How to run Claude Code locally on a Mac, free and offline

Description and use

Run Claude Code locally on a Mac without an API key or cloud model, using Claude Code Local which auto‑selects a model based on RAM and provides offline, unlimited, private usage.

Problem

Run Claude Code without an API key, cloud model, or usage limits on a local Mac.

Outcome

Users can run Claude Code locally on a Mac with no API key, achieving offline, unlimited usage and privacy, while still accessing free cloud models if needed.

Workflow

• 1. Install Claude Code Local via one-liner or manual clone and setup.sh
• 2. Server auto-selects a model based on available RAM
• 3. Launch Claude Code with ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL pointing to localhost and ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-local
• 4. Use "keep going" to switch to free cloud models if local limits are hit
• 5. Disable non-essential traffic for privacy

Evidence

Claude Code can run on a local model on your own Mac. No API key, no cloud model, no usage limit.

Source

Setup picks your model, downloads it, installs the server, and puts Claude Local.command on your Desktop.

Source

The key is just sk-local. The server never checks it.

Source

Your code never leaves your Mac. No cloud model, no tracking, no analytics.

Source