LM Studio is a popular desktop application for running large language models (LLMs) locally. By default, it downloads models to your system drive (usually C: on Windows or ~/.cache/lm-studio on Mac/Linux). If you have limited space on your main drive, you can change the download location to a secondary hard drive, an external SSD, or a dedicated models folder.
Large Language Models (LLMs) are notorious for their massive file sizes, often ranging from 4GB to over 50GB for a single model. If your primary drive is getting crowded, moving your storage is essential. change lm studio download directory
If you want to move everything —models, configurations, cached data, and application logs—you need to use Environment Variables. This is the "Power User" approach that essentially tricks the software into thinking your User folder is located elsewhere. LM Studio is a popular desktop application for
: Click the three dots (...) or the folder icon next to the path. Large Language Models (LLMs) are notorious for their
Here is some interesting and practical content regarding changing the download directory in LM Studio.
You can change the (specifically where your models are stored) directly within the application's interface. How to Change Your Model Download Directory