diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4025a36b8..0c78d6e7d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,6 +85,18 @@ All your settings are stored in `~/.hermes/` for easy access:
 └── logs/           # Logs
 ```
 
+### Messaging Platforms (Telegram, Discord, Slack)
+
+If you configured a messaging bot token during setup, **start the gateway** so Hermes can receive and send messages:
+
+```bash
+hermes gateway              # Run in foreground (see output)
+hermes gateway install      # Or install as a background service (Linux)
+hermes gateway start        # Start the background service
+```
+
+The installer will offer to do this automatically if it detects a bot token. See [Messaging Gateway](#messaging-gateway) below for full setup instructions.
+
 ### Managing Configuration
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/scripts/install.ps1 b/scripts/install.ps1
index 49fdf3abb..9d99a1af8 100644
--- a/scripts/install.ps1
+++ b/scripts/install.ps1
@@ -544,6 +544,49 @@ function Invoke-SetupWizard {
     Pop-Location
 }
 
+function Start-GatewayIfConfigured {
+    $envPath = "$HermesHome\.env"
+    if (-not (Test-Path $envPath)) { return }
+
+    $hasMessaging = $false
+    $content = Get-Content $envPath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    foreach ($var in @("TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN", "DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN", "SLACK_BOT_TOKEN", "SLACK_APP_TOKEN", "WHATSAPP_ENABLED")) {
+        $match = $content | Where-Object { $_ -match "^${var}=.+" -and $_ -notmatch "your-token-here" }
+        if ($match) { $hasMessaging = $true; break }
+    }
+
+    if (-not $hasMessaging) { return }
+
+    Write-Host ""
+    Write-Info "Messaging platform token detected!"
+    Write-Info "The gateway needs to be running for Hermes to send/receive messages."
+    Write-Host ""
+    $response = Read-Host "Would you like to start the gateway now? [Y/n]"
+
+    if ($response -eq "" -or $response -match "^[Yy]") {
+        $hermesCmd = "$InstallDir\venv\Scripts\hermes.exe"
+        if (-not (Test-Path $hermesCmd)) {
+            $hermesCmd = "hermes"
+        }
+
+        Write-Info "Starting gateway in background..."
+        try {
+            $logFile = "$HermesHome\logs\gateway.log"
+            Start-Process -FilePath $hermesCmd -ArgumentList "gateway" `
+                -RedirectStandardOutput $logFile `
+                -RedirectStandardError "$HermesHome\logs\gateway-error.log" `
+                -WindowStyle Hidden
+            Write-Success "Gateway started! Your bot is now online."
+            Write-Info "Logs: $logFile"
+            Write-Info "To stop: close the gateway process from Task Manager"
+        } catch {
+            Write-Warn "Failed to start gateway. Run manually: hermes gateway"
+        }
+    } else {
+        Write-Info "Skipped. Start the gateway later with: hermes gateway"
+    }
+}
+
 function Write-Completion {
     Write-Host ""
     Write-Host "┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐" -ForegroundColor Green
@@ -622,6 +665,7 @@ function Main {
     Set-PathVariable
     Copy-ConfigTemplates
     Invoke-SetupWizard
+    Start-GatewayIfConfigured
     
     Write-Completion
 }
diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index a0c56ce89..20db6aae2 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -701,6 +701,64 @@ run_setup_wizard() {
     fi
 }
 
+maybe_start_gateway() {
+    # Check if any messaging platform tokens were configured
+    ENV_FILE="$HERMES_HOME/.env"
+    if [ ! -f "$ENV_FILE" ]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    HAS_MESSAGING=false
+    for VAR in TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN SLACK_BOT_TOKEN SLACK_APP_TOKEN WHATSAPP_ENABLED; do
+        VAL=$(grep "^${VAR}=" "$ENV_FILE" 2>/dev/null | cut -d'=' -f2-)
+        if [ -n "$VAL" ] && [ "$VAL" != "your-token-here" ]; then
+            HAS_MESSAGING=true
+            break
+        fi
+    done
+
+    if [ "$HAS_MESSAGING" = false ]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    echo ""
+    log_info "Messaging platform token detected!"
+    log_info "The gateway needs to be running for Hermes to send/receive messages."
+    echo ""
+    read -p "Would you like to install the gateway as a background service? [Y/n] " -n 1 -r
+    echo
+
+    if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]] || [[ -z $REPLY ]]; then
+        HERMES_CMD="$HOME/.local/bin/hermes"
+        if [ ! -x "$HERMES_CMD" ]; then
+            HERMES_CMD="hermes"
+        fi
+
+        if command -v systemctl &> /dev/null; then
+            log_info "Installing systemd service..."
+            if $HERMES_CMD gateway install 2>/dev/null; then
+                log_success "Gateway service installed"
+                if $HERMES_CMD gateway start 2>/dev/null; then
+                    log_success "Gateway started! Your bot is now online."
+                else
+                    log_warn "Service installed but failed to start. Try: hermes gateway start"
+                fi
+            else
+                log_warn "Systemd install failed. You can start manually: hermes gateway"
+            fi
+        else
+            log_info "systemd not available — starting gateway in background..."
+            nohup $HERMES_CMD gateway > "$HERMES_HOME/logs/gateway.log" 2>&1 &
+            GATEWAY_PID=$!
+            log_success "Gateway started (PID $GATEWAY_PID). Logs: ~/.hermes/logs/gateway.log"
+            log_info "To stop: kill $GATEWAY_PID"
+            log_info "To restart later: hermes gateway"
+        fi
+    else
+        log_info "Skipped. Start the gateway later with: hermes gateway"
+    fi
+}
+
 print_success() {
     echo ""
     echo -e "${GREEN}${BOLD}"
@@ -779,6 +837,7 @@ main() {
     setup_path
     copy_config_templates
     run_setup_wizard
+    maybe_start_gateway
     
     print_success
 }