What can you do once a model is on your computer?

Download a supported model before going offline. Once it is available on your computer, the local runner can generate responses without sending the prompt to a hosted model. Choose the local model explicitly.

LM Studio also offers other ways to work, including Bionic with optional cloud models. A remote connection or web feature changes where information goes. A desktop window alone does not tell you where the model is running.

Will your computer be able to run it, and what will it cost?

Check the current operating system and processor requirements. LM Studio recommends at least 16 GB of RAM for relevant systems. A model’s size, format and the amount of text you give it affect how much memory it needs.

Local model use is available for free under the desktop terms. Your machine supplies memory, storage and computing time. Optional hosted features have separate usage and pricing. Check the chosen model’s license as well.

How can you tell whether a test would stay on your machine?

Draw a fictional notes app and one downloaded model on the same laptop. Use paper and invented text. Leave software, model downloads, network settings and credentials untouched.

Mark the same-device path
Draw a line from the app to the local model server and back. Write which model you would select. Leave access from other devices off for this example.
Trace an optional connection
Draw a separate path for selecting a remote model or a web feature. Write down what would leave the computer. Use the local path only for the offline rehearsal.
Decide when to stop
If the model will not fit in memory, keep the note for manual work or choose a smaller supported model. Do not send the note to a cloud service just because the local model failed.

What should you check before putting a local server into another app?

The local API does not require a token by default. If your setup needs access control, check the server’s network and authentication settings before connecting it. Keep a same-device experiment separate from a service that accepts requests from other people.

The desktop terms describe personal and internal business use and limit offering the software as a service. A downloaded model has its own license. Keep its source, version, license and test cases so you can check another machine or model before depending on it.