Llama for Windows is a free, open-source application released in October 2026 for Windows 11. Built with WinUI 3, it operates from the system tray and simplifies the process of downloading and running local large language models without requiring command-line knowledge or administrator privileges.
The application integrates directly with the Hugging Face repository, allowing users to browse models by parameter size and disk usage. It utilizes the GGUF format for quantized models, which reduces hardware requirements for local execution. The software automatically manages the llama.cpp inference engine.
Users can interact with models via a built-in web interface or a floating chat window triggered by the Alt+Space shortcut. The tool also functions as a local server, providing an OpenAI-compatible API at http://localhost:9931, which allows developers to integrate local models into other applications.
The software supports both x64 and ARM64 architectures, offering native compatibility for Windows on Arm devices. It also includes support for the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform. The application does not collect telemetry or user data, though it requires an internet connection for model downloads and updates.
Llama for Windows is available for download via the official Llama website and GitHub. It is exclusively designed for Windows 11, with no support for Windows 10. The tool aims to lower the barrier to entry for local AI by consolidating model management and inference into a single interface.
