OllaMan DocsLocal Ollama
Start, stop, install and update the Ollama on your computer without leaving OllaMan
Overview
OllaMan talks to an Ollama server, and until now that server had to be running before you opened the app. Local Ollama removes that step. OllaMan can detect the Ollama on your computer, start it, stop it, install it if it is missing, and update it.
Free for everyone
Local Ollama management is free. OllaMan does not bundle Ollama: it downloads the official release from Ollama's GitHub page when you ask it to install or update.
It works on the server that points at your own computer, such as http://localhost:11434. Remote servers are never started or stopped by OllaMan.
The Dashboard Control
The top of the Dashboard shows a small Ollama control next to the greeting: a coloured dot, the current status, and a button for the next action. Hover over it to see who manages Ollama and which port it uses.
| State | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Running | Green dot, Running, and a Stop button | Click Stop to shut Ollama down |
| Not running | Not running and a Start button | Click Start |
| Not installed | Not installed and an Install button | Click it to download and install Ollama (macOS and Windows). On Linux it opens the install steps in Settings |
| Installing | A progress bar and a Cancel button | Wait, or cancel. If it fails, the button becomes Retry install |
The control only appears while the active server is the one on your own computer. Click the gear icon at its right end to open Settings → Local Ollama.
While Ollama is stopped, the Running Models area says so and the Recently Installed list tells you the models are unavailable instead of "No models installed". Start Ollama from the header and they come back.
Stopping unloads everything
Stopping Ollama unloads all models and interrupts running chats and downloads. OllaMan asks you to confirm first.
Install Ollama
If Ollama isn't on your computer, OllaMan can install it.
Click Install
Click Install in the Dashboard header, or Install Ollama in Settings → Local Ollama.
Wait for the Download
OllaMan finds the latest release and downloads it. The download is often over 1 GB. You can Cancel at any time, and a download that was interrupted resumes where it stopped. If the connection stalls for 60 seconds, the install stops with an error and offers Retry install.
Verification
Before anything is installed, OllaMan checks the file's SHA-256 checksum. On macOS it also checks that the app is signed by the Ollama team, and on Windows that the installer has a valid signature from Ollama Inc. A file that fails a check is rejected.
Done
OllaMan installs Ollama and starts it. The status changes to Running, and you can go straight to installing a model.
Linux
On Linux, Ollama's installer needs administrator rights, so OllaMan shows the official install.sh command instead. Copy it, run it in a terminal, and come back to Settings to start and stop Ollama.
Settings → Local Ollama
Open Settings and choose Local Ollama.
Status
The top of the page shows:
- Status: Running, Not running, or Not installed
- Version: the installed Ollama version
- Managed by: who controls Ollama (see below)
- Location: where Ollama is installed
- Port: the port the server listens on
Managed By
OllaMan starts and stops Ollama through whatever already looks after it, so it never fights Ollama's own auto-restart.
| Managed by | Installed as | Start / stop |
|---|---|---|
| Ollama app | Ollama.app (macOS) or Ollama for Windows | Starts the app in the background, without opening a window. Stops it by ending the app |
| Homebrew service | brew install ollama | brew services |
| systemd service | The Linux install script | systemctl, which asks for your password once |
| OllaMan (ollama serve) | A bare ollama command without the app | OllaMan runs ollama serve itself and remembers it, even across restarts |
| Another process | Started in a terminal, Docker or elsewhere | Shown read-only |
Started somewhere else?
If Ollama was started outside OllaMan, for example with ollama serve in a terminal or in a Docker container, OllaMan shows it as Another process and doesn't offer Stop. Stop it where you started it.
Startup Options
| Option | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Start Ollama with OllaMan | On | When OllaMan opens with the local server selected and Ollama isn't running, it starts Ollama. A Linux systemd service is never started automatically, because that needs your password |
| Stop Ollama when OllaMan quits | Off | Stops Ollama when you quit OllaMan. Only applies when OllaMan started Ollama in this session, so an Ollama you started yourself is left alone |
Server Configuration
Server configuration shows how your Ollama is set up right now: the Model directory, the Listen address and the Context length. Every other OLLAMA_* variable is under All variables.
This section is read-only. OllaMan reads the values from the Ollama server log, or from the service definition on systemd. To change a setting, use Settings in the Ollama app, or set an environment variable such as OLLAMA_MODELS and restart Ollama. A hint under the section explains the way that fits your install.
Ollama Location
OllaMan normally finds Ollama by itself. If it can't, or picks the wrong copy, for example when Ollama lives on an external disk or in a custom folder, click Choose… under Ollama location and pick the Ollama app or the ollama executable. OllaMan checks the choice and shows what it detected. Click Reset to automatic to go back.
Updates
Updates compares your version with the latest Ollama release. The result is cached for 6 hours, and Check for updates checks right away.
When a newer version exists, click Update. OllaMan asks for confirmation, then:
- Ollama app (macOS and Windows): downloads the new release, runs the same checksum and signature checks as an install, replaces the app and restarts Ollama if it was running. If something goes wrong, the old version is put back
- Homebrew: runs
brew upgrade ollama - Linux and other installs: shows the manual steps. On Linux, run the official install script again
Updating restarts Ollama
Updating stops Ollama briefly. Loaded models are unloaded, and running chats and downloads are interrupted.