Report
Claude Desktop can now run open models through Ollama
Ollama now lets developers configure Claude Desktop to use Ollama as a third-party gateway provider, enabling open models to run inside Claude. The announcement is brief and does not detail performance or compatibility.
Until now, Claude Desktop was tied to Anthropic's models. Ollama's blog now says developers can configure Claude Desktop to work with Ollama as a third-party gateway provider. That makes it possible to use open models in Claude. The setup is handled inside Ollama: open Ollama, select Claude, turn Claude on, and Ollama configures the third-party gateway. You are then set to use any model within Ollama, both local and on Ollama's cloud.
While connected, you can run open models directly on your computer. You can also use cloud models for larger coding and research tasks. If you want to go back, turn Claude off in Ollama to restore your previous setup. You can continue to use Anthropic models by toggling the feature inside Ollama. To use local models, go to the Settings page and configure a local model.
The FAQ addresses data handling. It says prompts or data will not be sent to Anthropic or Ollama. Telemetry is disabled by default. Ollama also states a strict Zero Data Retention policy across all of its models and services, whether you access them through the cloud or on your local machine.
For practical work, this means you can try open models inside a desktop app you may already use, and switch between local, cloud, and Anthropic models without changing tools. The blog post is dated August 25, 2026. It does not detail performance, model compatibility, or system requirements, so those remain open questions for anyone planning to rely on it.
Source details and supporting facts
Each line is stated by the page named above it.
Stated by ollama.com
- Claude Desktop can now be configured to work with Ollama as a third-party gateway provider, making it possible to use open models in Claude.
- While connected, you can choose to use any model within Ollama, both local and on Ollama’s cloud.
- Turn Claude off in Ollama to restore to your previous setup.
- Will my prompts or data be sent to Anthropic or Ollama? No. Telemetry is disabled by default.
- Ollama has a strict Zero Data Retention policy across all of our models and services whether you access them through our cloud or on your local machine.
- Can I continue to use Anthropic models? Yes, you can switch between Anthropic models and Ollama by toggling the feature inside Ollama.
- Can I use my local models with this integration? Yes, go to the Settings page and configure a local model.
- Open Ollama and select Claude. Turn Claude on and Ollama will configure the third-party gateway for you.
Sources
- Ollama blogText stored 15 September 2026
How this story was checked. Written from the 1 page listed above, stored 15 September 2026; claims checked against that stored text on 15 September 2026.
What that means
- 8 of 8 reported statements were confirmed against the page that carries them; the rest were removed rather than published.
- Figures in the text were required to appear in the stored source text: yes. Identifiers: yes.
- The check reads stored text only: no claim rests on a fresh look that did not happen.
- Where the reporting was silent, the text says so instead of filling the gap.