{
  "id": 17022797,
  "title": "How to Clean Up Ollama and LM Studio Models Taking Up Space on Windows in 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/how-to-clean-up-ollama-and-lm-studio-models-taking-up-space-on",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-29T06:53:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/alichherawalla/how-to-clean-up-ollama-and-lm-studio-models-taking-up-space-on-windows-in-2026-3211"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Your Windows PC's C: drive has a significant amount of AI model storage from LM Studio and Ollama. These models live in hidden folders you don't usually view, and neither app shows a consolidated list. To manage these files, use Off Grid AI Desktop, which identifies and displays each model's size. The app then allows you to delete unused models.\n\nLM Studio places its files in %USERPROFILE%\\.lmstudio\\models, while Ollama stores its models in %USERPROFILE%\\.ollama\\models or a specified folder via the OLLAMA_MODELS environment variable. Off Grid AI Desktop reads these folders without altering the files, only moving or removing them as needed. The app also has a recycle bin for LM Studio models, and a safe way to remove Ollama models using the ollama rm command in PowerShell or Command Prompt.",
  "summary": "Your C: drive is red in File Explorer, and a good part of it is AI models you pulled into LM Studio and Ollama months ago. Each one is several gigabytes, they live in folders you never open, and neither app shows you everything in one list. Off Grid AI Desktop finds them for you, shows each one with its size, and lets you remove the ones you no longer use. LM Studio files go to the Recycle Bin,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Off Grid AI Desktop identifies and displays each model's size",
    "LM Studio models in %USERPROFILE%\\.lmstudio\\models, Ollama in %USERPROFILE%\\.ollama\\models",
    "Off Grid AI Desktop offers recycle bin and PowerShell/Command Prompt removal method"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Centralizing the management of hidden AI model files through dedicated software solves the storage fragmentation caused by applications that lack built-in tools for viewing and deleting large datasets.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}