Overview
To install Ollama on a Mac, download Ollama.dmg from ollama.com, drag the app into Applications and open it; the Ollama macOS docs require macOS Sonoma (v14) or newer, and the GPU is used only on Apple M-series Macs. Last verified against the official docs on 2026-10-13. This page quotes only Ollama’s own documentation. Where the docs are silent, it says unknown. It gives no speed figures; to time your own Mac, see measure-tokens-per-second-mac.
How do I install Ollama on a Mac?
The docs call mounting the dmg and dragging the app to Applications the preferred method.
- Download Ollama for macOS from ollama.com/download.
- Mount
ollama.dmgand drag the app into the system-wide Applications folder (macOS docs). - Open the app. On startup it checks that the
ollamacommand is on your PATH and, if not, can ask permission to create a link in/usr/local/bin. - In Terminal, download and chat with a model. The quickstart uses
ollama run gemma4:e2b, then/byeto leave.
The README also lists an install script, curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh. If your home folder is short of space, the macOS docs say models can take tens to hundreds of GB, and that you can install elsewhere by placing the app where you want it and declining the “Move to Applications?” prompt on first start.
Can I use brew install ollama?
Yes, a Homebrew formula named ollama exists, and the README links to it. The Homebrew formula page shows brew install ollama and says development happens in Homebrew’s homebrew-core, so it is a Homebrew-hosted formula, and the page does not name Ollama as its maintainer. Whether the formula gives you the same menu bar app as the dmg is unknown from the pages read; Ollama’s own docs describe only the dmg.
What are the Ollama system requirements on Mac?
| Item | What the docs say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Sonoma (v14) or newer | macOS docs |
| Apple M-series | CPU and GPU support | macOS docs |
| Intel (x86) | CPU only | macOS docs |
| Minimum RAM | unknown, not stated on the pages read | none |
| Disk | Models can take tens to hundreds of GB | macOS docs |
Other sites quote different minimum macOS versions; this page uses only the Ollama docs. RAM depends on the model, so work it out with the formulas on methodology: weights_GB = params x bits / 8 / 1e9, plus KV cache, plus a labelled overhead. A worked table is on how-much-ram-for-local-llm. Intel Macs are covered on intel-mac-local-llm.
Does Ollama use the Mac GPU?
Yes on Apple silicon. The GPU docs say “Ollama supports GPU acceleration on Apple devices via the Metal API,” and the macOS docs list M-series as CPU and GPU, Intel as CPU only. Inside Docker Desktop on macOS there is no GPU acceleration, because of the lack of GPU passthrough and emulation (FAQ), so run Ollama natively.
Does Ollama use the Mac Neural Engine?
Unknown. None of the Ollama pages read state that it uses the Apple Neural Engine; the documented route is the GPU through Metal. Ollama’s MLX preview post says that on M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips it uses the GPU Neural Accelerators, which is a vendor claim and a different thing from the Neural Engine. It also says to use a Mac with more than 32GB of unified memory. See ollama-mlx and m5-neural-accelerators.
Where does Ollama store models on Mac?
Models live in ~/.ollama/models (FAQ). The macOS docs put models and configuration in ~/.ollama and logs in ~/.ollama/logs (app.log and server.log). To use another folder, set the OLLAMA_MODELS environment variable; on a Mac, the FAQ’s example for environment variables is launchctl setenv, followed by restarting the app.
How do I update Ollama on Mac?
On macOS, Ollama downloads updates automatically; click the menu bar item and choose “Restart to update” (FAQ). If you installed with Homebrew, the docs read do not cover updates; use Homebrew’s own tools.
How do I stop Ollama on Mac?
The docs read do not give a quit command. Two things they do say: models unload from memory after 5 minutes by default (OLLAMA_KEEP_ALIVE changes it), and you can stop it launching at login by disabling the Ollama entry under Login Items in Settings (the FAQ says Ollama registers as a login item on install). Quitting the running app from its menu bar item is not described on the pages read, so treat it as unconfirmed.
How do I uninstall Ollama on Mac?
The macOS docs list what to remove: the app in /Applications, the CLI link at /usr/local/bin/ollama, Application Support, saved state, caches and WebKit data under ~/Library, and the ~/.ollama folder. Deleting ~/.ollama also deletes every downloaded model. Copy the exact commands from that page rather than from memory.
How do I call the Ollama API on a Mac?
The server binds to 127.0.0.1 port 11434 by default, and OLLAMA_HOST changes the address (FAQ). The local API base is http://localhost:11434/api (API docs). The README example posts to http://localhost:11434/api/chat with a model, messages and "stream": false. To serve other machines, see mac-llm-server.
Is Ollama slow or out of memory on my Mac?
Speed on your Mac is unknown until you measure it (measure-tokens-per-second-mac). For diagnosis see local-llm-slow-on-mac and ollama-out-of-memory-mac. For a GUI alternative see lm-studio-vs-ollama-mac; for the wider picture, best-local-llm-for-mac.
Questions
How do I install Ollama on macOS?
Download Ollama.dmg from ollama.com, drag the app into Applications and open it. The docs require macOS Sonoma (v14) or newer. The app offers to link the ollama command into /usr/local/bin.
Does Ollama use the Mac GPU?
Yes on Apple M-series Macs. Ollama’s GPU docs say it supports GPU acceleration on Apple devices through the Metal API, and Intel Macs are CPU only.
Does Ollama use the Mac Neural Engine?
Unknown. The Ollama docs read do not say it does. Ollama’s MLX preview mentions the GPU Neural Accelerators on M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max, a vendor claim.
How do I uninstall Ollama on macOS?
Remove the app from Applications, the /usr/local/bin/ollama link, the related folders under ~/Library and ~/.ollama, using the commands on docs.ollama.com/macos. Removing ~/.ollama deletes your models.
How do I stop Ollama on Mac?
The official docs read do not state a quit command. They do say models unload after 5 minutes by default, and you can disable the Ollama Login Items entry to stop it starting at login.
How do I update Ollama on Mac?
Updates download automatically on macOS. Click the menu bar item and choose “Restart to update.”
Where does Ollama store models on Mac?
In ~/.ollama/models. Set OLLAMA_MODELS to use a different folder.
What are the Ollama system requirements on Mac?
macOS Sonoma (v14) or newer; Apple M-series for CPU and GPU, Intel for CPU only. A minimum RAM figure is unknown on the pages read; it depends on the model.
Can I install Ollama with Homebrew?
Yes, brew install ollama installs the formula hosted in Homebrew’s homebrew-core. Whether it matches the dmg app is unknown.
Sources read on 2026-10-13
- Ollama macOS docs: macOS 14 requirement, M-series vs Intel, dmg install, PATH link,
~/.ollamaand logs, uninstall list. - Ollama FAQ: port 11434,
OLLAMA_HOST, model folder,OLLAMA_MODELS, automatic updates, Login Items, 5 minute unload, Docker Desktop GPU note. - Ollama GPU docs: Metal support statement.
- Ollama API docs: local base URL.
- Ollama quickstart: first-run command.
- Ollama README: install script and Homebrew link, API example.
- Homebrew formula: ollama: formula exists,
brew install ollama, hosted in homebrew-core; no maintainer named. - Ollama MLX preview post: Neural Accelerators on M5 family and the 32GB unified memory note, vendor claims; speed figures not used.
- methodology: fit formulas.