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This guide walks you through downloading, installing, and verifying Ollama on your local machine so you can run large language models (LLMs) like LLaMA 3.2 straight from your terminal.

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1. Downloading Ollama

Visit the Ollama website and choose your operating system. Below is a quick reference for each platform:
Operating SystemFile FormatAction
macOS.zipDownload, unzip, and move to Applications
Linux.tar.gzDownload and extract
Windows.exeDownload and run installer
The image shows a webpage from ollama.com, offering a download for running large language models like Llama 3.3 and Phi 4, with options for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Select the download button for your OS, then you’ll land on a page like this:
The image shows a webpage for downloading "Ollama" with options for macOS, Linux, and Windows. It features a download button for macOS and a section to sign up for updates.

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2. Installing on macOS

Once the .zip file has finished downloading:
  1. Open Finder and navigate to your Downloads folder.
  2. Unzip the archive and double-click Ollama.app.
  3. When prompted, click Open.
  4. macOS will ask to move the app to Applications—confirm to complete the install.
If you see a security prompt about an unidentified developer, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow the app to run.
The image shows a Mac Finder window with a "Downloads" folder open, containing a folder, a ZIP file, and an app named "Ollama." A security prompt is asking if the user wants to open the downloaded app.

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3. Verifying the CLI

Launch your terminal. On first run, you may be asked to install the Ollama CLI—type yes to proceed. Once installed, confirm everything is set up by running: 
ollama
You should see output similar to: 
Usage:
  ollama [flags]
  ollama [command]

Available Commands:
  serve   Start ollama
  create  Create a model from a Modelfile
  show    Show information for a model
  run     Run a model
  stop    Stop a running model
  pull    Pull a model from a registry
  push    Push a model to a registry
  list    List models
  ps      List running models
  cp      Copy a model
  rm      Remove a model
  help    Help about any command

Flags:
  -h, --help      help for ollama
  -v, --version   Show version information

Use "ollama [command] --help" for more information about a command.
If you don’t see the above output, ensure your PATH includes the Ollama binary or restart your terminal session.
Congratulations! You now have Ollama installed and can run LLMs locally.

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4. Next Steps

To get started, try running Meta’s LLama 3.2 model: 
ollama run llama3
Explore the full set of commands with ollama help or check out the official documentation to learn how to create and manage your own models.

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