# Ollama Application: Ollama Also called ollama windows, ollama.exe Ollama, Productivity A local model runner. The Windows process is ollama.exe. Model files are large. It is not the ChatGPT desktop app. ## What you need to know Ollama runs models on this PC. ChatGPT.exe is a cloud client. ollama.exe is a local runner. Model files are large. ChatGPT desktop talks to OpenAI. Claude desktop talks to Anthropic. LM Studio is a different local GUI for GGUF files. - **What is it?**: Local model runner **Same as ChatGPT?**: No. This runs on your PC **Are models small?**: No. Files are large Feex says If ollama.exe is using RAM, I would check which model is loaded. Those weights live on disk and in memory. I would not end ChatGPT.exe to free that. Different product, different vendor. ## What is Ollama? Ollama runs local models through ollama.exe. It is not ChatGPT desktop, not Claude desktop, and not LM Studio's GUI. ## If you have never used it If you want a model to run on this PC, Ollama is a common runner. Download it from ollama.com/download. ollama.exe is a service plus CLI. The model files are large and live under your user profile. ChatGPT.exe talks to OpenAI in the cloud. A browser tab on chatgpt.com is not this exe. ## What is it used for? **Pull and run a model** ollama run llama3.2. ChatGPT.exe will not download that file into .ollama. **Local API on localhost** Apps talk to Ollama's port. OpenAI's cloud API is a different endpoint. **Keep the service in the tray** ollama.exe stays so models can load. LM Studio is a separate GUI product. ## Who is it for? - People who want a local model without a ChatGPT account - Developers wiring an app to localhost - Anyone who thought ChatGPT desktop was a local model ## Current status Ollama (2023) is a current local model runner from Ollama. The vendor still points Windows users at https://ollama.com/download. ## How old is it? Ollama launched in 2023 as a local-model helper. It is the same generation as LM Studio and newer than ChatGPT the web product. Current Windows builds still update. A 2022 llama.cpp-only zip is a different packaging. ## Versions Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here. Ollama for Windows ## System requirements Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need. ### Minimum | Operating system | A current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per Ollama | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | RAM | The runner is small. The model you load can want several to tens of GB | ## Resource profile - **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries ## Installed processes These executables belong to this product when it is installed. | ollama.exe | Ollama service and CLI | | ---------- | ---------------------- | ## Startup components Ollama can start a service or tray helper at sign-in so the API is ready. That is not ChatGPT's startup toggle. ## File locations | Typical install | C:\Users\\\\AppData\Local\Programs\Ollama\\ | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ## File formats GGUF and Ollama model blobs ## Common problems ### Disk shock after ollama pull Models are multi-gigabyte. That is expected. ChatGPT desktop does not store those weights. ### GPU not used Ollama documents GPU backends. A CPU-only run is slow. That is this runner, not an Edge tab. ## Getting unstuck ### Install from ollama.com/download Ollama hosts the Windows installer. A random ollama.exe in Downloads is the case to inspect. ### ollama list and the .ollama\models folder See what you actually pulled. LM Studio keeps models in a different cache. ### Quit the tray app if you want the service gone Ending ChatGPT.exe will not stop ollama.exe. ## Alternatives LM Studio if you want a GGUF GUI. ChatGPT or Claude if you want a cloud model. llama.cpp by itself is a lower-level path. ## Official help and downloads Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel. | Download | [ollama.com/download ](https://ollama.com/download)Official installer or vendor page | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Help | [github.com/ollama/ollama/tree/main/docs ](https://github.com/ollama/ollama/tree/main/docs)Vendor support | | Official site | [ollama.com/ ](https://ollama.com/)Start here, not a random exe host | | Ollama GitHub docs | [github.com/ollama/ollama/tree/main/docs ](https://github.com/ollama/ollama/tree/main/docs)CLI, models, and GPU notes | ## Related hardware RAM and disk decide which models fit. A supported GPU helps. This is local compute, not a browser chat. ## Technical details Technical details Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build. ## Related These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link. [ChatGPT: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/chatgpt)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager) ## Sources and verification Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research). - [Ollama official site ](https://ollama.com/)· Vendor product page - [Ollama help ](https://github.com/ollama/ollama/tree/main/docs)· Vendor support - [Ollama documentation ](https://github.com/ollama/ollama/tree/main/docs)· Official project docs - [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark. ## Was this article useful? A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note. Quick facts The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article. - **Developer**: Ollama **Category**: Local model runner **Process**: ollama.exe **License**: MIT **First released**: 2023 **Official site**: [ollama.com](https://ollama.com/) **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026 --- Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/ollama/) [Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)