A complete, step-by-step guide to running powerful large language models entirely on your own machine. No subscriptions, no data leaving your computer, no compromises on privacy. Your conversations stay yours.
// 01 — Requirements
Local LLMs need memory. More RAM and VRAM means bigger, smarter models. Here's what works at each tier.
// 02 — Setup Guide
From zero to your own private ChatGPT in four steps. Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Ollama is a lightweight runtime that downloads and runs LLMs locally. It handles model management, quantisation, and GPU acceleration automatically.
Choose a model from the Ollama Library. Start small to test your hardware, then scale up. Models download once and are stored locally.
Open WebUI runs in a Docker container. If you don't have Docker yet, install Docker Desktop — it takes 2 minutes and gives you a GUI to manage containers.
One Docker command gives you a polished, ChatGPT-style interface that connects to Ollama. Your data is stored in a persistent volume — nothing is lost between restarts.
// 03 — Choose Your Model
Pick the right model for your hardware and use case. Smaller models are faster; larger ones are smarter.
// 04 — What You Can Do
Once running, your local AI becomes a Swiss Army knife for productivity — with zero data leaving your machine.
// 05 — Best Practices
Get the most out of your local LLM setup with these expert recommendations.
// 06 — Troubleshooting
Quick fixes for the most frequent setup problems.