How to copy an Ollama model

Copying an Ollama model creates another local model name that points at the same underlying model content. It is useful before experimenting with a custom Modelfile, publishing under an account namespace, or preserving a known local tag.

The copy operation changes model metadata in the local model store, so use a clear destination name and verify it appears in the model list before relying on it in scripts.

Do not use copy as a backup for the actual model data. Use a data backup when the host or disk is changing.

1. List the source model name exactly as Ollama knows it.

   $ ollama list
   NAME           ID              SIZE     MODIFIED
   gpt-oss:20b    17052f91a42e    13 GB    6 months ago

2. Copy the model to the destination name.

   $ ollama cp gpt-oss:20b example/gpt-oss-test

3. Verify that the destination name appears in the model list.

   $ ollama list
   NAME                    ID              SIZE     MODIFIED
   example/gpt-oss-test    17052f91a42e    13 GB    just now
   gpt-oss:20b             17052f91a42e    13 GB    6 months ago

4. Inspect the copied model before using it in automation.

   $ ollama show example/gpt-oss-test
     Model
       architecture        gptoss
       parameters          20.9B
   ##### snipped #####

5. Remove the copied name when it was only for testing.

   $ ollama rm example/gpt-oss-test
   deleted 'example/gpt-oss-test'

   Related: How to remove an Ollama model