Choose a Profile-Scoped Terminal Font in Hermes Desktop

Hermes Desktop can use a different terminal font for each profile. Open Settings → Appearance → Terminal Font, or set the equivalent terminal.font_family configuration value. The choice can be an installed family such as MesloLGS NF or a CSS font stack.

Hermes appends its bundled JetBrains Mono fallback, so the terminal remains readable if the preferred family is unavailable. The feature does not download Google Fonts and does not require broad system-font permission.

Choose for readability

Use a monospaced family with clearly distinct zero and capital O, one and lowercase l, braces, and punctuation. A decorative coding font may look attractive but still reduce legibility at small sizes or on dense logs. Keep separate profile choices only when they communicate a useful context difference.

Setup checklist

• Confirm the preferred font is installed under the expected family name.
• Set the font in the intended Hermes profile.
• Keep the fallback stack intact.
• Review normal text, code, Unicode, and status-line glyphs.
• Check the terminal at both standard and high display scaling.
• Repeat the check after switching profiles.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing terminal fonts with CLI skins. A skin changes colors and styling; the font setting changes the typeface.
• Using a file name instead of a family name. Font selection follows installed family metadata.
• Choosing symbols that render inconsistently. Verify icons and box-drawing characters.
• Assuming one change affects every profile. The setting is profile-scoped.

Verification

Restart or refresh the Desktop surface if needed, open the terminal in two profiles, and inspect the computed typeface visually. Confirm the fallback remains readable by testing a profile on a system where the preferred family is absent.

Official references: Hermes Desktop and configuration.