All Ollama Commands for Windows and Mac

Terminal commands 50

Type in TerminalType in PowerShellWhat it does

Everyday

ollama run gemma4

Downloads a model and starts a chat.

ollama run gemma4 "Why is the sky blue?"

Asks one question and exits.

ollama pull gemma4

Downloads or updates a model.

ollama list

Shows the models you have.

ollama ps

Shows models loaded in memory.

ollama stop gemma4

Unloads a model from memory.

ollama rm gemma4

Deletes a model.

ollama show gemma4

Shows a model's size and details.

ollama --version

Shows your Ollama version.

ollama help

Lists every command.

Run options

ollama run gemma4 --verbose

Shows the speed after each reply.

ollama run gemma4 --think=false

Turns thinking off.

ollama run gemma4 --think=high

Thinks harder, on models that can.

ollama run gemma4 --hidethinking

Hides the thinking text.

ollama run gemma4 --format json

Replies in JSON.

ollama run gemma4 --keepalive 30m

Keeps the model loaded for 30 minutes.

ollama run gemma4 --nowordwrap

Stops wrapping long lines.

cat notes.txt | ollama run gemma4 "Summarize this"Get-Content notes.txt | ollama run gemma4 "Summarize this"

Asks about a text file.Asks about a text file.

ollama run gemma4 "What's in this image? /Users/you/Desktop/photo.png"ollama run gemma4 "What's in this image? C:\Users\you\Desktop\photo.png"

Asks about a picture.Asks about a picture.

Special models

ollama run embeddinggemma "Hello world"

Turns text into embeddings.

ollama run phonon "Hello from Ollama."

Reads text out loud.

ollama run phonon --voice Zoey "Hi, this is Zoey."

Reads it in another voice.

ollama run nimble --ask "Is a refund being requested?" < ticket.txtGet-Content ticket.txt | ollama run nimble --ask "Is a refund being requested?"

Answers yes or no about a file.Answers yes or no about a file.

ollama run nimble --ask "Which team should handle this?" --choice billing="Payments" --choice technical="Software" < ticket.txt

Get-Content ticket.txt | ollama run nimble --ask "Which team should handle this?" --choice billing="Payments" --choice technical="Software"

Picks a label for a file.Picks a label for a file.

Custom models

ollama create mymodel -f Modelfile

Makes your own model from a Modelfile.

ollama cp gemma4 my-gemma

Copies a model under a new name.

ollama show gemma4 --modelfile

Shows a model's Modelfile.

ollama show gemma4 --parameters

Shows its settings.

ollama show gemma4 --template

Shows its prompt template.

ollama show gemma4 --system

Shows its system message.

ollama show gemma4 --license

Shows its license.

ollama show gemma4 -v

Shows every detail.

ollama push yourname/mymodel

Uploads your model to ollama.com.

Apps and account

ollama launch

Opens a menu to pick a model or app.

ollama launch claude

Runs Claude Code on Ollama.

ollama launch claude --model qwen3.5

Runs it with a model you pick.

ollama launch codex

Runs Codex on Ollama.

ollama launch opencode

Runs OpenCode on Ollama.

ollama launch vscode

Sets up VS Code chat.

ollama launch droid --config

Sets up an app without opening it.

ollama launch codex --restore

Puts an app back to its own settings.

ollama signin

Signs in to ollama.com.

ollama signout

Signs out.

Install and server

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | shirm https://ollama.com/install.ps1 | iex

Installs Ollama.Installs Ollama.

ollama serve

Starts Ollama without the app.

open -a Ollama& "ollama app.exe"

Opens the Ollama app.Opens the Ollama app.

curl http://localhost:11434curl.exe http://localhost:11434

Checks if Ollama is running.Checks if Ollama is running.

curl http://localhost:11434/api/tagscurl.exe http://localhost:11434/api/tags

Lists your models through the API.Lists your models through the API.

curl http://localhost:11434/api/generate -d '{"model":"gemma4","prompt":"Why is the sky blue?","stream":false}'

(Invoke-WebRequest -method POST -Body '{"model":"gemma4","prompt":"Why is the sky blue?","stream":false}' -uri http://localhost:11434/api/generate).Content | ConvertFrom-Json

Asks a question through the API.Asks a question through the API.

which ollamawhere.exe ollama

Shows where Ollama is installed.Shows where Ollama is installed.

Chat commands 36

Type in a chatType in a chatWhat it does

Basics

/?

Shows the chat commands.

/? shortcuts

Shows the keyboard shortcuts.

/bye

Leaves the chat.

/clear

Forgets the chat so far.

"""

Starts and ends a message on many lines.

/load gemma4

Switches to another model.

/save mychat

Saves the chat as a new model.

Chat settings

/set system "Talk like a pirate."

Gives the model a role.

/set think

Turns thinking on.

/set think high

Sets how hard it thinks.

/set nothink

Turns thinking off.

/set verbose

Shows the speed after each reply.

/set quiet

Hides the speed again.

/set format json

Replies in JSON.

/set noformat

Goes back to plain replies.

/set wordwrap

Wraps long lines.

/set nowordwrap

Stops wrapping long lines.

/set history

Remembers what you type.

/set nohistory

Stops remembering what you type.

Model parameters

/set parameter num_ctx 8192

Lets it remember more of the chat.

/set parameter temperature 0.7

Higher is more creative.

/set parameter seed 42

Gives the same answer every time.

/set parameter num_predict 500

Limits how long replies get.

/set parameter top_k 40

Picks from fewer likely words.

/set parameter top_p 0.9

Picks from the most likely words.

/set parameter min_p 0.05

Skips very unlikely words.

/set parameter repeat_penalty 1.1

Repeats itself less.

/set parameter repeat_last_n 64

How far back it checks for repeats.

/set parameter num_gpu 20

Puts this many layers on the GPU.

/set parameter stop "User:"

Stops the reply at this word.

Model info

/show info

Shows the model's details.

/show parameters

Shows its settings.

/show system

Shows its system message.

/show template

Shows its prompt template.

/show modelfile

Shows its Modelfile.

/show license

Shows its license.

Keyboard shortcuts 12

Press in a chatPress in a chatWhat it does

Typing

Ctrl + A

Jumps to the start of the line.

Ctrl + E

Jumps to the end of the line.

Esc then BAlt + B

Moves back one word.Moves back one word.

Esc then FAlt + F

Moves forward one word.Moves forward one word.

Ctrl + W

Deletes the word before the cursor.

Ctrl + U

Deletes everything before the cursor.

Ctrl + K

Deletes everything after the cursor.

Up and Down arrows

Brings back earlier messages.

Chat

Ctrl + C

Stops the reply.

Ctrl + D

Leaves the chat.

Ctrl + L

Clears the screen.

Ctrl + G

Writes your message in a text editor.

Settings 15

Type in TerminalType in PowerShellWhat it does

Change a setting

Quit and reopen Ollama after a change.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_HOST "0.0.0.0:11434"setx OLLAMA_HOST "0.0.0.0:11434"

Lets other devices on your network use it.Lets other devices on your network use it.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_MODELS "/Volumes/External/ollama-models"setx OLLAMA_MODELS "D:\ollama-models"

Saves models to another drive.Saves models to another drive.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH "8192"setx OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH "8192"

Lets models remember longer chats.Lets models remember longer chats.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_KEEP_ALIVE "24h"setx OLLAMA_KEEP_ALIVE "24h"

Keeps models loaded for a day.Keeps models loaded for a day.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_FLASH_ATTENTION "1"setx OLLAMA_FLASH_ATTENTION "1"

Uses less memory on long chats.Uses less memory on long chats.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_KV_CACHE_TYPE "q8_0"setx OLLAMA_KV_CACHE_TYPE "q8_0"

Cuts chat memory use in half.Cuts chat memory use in half.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_NUM_PARALLEL "2"setx OLLAMA_NUM_PARALLEL "2"

Answers more requests at once.Answers more requests at once.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_MAX_LOADED_MODELS "2"setx OLLAMA_MAX_LOADED_MODELS "2"

Sets how many models stay loaded.Sets how many models stay loaded.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_ORIGINS "chrome-extension://*,moz-extension://*,safari-web-extension://*"setx OLLAMA_ORIGINS "chrome-extension://*,moz-extension://*,safari-web-extension://*"

Lets browser extensions connect.Lets browser extensions connect.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_NO_CLOUD "1"setx OLLAMA_NO_CLOUD "1"

Turns off cloud models and web search.Turns off cloud models and web search.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_NOHISTORY "1"setx OLLAMA_NOHISTORY "1"

Stops saving what you type in chats.Stops saving what you type in chats.

launchctl setenv OLLAMA_DEBUG "1"setx OLLAMA_DEBUG "1"

Adds more detail to the logs.Adds more detail to the logs.

Check or undo a setting

launchctl getenv OLLAMA_HOST[Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("OLLAMA_HOST", "User")

Shows a setting's value.Shows a setting's value.

launchctl unsetenv OLLAMA_HOST[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("OLLAMA_HOST", $null, "User")

Removes a setting.Removes a setting.

OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434 ollama serve$env:OLLAMA_HOST="0.0.0.0:11434"; ollama serve

Tries a setting once without saving it.Tries a setting once without saving it.

Files and logs 9

Type in TerminalType in PowerShellWhat it does

Logs

cat ~/.ollama/logs/server.logGet-Content "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Ollama\server.log"

Shows the server log.Shows the server log.

tail -f ~/.ollama/logs/server.logGet-Content "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Ollama\server.log" -Wait

Watches the log live.Watches the log live.

open ~/.ollama/logsexplorer "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Ollama"

Opens the logs folder.Opens the logs folder.

OLLAMA_DEBUG=1 ollama serve$env:OLLAMA_DEBUG="1"; & "ollama app.exe"

Starts Ollama with detailed logs.Starts Ollama with detailed logs.

Models folder

open ~/.ollama/modelsexplorer "$env:USERPROFILE\.ollama\models"

Opens the models folder.Opens the models folder.

du -sh ~/.ollama/models"{0:N1} GB" -f ((Get-ChildItem "$env:USERPROFILE\.ollama\models" -Recurse | Measure-Object Length -Sum).Sum / 1GB)

Shows how much space models use.Shows how much space models use.

rm -rf ~/.ollamaRemove-Item -Recurse -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.ollama"

Deletes every model and setting.Deletes every model and setting.

Uninstall

sudo rm -rf /Applications/Ollama.appstart ms-settings:appsfeatures

Removes the Ollama app.Opens Installed apps to remove Ollama.

sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ollama

Removes the ollama command.