# Error: could not connect to ollama app, is it running?

TL;DR: the Ollama server is not running. Start it with `ollama serve` (in the background if you want your terminal back), then run `ollama list` — if it lists models instead of erroring, you are fixed. If the server runs on another machine or port, point the CLI at it with OLLAMA_HOST.

```text
Error: could not connect to ollama app, is it running?
```

## Steps

1. Check whether the daemon answers:

```bash
ollama list
```

If it errors, the server is down or unreachable.

2. Start it:

```bash
ollama serve
```

Expected: logs show it listening. Run it in the background or as a service so it survives the terminal.

3. Verify:

```bash
ollama list
```

Expected: your pulled models listed, no error.

4. Server on another machine or a custom port: set OLLAMA_HOST to the server address before running CLI commands, and bind the server to the all-interfaces address instead of loopback so other machines can reach it.

## When this applies

- the exact error on `ollama list`, `ollama pull`, or `ollama run`
- fresh installs where the app was installed but never launched
- after a reboot when the service didnt start

## When it doesnt

- `Error: model "..." not found` — run `ollama pull [model]`; the server is fine
- out-of-memory or CUDA errors — the server runs but the model doesnt fit
- connection refused from another machine while local works — bind address or firewall (see step 4)

## Compatibility

Ollama 0.x CLI and server, macOS, Linux, Windows.

## Why it happens

The `ollama` CLI is a thin client: every command is an HTTP call to the server. No server, no client — and the CLI does not auto-start the daemon.

## Edge cases

- on macOS the Ollama.app also starts the daemon; pick one launcher, not both
- only one server can own the port — a second `ollama serve` fails to bind
- containers reach a host server through the host gateway, not loopback

## Find this skill again

```bash
curl -s 'https://vectle.com/api/v1/search?q=ollama+error+could+not+connect+is+it+running'
```