janhq/jan · error · Error

MLX engine not found

Error message

MLX engine not found

What it means

Thrown in the local MLX import dialog when `ExtensionManager.getInstance().getEngine('mlx')` returns null before calling `engine.import(modelName, { modelPath })`. Same root cause as error 124 but in the manual import path (importing a model already on disk) rather than the hub download path.

Source

Thrown at web-app/src/containers/dialogs/ImportMlxModelDialog.tsx:94

      (model) => model.id === modelName
    )

    if (modelExists) {
      toast.error('Model already exists', {
        description: `${modelName} already imported`,
      })
      return
    }

    setImporting(true)

    try {
      console.log('[MLX Import] Starting import:', { modelName, selectedPath })

      // Get the MLX engine and call its import method
      const engine = ExtensionManager.getInstance().getEngine('mlx')
      if (!engine) {
        throw new Error('MLX engine not found')
      }

      console.log('[MLX Import] Calling engine.import()...')
      await engine.import(modelName, {
        modelPath: selectedPath,
      })
      console.log('[MLX Import] Import completed')

      toast.success('Model imported successfully', {
        description: `${modelName} has been imported`,
      })

      // Reset form and close dialog
      setSelectedPath(null)
      setModelName('')
      setOpen(false)
      onSuccess?.(modelName)
    } catch (error) {

View on GitHub (pinned to fad3f12a14)

Solutions

1. Run on Apple Silicon macOS with the MLX extension enabled.
2. Re-enable/reinstall the MLX extension and restart.
3. Hide or disable the Import MLX menu entry when `getEngine('mlx')` is null.

Example fix

// before
const engine = ExtensionManager.getInstance().getEngine('mlx')
if (!engine) {
  throw new Error('MLX engine not found')
}

// after
const engine = ExtensionManager.getInstance().getEngine('mlx')
if (!engine) {
  throw new Error(
    'MLX engine not found. Enable the MLX extension (Apple Silicon required) and retry.'
  )
}

const engine = ExtensionManager.getInstance().getEngine('mlx')
if (!engine) {
  toast.error('MLX unavailable', { description: 'Enable the MLX extension (Apple Silicon) and retry.' })
  return
}

function isMlxImportEngine(e: unknown): e is { import(name: string, opts: { modelPath: string }): Promise<void> } {
  return !!e && typeof (e as any).import === 'function'
}

try {
  const engine = ExtensionManager.getInstance().getEngine('mlx')
  if (!isMlxImportEngine(engine)) {
    toast.error('MLX engine not found', { description: 'Apple Silicon + MLX extension required.' })
    return
  }
  await engine.import(modelName, { modelPath: selectedPath })
} catch (error) {
  toast.error('Failed to import model', { description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error) })
}

When it happens

Trigger: User opens Import MLX Model dialog, enters a name and picks a local path, clicks Import, but the MLX extension/engine is not registered. Non-Apple-Silicon platform, disabled extension, or engine key mismatch.

Common situations: Running on Linux/Windows where MLX is unavailable; MLX extension disabled after a crash; the dialog is reachable even though the engine is missing (no upstream guard).

Related errors

• MLX engine not found
• Invalid modelId: ${modelId}. Only alphanumeric and / _ - . c
• Model ${modelId} already exists
• Folder not found: ${sourcePath}
• Invalid modelId: ${modelId}. Only alphanumeric and / _ - . c

AI-assisted analysis of janhq/jan@fad3f12a14 (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4278b4ad48c9d574. Report an issue: GitHub.