Skip to main content

Quickstart

还没翻译译自英文(docs.ollama.com)本页 60 段都还没译

Use Ollama in desktop apps and coding agents, or build an application with an API key.

Get started

Download Ollama for macOS, Windows, or Linux. Open the app, or get started from your terminal:

ollama

Follow the setup prompts. Sign in to use cloud models, or choose a local model.

Connect a desktop app

On macOS, open Ollama and select Apps. Connect Claude or ChatGPT (Desktop). Follow the prompts to install or restart the app.

Choose your Ollama models in Settings → Apps.

  • Claude Desktop — use Ollama models in Claude.
  • ChatGPT Desktop — use Ollama models in Codex mode. Regular Chat and voice use your usual ChatGPT connection.

Use a coding agent

From your project directory, launch your agent:

Claude CodeCodex CLIOpenCode

ollama launch claude

Ollama offers to install Claude Code if needed. See Claude Code for details.

Choose a model when prompted, then try:

Explain how this repository is organized.

For more tools, see Integrations. To connect an agent directly with an API key, see Claude Code.

Build an application

Use cloud models with an API key, or run models locally without one. Cloud requests do not require an Ollama installation.

1. Create an API key

For local models, skip this step and select Local under Send a request.

For cloud models, sign in or create an account, then create an API key.

Set your key in the terminal:

macOS / LinuxWindows

export OLLAMA_API_KEY="your_api_key"

Keep your key on your application's server, outside browser code and source control.

2. Send a request

Make your first request to Ollama

CloudLocal

These examples use the gemma4:31b cloud model.

Ollama APIOpenAI Chat CompletionsOpenAI ResponsesAnthropic Messages

curl https://ollama.com/api/chat \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OLLAMA_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gemma4:31b",
    "messages": [
      {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Say hello in one sentence."
      }
    ],
    "stream": false
  }'

Read the answer from message.content. See Ollama's API and libraries.

OpenAI and Anthropic compatibility each cover a subset of the original API. See Cloud for models and usage limits.

Run a model locally

Download Ollama, then run:

ollama run gemma4:e2b

Ollama downloads the model and starts a chat on your computer. Type /bye to leave.

Next steps

Add tool calling, stream responses, or browse more models.