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Yes, OpenWork can run on a model that lives entirely on your computer. For Ollama, open Settings > Ollama, pick a model, and click Add to workspace. For LM Studio or any other local server with an OpenAI-compatible API, add it as a provider in your workspace’s opencode.jsonc.
Free and local. Local models need no API key, no OpenWork Cloud account, and no internet connection once the model is downloaded. Your prompts and files stay on your machine.

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Use Ollama

OpenWork has a built-in Ollama setup screen. It talks to Ollama at http://localhost:11434.
  1. Install Ollama and start it.
  2. In OpenWork, open Settings and choose Ollama.
  3. Wait for the status to show Ollama running. If it shows Ollama isn't installed or running, start Ollama and click the refresh button.
  4. Under Available models, select a model you already downloaded. If you have none, click Pull a model (or Add a custom model), type a model name from the Ollama library, such as qwen2.5-coder:7b, and wait for the download to finish.
  5. Leave Use as default model in workspace checked if new chats should use this model.
  6. Click Add to workspace. OpenWork saves the provider as Ollama (local) and reloads the workspace.
  7. Start a chat and confirm the model name in the model picker.
OpenWork checks whether the model can read images. Models with vision support accept image attachments; text-only models do not.

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Use LM Studio or another local server

LM Studio, llama.cpp’s server, vLLM, and similar tools expose an OpenAI-compatible API. OpenWork connects to them the same way it connects to any custom LLM.
  1. Start the local server in your tool and load a model. In LM Studio, start the local server from its developer view; by default it listens on http://localhost:1234.
  2. Copy the model identifier the server reports (for LM Studio, the name shown for the loaded model).
  3. Open your workspace folder and edit opencode.jsonc in its root (create it if it does not exist).
  4. Add a provider that points at the server’s /v1 endpoint:
  5. Replace qwen2.5-7b-instruct with the exact model identifier from step 2.
  6. Run Reload OpenCode config from the command palette (or restart OpenWork), then pick the model in the chat model picker.
The same pattern works for any local server: change the provider key, name, baseURL, and model IDs.

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Pick a model that can use tools

OpenWork is an agent: it reads files, runs tools, and calls MCP servers. Small local models often chat well but struggle to call tools reliably. If a task stalls or the model ignores your files, try a larger model or one that is advertised for tool or function calling. Keep a cloud model connected as a fallback for long, multi-step tasks.

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FAQ

Yes. OpenWork is free and open source, and running a local model adds no OpenWork cost. You only need hardware that can run the model.
Model requests go to the local server you configured, such as http://localhost:11434. Connectors and MCP servers you add still talk to their own services.
Make sure Ollama is running on the same machine and listening on port 11434. Then click the refresh button on the Ollama settings screen.
Your organization may block locally added providers or built-in extensions through desktop policies. Ask your OpenWork admin.
Yes. Run the model behind an OpenAI-compatible endpoint your team can reach, then add it once in OpenWork Cloud as a custom LLM provider.