How to install Gemma 3 LLM on Windows 11 step by step

Open source language models have evolved by leaps and bounds, and Today it is possible to enjoy them directly from a personal computer without depending on cloud services.One of the most promising currently is Gemma 3, Google's new LLM based on Gemini technology, which stands out for its ability to process text and images, as well as for its enormous context window of up to 128k tokens in its advanced versions. For more information about this release, you can visit our article on the presentation of Gemma 3.

If you're using Windows 11 and looking to install Gemma 3 for experimentation or even local production, you've come to the right place. We'll go over in detail all the possible ways to get it up and running on your computer, including the most recommended options like Ollama, LM Studio, and also a cloud-based alternative with Google AI Studio. We'll also cover the technical requirements, advantages of each method, and How to make the most of the potential of this powerful artificial intelligence.

What is Gemma 3 and why install it?

Gemma 3 is the third generation of LLM models released by Google under an open-source license.Unlike previous solutions like Llama or Mistral, it offers direct support for image input, a much broader context, and support for over 140 languages. Depending on your needs, you can choose from several model versions ranging from 1B to 27B parameters:

• Gemma 3:1B: Lightweight model ideal for basic tasks and resource-limited environments.
• Gemma 3:4B: Balancing performance and efficiency for intermediate applications.
• Gemma 3:12B: Recommended for complex analysis, programming and multilingual processing.
• Gemma 3:27B: The most powerful option, designed for intensive, multimodal uses with great contextual capacity.

The possibility of running such an advanced model from your PC It's a game changer in terms of privacy, response speed, and third-party dependency. You no longer need to pay monthly subscriptions or give up your data. It just takes a little preparation and a willingness to learn. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of these models, check out our article on open weight AI models.

Option 1: Installation with Ollama

Ollama is probably the easiest way to run LLM like Gemma 3 from Windows 11Its terminal-based interface allows you to install and run models with a simple command line. It's also compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows, making it easy to use in a variety of environments.

Steps to install Ollama and run Gemma 3:

1. Access the official website: ollama.com.
2. Download the installer for Windows and run it like any other program.
3. Open Command Prompt (CMD) or PowerShell and verify the installation with:

ollama --version

If all goes well, you can now download any of the available Gemma 3 templates. Simply run one of these commands depending on the template you want:

ollama run gemma3:1b
ollama run gemma3:4b
ollama run gemma3:12b
ollama run gemma3:27b

Once downloaded, you can easily start the model.To do this, run:

ollama init gemma3

From that moment on, you can begin interacting with the LLM by:

ollama query gemma3 "¿Cuál es la capital de Japón?"

If you want to take advantage of multimodal functions, you can also use images in your queries:

ollama query gemma3 --image "ruta-de-la-imagen.jpg"

What do you need to make it work well? While Ollama doesn't impose strict minimum requirements, larger models (like the 27B) require at least 32GB of RAM. You can run the 16B model with 7GB without any problems, and while the use of a GPU isn't mandatory, it does significantly improve speed.

Option 2: Use LM Studio

LM Studio is another free tool that allows you to install and run LLM models locally from a graphical interface.It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and its great advantage is that it doesn't require any technical knowledge to operate.

Instructions:

1. Download LM Studio from its official website: lmstudio.ai.
2. Install and run it.
3. Click on the magnifying glass icon that says “Discover.”
4. Type “Gemma 3” into the search engine to see the available models.

Before installing, check if the model is compatible with your equipmentIf you see the warning “Likely too large for this machine,” you can still install it, but optimal performance is not guaranteed.

Once a compatible model has been downloaded:

• Press “Load Model” to load it.
• Or open a new chat and choose the model from the drop-down menu.

The best thing about LM Studio is that it acts as a kind of local ChatGPT, offline and in your languageYou can create multiple chats and save them if you wish. Additionally, if you enable the "Local Server" option, you can integrate it with your Python applications using the OpenAI-compatible API.

Option 3: Use Google AI Studio (online)

If you can't or don't want to install anything, you can use Gemma 3 directly from the cloud with Google AI Studio. No installation required, but an Internet connection and a Google account are required.

You just have to go to aistudio.google.com and select “Gemma 3” from the list of models. From that moment, you can start chatting with the model just like an advanced version of Bard or ChatGPT, including image input.

Cloud installation with NodeShift (optional)

For those looking for more power or to deploy the model professionallyThere's the option of using cloud services like NodeShift. With them, you can rent machines with powerful GPUs and configure your ideal environment to run Gemma 3 without limitations.

Basic steps in NodeShift:

1. Create an account in app.nodeshift.com.
2. Start a custom GPU Node (e.g. with 2x RTX 4090).
3. Choose a preconfigured image with Ubuntu + Nvidia CUDA or Jupyter Notebook, depending on whether you'll be using Ollama or Transformers.
4. Connect via SSH and install the model from the command line.

This type of installation gives you access to professional configurations, ideal for training models, evaluating performance, etc. Although not essential for a home user, it is useful for those who want to experiment in depth or build applications on advanced LLMs.

System requirements and technical recommendations

Not all Gemma 3 models will run on any PCBelow is a general reference based on the model type:

• To models 1B to 7B: minimum 8 GB of RAM. They work on almost any modern PC, even without a GPU.
• To 13B models: are recommended 16GB to 24GB RAM.
• To 27B models: are needed at least 32 GB of RAM and preferably a dedicated GPU.

Having more RAM speeds up operation and prevents errors due to lack of memoryAlthough Ollama and LM Studio try to use resources efficiently, it will depend greatly on your hardware. Furthermore, response speed improves significantly if you use a GPU instead of a CPU.

Installing Gemma 3 on Windows 11 is easier than it seems.Whether you choose to use Ollama for its simplicity, LM Studio for its graphical interface, or Google AI Studio to play it safe in the cloud, the important thing is that each method adapts to different levels of experience and technical capabilities. Now that you know all the alternatives and what you need to get started, you can start experimenting with this impressive local artificial intelligence today.