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209 lines
8.1 KiB
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209 lines
8.1 KiB
Plaintext
---
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title: "Run OpenAI's gpt-oss locally in 5 mins (Beginner Guide)"
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description: "Complete 5-minute beginner guide to running OpenAI's gpt-oss locally. Step-by-step setup with Jan AI for private, offline AI conversations."
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tags: OpenAI, gpt-oss, local AI, Jan, privacy, Apache-2.0, llama.cpp, Ollama, LM Studio
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categories: guides
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date: 2025-08-06
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ogImage: assets/images/general/gpt-oss locally.jpeg
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twitter:
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card: summary_large_image
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site: "@jandotai"
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title: "Run OpenAI's gpt-oss Locally in 5 Minutes (Beginner Guide)"
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description: "Complete 5-minute beginner guide to running OpenAI's gpt-oss locally with Jan AI for private, offline conversations."
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image: assets/images/general/gpt-oss locally.jpeg
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---
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import { Callout } from 'nextra/components'
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import CTABlog from '@/components/Blog/CTA'
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# Run OpenAI's gpt-oss Locally in 5 mins
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OpenAI launched [gpt-oss](https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-oss/), marking their return to open-source AI after GPT-2. This model is designed to run locally on consumer hardware. This guide shows you how to install and run gpt-oss on your computer for private, offline AI conversations.
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## What is gpt-oss?
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gpt-oss is OpenAI's open-source large language model, released under the Apache-2.0 license. Unlike ChatGPT, gpt-oss:
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- Runs completely offline - No internet required after setup
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- 100% private - Your conversations never leave your device
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- Unlimited usage - No token limits or rate limiting
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- Free forever - No subscription fees
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- Commercial use allowed - Apache-2.0 license permits business use
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Running AI models locally means everything happens on your own hardware, giving you complete control over your data and conversations.
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## gpt-oss System Requirements
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| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
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|-----------|---------|-------------|
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| **RAM** | 16 GB | 32 GB+ |
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| **Storage** | 11+ GB free | 25 GB+ free |
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| **CPU** | 4 cores | 8+ cores |
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| **GPU** | Optional | Modern GPU with 6GB+ VRAM recommended |
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| **OS** | Windows 10+, macOS 11+, Linux | Latest versions |
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**Installation apps available:**
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- **Jan** (Recommended - easiest setup)
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- **llama.cpp** (Command line)
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- **Ollama** (Docker-based)
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- **LM Studio** (GUI alternative)
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## How to install gpt-oss locally with Jan (5 mins)
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### Step 1: Download Jan
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First download Jan to run gpt-oss locally: [Download Jan AI](https://jan.ai/)
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<Callout type="info">
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Jan is the simplest way to run AI models locally. It automatically handles CPU/GPU optimization, provides a clean chat interface, and requires zero technical knowledge.
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</Callout>
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### Step 2: Install gpt-oss Model (2-3 minutes)
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1. Open Jan Hub -> search "gpt-oss" (it appears at the top)
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2. Click Download and wait for completion (~11GB download)
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3. Installation is automatic - Jan handles everything
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### Step 3: Start using gpt-oss offline (30 seconds)
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1. Go to New Chat → select gpt-oss-20b from model picker
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2. Start chatting - Jan automatically optimizes for your hardware
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3. You're done! Your AI conversations now stay completely private
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Success: Your gpt-oss setup is complete. No internet required for chatting, unlimited usage, zero subscription fees.
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## Jan with gpt-oss vs ChatGPT vs other Local AI Models
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| Feature | gpt-oss (Local) | ChatGPT Plus | Claude Pro | Other Local Models |
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|---------|----------------|--------------|------------|-------------------|
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| Cost | Free forever | $20/month | $20/month | Free |
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| Privacy | 100% private | Data sent to OpenAI | Data sent to Anthropic | 100% private |
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| Internet | Offline after setup | Requires internet | Requires internet | Offline |
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| Usage limits | Unlimited | Rate limited | Rate limited | Unlimited |
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| Performance | Good (hardware dependent) | Excellent | Excellent | Varies |
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| Setup difficulty | Easy with Jan | None | None | Varies |
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## Alternative Installation Methods
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### Option 1: Jan (Recommended)
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- Best for: Complete beginners, users wanting GUI interface
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- Setup time: 5 minutes
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
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Already covered above - [Download Jan](https://jan.ai/)
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### Option 2: llama.cpp (Command Line)
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- Best for: Developers, terminal users, custom integrations
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- Setup time: 10-15 minutes
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- Difficulty: Intermediate
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```bash
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# macOS
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brew install llama-cpp
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# Windows: grab Windows exe from releases
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curl -L -o gpt-oss-20b.gguf https://huggingface.co/openai/gpt-oss-20b-gguf/resolve/main/gpt-oss-20b.gguf
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./main -m gpt-oss-20b.gguf --chat-simple
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# Add GPU acceleration (adjust -ngl value based on your GPU VRAM)
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./main -m gpt-oss-20b.gguf --chat-simple -ngl 20
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```
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### Option 3: Ollama (Docker-Based)
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Best for: Docker users, server deployments
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Setup time: 5-10 minutes
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Difficulty: Intermediate
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```bash
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# Install from https://ollama.com
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ollama run gpt-oss:20b
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```
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### Option 4: LM Studio (GUI Alternative)
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Best for: Users wanting GUI but not Jan
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Setup time: 10 minutes
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Difficulty: Easy
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1. Download LM Studio from official website
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2. Go to Models → search "gpt-oss-20b (GGUF)"
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3. Download the model (wait for completion)
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4. Go to Chat tab → select the model and start chatting
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## gpt-oss Performance & Troubleshooting
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### Expected Performance Benchmarks
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| Hardware Setup | First Response | Subsequent Responses | Tokens/Second |
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|---------------|---------------|---------------------|---------------|
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| **16GB RAM + CPU only** | 30-45 seconds | 3-6 seconds | 3-8 tokens/sec |
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| **32GB RAM + RTX 3060** | 15-25 seconds | 1-3 seconds | 15-25 tokens/sec |
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| **32GB RAM + RTX 4080+** | 8-15 seconds | 1-2 seconds | 25-45 tokens/sec |
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### Common Issues & Solutions
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Performance optimization tips:
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- First response is slow: Normal - kernels compile once, then speed up dramatically
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- Out of VRAM error: Reduce context length in settings or switch to CPU mode
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- Out of memory: Close memory-heavy apps (Chrome, games, video editors)
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- Slow responses: Check if other apps are using GPU/CPU heavily
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Quick fixes:
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1. Restart Jan if responses become slow
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2. Lower context window from 4096 to 2048 tokens
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3. Enable CPU mode if GPU issues persist
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4. Free up RAM by closing unused applications
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## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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### Is gpt-oss completely free?
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Yes! gpt-oss is 100% free under Apache-2.0 license. No subscription fees, no token limits, no hidden costs.
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### How much internet data does gpt-oss use?
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Only for the initial 11GB download. After installation, gpt-oss works completely offline with zero internet usage.
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### Can I use gpt-oss for commercial projects?
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Absolutely! The Apache-2.0 license permits commercial use, modification, and distribution.
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### Is gpt-oss better than ChatGPT?
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gpt-oss offers different advantages: complete privacy, unlimited usage, offline capability, and no costs. ChatGPT may have better performance but requires internet and subscriptions.
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### What happens to my conversations with gpt-oss?
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Your conversations stay 100% on your device. Nothing is sent to OpenAI, Jan, or any external servers.
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### Can I run gpt-oss on a Mac with 8GB RAM?
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No, gpt-oss requires minimum 16GB RAM. Consider upgrading your RAM or using cloud-based alternatives.
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### How do I update gpt-oss to newer versions?
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Jan automatically notifies you of updates. Simply click update in Jan Hub when new versions are available.
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## Why Choose gpt-oss Over ChatGPT Plus?
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gpt-oss advantages:
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- $0/month vs $20/month for ChatGPT Plus
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- 100% private - no data leaves your device
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- Unlimited usage - no rate limits or restrictions
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- Works offline - no internet required after setup
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- Commercial use allowed - build businesses with it
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When to choose ChatGPT Plus instead:
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- You need the absolute best performance
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- You don't want to manage local installation
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- You have less than 16GB RAM
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## Get started with gpt-oss today
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Ready to try gpt-oss?
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- Download Jan: [https://jan.ai/](https://jan.ai/)
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- View source code: [https://github.com/menloresearch/jan](https://github.com/menloresearch/jan)
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- Need help? Check our [local AI guide](/post/run-ai-models-locally) for beginners
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<CTABlog /> |