---
summary: "Use Ollama Cloud directly with OpenClaw"
read_when:
  - You want to use hosted Ollama models without a local Ollama server
  - You need the ollama-cloud provider id, key, or endpoint
title: "Ollama Cloud"
---

Ollama Cloud is Ollama's hosted model API. The `ollama-cloud` provider calls it
directly at `https://ollama.com` over Ollama's native `/api/chat` API, with no
local Ollama server and no local Ollama app signed into cloud mode. Use model
refs like `ollama-cloud/kimi-k2.6`.

OpenClaw registers `ollama-cloud` as its own provider id so cloud-only
credentials, live catalog discovery, and model selection do not get mixed with
a local `ollama` host. For local Ollama, hybrid cloud-plus-local routing,
embeddings, and custom host details, see [Ollama](/providers/ollama).

## Setup

Follow [Ollama's API key instructions](https://docs.ollama.com/api/authentication#api-keys), then run:

```bash
openclaw onboard --auth-choice ollama-cloud
```

Or set:

```bash
export OLLAMA_API_KEY="<your-ollama-cloud-api-key>" # pragma: allowlist secret
```

Non-interactive onboarding accepts the key directly:

```bash
openclaw onboard --auth-choice ollama-cloud --ollama-cloud-api-key "<key>"
```

Onboarding sets the default model to `ollama-cloud/minimax-m2.7`.

## Defaults

- Provider: `ollama-cloud`
- Base URL: `https://ollama.com`
- Env var: `OLLAMA_API_KEY`
- API style: Ollama native `/api/chat`
- Onboarding default model: `ollama-cloud/minimax-m2.7`

## When to choose Ollama Cloud

- You want hosted Ollama models without running `ollama serve` locally.
- You want the same native Ollama chat API shape OpenClaw uses for local
  Ollama, but pointed at `https://ollama.com`.
- You want a simple cloud path for models that are already in Ollama's hosted
  catalog.
- You do not need local model pulls, local GPU control, or LAN-only inference.

Use [Ollama](/providers/ollama) instead when you want local-only or
cloud-plus-local routing through a signed-in Ollama host. Use an
OpenAI-compatible provider instead when you need `/v1/chat/completions`
semantics or provider-specific OpenAI-style features.

## Models

The provider requires an API key; without one it stays inactive. With a key,
OpenClaw discovers Ollama Cloud models live from the hosted catalog:

```bash
openclaw models list --provider ollama-cloud
openclaw models set ollama-cloud/kimi-k2.6
```

Hosted ids in the live catalog include `deepseek-v4-flash`, `glm-5.2`,
`gpt-oss:20b`, `kimi-k2.6`, and `minimax-m2.7`. When live discovery returns
nothing, OpenClaw falls back to the bundled rows `minimax-m2.7`, `glm-5.1`,
and `glm-5.2`. The retiring `kimi-k2.5` model is hidden from model pickers but
remains selectable by exact reference until Ollama retires it on July 31, 2026.

Model ids are cloud catalog ids, not local pull names. If a model name works in
a local Ollama host but is absent from the hosted catalog, use the `ollama`
provider with that local host instead.

## Live test

For Ollama Cloud API-key smoke tests, point the Ollama live test at the hosted
endpoint and choose a model from your current catalog:

```bash
export OLLAMA_API_KEY="<your-ollama-cloud-api-key>" # pragma: allowlist secret

OPENCLAW_LIVE_TEST=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA=1 \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_BASE_URL=https://ollama.com \
OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_MODEL=kimi-k2.6 \
pnpm test:live -- extensions/ollama/ollama.live.test.ts
```

The cloud smoke runs text, native stream, and web search; set
`OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_WEB_SEARCH=0` to skip web search. It skips embeddings by
default for `https://ollama.com` because Ollama Cloud API keys may not
authorize `/api/embed`; force them with `OPENCLAW_LIVE_OLLAMA_EMBEDDINGS=1`.

## Troubleshooting

- `Ollama Cloud requires an API key` / `Set OLLAMA_API_KEY` errors: provide a
  real cloud API key. The local `ollama-local` marker is only for local or
  private Ollama hosts.
- Unknown model errors: run `openclaw models list --provider ollama-cloud` and
  copy the hosted model id exactly.
- Tool-call or raw JSON issues on custom Ollama hosts: check whether you are
  accidentally using an OpenAI-compatible `/v1` URL. Ollama routes should use
  the native base URL with no `/v1` suffix.

## Related

- [Ollama](/providers/ollama)
- [Model providers](/concepts/model-providers)
- [All providers](/providers/index)
