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Install LocalAI

Note
The install script, the macOS app and the latest container image give version 4.12.1. The add-ons, Office, Sandbox, Pages and Team in these docs need a newer build.

Start with the install script on Linux, or on a Mac with Apple Silicon. On Windows, on an Intel Mac, in a cluster, or when you want to keep LocalAI apart from the host, use a container. On a Mac you can also use the app.

You haveUseCommand or guide
Linux, or a Mac with Apple SiliconInstall scriptcurl -sSL https://localai.io/install.sh | sh
Windows (WSL2), an Intel Mac, a server, or a GPU imageContainerContainers
A Mac and you want an appmacOS appmacOS
Linux with a desktopLauncher or binaryLinux
A clusterHelm chartKubernetes
A change to the codeSourceBuild from source

Install script

The script downloads the release binary for your machine, checks it against the checksums of the release, and puts it on your PATH. It builds nothing. Running it twice changes nothing.

curl -sSL https://localai.io/install.sh | sh
local-ai run qwen3-4b

The API and the web interface are then at http://localhost:8080.

You can set these environment variables before the command:

VariableEffect
LOCALAI_VERSIONInstall a given release, for example v4.7.1. The default is the latest release.
INSTALL_DIRInstall into this folder. The default is /usr/local/bin, or ~/.local/bin when /usr/local/bin is not writable.
LOCALAI_FORCESet to 1 to install again when the same build is present.
LOCALAI_NO_SUDOSet to 1 to never ask for sudo. LocalAI then installs into ~/.local/bin.

The script supports Linux and macOS on amd64 and arm64. There is no binary for Intel Macs. Use a container there. For a different install, see the other guides.

Container

docker run -p 8080:8080 --name local-ai -ti localai/localai:latest

Podman works the same way. For GPU images, see Containers.

macOS app

Download LocalAI.dmg, open it and move LocalAI to Applications. The DMG is signed and notarized. See macOS for the details.

What next

Run a first model with the quickstart.