Google DeepMind · gemma2
Can I run shieldgemma?
ShieldGemma is set of instruction tuned models for evaluating the safety of text prompt input and text output responses against a set of defined safety policies.
9.2B parameters8K contexttextGemma Terms of Use18 builds
shieldgemma system requirements
Memory needed at 4K context, counting model weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead. Download sizes come from the official Ollama registry.
| Build | Quantization | Download | Memory needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| shieldgemma:2b-q4_0 | Q4_0 | 1.5 GB | ~2.6 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:2b | Q4_K_M | 1.6 GB | ~2.7 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:2b-q5_K_M | Q5_K_M | 1.8 GB | ~3.0 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:2b-q6_K | Q6_K | 2.0 GB | ~3.3 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:2b-q8_0 | Q8_0 | 2.6 GB | ~4.1 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:2b-fp16 | F16 | 4.9 GB | ~7.4 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:9b-q4_0 | Q4_0 | 5.1 GB | ~7.6 GB(est.) |
| shieldgemma:9b | Q4_K_M | 5.4 GB | ~8.1 GB(est.) |
Figures marked (est.) approximate the KV cache because this model's architecture details are not published. They are indicative rather than exact.
How to run shieldgemma locally
- 1.Install Ollama for Windows, macOS or Linux.
- 2.Run this in a terminal:
ollama run shieldgemma:2b-q4_0 - 3.The weights download on first run, then an interactive prompt opens.
Frequently asked questions about shieldgemma
- How much VRAM do I need to run shieldgemma?
- At 4K context, the smallest published build of shieldgemma (Q4_0) needs roughly 2.6 GB of GPU memory once weights, KV cache, compute buffers and runtime overhead are counted. Bigger quantizations and longer context windows need more. It can also run partly or entirely on the CPU using system RAM, more slowly.
- Can I run shieldgemma without a dedicated GPU?
- Yes, but slowly. Without a GPU the model runs on the CPU using system RAM, which usually means a few tokens per second rather than dozens. You would need at least 2.6 GB of free RAM for the smallest build.
- How big is the shieldgemma download?
- The smallest published build is 1.5 GB. There are 18 builds in total, the largest being 50.7 GB. Leave some extra free disk space beyond the download itself.
- How do I run shieldgemma locally?
- Install Ollama, then run "ollama run shieldgemma:2b-q4_0" in a terminal. The weights download on first use and an interactive session opens.
Will shieldgemma run on your PC?
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Model data from the official Ollama registry · verified 13/09/2026