Connect your AI

Connect Ollama

Free & private, runs on your Mac

1At a glance

How it connects: Runs on your Mac. No account or key
Cost: Free, needs about a few GB of space
With a free account: Ollama has no limits: it runs on your Mac.
Research: Uses Nuxa web search — free key, if you choose Set up web search

2Step by step

5 steps. Nuxa shows you these same steps, one at a time.

Step 1

Download Ollama

Nuxa opens Ollama's official download page. Click “Download for macOS”.

Button in Nuxa: Download Ollama

Open ollama.com/download/mac
Trouble with this step?
Step 2

Open the download and drag Ollama into Applications, then open it once

Double-click the file in Downloads, drag Ollama into Applications, then open Ollama from Applications.

Button in Nuxa: I've opened Ollama

Trouble with this step?
Step 3

Nuxa is looking for Ollama…

Nuxa notices by itself once Ollama is running. You'll see a small llama in the menu bar.

Button in Nuxa: Check again

Trouble with this step?
Step 4

Download the AI model

Nuxa downloads the AI model (a few GB) through Ollama. You can keep working meanwhile.

Button in Nuxa: Download the AI model

Trouble with this step?
Step 5

Testing Ollama…

Nuxa asks the model one short question, on your Mac.

Button in Nuxa: Test again

Trouble with this step?

3Free account limits

None

No limits

Ollama has no limits: it runs on your Mac.

4Troubleshooting

Tap a problem to see the fix.

Step 1 Download Ollama

The page didn't open

Open your web browser yourself and go to ollama.com/download.

The download is slow

Ollama itself is about 0.5 GB. On a slow connection it can take a few minutes.

My Mac is too old

Ollama needs a recent macOS. Choose Sign in with Google instead.

Step 2 Open the download and drag Ollama into Applications, then open it once

macOS says Ollama can't be opened

Right-click Ollama in Applications, choose Open, then click Open.

Ollama offers to install a command-line tool

You can skip it. Nuxa doesn't need it.

I can't find the download

Look in your Downloads folder, or in the Downloads list in your web browser.

Step 3 Nuxa is looking for Ollama…

Nuxa doesn't find Ollama

Open Ollama once from your Applications folder; a llama appears in the menu bar. Then click Check again.

There's no llama in the menu bar

Quit Ollama if it's running, then open it again from Applications.

I use a firewall or security app

Ollama runs only on your Mac, but some security apps block it. Allow Ollama in that app's settings.

Step 4 Download the AI model

The download is slow or stuck

Click Resume: it carries on where it stopped. On a slow connection this can take a while.

There isn't enough space

Choose the smaller model, or free up some space and try again.

My Mac has 8 GB of memory

Use the smaller model Nuxa recommends. Bigger models would be slow on this Mac.

Step 5 Testing Ollama…

The test takes a long time

The first answer loads the model into memory, which can take up to a minute. Later answers are quicker.

It says the model isn't there

Go back one step and download it again.

It says Ollama isn't running

Open Ollama from your Applications folder, then click Test again.

Any step Something else

I'm offline

Setting up needs the internet (except a model that's already on your Mac). Connect, then try the step again.

I use a VPN or a work network

VPNs and work firewalls sometimes block AI services. Try with the VPN off, or on another network.

macOS asks for permission

Nuxa may ask to paste from the clipboard or to open a web page. Click Allow; nothing happens without your click.

Nothing seems to happen

Click Check again, or go Back one step and try again. If you're stuck, click Get help — it tells us which step you're on.

5Still stuck?

Email us and tell us which step you’re on. A human reads every message.

Email info@getnuxa.com

6Last checked September 25, 2026

← Choose a different AI