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llama.cpp for Mac

LLM inference in C/C++

Quick answer: llama.cpp is a AI tool for macOS. Install it with brew install llama.cpp. It is distributed under the MIT licence. It has 18,895 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What llama.cpp is

llama.cpp is a AI tool for macOS: LLM inference in C/C++.

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the MIT licence.

How to install llama.cpp

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install llama.cpp.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I install llama.cpp on Mac?

Run brew install llama.cpp in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is llama.cpp open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the MIT licence.

Does llama.cpp run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is llama.cpp?

It was installed 18,895 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #105 in this catalogue.

What version of llama.cpp is current?

The latest packaged version is 0.7.0.