Chapter 2

Installation

LocalAI can be installed in multiple ways depending on your platform and preferences.

Tip

Recommended: Docker Installation

Docker is the recommended installation method for most users as it works across all platforms (Linux, macOS, Windows) and provides the easiest setup experience. It’s the fastest way to get started with LocalAI.

Installation Methods

Choose the installation method that best suits your needs:

  1. Docker ⭐ Recommended - Works on all platforms, easiest setup
  2. macOS - Download and install the DMG application
  3. Linux - Install on Linux using the one-liner script or binaries
  4. Kubernetes - Deploy LocalAI on Kubernetes clusters
  5. Build from Source - Build LocalAI from source code

Quick Start

Recommended: Docker (works on all platforms)

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

This will start LocalAI. The API will be available at http://localhost:8080. For images with pre-configured models, see All-in-One images.

For other platforms:

  • macOS: Download the DMG
  • Linux: Use the curl https://localai.io/install.sh | sh one-liner

For detailed instructions, see the Docker installation guide.