How to free up disk space for local AI models on a Mac

Outlier · solo-built in Grand Rapids · published 2026-06-09 Last updated 2026-09-15

Quick answer

Sizes run from Nano 2.4 GB up to Plus 397B at 209 GB.
Models download on first use, so you only store the tiers you actually run.
Drop a tier from inside the app and the space comes back right away.
Leave ~20% of your SSD free. The biggest model streams off disk and wants headroom.

Local AI models are big files. The smallest is around 2.4 GB. The largest hits 209 GB. So if your Mac is tight on space, this lays out exactly how much each Outlier model takes, where the files actually live, and how to clear room without breaking anything.

How much space each model needs

Model	Disk size
Nano 4B	~2.4 GB
Lite 9B	~5 GB
Quick 26B	~15.6 GB
Core 27B	~15.1 GB
Vision 3.8 27B	~15.5 GB
Plus 397B	~209 GB

You only ever store what you use. Models download on first run, not all in one go.

Receipts: Every size above is read from the tier catalog in the shipping app, not estimated: Nano 2.37 GB · Lite 5.04 GB · Quick 15.61 GB · Core 15.13 GB · Vision 3.8 15.5 GB · Plus 209 GB (measured on disk). Read 2026-09-15. Two corrections made on that read: the Core row appeared twice, and the Vision row still carried 19 GB — that was Vision 3.6's download. The tier was upgraded to 3.8 and the figure was not, so this page overstated it by 3.5 GB to anyone planning their disk around it.

Where Outlier stores models

Downloaded weights sit in Outlier's application support folder under your home directory. The app owns them. Don't go digging through Finder. The model manager inside the app is the clean way to see what's there and remove it.

Freeing up space

Remove unused tiers from the app's model manager. Fastest win by far. A 27B model gives back ~15 GB. Dropping Plus gives back 209 GB.
Use macOS Storage (Apple menu → System Settings → General → Storage) when you want to track down other big files.
Empty the Trash once the models are gone.
Pull a tier back down whenever you want. Removing it won't touch your chats or settings.

Why headroom matters for Plus

Plus 397B is different. It doesn't just sit on disk. During generation it streams experts straight off the SSD. When your drive is nearly full, macOS fragments and slows those reads, and that drags Plus down with it. Leave roughly 20% of the SSD free and the streaming stays smooth. The smaller models load fully into RAM, so they barely notice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I delete a model and get it back later?

Yes. Removing a model only deletes its weights from disk. Your chats, projects, and settings stay. You can re-download any tier on demand from the app's model manager.

Do I need space for all the models?

No. Models download individually on first use, so you only store the tiers you actually run. Many people keep just Nano, Lite, and one coding model.

How much free space should I keep?

Around 20% of your SSD. The largest model streams from disk during generation, and a nearly-full drive slows those reads. Smaller models that load fully into RAM are less affected.

Try Outlier free

Free Nano + Lite — local, private, no account. Pro is a one-time $249 and adds everything (all 6 model tiers incl. Plus 397B). Founders Lifetime is $249 once. Apple Silicon only.

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