LM Studio is a premier desktop application for running Large Language Models (LLMs) locally. When you download models from the Hugging Face repositories through the app, they consume significant disk space. Knowing where these models are stored and how to change the storage path is essential for managing your computer's resources. Default Download Folder Locations
If you cannot find the folder using the paths above, check inside the AppData folder on Windows or use the "Open Models Folder" button inside the LM Studio application settings to locate it instantly.
This paper introduces LM Studio, a framework for developing, deploying, and managing large language models (LLMs). While it doesn't specifically focus on the download folder, it provides an overview of the LM Studio architecture and its features.
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Windows and macOS restrict write access to certain system folders. Avoid setting your download folder directly inside Program Files , System32 , or root system roots. Always use a dedicated user-created folder on your secondary drive. ⚙️ Slow Loading Speeds
Go to and update the Models Directory path to point to your new folder. Troubleshooting Common Storage Issues 🔍 Missing Models After Update
Inside the main models folder, LM Studio organizes files systematically based on the Hugging Face repository structure. lm studio download folder
/Users/YourUsername/.cache/lm-studio/models
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Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G , paste the path, and press Enter. 🐧 Linux LM Studio is a premier desktop application for
Are you experiencing any specific during configuration?
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If you are using LM Studio to run local Large Language Models (LLMs), you might eventually wonder where those massive model files are actually being stored on your computer. By default, LM Studio downloads models to a specific directory depending on your operating system. Default Download Folder Locations If you cannot find
If you have already downloaded models, moving them manually saves download bandwidth. Close completely. Navigate to your default .cache/lm-studio/models directory. Cut the entire models folder.