How to Use AI Offline With No Internet Connection

Running AI offline is far easier than most people assume, and once it is set up there are no monthly fees, no data leaving your machine, and no internet required at all. You download a tool and a model file once, and from then on every question, summary or piece of code is generated locally on your own CPU, RAM and GPU. For anyone on a capped connection or handling sensitive material, that is a genuinely useful capability to have.

Quick Answer

Download Ollama or LM Studio, then download one model file while you still have internet. After that, all AI inference runs entirely on your own hardware with zero server calls, so you can use it fully offline. A capable model needs a decent CPU, plenty of RAM (16GB or more is comfortable), and ideally a GPU to run quickly.

Pick your tool: Ollama or LM Studio

Both do the same core job, running large language models on your own computer, but they suit different comfort levels.

Ollama is lightweight and command-driven. You install it, type a short command to pull a model, and then chat with it from the terminal or hook it into other apps. It is the favourite for people who like things tidy and scriptable. LM Studio is the friendlier option for most users: a proper graphical app where you browse models, download them with a click, and chat in a clean chat window that looks much like the online tools you already know. If you want zero command line, start with LM Studio. Either way, hardware matched to this workload makes a real difference, and the AI PC range at Evetech covers machines with the GPU and memory headroom that local models reward.

Set it up step by step

The whole process is a one-time online setup, after which you are free of the internet.

1. Install the app. Download Ollama or LM Studio from its official site and run the installer for your operating system.
2. Choose a model that fits your hardware. Smaller models (in the 3 to 8 billion parameter range) run on modest machines and are quick. Larger models are more capable but need more RAM and a stronger GPU. Start small and size up once you see how your hardware copes.
3. Download the model while online. In LM Studio, search and click download. In Ollama, run a pull command for your chosen model. This is the one step that needs internet, and the file can be several gigabytes.
4. Load the model and test it. Open a chat, type a prompt, and confirm you get a sensible reply.
5. Go offline. Disconnect from the internet entirely and ask it something. It keeps working, because the model now lives on your drive and runs on your hardware.

What your hardware needs to handle it

Local AI leans hardest on memory and graphics, so this is where to focus if performance feels slow.

RAM is the first ceiling: 16GB lets you run small-to-medium models comfortably, and 32GB or more opens the door to larger ones. A dedicated GPU dramatically speeds up responses, because models run far faster on graphics hardware than on the CPU alone, and GPU memory (VRAM) determines how large a model you can load quickly. Pair this with a capable processor and a fast NVMe SSD -- model files can reach many gigabytes and pull from storage on every load, so quick storage matters. If your current machine struggles, the PC best-sellers at Evetech include configurations with the GPU and memory headroom that local AI rewards.

Why run AI offline at all

Three reasons make this worth the setup. Privacy: your prompts and documents never leave the machine, which matters for confidential work, client data or personal notes. Cost and data: there are no subscription fees and no bandwidth used per query, ideal on a capped or expensive connection. And reliability: it works on a plane, in a remote area, or any time the line is down. Once configured, it is simply always available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need internet to use AI offline?

You need internet once, to download the tool and a model file. After that, all processing happens on your own hardware, so you can use the AI completely offline with no further connection required.

What hardware do I need to run AI locally?

For small to medium models, 16GB of RAM and a modern multi-core CPU are a comfortable starting point. A dedicated GPU with several gigabytes of VRAM makes responses much faster and lets you run larger models.

Is offline AI as good as ChatGPT?

Local models have improved enormously and handle writing, summarising, coding help and general questions well. The very largest cloud models can still be more capable on complex tasks, but for everyday and privacy-sensitive use, a good local model is more than enough.

Is running AI offline safe for sensitive data?

Yes, that is one of its main advantages. Because nothing is sent to a server, your prompts and any documents you work with stay entirely on your own machine, which is why privacy-conscious users and businesses favour the local approach.

How big are the model downloads?

It varies by model, but they typically range from a couple of gigabytes for small models to tens of gigabytes for larger ones. A fast SSD and enough free storage make managing several models much easier.