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Setting Up LM Studio with Cline

Run AI models locally using LM Studio with Cline.

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Prerequisites

  • Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with AVX2 support
  • Cline installed in VS Code

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Setup Steps

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1. Install LM Studio

  • Visit lmstudio.ai
  • Download and install for your operating system
LM Studio download page

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2. Launch LM Studio

  • Open the installed application
  • You’ll see four tabs on the left: Chat, Developer (where you will start the server), My Models (where your downloaded models are stored), Discover (add new models)
LM Studio interface overview

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3. Download a Model

  • Browse the “Discover” page
  • Select and download your preferred model
  • Wait for download to complete
Downloading a model in LM Studio

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4. Start the Server

  • Navigate to the “Developer” tab
  • Toggle the server switch to “Running”
  • Note: The server will run at http://localhost:1234
Starting the LM Studio server

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5. Configure Cline

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Click Cline settings icon
  3. Select “LM Studio” as API provider
  4. Select your model from the available options
Configuring Cline with LM Studio
For the best experience with Cline, use Qwen3 Coder 30B A3B Instruct. This model delivers strong coding performance and reliable tool use.

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Critical Settings

After loading your model in the Developer tab, configure these settings:
  1. Context Length: Set to 262,144 (the model’s maximum)
  2. KV Cache Quantization: Leave unchecked (critical for consistent performance)
  3. Flash Attention: Enable if available (improves performance)

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Quantization Guide

Choose quantization based on your RAM:
  • 32GB RAM: Use 4-bit quantization (~17GB download)
  • 64GB RAM: Use 8-bit quantization (~32GB download) for better quality
  • 128GB+ RAM: Consider full precision or larger models

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Model Format

  • Mac (Apple Silicon): Use MLX format for optimized performance
  • Windows/Linux: Use GGUF format

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Enable Compact Prompts

For optimal performance with local models, enable compact prompts in Cline settings. This reduces the prompt size by 90% while maintaining core functionality. Navigate to Cline Settings → Features → Use Compact Prompt and toggle it on.

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Important Notes

  • Start LM Studio before using with Cline
  • Keep LM Studio running in background
  • First model download may take several minutes depending on size
  • Models are stored locally after download

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Troubleshooting

  1. If Cline can’t connect to LM Studio:
  2. Verify LM Studio server is running (check Developer tab)
  3. Ensure a model is loaded
  4. Check your system meets hardware requirements
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