---
summary: "Run OpenClaw on local LLMs (LM Studio, vLLM, LiteLLM, custom OpenAI endpoints)"
read_when:
  - You want to serve models from your own GPU box
  - You are wiring LM Studio or an OpenAI-compatible proxy
  - You need the safest local model guidance
title: "Local Models"
---

# Local models

Local is doable, but OpenClaw expects large context + strong defenses against prompt injection. Small cards truncate context and leak safety. Aim high: **≥2 maxed-out Mac Studios or equivalent GPU rig (~$30k+)**. A single **24 GB** GPU works only for lighter prompts with higher latency. Use the **largest / full-size model variant you can run**; aggressively quantized or “small” checkpoints raise prompt-injection risk (see [Security](/gateway/security)).

If you want the lowest-friction local setup, start with [LM Studio](/providers/lmstudio) or [Ollama](/providers/ollama) and `openclaw onboard`. This page is the opinionated guide for higher-end local stacks and custom OpenAI-compatible local servers.

## Recommended: LM Studio + large local model (Responses API)

Best current local stack. Load a large model in LM Studio (for example, a full-size Qwen, DeepSeek, or Llama build), enable the local server (default `http://127.0.0.1:1234`), and use Responses API to keep reasoning separate from final text.

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: { primary: “lmstudio/my-local-model” },
      models: {
        “anthropic/claude-opus-4-6”: { alias: “Opus” },
        “lmstudio/my-local-model”: { alias: “Local” },
      },
    },
  },
  models: {
    mode: “merge”,
    providers: {
      lmstudio: {
        baseUrl: “http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1”,
        apiKey: “lmstudio”,
        api: “openai-responses”,
        models: [
          {
            id: “my-local-model”,
            name: “Local Model”,
            reasoning: false,
            input: [“text”],
            cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
            contextWindow: 196608,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
}
```

**Setup checklist**

- Install LM Studio: [https://lmstudio.ai](https://lmstudio.ai)
- In LM Studio, download the **largest model build available** (avoid “small”/heavily quantized variants), start the server, confirm `http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1/models` lists it.
- Replace `my-local-model` with the actual model ID shown in LM Studio.
- Keep the model loaded; cold-load adds startup latency.
- Adjust `contextWindow`/`maxTokens` if your LM Studio build differs.
- For WhatsApp, stick to Responses API so only final text is sent.

Keep hosted models configured even when running local; use `models.mode: "merge"` so fallbacks stay available.

### Hybrid config: hosted primary, local fallback

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: {
        primary: "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
        fallbacks: ["lmstudio/my-local-model", "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"],
      },
      models: {
        "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6": { alias: "Sonnet" },
        "lmstudio/my-local-model": { alias: "Local" },
        "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6": { alias: "Opus" },
      },
    },
  },
  models: {
    mode: "merge",
    providers: {
      lmstudio: {
        baseUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1",
        apiKey: "lmstudio",
        api: "openai-responses",
        models: [
          {
            id: "my-local-model",
            name: "Local Model",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text"],
            cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
            contextWindow: 196608,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
}
```

### Local-first with hosted safety net

Swap the primary and fallback order; keep the same providers block and `models.mode: "merge"` so you can fall back to Sonnet or Opus when the local box is down.

### Regional hosting / data routing

- Hosted MiniMax/Kimi/GLM variants also exist on OpenRouter with region-pinned endpoints (e.g., US-hosted). Pick the regional variant there to keep traffic in your chosen jurisdiction while still using `models.mode: "merge"` for Anthropic/OpenAI fallbacks.
- Local-only remains the strongest privacy path; hosted regional routing is the middle ground when you need provider features but want control over data flow.

## Other OpenAI-compatible local proxies

vLLM, LiteLLM, OAI-proxy, or custom gateways work if they expose an OpenAI-style `/v1` endpoint. Replace the provider block above with your endpoint and model ID:

```json5
{
  models: {
    mode: "merge",
    providers: {
      local: {
        baseUrl: "http://127.0.0.1:8000/v1",
        apiKey: "sk-local",
        api: "openai-responses",
        models: [
          {
            id: "my-local-model",
            name: "Local Model",
            reasoning: false,
            input: ["text"],
            cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
            contextWindow: 120000,
            maxTokens: 8192,
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
}
```

Keep `models.mode: "merge"` so hosted models stay available as fallbacks.

Behavior note for local/proxied `/v1` backends:

- OpenClaw treats these as proxy-style OpenAI-compatible routes, not native
  OpenAI endpoints
- native OpenAI-only request shaping does not apply here: no
  `service_tier`, no Responses `store`, no OpenAI reasoning-compat payload
  shaping, and no prompt-cache hints
- hidden OpenClaw attribution headers (`originator`, `version`, `User-Agent`)
  are not injected on these custom proxy URLs

Compatibility notes for stricter OpenAI-compatible backends:

- Some servers accept only string `messages[].content` on Chat Completions, not
  structured content-part arrays. Set
  `models.providers.<provider>.models[].compat.requiresStringContent: true` for
  those endpoints.
- Some smaller or stricter local backends are unstable with OpenClaw's full
  agent-runtime prompt shape, especially when tool schemas are included. If the
  backend works for tiny direct `/v1/chat/completions` calls but fails on normal
  OpenClaw agent turns, try
  `models.providers.<provider>.models[].compat.supportsTools: false` first.
- If the backend still fails only on larger OpenClaw runs, the remaining issue
  is usually upstream model/server capacity or a backend bug, not OpenClaw's
  transport layer.

## Troubleshooting

- Gateway can reach the proxy? `curl http://127.0.0.1:1234/v1/models`.
- LM Studio model unloaded? Reload; cold start is a common “hanging” cause.
- OpenClaw warns when the detected context window is below **32k** and blocks below **16k**. If you hit that preflight, raise the server/model context limit or choose a larger model.
- Context errors? Lower `contextWindow` or raise your server limit.
- OpenAI-compatible server returns `messages[].content ... expected a string`?
  Add `compat.requiresStringContent: true` on that model entry.
- Direct tiny `/v1/chat/completions` calls work, but `openclaw infer model run`
  fails on Gemma or another local model? Disable tool schemas first with
  `compat.supportsTools: false`, then retest. If the server still crashes only
  on larger OpenClaw prompts, treat it as an upstream server/model limitation.
- Safety: local models skip provider-side filters; keep agents narrow and compaction on to limit prompt injection blast radius.
