# Use Ollama Cloud models

Source: https://www.ollamaclient.in/guides/ollama-cloud/
Markdown: https://www.ollamaclient.in/guides/ollama-cloud.md
Description: Sign in to Ollama, discover hosted models automatically, and use :cloud models without downloading them.

Ollama Cloud models run on Ollama's hosted infrastructure while you keep using the local Ollama API at `http://localhost:11434`. You do not need a separate provider, base URL, or API key in Ollama Client.

:::caution[Cloud is not local]
Prompts, chat context, attached images, page content, tool results, and any other input sent to a `:cloud` model leave your device and are processed by Ollama's cloud service. Use a local model when the conversation must remain on your hardware.
:::

## Set up Ollama Cloud

1. Install or update [Ollama](https://ollama.com/download).
2. Sign in through the Ollama app, or run:

   ```bash
   ollama signin
   ```

3. Confirm that a cloud model works through Ollama itself:

   ```bash
   ollama run minimax-m3:cloud
   ```

4. Open Ollama Client and refresh the model menu.
5. Select a model carrying the **Cloud** badge and start chatting.

The model is served through your normal Ollama provider. Nothing large is downloaded to your computer.

## Automatic discovery

Recent Ollama versions expose hosted recommendations through the local daemon. Ollama Client combines those `:cloud` recommendations with the locally installed models returned by `/api/tags`, so both appear in the same model menu.

The Cloud badge shows the required plan when Ollama reports one. Hover it to see Ollama's model description. The response is cached briefly to avoid repeatedly polling the experimental endpoint.

Older Ollama versions may not provide cloud recommendations. That does not break local discovery: Ollama Client silently keeps the ordinary local model list.

## If a cloud model does not appear

First update Ollama and make sure you are signed in. Then verify the model in a terminal:

```bash
ollama run minimax-m3:cloud
```

If the model works there but is still absent from Ollama Client:

1. Open **Settings → Providers → Ollama**.
2. Add the exact model name, such as `minimax-m3:cloud`, under **Model IDs**.
3. Refresh the model menu and select it.

This manual entry is only a compatibility fallback. It does not download or delete a model.

## Output-token setting

Leave **Maximum Tokens** on **Auto (recommended)**. Ollama Client omits the wire-level output limit in Auto mode so the daemon can choose a valid value for either a local or hosted model.

Older releases sent their internal `-1` sentinel to Ollama. Some cloud models reject that value with HTTP 400. You should no longer need to replace it with a large positive number manually.

## Troubleshooting

### HTTP 401 or sign-in error

Open the Ollama app or run `ollama signin`, then retry the same model with `ollama run <model>:cloud`.

### HTTP 400 while generating

Reset **Maximum Tokens** to Auto. Also start a new text-only chat if the selected cloud model does not support images or other input from the current conversation.

### Model requires another plan

The Cloud badge may include `free`, `pro`, or another plan reported by Ollama. Availability and usage limits are controlled by your Ollama account. See [Ollama Cloud](https://docs.ollama.com/cloud) for current account and usage details.

### Local models work but cloud models do not

That confirms the local daemon is reachable, but not that it is authenticated for cloud inference. Test the exact `:cloud` model with the Ollama CLI; its error is usually the clearest sign-in or plan diagnostic.

## Related

- [Provider Setup](/guides/provider-setup/)
- [Privacy](/concepts/privacy/)
- [Ollama Cloud documentation](https://docs.ollama.com/cloud)
- [MiniMax M3 on Ollama](https://ollama.com/library/minimax-m3%3Acloud)