How to download and install Ollama on Mac

Before you download

Ollama comes as one Ollama.dmg for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later. On Apple Silicon, models run on the graphics chip as well as the processor. On Intel Macs only on the processor, which is much slower.

Models are big: each takes gigabytes, and all of them together can take tens or hundreds of gigabytes. Check your free space before you download one, and get Ollama only from ollama.com.

How to install Ollama

1. Open Ollama.dmg in your Downloads folder.
2. In the window that opens, drag Ollama to the Applications folder.

3. Eject the Ollama disk: click the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar.
4. Open Ollama from Applications and click Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.
5. Ollama checks that its ollama command is available in Terminal and, if not, asks to create a link in /usr/local/bin. Allow it and enter your Mac password if asked.

What to set up after the first launch

• Where models live. Downloaded models are stored in ~/.ollama/models in your home folder, which grows with every model you add.
• Opening at login. Ollama stays in the menu bar to serve models. If you don’t want it to start with your Mac, turn it off in System Settings › General › Login Items.
• Updates. Ollama downloads updates by itself. Click its menu bar icon and choose Restart to update to install one.
• The installer. Once Ollama runs, move Ollama.dmg from Downloads to the Trash.

To try a model, run it in Terminal: Ollama downloads it the first time. gemma4 is the example from Ollama’s documentation. The library on ollama.com lists the others.

To see which models you have and how big they are, and to remove one you no longer use:

If Ollama won’t install or open

• «Ollama is damaged and can’t be opened». The download was incomplete. Delete the file and download it again from Ollama’s website.
• Ollama doesn’t start on an older Mac. Check your macOS version in About This Mac: Ollama needs macOS 14 or later.
• «command not found: ollama». Quit and reopen Ollama, let it create the command link, then open a new Terminal window.
• Nothing helps. Remove Ollama completely, models included, and install it again: see how to uninstall Ollama on Mac.

Alternatives to Ollama

• LM StudioThe same local models with a chat window.
• ChatGPTA cloud assistant, nothing to download.
• ClaudeA cloud assistant strong at long documents.