Ollama, the go-to tool for running large language models like Llama and Mistral locally, just took a major step forward for Apple Silicon users. On August 19, 2026, the development team merged pull request #17850 into the main repository, updating the MLX backend—Apple's machine learning framework optimized for M1, M2, M3, and newer chips.
What is MLX and why does this update matter?
MLX is a framework created by Apple to accelerate AI model execution on its hardware. By integrating this update, Ollama aims to boost inference speed and stability on Macs. The most significant change is the temporary inclusion of a patch from the ml-explore/mlx-c project (issue #127), which fixes a compatibility issue found in recent versions.
According to the commit 00b18be, the modification touches 8 files with 108 additions and 4 deletions. Lead developer Daniel Hiltgen (known as dhiltgen) explained this is a temporary measure: “Temporarily carry ml-explore/mlx-c#127”.
Technical details and review process
The pull request was reviewed and approved by Jesse Gross (jessegross), another core contributor. After the merge, 17 continuous integration checks all passed. Additionally, the development branch mlx_bump was deleted, and a follow-up PR #17874 was opened to “plumb the temporary patch into the Docker stages,” ensuring the fix also reaches containerized environments.
“This update is a step forward in consolidating Ollama as the preferred choice on Apple hardware,” commented a community member in the GitHub thread.
For end users, the improvement will be especially noticeable when loading large models and during real-time interactions with local assistants.
Key update facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Merge date | August 19, 2026 |
| PR number | #17850 |
| Files modified | 8 |
| Lines added | 108 |
| Lines removed | 4 |
| Temporary patch | ml-explore/mlx-c#127 |
| Reviewer | jessegross |
The update is already available on Ollama's main branch, so those compiling from source or using development builds can benefit immediately. The next stable release is expected to include these changes officially.
Ollama continues to solidify its position as one of the most used tools for running AI locally, with more than 179,000 stars on GitHub and an active community driving constant improvements.
For full technical details, check the original pull request on GitHub PR #17850.