smart\|off]` | Show or set the persistent dangerous-command approval mode. |
| `/footer [on\|off\|status]` | Toggle the gateway runtime-metadata footer on final replies (shows model, context %, and cwd). |
| `/busy [queue\|steer\|interrupt\|status]` | Control what happens when you message while Hermes is working — queue the new message, steer mid-turn, or interrupt immediately. Works in the CLI and messaging gateway. |
| `/indicator [kaomoji\|emoji\|unicode\|ascii]` | CLI-only: pick the TUI busy-indicator style. |
| `/timestamps [on\|off\|status]` | CLI-only: toggle `[HH:MM]` timestamps on messages and in `/history`. |
| `/wake [on\|off\|status]` | CLI-only: toggle the "Hey Hermes" wake word listener. |

### Tools & Skills

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/tools [list\|disable\|enable] [name...]` | Manage tools: list available tools, or disable/enable specific tools for the current session. Disabling a tool removes it from the agent's toolset and triggers a session reset. |
| `/toolsets` | List available toolsets |
| `/browser [connect\|disconnect\|status]` | Manage a local Chromium-family CDP connection. `connect` attaches browser tools to a running Chrome, Brave, Chromium, or Edge instance (default: `http://127.0.0.1:9222`). `disconnect` detaches. `status` shows current connection. Auto-launches a supported Chromium-family browser if no debugger is detected. |
| `/skills` | Search, install, inspect, or manage skills from online registries. Also the review surface for the skill write-approval gate: `/skills pending`, `/skills diff <id>`, `/skills approve <id>`, `/skills reject <id>`, `/skills approval on\|off`. See [Gating agent skill writes](/user-guide/features/skills#gating-agent-skill-writes-skillswrite_approval). |
| `/memory [pending\|approve\|reject\|approval]` | Review pending memory writes staged by the write-approval gate (`memory.write_approval`) and toggle the gate. See [Controlling memory writes](/user-guide/features/memory#controlling-memory-writes-write_approval). |
| `/bundles` | List configured skill bundles — `/<name>` slash aliases that preload several skills at once. Configure under `bundles:` in `~/.hermes/config.yaml`. See [Skill Bundles](/user-guide/features/skills#skill-bundles). |
| `/learn <what to learn from>` | Distill a reusable skill from anything you describe — a directory, a URL, the workflow you just walked the agent through, or pasted notes. Open-ended: the agent gathers the sources with its own tools and authors a `SKILL.md` following the house authoring standards. Works in the CLI, the messaging gateway, the TUI, and the dashboard Skills page. |
| `/plan [task]` | Write a markdown implementation plan to `.hermes/plans/` in the active workspace — planning only, no execution. Empty argument infers the task from the conversation. (Formerly the bundled `plan` skill; now built-in so it survives the Telegram/Discord command-menu caps.) |
| `/init [notes]` | Generate or update `AGENTS.md` project instructions from a repo scan (port of Codex `/init`). The agent inspects manifests, layout, and toolchain configs with its read-only tools, then writes a concise `AGENTS.md` — or, if one exists, merge-updates it preserving your content. Optional notes steer the emphasis. Works in the CLI, the messaging gateway, and the TUI. |
| `/cron` | Manage scheduled tasks (list, add/create, edit, pause, resume, run, remove) |
| `/suggestions [accept\|dismiss N\|catalog\|clear]` (alias: `/suggest`) | Review suggested automations. Use `/suggestions` to list pending suggestions, `/suggestions accept <id>` to create the proposed automation, `/suggestions dismiss <id>` to reject one, `/suggestions catalog` to add curated starter automations, and `/suggestions clear` to clear resolved suggestion records. Accepted jobs preserve the current surface as the delivery origin. |
| `/blueprint [name] [slot=value ...]` (alias: `/bp`) | Set up an automation from a blueprint template. Bare `/blueprint` lists the catalog; `/blueprint <name>` starts a guided slot-filling flow on the next agent turn; `/blueprint <name> slot=value ...` creates the job directly. |
| `/curator` | Background skill maintenance — `status`, `run`, `pin`, `archive`. See [Curator](/user-guide/features/curator). |
| `/kanban <action>` | Drive the multi-profile, multi-project collaboration board without leaving chat. Full `hermes kanban` surface is available: `/kanban list`, `/kanban show t_abc`, `/kanban create "title" --assignee X`, `/kanban comment t_abc "text"`, `/kanban unblock t_abc`, `/kanban dispatch`, etc. Multi-board support included: `/kanban boards list`, `/kanban boards create <slug>`, `/kanban boards switch <slug>`, `/kanban --board <slug> <action>`. See [Kanban slash command](/user-guide/features/kanban#kanban-slash-command). |
| `/reload-mcp` (alias: `/reload_mcp`) | Reload MCP servers from config.yaml and re-probe tool availability (credentials/daemons that appeared mid-session) |
| `/reload-skills` (alias: `/reload_skills`) | Re-scan `~/.hermes/skills/` for newly installed or removed skills |
| `/reload` | Reload `.env` variables into the running session (picks up new API keys without restarting) |
| `/plugins` | List installed plugins and their status |
| `/pet [list\|<slug>]` | Toggle or adopt a [petdex](/user-guide/features/pets) mascot. `/pet` toggles the pane, `/pet list` shows installed pets, `/pet <slug>` adopts a specific one. |
| `/hatch <description>` (alias: `/generate-pet`) | Generate a brand-new petdex pet from a text description, using the configured image backend (OpenRouter / Nous Portal). See [Pets](/user-guide/features/pets). |

### Info

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/help` | Show available commands, grouped by category. Core commands are shown by default with skill commands collapsed to a one-line count; `/help skills` lists all skill commands, and `/help <text>` filters commands (and matching skills) by substring. |
| `/palette` | Open the fuzzy command palette (also **Ctrl+P**) — type to filter all commands + skills, ↑/↓ to move, Enter to insert the selected command into the composer (never auto-runs), Esc to cancel. Matching is ranked by command name first, so a short query stays precise. |
| `/version` | Show Hermes Agent version, build, and environment info. |
| `/whoami` | Show your slash command access level (admin / user). |
| `/usage` | Show token usage, cost breakdown, session duration, and — when available from the active provider — an **Account limits** section with remaining quota / credits / plan usage pulled live from the provider's API. |
| `/topup` | Show your Nous balance and manage billing on the portal (replaces the old `/credits` and `/billing` commands). |
| `/subscription` (alias: `/upgrade`) | **CLI only.** View your Nous plan and change it in the browser. |
| `/insights` | Show usage insights and analytics (last 30 days) |
| `/update` | Update Hermes Agent to the latest version. |
| `/platforms` (alias: `/gateway`) | Show gateway/messaging platform status (CLI-only summary view). |
| `/paste` | Attach a clipboard image |
| `/copy [number]` | Copy the last assistant response to clipboard (or the Nth-from-last with a number). CLI-only. |
| `/image <path>` | Attach a local image file for your next prompt. |
| `/debug` | Upload debug report (system info + logs) and get shareable links. Also available in messaging. |
| `/update` | Update Hermes Agent to the latest version. |
| `/profile` | Show active profile name and home directory |

### Exit

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/quit` | Exit the CLI (also: `/exit`). |

### Dynamic CLI slash commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/<skill-name>` | Load any installed skill as an on-demand command. Example: `/gif-search`, `/github-pr-workflow`, `/excalidraw`. |
| `/skills ...` | Search, browse, inspect, install, audit, publish, and configure skills from registries and the official optional-skills catalog. |

### Quick Commands

User-defined quick commands map a short slash command to either a shell command or another slash command. Configure them in `~/.hermes/config.yaml`:

```yaml
quick_commands:
  status:
    type: exec
    command: systemctl status hermes-agent
  deploy:
    type: exec
    command: scripts/deploy.sh
  inbox:
    type: alias
    target: /gmail unread
```

Then type `/status`, `/deploy`, or `/inbox` in the CLI or a messaging platform. Quick commands are resolved at dispatch time and may not appear in every built-in autocomplete/help table.

String-only prompt shortcuts are not supported as quick commands. Put longer reusable prompts in a skill, or use `type: alias` to point at an existing slash command.

### Custom model aliases

Define your own short names for models you use often, then reach them with `/model <alias>` in a running session, `hermes chat --model <alias>` at startup, or any messaging platform. Aliases work identically in these paths, on session-only (default) and `--global` switches.

Two config formats are supported:

**Full form** — pin an exact model, provider, and optionally a base URL. Put this in `~/.hermes/config.yaml`:

```yaml
model_aliases:
  fav:
    model: claude-sonnet-4.6
    provider: anthropic
  grok:
    model: grok-4
    provider: x-ai
  ollama-qwen:
    model: qwen3-coder:30b
    provider: custom
    base_url: http://localhost:11434/v1
  theta:
    model: theta-1
    provider: custom
    base_url: https://theta.example.com/v1
    key_env: THETA_API_KEY        # or: api_key: "${THETA_API_KEY}"
```

An alias with its own `base_url` can carry that endpoint's credential via
`api_key` (a literal, or a `"${VAR}"` reference) or `key_env` (an environment
variable name); `api_key` wins if both are set. With neither set, the key is
resolved from the alias **host**
and never inherited from the provider that was active before the switch.

**Short form** — `provider/model` in one string. Set from the shell without editing YAML:

```bash
hermes config set model.aliases.fav anthropic/claude-opus-4.6
hermes config set model.aliases.grok x-ai/grok-4
```

Then in chat:

```
/model fav            # session-only
/model grok --global  # also persists current-model change to config.yaml
```

User aliases take precedence over built-in short names, so naming an alias `sonnet`, `kimi`, `opus`, etc. will shadow the built-in. Alias names are case-insensitive.

### Alias Resolution

Commands support prefix matching: typing `/h` resolves to `/help`, `/mod` resolves to `/model`. When a prefix is ambiguous (matches multiple commands), the first match in registry order wins. Full command names and registered aliases always take priority over prefix matches.

## Messaging slash commands

> **Slack thread commands (`!` prefix):**
> Slack itself blocks native slash commands inside message threads ("/queue is not supported in threads. Sorry!") and never delivers them to Hermes. Inside a Slack thread, use the `!` prefix instead — `!stop`, `!new`, `!status` — and the gateway dispatches it exactly like the slash form. `@Hermes !stop` and `@Hermes /stop` work in threads too. Only the first token is checked against the known command list, so messages like `!nice work` pass through to the agent unchanged. See [Using commands inside threads](/user-guide/messaging/slack#using-commands-inside-threads-the-cmd-prefix) for details.

The messaging gateway supports the following built-in commands inside Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Email, Home Assistant, and Teams chats:

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/start` | Platform-protocol command. Many chat platforms (Telegram, Discord, …) send `/start` automatically the first time a user opens a bot conversation. Hermes acknowledges the ping silently — no agent reply, no session burn — so first-contact handshakes don't waste a turn. You can also send it explicitly to confirm the gateway is reachable. |
| `/new [name]` (alias: `/reset`) | Start a new session (fresh session ID + history). Optional `[name]` sets the initial session title. Append `now`, `--yes`, or `-y` to skip the confirmation modal — e.g. `/reset now`, `/new --yes my-experiment`. |
| `/status` | Show session info, followed by a local **Session recap** block (recent turn counts, top tools used, files touched, latest prompt + reply). |
| `/stop` | Kill all running background processes and interrupt the running agent. |
| `/model [provider:model]` | Show or change the model. Supports provider switches (`/model zai:glm-5`), custom endpoints (`/model custom:model`), named custom providers (`/model custom:local:qwen`), auto-detect (`/model custom`), and user-defined aliases (`/model fav`, `/model grok` — see [Custom model aliases](#custom-model-aliases)). Use `--global` to persist the change to config.yaml. **Note:** `/model` can only switch between already-configured providers. To add a new provider or set up API keys, use `hermes model` from your terminal (outside the chat session). **Cost note:** a mid-session model switch resets the prompt cache (the cache key includes the model), so the next message re-reads the whole conversation at full input price. |
| `/codex-runtime [auto\|codex_app_server\|on\|off]` | Toggle the optional [Codex app-server runtime](../user-guide/features/codex-app-server-runtime). Persists to `model.openai_runtime` in config.yaml and evicts the cached agent so the next message picks up the new runtime. Effective on next session. |
| `/personality [name]` | Set a personality overlay for the session. `/personality none` (or `default` / `neutral`) clears it. |
| `/fast [normal\|fast\|auto\|cold\|status]` | Fast mode — OpenAI Priority Processing / Anthropic Fast Mode. `auto`/`cold` open a bounded fast window per turn / per session. |
| `/retry` | Retry the last message. |
| `/undo` | Remove the last exchange. |
| `/sethome` (alias: `/set-home`) | Mark the current chat as the platform home channel for deliveries. |
| `/compress [here [N] \| focus topic]` | Manually compress conversation context. `/compress here [N]` keeps the most recent N exchanges (default 2) verbatim and summarizes the rest. A focus topic narrows what a full summary preserves. |
| `/topic [off\|help\|session-id]` | **Telegram DM only.** Manage user-managed multi-session topic mode. `/topic` enables it or shows status; `/topic off` disables it and clears bindings; `/topic help` shows usage; `/topic <session-id>` inside a topic restores a previous session. See [Multi-session DM mode](/user-guide/messaging/telegram#multi-session-dm-mode-topic). |
| `/title [name]` | Set or show the session title. |
| `/resume [name]` | Resume a previously named session. |
| `/sessions [all] [search <query>]` | List previous sessions for this chat; the active session appears with a `(current)` marker. `/sessions search <query>` filters by title/id match (most recently active first); `/sessions all` lists across origins (admin only — non-admins get a notice and the chat-scoped list). |
| `/usage` | Show token usage, estimated cost breakdown (input/output), context window state, session duration, and — when available from the active provider — an **Account limits** section with remaining quota / credits pulled live from the provider's API. |
| `/topup` | Show your Nous balance and manage billing on the portal. |
| `/whoami` | Show your slash command access level (admin / user). |
| `/insights [days]` | Show usage analytics. |
| `/reasoning [level\|show\|hide\|full\|clamp] [--global]` | Change reasoning effort (levels up to `max` / `ultra`) or toggle reasoning display (`full` / `clamp` included). `--global` persists to config. |
| `/voice [on\|off\|tts\|join\|channel\|leave\|status]` | Control spoken replies in chat. `join`/`channel`/`leave` manage Discord voice-channel mode. |
| `/rollback [number]` | List or restore filesystem checkpoints. |
| `/diff [staged\|all\|session] [--stat]` | Show git changes in the working directory (fenced and truncated to platform message limits). `session` shows the cumulative diff of everything Hermes changed; `--stat` shows just the summary. |
| `/bg <prompt>` | Run a prompt in a separate background session. Results are delivered back to the same chat when the task finishes. See [Messaging Background Sessions](/user-guide/messaging/#background-sessions). |
| `/btw <question>` | Ask a side question about the current conversation without interrupting it. Answered from a transcript snapshot; the answer is sent to the chat when ready. |
| `/queue <prompt>` (alias: `/q`) | Queue a prompt for the next turn without interrupting the current one. |
| `/steer <prompt>` | Inject a message after the next tool call without interrupting — the model picks it up on its next iteration rather than as a new turn. |
| `/goal <text>` | Set a standing goal Hermes works toward across turns — our take on the Ralph loop. A judge model checks after each turn; if not done, Hermes auto-continues until it is, you pause/clear it, or the turn budget (default 20) is hit. Subcommands: `/goal status`, `/goal pause`, `/goal resume`, `/goal clear`. Safe to run mid-agent for status/pause/clear; setting a new goal requires `/stop` first. See [Persistent Goals](/user-guide/features/goals). |
| `/subgoal <text>` | Append criteria to the active `/goal` mid-loop (`/subgoal`, `/subgoal remove <N>`, `/subgoal clear`). |
| `/heartbeat every <interval> <prompt>` (alias: `/hb`) | Set a recurring prompt that re-enters this session when idle. Subcommands: `status`, `pause`, `resume`, `clear`. On Slack use `/hermes heartbeat …`. |
| `/refine [focus]` | Run the memory/skill self-improvement review now, optionally with focus instructions. On Slack use `/hermes refine …`. |
| `/review [instructions]` | Spawn an independent reviewer subagent for the work just discussed (PR, code, docs); its review re-enters this chat when done. On Slack use `/hermes review …`. |
| `/moa <prompt>` | Run one prompt through the default [Mixture of Agents](/user-guide/features/mixture-of-agents) preset, then restore the session model. |
| `/branch [name]` (alias: `/fork`) | Branch the current session (explore a different path). |
| `/agents` (alias: `/tasks`) | Show active agents and running tasks. |
| `/sessions` | Browse and resume previous sessions. |
| `/context [all]` (alias: `/ctx`) | Context-window usage gauge and category breakdown (messaging-friendly text form). `/context all` adds per-skill / per-toolset cost detail. |
| `/egress [status]` | Show Docker egress proxy status. |
| `/init [notes]` | Generate or update `AGENTS.md` from a repo scan. |
| `/learn <what to learn from>` | Distill a reusable skill from anything you describe. |
| `/plan [task]` | Write a markdown implementation plan to `.hermes/plans/`; no execution. |
| `/bundles` | List configured skill bundles (`/<name>` aliases that preload several skills). |
| `/reload-skills` (alias: `/reload_skills`) | Re-scan `~/.hermes/skills/` for newly installed or removed skills. |
| `/footer [on\|off\|status]` | Toggle the runtime-metadata footer on final replies (shows model, context %, and cwd). |
| `/curator [status\|run\|pin\|archive]` | Background skill maintenance controls. |
| `/suggestions [accept\|dismiss N\|catalog\|clear]` | Review suggested automations right in chat. `/suggestions` lists pending suggestions, `catalog` adds curated starter automations, and `clear` prunes resolved suggestion records. Accepted suggestions keep this chat/thread as the job delivery origin. |
| `/blueprint [name] [slot=value ...]` | Browse cron blueprints, start a guided slot-filling conversation, or create a blueprint job directly. Directly created jobs deliver back to the current chat/thread. |
| `/memory [pending\|approve\|reject\|approval]` | Review pending memory writes staged by the write-approval gate (`memory.write_approval`) — approve or reject them right in chat — and toggle the gate with `/memory approval on\|off`. See [Controlling memory writes](/user-guide/features/memory#controlling-memory-writes-write_approval). |
| `/skills [pending\|approve\|reject\|diff\|approval]` | Review pending **skill** writes staged by the write-approval gate (`skills.write_approval`). Shows a one-line gist per staged write; `/skills diff <id>` is truncated for chat — read the full diff on the CLI or in `~/.hermes/pending/skills/<id>.json`. Only appears when the gate is on (or staged writes remain); search/install stay CLI-only. |
| `/kanban <action>` | Drive the multi-profile, multi-project collaboration board from chat — identical argument surface to the CLI. Bypasses the running-agent guard, so `/kanban unblock t_abc`, `/kanban comment t_abc "…"`, `/kanban list --mine`, `/kanban boards switch <slug>`, etc. work mid-turn. `/kanban create …` auto-subscribes the originating chat to the new task's terminal events. See [Kanban slash command](/user-guide/features/kanban#kanban-slash-command). |
| `/platform <list\|pause\|resume> [name]` | Operate a running gateway platform right from chat. `/platform list` shows every adapter and its state (running, paused-by-breaker, manually-paused); `/platform pause <name>` stops dispatching new messages to that adapter without unloading it; `/platform resume <name>` re-enables it and clears a tripped circuit breaker once the upstream is healthy. |
| `/reload-mcp` (alias: `/reload_mcp`) | Reload MCP servers from config and re-probe tool availability. |
| `/verbose` | Cycle tool progress display. **Off by default on messaging** — enable with `display.tool_progress_command: true` in `config.yaml`. |
| `/yolo` | Toggle YOLO mode — skip all dangerous command approval prompts. |
| `/commands [page]` | Browse all commands and skills (paginated). |
| `/approve [session\|always]` | Approve and execute a pending dangerous command. `session` approves for this session only; `always` adds to permanent allowlist. |
| `/deny` | Reject a pending dangerous command. |
| `/update` | Update Hermes Agent to the latest version. |
| `/restart` | Gracefully restart the gateway after draining active runs. When the gateway comes back online, it sends a confirmation to the requester's chat/thread. |
| `/debug` | Upload debug report (system info + logs) and get shareable links. |
| `/help` | Show messaging help. |
| `/<skill-name>` | Invoke any installed skill by name. |

## Notes

- `/skin`, `/snapshot`, `/export`, `/import`, `/reload`, `/tools`, `/toolsets`, `/browser`, `/config`, `/cron`, `/platforms`, `/paste`, `/image`, `/statusbar`, `/battery`, `/focus`, `/plugins`, `/indicator`, `/wake`, `/journey`, `/redraw`, `/clear`, `/history`, `/save`, `/copy`, `/handoff`, `/prompt`, `/pet`, `/hatch`, `/timestamps`, `/subscription`, and `/quit` are **CLI-only** commands.
- `/skills` is **CLI-only for search/browse/install**; its write-approval review subcommands (`pending`, `approve`, `reject`, `diff`, `approval`) also work on messaging platforms when `skills.write_approval` is on. `/memory` works on **both** surfaces.
- `/verbose` is **CLI-only by default**, but can be enabled for messaging platforms by setting `display.tool_progress_command: true` in `config.yaml`. When enabled, it cycles the `display.tool_progress` mode and saves to config.
- `/focus` and `/verbose` share one suppression path (`display.tool_progress`), so they can never contradict each other: `/focus on` pins tool progress to `off` and stashes your mode under `display.focus_saved_tool_progress`; `/focus off` restores it; cycling `/verbose` while focus is on takes the mode back and clears the focus badge. Focus view is display-only — it never changes conversation history, the system prompt, or anything sent to the model, so it has zero prompt-cache impact.
- `/sethome`, `/restart`, `/approve`, `/deny`, `/topic`, `/platform`, and `/commands` are **messaging-only** commands.
- `/status`, `/egress`, `/version`, `/whoami`, `/bg`, `/btw`, `/queue`, `/steer`, `/voice`, `/reload-mcp`, `/reload-skills`, `/rollback`, `/diff`, `/debug`, `/fast`, `/approvals`, `/busy`, `/footer`, `/curator`, `/kanban`, `/topup`, `/suggestions`, `/blueprint`, `/learn`, `/init`, `/sessions`, and `/yolo` work in **both** the CLI and the messaging gateway.
- `/voice join`, `/voice channel`, and `/voice leave` are only meaningful on Discord.
- In the TUI, `/sessions` shows live sessions in the current TUI process. Use `/resume [name]` or `hermes --tui --resume <id-or-title>` for saved or closed transcripts.

## Confirmation prompts for destructive commands

The CLI prompts before running slash commands that throw away unsaved session state. The current destructive set is:

| Command | What it destroys |
|---------|------------------|
| `/clear` | Clears the screen and starts a fresh session — current session ID and in-memory history are gone. |
| `/new` / `/reset` | Starts a fresh session (new session ID + empty history). |
| `/undo` | Removes the last user/assistant exchange from history. |
| `/exit --delete` / `/quit --delete` | Exits **and** permanently deletes the current session's SQLite history and on-disk transcripts. |

For each of these the CLI opens a three-choice modal: **Approve Once** (proceed this time), **Always Approve** (proceed and persist `approvals.destructive_slash_confirm: false` so future destructive commands run without prompting), or **Cancel**.

**Inline skip:** append `now`, `--yes`, or `-y` to bypass the modal for a single invocation — e.g. `/reset now`, `/new --yes my-session`, `/clear -y`, `/undo -y`. Useful when the modal doesn't render correctly on your terminal (see [issue #30768](https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/30768) for native Windows PowerShell) or when scripting against the CLI.

Set `approvals.destructive_slash_confirm: false` in `~/.hermes/config.yaml` to disable the prompts globally; set it back to `true` to re-enable. See [Security — Destructive slash command confirmation](../user-guide/security.md#dangerous-command-approval) for context.
