apfel is a local AI app for Mac that runs on your device. It gives you three ways to use it:
- a command line tool
- an OpenAI-compatible server
- an interactive chat mode
It uses Apple Intelligence on-device, so your requests stay on your Mac. You do not need API keys, cloud accounts, or extra model downloads.
- Chat with AI from a simple window or terminal
- Run local prompts on your Mac
- Connect apps that work with the OpenAI API
- Use tool calling for tasks that need extra actions
- Keep data on-device
- Avoid setup that needs accounts or keys
apfel is built for modern Macs with Apple Silicon and macOS 26 or later.
Use it if you have:
- a Mac with Apple Silicon
- macOS 26
- Apple Intelligence turned on
- enough free disk space for the app and cached data
For best results, use the newest macOS version available on your Mac.
Visit this page to download and run apfel:
If the page includes a release file, download it and open it on your Mac. If it provides the source project, follow the run steps shown there to start the app on your device.
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Open the download page
Go to the apfel repository in your browser: -
Get the app or build files
On the page, look for the latest release, package, or install instructions. -
Open the app
If you downloaded an app file, open it from Downloads or Finder. -
Allow access if macOS asks
Apple may ask you to confirm that you trust the app. Approve it if you downloaded it from the official repository page. -
Start apfel
Launch the app and wait for the chat or command line mode to load.
The chat mode gives you a simple way to talk with the AI on your Mac.
Try prompts like:
- Summarize this note
- Rewrite this email in plain English
- Explain this error message
- Turn these bullet points into a short message
This mode works well when you want a quick answer without leaving your Mac.
The command line tool is for people who like terminal use, but it stays simple.
You can use it to:
- run one-off prompts
- chain tasks
- send text from files or pipes
- fit apfel into your own scripts
Example use cases:
- clean up text
- extract key points
- draft replies
- format notes
If you are new to terminal apps, start with chat mode first.
apfel can expose a local server that acts like the OpenAI API. That helps when you want other apps to talk to your local AI.
Use this mode if you want to:
- connect desktop tools
- test app integrations
- point AI-aware tools at a local endpoint
- keep requests off the cloud
Typical setup flow:
- Start the apfel server
- Copy the local endpoint address
- Paste it into the app you want to connect
- Use the same request style you would use with an OpenAI-compatible tool
apfel can work with tool calling for tasks that need extra actions.
That means the model can:
- ask for help from a local tool
- fetch or shape data
- trigger a function in a connected app
- use a structured step in a workflow
This is useful when you want the AI to do more than write text.
apfel keeps your work on your Mac.
That helps when you want:
- no API key setup
- no cloud account
- no extra model downloads
- less setup work
- more privacy for local use
It is a good fit for people who want AI help without moving their data to a remote service.
Here are simple ways people can use apfel every day:
- write and edit short messages
- summarize long text
- clean up rough notes
- help with planning
- answer questions from local text
- connect AI features to other Mac tools
After install, you may see files like:
- the main app
- a local config file
- a cache folder for recent work
- logs for troubleshooting
Keep the app in your Applications folder if possible. That makes it easier to open and update.
If apfel does not start right away, check these items:
- Make sure your Mac runs on Apple Silicon
- Make sure macOS is up to date
- Make sure Apple Intelligence is on
- Close and reopen the app
- Restart your Mac if the app still does not respond
If you use the terminal tool, open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
If you are not sure what to do first, follow this path:
- Open the GitHub page
- Download or open the latest build
- Launch the app
- Try a short chat prompt
- Move to the CLI or server mode later
This gives you the fastest path to a working setup.
- Name: apfel
- Platform: macOS
- Hardware: Apple Silicon
- Mode: on-device AI
- API style: OpenAI-compatible server
- Main use: local chat, CLI, and tool use
Open the project page here to download and run apfel:
For daily use, keep apfel in a place you can find fast:
- Applications folder for the app
- a pinned Terminal tab for the CLI
- a saved local endpoint for server mode
That makes it easy to return to the same setup each day