Can a local AI run offline? Check which model is doing the work.

A desktop app can offer both local and cloud models. Prepare the local model, turn off cloud features where appropriate and test with harmless input.

Distinguish the app from the model it calls. A locally installed interface does not by itself tell you where a request is processed. Check the selected model and any web-search or connected-service features.

What Ollama documents

Ollama’s FAQ says it does not see prompts or data when you run locally, while cloud-hosted models process requests through its service. Its local-only mode disables cloud models and web search. This is the vendor’s description, not an independent audit of every app that connects to Ollama.

Disable cloud features in the server configuration

The FAQ gives two options: set disable_ollama_cloud to true in ~/.ollama/server.json, or use OLLAMA_NO_CLOUD=1. Restart Ollama after the change. Its documented log message is “Ollama cloud disabled: true”. Preserve other settings if editing an existing configuration.

Prepare before disconnecting

Obtain the software and the local model while connectivity is available, then select the intended local model. Our suggested test uses a harmless question with the network disconnected. This can check whether that task works offline; it is not proof that the entire computer never sends data.

Review the rest of the workflow

Check any front end, extensions, sync and remote connectors separately. Do not infer their behavior from the model server’s local mode. Keep confidential files out of a test until you understand the complete path they take.

Published October 14, 2026. Based on Ollama’s official FAQ, retrieved directly. Configuration syntax was checked; we did not install or run Ollama, disconnect a device or audit network traffic.

Sources: Ollama · local and cloud FAQ.