diff --git a/cmd/launch/hermes.go b/cmd/launch/hermes.go
index 22e93d99..9c8ffe07 100644
--- a/cmd/launch/hermes.go
+++ b/cmd/launch/hermes.go
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func (h *HermesDesktop) launchArgs(args []string) []string {
 }
 
 func (h *HermesDesktop) shouldSkipDesktopBuild(args []string) bool {
-	if hermesDesktopHasFlag(args, "--skip-build", "--source", "--build-only", "--help", "-h") {
+	if hermesDesktopHasFlag(args, "--skip-build", "--force-build", "--source", "--build-only", "--help", "-h") {
 		return false
 	}
 	return h.packagedAppExists()
diff --git a/cmd/launch/hermes_test.go b/cmd/launch/hermes_test.go
index bcdcaf71..186c9258 100644
--- a/cmd/launch/hermes_test.go
+++ b/cmd/launch/hermes_test.go
@@ -349,6 +349,46 @@ func TestHermesConfigureUsesLaunchResolvedHostForModelDiscovery(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestHermesConfigurePreservesExplicitCloudModel(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
+	withHermesPlatform(t, "darwin")
+
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		switch r.URL.Path {
+		case "/api/tags":
+			fmt.Fprint(w, `{"models":[{"name":"qwen3.5:cloud"},{"name":"gemma4"}]}`)
+		default:
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+		}
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	withHermesOllamaURL(t, srv.URL)
+
+	if err := (&Hermes{}).Configure("qwen3.5:cloud"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Configure returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(tmpDir, ".hermes", "config.yaml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	var cfg map[string]any
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(data, &cfg); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to parse rewritten yaml: %v", err)
+	}
+	modelCfg, _ := cfg["model"].(map[string]any)
+	if got, _ := modelCfg["default"].(string); got != "qwen3.5:cloud" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected explicit cloud model to be preserved, got %q", got)
+	}
+	providers, _ := cfg["providers"].(map[string]any)
+	provider, _ := providers[hermesProviderKey].(map[string]any)
+	if got, _ := provider["default_model"].(string); got != "qwen3.5:cloud" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected provider default model to be preserved, got %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestHermesConfigureMigratesLegacyManagedAliases(t *testing.T) {
 	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
 	setTestHome(t, tmpDir)
@@ -678,6 +718,13 @@ func TestHermesDesktopRun(t *testing.T) {
 			hasPackage: true,
 			want:       "[desktop --skip-build]",
 		},
+		{
+			name:       "force build",
+			goos:       runtime.GOOS,
+			args:       []string{"--force-build"},
+			hasPackage: true,
+			want:       "[desktop --force-build]",
+		},
 		{
 			name:       "source mode",
 			goos:       runtime.GOOS,
diff --git a/docs/integrations/hermes-desktop.mdx b/docs/integrations/hermes-desktop.mdx
index 7126649b..66ba6e95 100644
--- a/docs/integrations/hermes-desktop.mdx
+++ b/docs/integrations/hermes-desktop.mdx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ ollama launch hermes-desktop
 
 Ollama handles the setup flow automatically:
 
-1. **Install** - If Hermes Desktop isn't installed, Ollama prompts to install it
+1. **Install** - If Hermes isn't installed, Ollama prompts to install the Hermes command-line agent. On first desktop launch, Hermes builds its packaged desktop app.
 2. **Model** - Pick a model from the selector
 3. **Configure** - Ollama configures Hermes Desktop to use your selected Ollama model
 4. **Launch** - Ollama opens Hermes Desktop
@@ -26,3 +26,13 @@ ollama launch hermes-desktop --model <model>
 ```
 
 Run `ollama launch hermes-desktop` again to switch models later.
+
+## Install Hermes Desktop directly
+
+On macOS and Windows, the Hermes Desktop installer is the recommended upstream installation path. It installs the desktop app and Hermes Agent together. If you prefer the command line, `ollama launch hermes-desktop` remains the explicit Ollama-managed path and uses the same Hermes configuration, sessions, skills, and memory as the CLI.
+
+To force Hermes to rebuild its packaged desktop app:
+
+```bash
+ollama launch hermes-desktop -- --force-build
+```
diff --git a/docs/integrations/hermes.mdx b/docs/integrations/hermes.mdx
index 99dda32f..d4b77a20 100644
--- a/docs/integrations/hermes.mdx
+++ b/docs/integrations/hermes.mdx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ ollama launch hermes
 
 Ollama handles everything automatically:
 
-1. **Install** — If Hermes isn't installed, Ollama prompts to install it via the Nous Research install script
+1. **Install** — If Hermes isn't installed, Ollama prompts to install the Hermes command-line agent
 2. **Model** — Pick a model from the selector (local or cloud)
 3. **Onboarding** — Ollama configures the Ollama provider, points Hermes at `http://127.0.0.1:11434/v1`, and sets your model as the primary
 4. **Gateway** — Optionally connects a messaging platform (Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Signal, Email) and launches the Hermes chat
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ hermes gateway setup
 
 ## Reconfigure
 
-Re-run the full setup wizard at any time:
+Use Hermes's model picker to change providers or models later:
 
 ```bash
-hermes setup
+hermes model
 ```
 
 ## Manual setup
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ Optionally connect a messaging platform during setup:
 Connect a messaging platform? (Telegram, Discord, etc.)
 
  →  Set up messaging now (recommended)
-    Skip — set up later with 'hermes setup gateway'
+    Skip — set up later with 'hermes gateway setup'
 ```
 
 ### Launch
@@ -114,4 +114,3 @@ Connect a messaging platform? (Telegram, Discord, etc.)
 ```
 Launch hermes chat now? [Y/n]: Y
 ```
-