# Run Ollama on your Mac

> Run models on your own Mac with Ollama, with no key and nothing sent to the cloud.

- Page: https://resurf.so/guides/ollama
- Section: AI
- Works on: Mac
- Last checked against the app: 2026-10-19
- Where: Settings → Providers
- Address: localhost:11434
- Key: None

## Install Ollama and pull a model

Ollama is a free app that runs AI models on your Mac. Resurf talks to it the way it talks to a cloud provider, except nothing leaves the Mac.

1. Download Ollama from [ollama.com](https://ollama.com/download) and open it. It keeps running in the background.
2. In Terminal, pull a model. This fetches a small one; the library at ollama.com lists others. Terminal: ```sh
ollama pull gemma4:e2b
```

Bigger models give better suggestions and need more memory.

## Connect

Ollama needs no key. Resurf connects to it at `localhost:11434`, the address Ollama listens on by default.

1. Choose **Settings…** (`⌘,`) and click **Providers** in the sidebar.
2. Click **Connect** beside **Ollama**. The sheet says **Resurf connects to Ollama at localhost:11434.**
3. Click **Connect**. Ollama moves to the top and shows **Connected**.

![Settings, Providers pane: OpenAI and Gemini connected; Claude, OpenRouter and Ollama to connect.](https://resurf.so/guides/shots/settings-providers@2x.webp)

Your first provider turns on **AI features** and **Suggest as you capture**. Ollama is on Mac only. iPhone and iPad list the four hosted providers.

## Pick a model

Connecting Ollama picks no model for you, so suggestions wait until you choose one.

1. In **Settings → AI**, click the **Model** button. Ollama's installed models are listed last, under the cloud providers.
2. Pick one. Resurf checks it the first time, and shows **Model not verified** if the model can't do what suggestions need. Pull a different model and try again.

Models with no vision organize images from their on-device text. The [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai) has its own model menu on Mac. Suggestions, voice note titles and generated notes never leave the Mac while they run on Ollama.

## When Resurf can't reach Ollama

You see **Could not reach Ollama. Make sure it is running, then try again.**

| Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Ollama isn't running | Open the Ollama app. It runs in the background and starts at login after you install it. |
| No model is installed | Connecting works, but the Model menu has nothing from Ollama. Pull a model in Terminal. |
| Ollama listens somewhere else | Resurf only looks at `localhost:11434`. If you changed Ollama's address with `OLLAMA_HOST`, put it back. |

In **Settings → Providers**, click **Manage** beside Ollama and click **Test** to run the check again.

## Questions

### Does anything leave my Mac with Ollama?

No. Requests go to Ollama on your own Mac at localhost:11434. Once a day Resurf refreshes its model catalog from models.dev, with no key and no content.

### Can I use Ollama on iPhone or iPad?

No. Ollama is on Mac only. iPhone and iPad list OpenAI, Claude, Gemini and OpenRouter.

### I connected Ollama and nothing happens.

Pick an Ollama model in Settings → AI → Model. Connecting picks none for you.

### Which model should I pull?

Any chat model from ollama.com's library. Resurf checks it when you pick it. Larger models give better suggestions and need more memory.

## More guides

- Previous: [Use OpenRouter](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openrouter.md)
- Next: [AI suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions.md)
- [AI providers](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-providers.md): Connect your own AI provider with your own key. Resurf's AI features stay off until you do.
- [Use OpenAI](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openai.md): Get an OpenAI API key, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use Claude](https://resurf.so/guides/use-claude.md): Get an Anthropic API key, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use Gemini](https://resurf.so/guides/use-gemini.md): Get a Gemini API key from Google AI Studio, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [Use OpenRouter](https://resurf.so/guides/use-openrouter.md): Get an OpenRouter key that reaches many models, connect it to Resurf, and know what to check when the connection test fails.
- [AI suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions.md): When you save something, your AI provider writes a title, a summary and keywords for it, and suggests spaces.
- [Model and instructions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-model.md): Pick the model that writes your suggestions, give it your own instructions, and run it again over your library.
- [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai.md): Ask questions about your library in a chat pane on Mac, and get answers that cite the captures they used.
- [Voice notes and AI](https://resurf.so/guides/voice-ai.md): Transcribe voice notes on your device or with OpenAI, and let your model title them, tidy the transcript and write notes.
- [What AI sends](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-privacy.md): What each AI feature sends to your provider, and when nothing is sent at all.
- [Every guide](https://resurf.so/llms.txt)