## 1. Install Ollama on the Windows 11 host
Download and install Ollama on the machine with the GPU/CPU you want to use. Pull a model and verify it locally:
```powershell
ollama pull llama3.2
ollama run llama3.2
```
Ollama normally listens only on `127.0.0.1:11434`. To permit LAN clients, configure it to listen on all interfaces with `OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434`. [1,2]
## 2. Configure `OLLAMA_HOST`
On the Windows host:
1. Open **Settings → System → About → Advanced system settings**.
2. Select **Environment Variables**.
3. Under **User variables**, select **New**.
4. Enter:
- **Variable name:** `OLLAMA_HOST`
- **Variable value:** `0.0.0.0:11434`
5. Click **OK** through all dialogs.
6. Exit Ollama completely from the system tray, then relaunch it.
If Ollama runs as a service rather than as the desktop application, restart that service after changing the variable.
`OLLAMA_ORIGINS` is only relevant to browser-based cross-origin requests; it does not make the server reachable over the network. Avoid setting it to `*` unless you specifically need browser access from arbitrary origins.
## 3. Find the Windows host’s LAN IP address
On the Windows machine, run:
```powershell
ipconfig
```
Find the **IPv4 Address** for the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. It will usually look like:
```text
192.168.1.50
```
Use this address from other machines—not `localhost`, `127.0.0.1`, or `0.0.0.0`.
It is useful to reserve this address in your router’s DHCP settings so it does not change.
## 4. Allow TCP port 11434 through Windows Firewall
Open **PowerShell as Administrator** and create a rule limited to private networks:
```powershell
New-NetFirewallRule `
-DisplayName "Ollama LAN API" `
-Direction Inbound `
-Protocol TCP `
-LocalPort 11434 `
-Action Allow `
-Profile Private
```
Make sure the network is classified as **Private**, not Public:
**Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi/Ethernet → your network → Network profile → Private**
Do not expose port 11434 through your router or enable WAN/Internet port forwarding. Ollama’s local API generally should not be placed directly on the public Internet.
## 5. Test the server locally
On the Windows host:
```powershell
curl http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags
```
You should receive JSON listing installed models.
You can also test using the host’s LAN address:
```powershell
curl http://192.168.1.50:11434/api/tags
```
Replace `192.168.1.50` with the actual address.
## 6. Test from another LAN computer
From another machine on the same network:
```bash
curl http://192.168.1.50:11434/api/tags
```
A successful response confirms that the remote machine can reach Ollama and see its models. Both machines must be on the same reachable LAN; guest Wi-Fi and client-isolation settings can block this connection.
## 7. Call the model remotely
Example using the Ollama REST API:
```bash
curl http://192.168.1.50:11434/api/generate \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "llama3.2",
"prompt": "Explain photosynthesis in two sentences.",
"stream": false
}'
```
For chat requests:
```bash
curl http://192.168.1.50:11434/api/chat \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "llama3.2",
"messages": [
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Write a short welcome message."
}
],
"stream": false
}'
```
## 8. Use it from applications
Many Ollama-compatible applications have a **custom endpoint**, **base URL**, or **Ollama host** setting. Enter:
```text
http://192.168.1.50:11434
```
For OpenAI-compatible applications, the base URL is often:
```text
http://192.168.1.50:11434/v1
```
The exact setting depends on the application. In Python, an Ollama-compatible client commonly uses:
```python
from ollama import Client
client = Client(host="http://192.168.1.50:11434")
response = client.chat(
model="llama3.2",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "Give me three project ideas."}
],
)
print(response["message"]["content"])
```
## Troubleshooting
- **Local test works, remote test fails:** check the Windows Firewall rule and confirm the network is set to Private.
- **`curl` connects to `127.0.0.1` but not the LAN IP:** Ollama did not restart after setting `OLLAMA_HOST`, or it is still bound only to loopback.
- **Check what is listening:**
```powershell
netstat -ano | findstr :11434
```
You want to see `0.0.0.0:11434` or the machine’s LAN address, rather than only `127.0.0.1:11434`.
- **Connection times out:** check that both devices are on the same subnet and that Wi-Fi client isolation is disabled.
- **Model not found:** pull the model on the Windows host:
```powershell
ollama pull llama3.2
```
- **Using WSL2 or Docker:** networking may require additional port forwarding because WSL2 uses a virtualized network adapter; a normal Windows installation is simpler for LAN access. [1,3]
The essential configuration is:
```text
OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434
```
Then connect from other machines using:
```text
http://<Windows-LAN-IP>:11434
```
Read More
[1] [WSL 2] Exposing ollama via 0.0.0.0 on local network #1431 - GitHub — https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/1431
[2] Impossible to connect to ollama locally from another pc #6571 - GitHub — https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/6571
[3] [WSL2] Ollama on Windows host unreachable from Docker ... - GitHub — https://github.com/ollama/ollama/issues/14947
