HOW-TO · SET

How to install Ollama on Windows

beginner15 minBy Fredoline Eruo
Target environment
Ubuntu 24.04 · Ollama 0.4.xWindows 11 · Ollama 0.4.xmacOS 15 · Ollama 0.4.x
PREREQUISITES

Windows 10 or later, active internet connection, and at least 2 GB of free disk space. Administrator rights recommended.

What this does

This guide installs the Ollama runtime on a Windows host using the official installer or manual binary setup. After completion, the Ollama service runs as a background process and the CLI is accessible from Command Prompt or PowerShell.

Steps

  1. Download the Windows installer from the Ollama website. The installer is an MSI package that configures the service and environment automatically.

    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://ollama.com/install.ps1 -OutFile install.ps1

    Expected output: File download progress ending in a saved install.ps1 script.

  2. Execute the installation script with administrator privileges. Running as Administrator ensures the service registers correctly.

    Start-Process powershell -ArgumentList "-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\install.ps1" -Verb RunAs -Wait

    Expected output: Ollama has been installed. Restart your terminal to use it.

  3. Open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window. New sessions load the updated PATH. Verify the installation.

    ollama list

    Expected output: NAME ID SIZE MODIFIED (empty table is expected)

  • Record the local run evidence. Save the exact command, runtime or package version, model name if applicable, and observed output so the result can be reproduced later.

Verification

ollama --version
# Expected: ollama version 0.4.x

Common failures

  • Install script blocked by Execution Policy — The -ExecutionPolicy Bypass flag in the command above bypasses this. Alternatively, run Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser first.
  • MSI installer hangs at "Configuring..." — Disk write issue or antivirus interference. Temporarily disable real-time antivirus scanning and retry.
  • ollama not recognized after install — PATH not updated. Close and reopen all terminal windows, or manually add C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Programs\Ollama to the system PATH.
  • WSL2 networking conflict — WSL2 may cause port conflicts. Check with netstat -ano | findstr 11434.
  • Insufficient disk space for models — Base install is ~200 MB; models range from 1 GB to tens of GB. Ensure adequate free space before pulling models.

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