> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hermesvoice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Your First Trigger

> Step-by-step guide to creating a trigger in Hermes.

## Create a web search trigger

Let's create a trigger that searches Google when you say "search google for..."

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Triggers">
    Go to **Settings → Triggers** in Hermes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Trigger">
    Click the **+** or **New Trigger** button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the trigger phrase">
    Type: `search google for`

    This is what you'll say to activate the trigger.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose matching mode">
    Select: **Prefix**

    This means the trigger activates when your speech *starts with* "search google for", and everything after becomes your search query.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select action type">
    Choose: **Web Search**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the action">
    * **Search Engine**: Google
    * **Browser**: Default

    Leave other settings as default.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save** or **Create**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Test your trigger

1. Press your dictation hotkey
2. Say: "search google for best coffee shops nearby"
3. Release the hotkey
4. Google opens with your search

***

## Create a window layout trigger

Let's create a trigger that snaps your window to the left half of the screen.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Triggers">
    Go to **Settings → Triggers**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Trigger">
    Click **+** or **New Trigger**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the trigger phrase">
    Type: `window left`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose matching mode">
    Select: **Exact**

    This means the trigger only activates when you say exactly "window left".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select action type">
    Choose: **Window Layout**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the action">
    * **Layout**: Left Half
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Test your trigger

1. Open any window
2. Press your dictation hotkey
3. Say: "window left"
4. Release the hotkey
5. The window snaps to the left half

***

## Tips for good triggers

### Keep phrases short but unique

* **Good**: "search google for" — short, distinctive
* **Bad**: "I want to search" — too generic, might match normal speech

### Avoid phrases you use naturally

If your trigger phrase appears in normal conversation, it will activate unexpectedly.

* **Good**: "window left" — unlikely to say in conversation
* **Bad**: "can you" — you probably say this often

### Use consistent patterns

Create a naming convention for your triggers:

* "search \[engine] for" — Google, DuckDuckGo, YouTube
* "window \[position]" — left, right, maximize
* "open \[app]" — Slack, Safari, Terminal

### Start simple

Begin with simple actions like web search and window layouts. Move to advanced triggers (Terminal, AI Calls) once you're comfortable.

***

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Matching modes" icon="crosshairs" href="/triggers/matching-modes">
    Understand prefix, exact, and contains matching.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Explore trigger types" icon="grid-2" href="/triggers/overview">
    See all 15 action types.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>