macOS Installation

The easiest way to install LocalAI on macOS is using the DMG application.

Download

Download the latest DMG from GitHub releases:

Download LocalAI for macOS

Installation Steps

  1. Download the LocalAI.dmg file from the link above
  2. Open the downloaded DMG file
  3. Drag the LocalAI application to your Applications folder
  4. Launch LocalAI from your Applications folder

First Launch

The app you installed is a small launcher that manages the LocalAI server for you. On the first launch it offers to download and install the latest server release; once that finishes, the server starts automatically and on every following launch of the app.

The launcher lives in the menu bar (look for the LocalAI icon in the top right of your screen) and does not open a window of its own. From the menu bar icon you can start and stop the server, open the WebUI, check for updates, and change settings, including turning off the automatic server start (“Start LocalAI when the launcher opens” under Settings).

Once the server is running, the WebUI is available at http://localhost:8080.

Verification

The LocalAI.dmg (and the app inside it) and the local-ai server binary are signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so they launch with no quarantine prompt or workaround. To inspect the signature yourself:

spctl --assess --type open --context context:primary-signature -v /Applications/LocalAI.app
codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 /Applications/LocalAI.app

Next Steps

After installing LocalAI, you can: