> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stenoai.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Remote Ollama setup

> Offload summarization to a more powerful Mac or workstation on your network. Useful if your laptop cannot run larger models comfortably.

By default, Steno runs Ollama on the same machine where you record. If you have a more powerful Mac on your local network -- a desktop, a Mac Studio, or a Mac mini -- you can run Ollama there and point Steno at it.

This keeps summarization local to your network (no cloud involvement) while freeing your laptop's resources.

## Set up Ollama on the remote machine

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install Ollama">
    Download and install Ollama on the remote machine from [ollama.com](https://ollama.com).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pull the model you want to use">
    ```bash theme={null}
    ollama pull gemma4:12b-it-qat
    ```

    You can use any model supported by Ollama, including larger ones that would not run on your laptop.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Ollama to accept remote connections">
    By default, Ollama only listens on `127.0.0.1`. To accept connections from other machines on your network, set the `OLLAMA_HOST` environment variable before starting Ollama:

    ```bash theme={null}
    OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434 ollama serve
    ```

    For a persistent setup on macOS, add `OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434` to a launchd plist or use a tool like [LaunchControl](https://soma-zone.com/LaunchControl/).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Note the remote machine's local IP address">
    On the remote Mac, go to **System Settings → Network** and note the local IP address (e.g., `192.168.1.10`).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Point Steno at the remote Ollama

1. Open **Settings → AI**
2. Select **Private Server**
3. Enter the remote machine's address: `http://192.168.1.10:11434`
4. Select the model you want to use

Steno will send the transcript to the remote Ollama for summarization. Audio is never transmitted -- only the text transcript is sent over your local network.

## Notes

* Both machines must be on the same network. This does not work over the internet without additional configuration (VPN or tunnel).
* If the remote machine is not reachable, summarization fails with an error rather than falling back to the local model -- switch back to **Local** in Settings if you need to keep working offline.
* The remote Ollama address is saved in your local Steno config and persists across app updates and reinstalls, as long as your `~/Library/Application Support/stenoai/` data is not deleted.

***

<Accordion title="Is it secure to expose Ollama on the local network?">
  Ollama has no authentication by default. Anyone on your local network who can reach the IP and port can send requests to it. For a trusted home or small office network this is usually acceptable. On a shared or corporate network, use a firewall rule to restrict access to specific IPs.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Can I use a remote Ollama server over the internet?">
  Not directly without additional setup. You would need a VPN or an SSH tunnel. This is outside the scope of Steno itself -- set up the tunnel first, then point Steno at `http://localhost:[forwarded-port]`.
</Accordion>


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