diff --git a/hermes_cli/main.py b/hermes_cli/main.py
index 0ec9cfd38f..f728159da3 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/main.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/main.py
@@ -5923,16 +5923,19 @@ def _update_via_zip(args):
     # individually so update does not silently strip working capabilities.
     print("→ Updating Python dependencies...")
 
-    uv_bin = shutil.which("uv")
+    pip_cmd = [sys.executable, "-m", "pip"]
+    uv_bin = shutil.which("uv") or _ensure_uv_for_termux(pip_cmd)
     if uv_bin:
         uv_env = {**os.environ, "VIRTUAL_ENV": str(PROJECT_ROOT / "venv")}
+        if _is_termux_env(uv_env):
+            uv_env.pop("PYTHONPATH", None)
+            uv_env.pop("PYTHONHOME", None)
         _install_python_dependencies_with_optional_fallback([uv_bin, "pip"], env=uv_env)
     else:
         # Use sys.executable to explicitly call the venv's pip module,
         # avoiding PEP 668 'externally-managed-environment' errors on Debian/Ubuntu.
         # Some environments lose pip inside the venv; bootstrap it back with
         # ensurepip before trying the editable install.
-        pip_cmd = [sys.executable, "-m", "pip"]
         try:
             subprocess.run(
                 pip_cmd + ["--version"],
@@ -6564,6 +6567,25 @@ def _install_python_dependencies_with_optional_fallback(
         )
 
 
+def _is_termux_env(env: dict[str, str] | None = None) -> bool:
+    check = env or os.environ
+    prefix = str(check.get("PREFIX", ""))
+    return "com.termux" in prefix or prefix.startswith("/data/data/com.termux/")
+
+
+def _ensure_uv_for_termux(pip_cmd: list[str]) -> str | None:
+    """Best-effort uv bootstrap on Termux for faster update installs."""
+    uv_bin = shutil.which("uv")
+    if uv_bin or not _is_termux_env():
+        return uv_bin
+    try:
+        print("  → Termux detected: trying to install uv for faster dependency updates...")
+        subprocess.run(pip_cmd + ["install", "uv"], cwd=PROJECT_ROOT, check=False)
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    return shutil.which("uv")
+
+
 def _update_node_dependencies() -> None:
     npm = shutil.which("npm")
     if not npm:
@@ -7304,9 +7326,13 @@ def _cmd_update_impl(args, gateway_mode: bool):
         # breaks on this machine, keep base deps and reinstall the remaining extras
         # individually so update does not silently strip working capabilities.
         print("→ Updating Python dependencies...")
-        uv_bin = shutil.which("uv")
+        pip_cmd = [sys.executable, "-m", "pip"]
+        uv_bin = shutil.which("uv") or _ensure_uv_for_termux(pip_cmd)
         if uv_bin:
             uv_env = {**os.environ, "VIRTUAL_ENV": str(PROJECT_ROOT / "venv")}
+            if _is_termux_env(uv_env):
+                uv_env.pop("PYTHONPATH", None)
+                uv_env.pop("PYTHONHOME", None)
             _install_python_dependencies_with_optional_fallback(
                 [uv_bin, "pip"], env=uv_env
             )
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_cmd_update.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_cmd_update.py
index 17ab2956be..1de8f26a38 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_cmd_update.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_cmd_update.py
@@ -246,3 +246,15 @@ class TestCmdUpdateProfileSkillSync:
             cmd_update(mock_args)
 
         assert default_p.path in synced_paths
+
+
+def test_is_termux_env_true_for_termux_prefix():
+    from hermes_cli import main as hm
+
+    assert hm._is_termux_env({"PREFIX": "/data/data/com.termux/files/usr"}) is True
+
+
+def test_is_termux_env_false_for_non_termux_prefix():
+    from hermes_cli import main as hm
+
+    assert hm._is_termux_env({"PREFIX": "/usr/local"}) is False