> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://unsloth.ai/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://unsloth.ai/docs/integrations/opencode.md).

# How to Run Local AI Models with OpenCode

This guide walks you through connecting **OpenCode Desktop** to [Unsloth](https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth) to run open LLMs **entirely locally.** OpenCode is an **open-source AI coding agent** that reads, modifies, and executes code across your project using a connected model.\
\
This works with any **local model** exposed through Unsloth’s **OpenAI-compatible API**, including: DeepSeek, Qwen, Gemma, and more. OpenCode acts as the client, while Unsloth loads and serves models via a local API.

After setup, OpenCode connects to Unsloth, where you can select a loaded model and use it as a **coding agent**.

<a href="https://sites.gitbook.com/preview/site_mXXTe/~/revisions/S6OVzFPYN3gcF4rziUb5/integrations/opencode?theme=light#installing-opencode-desktop" class="button primary">OpenCode Setup</a><a href="/pages/qaA8ZjTxsH2GTuBOHyra#quickstart" class="button primary">Quickstart</a>

{% hint style="info" %}
In this tutorial, we’ll use `unsloth/Qwen3.6-27B-GGUF` loaded in Unsloth and access it directly inside OpenCode. Prefer a different model? Swap in any other model by loading it in Unsloth.
{% endhint %}

### Installing OpenCode Desktop

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="MacOS" %}

#### **Step 1: Download the OpenCode installer for Mac**

Open `opencode.ai/download` in your browser of choice. Scroll down to the **OpenCode Desktop (Beta) ,** and click the `Download` button next to the macOS image name corresponding to your Mac's architecture (Apple Silicon or Intel).

#### Step 2: Install OpenCode

Locate and double click the `OpenCode Desktop.dmg` installer file in your downloads folder.

The installer window will open. Use your mouse to drag the **OpenCode** app icon on top of the **Applications** icon as shown.

#### Step 3: Launch OpenCode

Locate and double click the **OpenCode** icon under the **Applications** folder.

The **OpenCode** desktop app will open and is now ready for your next action.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/KV76tgWls5traGV6hYNH" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Windows" %}

#### **Step 1: Download the OpenCode installer for Windows**

Open `opencode.ai/download` in your browser. Scroll to **OpenCode Desktop (Beta)**, and click the **Download** button next to the Windows (x64) installer.

#### **Step 2: Install OpenCode**

find the `OpenCode Desktop Installer.exe` in your Downloads folder and double click it. You can then follow the prompts in the installer window to complete the installation.

#### **Step 3: Launch OpenCode**

Open the Windows Start menu and search for **OpenCode**.\
\
Click the OpenCode app icon to launch it. The OpenCode desktop app will open and is now ready for your next action

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/vatyZk2FNsMeKKxbeUVQ" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Linux" %}

#### **Step 1: Download the OpenCode installer for Linux**

Go to `opencode.ai/download` using your preferred web browser. Find the **OpenCode Desktop (Beta)** section, then choose the Linux download option for your system.

#### **Step 2: Install OpenCode**

Open your Downloads folder and find the **OpenCode** installer you just downloaded.

For an AppImage download, right click the file, open **Properties**, and enable the option that allows the file to run as a program. Then double click the AppImage to start **OpenCode**.

Or, if you prefer using the terminal, run:

```
chmod +x OpenCode*.AppImage
./OpenCode*.AppImage
```

If you downloaded a `.deb` file, install it with:

```
sudo apt install ./OpenCode*.deb
```

If you downloaded an `.rpm` file, install it with:

```
sudo dnf install ./OpenCode*.rpm
```

#### **Step 3: Launch OpenCode**

Open your Linux application launcher and search for **OpenCode**.

Click the OpenCode app icon to launch it. The OpenCode desktop app will open and is now ready for your next action.
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

### ⚡ Quickstart

After installing OpenCode, we'll need to install Unsloth Studio to enable OpenCode to serve and run inference of local models.

1. **Install or update Unsloth Studio.** Earlier versions don't expose the external API. See Installation.
2. **Launch Unsloth.** Note the port it starts on is usually `8000` or `8888`. You'll see it in the terminal output and in the browser URL (`http://localhost:PORT`).
3. **Load a model.** Click **New Chat**, pick or search a model (GGUF), and wait for it to finish loading.
4. **Connect OpenCode.** Run `unsloth start opencode`. It mints an API key, writes the config, and launches OpenCode against your loaded model.

#### ⚡ Connect with `unsloth start`

The fastest way to point OpenCode at your local model is the `unsloth start` command. With Unsloth running and a model loaded, run:

```bash
unsloth start opencode
```

This mints an API key for you, writes the `unsloth` provider into `~/.config/opencode/opencode.json`, selects the model, and launches OpenCode. It does the same thing as the manual **Connect provider** setup below, so you can skip that dialog.

{% hint style="info" %}
This uses the `opencode` command-line app. Install it with `npm install -g opencode-ai` if you don't have it. To use **OpenCode Desktop** instead, follow the manual setup below.
{% endhint %}

By default it uses the model already loaded in Unsloth. To load and use a specific model, pass `--model`:

```bash
unsloth start opencode --model unsloth/Qwen3.6-27B-GGUF
```

Connecting to Unsloth on another machine? Create a key (below) and pass it with `--api-key`, then point `UNSLOTH_STUDIO_URL` at the server.

The steps below set the same thing up manually inside OpenCode Desktop, if you prefer the app or need a custom config.

### 🔑 Creating an API key

1. Open the sidebar, click your **Unsloth** avatar at the bottom-left.
2. Go to **Settings** → **API**.
3. Enter a friendly name (e.g. `claude-code-macbook`).
4. *(Optional)* Set an expiry.
5. Click **Create**.
6. **Copy the key immediately.** Unsloth stores only a hash and you won't be able to view it again.

<figure><img src="/files/mIewhCcJSWNVe9g92qw6" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

All keys start with the `sk-unsloth-` prefix. Revoke a key from the same page at any time. Requests made with a revoked key will fail with `401 Unauthorized`.

## 🖇️ Connecting Unsloth to OpenCode Desktop

**Opencode** supports any OpenAI-compatible provider, so you can wire Unsloth in as a **Custom** provider. The setup is a one-time flow inside opencode's **Connect provider** dialog.

**1. Open the provider picker.** In opencode, type `/model` (or click the model selector at the bottom of the input).

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/Q144MyFkMUTuCWXdO0bq" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Then click **Connect provider** at the top-right of the select model dialog.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/Fhnitdj2Rq7AzgpHfipg" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**2. Choose "Custom".** In the provider list, scroll to **Other** and pick **Custom**.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/EZU9UHZXpWKXkn93SuIc" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**3. Fill in the custom provider form:**

| Field            | Value                                                                                             |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Provider ID**  | `unsloth-studio` *(lowercase, hyphens allowed)*                                                   |
| **Display name** | `Unsloth Studio`                                                                                  |
| **Base URL**     | `http://localhost:8888/v1/` *(replace `8888` with your* Unsloth *port; keep the trailing `/v1/`)* |
| **API key**      | Your `sk-unsloth-…` key                                                                           |

In the **Models** section, add one row per model you want to expose. The left field is the model ID as Unsloth serves it; the right field is what opencode will display:

| Model ID (left)                                                               | Display name (right)                                 |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| `unsloth/Qwen3.6-27B-GGUF` *(the exact name of the model as shown in Studio)* | `unsloth/Qwen3.6-27B-GGUF` *(shown inside opencode)* |

Leave **Headers** empty unless you're proxying Unsloth through an auth layer that needs custom headers.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/vFQFTjaKt6k2ZPqGaywH" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**4. Click Submit.** You should see an *"Unsloth Studio connected. Unsloth models are now available to use"* toast.

<figure><img src="/files/Wjq1iVj625zoboIFfGVq" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Restart opencode after adding the provider.** The new provider only becomes selectable after a restart.
{% endhint %}

**5. Select your Unsloth model.** Once opencode is back up, type `/model`, search `unsloth`, and pick the model under the **Unsloth Studio** group. It'll be active on your next message.

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/b1NTBKWQVy7AkgSWhZji" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Unsloth supports both OpenAI and Anthropic python SDKs.

### Optional: configure server access

`unsloth run` starts the local API server and loads a model for OpenCode to connect to. You can also customize how the server behaves when starting it.

```bash
# Run the API on port 8888 (--disable-tools passes OpenCode's own tools through)
unsloth run \
  --model unsloth/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-GGUF \
  --disable-tools \
  -p 8888
```

{% hint style="warning" %}
Use `--disable-tools` when driving OpenCode (or any external coding agent). By default Unsloth Studio runs its own server-side tools, which swallows the agent's tool calls, so OpenCode answers but never edits files. `--disable-tools` switches to passthrough, so OpenCode's own tools are used.
{% endhint %}

Use `-p` to change which port the server runs on.

```bash
# Allow other devices on your network to connect
unsloth run \
  --model unsloth/gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-GGUF \
  -H 0.0.0.0 \
  --disable-tools \
  -p 8888
```

This starts the server on `0.0.0.0:8888`, allowing other devices on your local network to connect.

For more advanced runtime configuration, see the main [API tuning](https://unsloth.ai/docs/basics/api#unsloth-run-command) section.


---

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