Keep Ollama running on a MacBook
Running a local model with Ollama can take a while, and a Mac that sleeps mid-run interrupts it. Here is how to keep Ollama running on a MacBook, even lid-closed, while safety thresholds decide when to stop.
Why Ollama runs get cut off
Ollama serves models locally, so it runs as a process on your Mac. When the Mac sleeps from idle or a closed lid, that process is suspended along with everything else.
A long generation or a model download stops where it was, and you come back to a session that stalled.
The LidRun workflow for Ollama
LidRun detects Ollama and holds the Mac awake while it runs, so you can close the lid and let inference or a download finish.
Local model runs are demanding, so battery and thermal thresholds gate the whole session. If heat climbs or charge drops past your limits, LidRun lets the Mac sleep instead of pushing the hardware.
The activity log records why a session ended, so a stalled run is never a mystery.
A practical setup
Plug in, start your Ollama task, turn on keep-running mode, then close the lid and move on.
Keep the Mac on a hard, ventilated surface and set a session timer that matches how long the run should take.
To use this on your machine, see the plans on /pricing or get the app from /download.
LidRun keeps your work running with the lid closed, with battery and thermal safety built in.
Frequently asked
Yes. LidRun recognizes Ollama among many dev and AI tools and holds the Mac awake while it runs.
LidRun reads thermal state continuously and cooling profiles respond as load climbs, within what the hardware allows, which helps reduce risk on long runs.
Yes, with keep-running mode on, as long as battery and thermal conditions stay within the thresholds you set.