Fix: a local AI model won't load on your Mac
- Most common cause: the model wants more RAM than your Mac has. Pick a smaller tier.
- Next likeliest: you don't have enough free disk for the weights.
- After that: the download came down partial or corrupted. Re-download the tier.
- On tight-RAM Macs running Vision or Plus, a Metal GPU memory limit can block the load.
A model that won't load on a Mac is rarely a mystery. Nine times out of ten it's RAM. The tier you picked wants more memory than your Mac has. The other two suspects are a full disk and a download that quietly never finished. This walks through how to tell which one you're hitting, then fix it.
Cause 1: the model is too big for your RAM
Start here, because it's almost always the answer. Every tier has a memory floor it won't go below. Apple Silicon makes it tighter because the CPU and GPU share the same pool of RAM, so a big model is competing with everything else for that space. Ask for a model your Mac can't physically hold and it declines to load. Better that than a hard crash mid-answer.
| Model | Needs |
|---|---|
| Nano 4B / Lite 9B | 16 GB |
| Core / Code / Vision (27B–35B) | 24–32 GB |
| Plus 397B | 64 GB |
Fix: drop to a tier your Mac can actually run. Got 16 GB? Stay on Nano or Lite. On a 32 GB machine, Core 27B is about as high as I'd push it before things get sluggish.
Cause 2: not enough disk space
Weights that didn't finish downloading can't load. And they won't finish if your disk is full. The numbers add up fast: Core-class models run about 15 GB, and Plus alone wants roughly 209 GB sitting free. Fix: clear out some room first (our guide to freeing disk space for AI models covers the where and how), then kick off the download again.
Cause 3: incomplete or corrupted download
Sometimes the download gets cut off partway. Wi-Fi drops, the laptop sleeps, whatever. What you're left with is a half-finished model that looks present but won't load. Fix: open the app's model manager, delete the tier, and pull it down again on a connection you trust to stay up. Your chats and settings don't go anywhere when you do this.
Cause 4: Metal GPU memory limit (Vision / Plus)
This last one is sneaky, and it fooled me the first time. You've got the disk space and you're right at the RAM floor for one of the big multimodal models or the 397B Plus tier, yet it still won't load. The culprit is macOS itself. Its Metal GPU memory limit can slam the door even when everything else checks out. Fix: quit the other memory-hungry apps, relaunch Outlier, and try again. If it keeps refusing, step down a tier. The biggest models just want a roomier Mac, and there's no talking them out of it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the app say a model needs more memory?
Because that tier's weights don't fit in your Mac's unified RAM alongside macOS. The app refuses to load it rather than crash. Switch to a smaller tier, or use a Mac with more RAM.
I have the RAM but it still won't load — why?
Check disk space and the download. A partial or interrupted download fails to load; remove the tier and re-download it. For the largest models, closing other heavy apps and restarting can clear a Metal GPU memory limit.
Will switching tiers lose my chats?
No. Switching or removing a model only affects the weights on disk. Your conversations, projects, and settings stay intact.
Try Outlier free
Free Nano + Lite — local, private, no account. Pro $20/mo or $149/yr adds everything (all 7 model tiers incl. Plus 397B). Lifetime Pro from $99 (Founding 200, first 200 seats) or $200 (Founders 500). Apple Silicon only.
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