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open-webui-docs/docs/intro.mdx
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---
sidebar_position: 0
slug: /
title: 🏡 Home
hide_title: true
---
import { SponsorList } from "@site/src/components/SponsorList";
# Open WebUI
**Open WebUI is an [extensible](https://docs.openwebui.com/features/extensibility/plugin/), feature-rich, and user-friendly self-hosted AI platform designed to operate entirely offline.** It is built around universal standards, supporting **Ollama** and **OpenAI-compatible Protocols** (specifically Chat Completions). This protocol-first approach makes it a powerful, provider-agnostic AI deployment solution for both local and cloud-based models.
Passionate about open-source AI? [Join our team →](https://careers.openwebui.com/)
![GitHub stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/open-webui/open-webui?style=social)
![GitHub forks](https://img.shields.io/github/forks/open-webui/open-webui?style=social)
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[![Discord](https://img.shields.io/badge/Discord-Open_WebUI-blue?logo=discord&logoColor=white)](https://discord.gg/5rJgQTnV4s)
[![Image Description](https://img.shields.io/static/v1?label=Sponsor&message=%E2%9D%A4&logo=GitHub&color=%23fe8e86)](https://github.com/sponsors/tjbck)
![Open WebUI Demo](/images/demo.png)
:::tip
**Looking for an [Enterprise Plan](https://docs.openwebui.com/enterprise)?** — **[Speak with Our Sales Team Today!](https://docs.openwebui.com/enterprise)**
Get **enhanced capabilities**, including **custom theming and branding**, **Service Level Agreement (SLA) support**, **Long-Term Support (LTS) versions**, and **more!**
:::
## Quick Start with Docker 🐳
:::info
**WebSocket** support is required for Open WebUI to function correctly. Ensure that your network configuration allows WebSocket connections.
:::
:::tip Docker Hub Now Available
Open WebUI images are now published to **both** registries:
- **GitHub Container Registry:** `ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui`
- **Docker Hub:** `openwebui/open-webui`
Both registries contain identical images. You can use either one — simply replace `ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui` with `openwebui/open-webui` in any command below.
:::
**If Ollama is on your computer**, use this command:
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
```
**To run Open WebUI with Nvidia GPU support**, use this command:
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --gpus all --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:cuda
```
For environments with limited storage or bandwidth, Open WebUI offers slim image variants that exclude pre-bundled models. These images are significantly smaller but download required models on first use:
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main-slim
```
### Open WebUI Bundled with Ollama
This installation method uses a single container image that bundles Open WebUI with Ollama, allowing for a streamlined setup via a single command. Choose the appropriate command based on your hardware setup:
- **With GPU Support**:
Utilize GPU resources by running the following command:
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --gpus=all -v ollama:/root/.ollama -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:ollama
```
- **For CPU Only**:
If you're not using a GPU, use this command instead:
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 -v ollama:/root/.ollama -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:ollama
```
Both commands facilitate a built-in, hassle-free installation of both Open WebUI and Ollama, ensuring that you can get everything up and running swiftly.
After installation, you can access Open WebUI at [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000). Enjoy! 😄
### Using image tags in production
If you want to always run the latest version of Open WebUI, you can use the `:main`, `:cuda`, or `:ollama` image tags, depending on your setup, as shown in the examples above.
For `production environments` where stability and reproducibility are important, it is recommended to pin a specific release version instead of using these floating tags. Versioned images follow this format:
```
ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:<RELEASE_VERSION>-<TYPE>
# or equivalently:
openwebui/open-webui:<RELEASE_VERSION>-<TYPE>
```
Examples (pinned versions for illustration purposes only):
```
ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:v0.8.6
ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:v0.8.6-ollama
ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:v0.8.6-cuda
```
### Using the Dev Branch 🌙
:::tip Help Us Build Better Software!
**We encourage users to run the development branch!** Testing dev builds is one of the most valuable ways to contribute to Open WebUI. By running the latest development version, you help us catch bugs early, validate new features, and ensure stable releases for everyone.
**We cannot deliver high-quality software without community testing.** When issues are only discovered after a stable release, it creates a poor experience for everyone. Your feedback on the dev branch directly improves the next release.
:::
The `:dev` branch contains the latest features and changes before they reach a stable release. While it may occasionally have bugs or incomplete features, it's generally usable for day-to-day testing.
**Standard dev image:**
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:dev
```
**Slim variant (excludes bundled models):**
```bash
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:dev-slim
```
**How to help:**
- Run the dev image on a test instance (not your primary production setup)
- **Keep it updated regularly** — the dev branch moves fast! Pull the latest image frequently or see [Updating Open WebUI](#updating-open-webui) below
- Report issues on [GitHub](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues) with clear reproduction steps
- Join our [Discord](https://discord.gg/5rJgQTnV4s) to discuss findings
:::note Alternative: Local Development Setup
If Docker doesn't work for your environment, you can also run the latest development code using the [Local Development Guide](/getting-started/development). Conversely, if you prefer Docker over a local setup, the dev image is the easiest way to test.
:::
:::warning Do Not Share Data with Production
**Never share your database or data volume between dev and production setups.** Dev builds may include database migrations that are not backward-compatible. If a dev migration runs on your production data and you later need to roll back, your production setup may break.
Always use a separate data volume (e.g., `-v open-webui-dev:/app/backend/data`) for testing.
:::
### Updating Open WebUI
To update Open WebUI container easily, follow these steps:
#### Manual Update
Use [Watchtower](https://github.com/nicholas-fedor/watchtower) to update your Docker container manually:
```bash
docker run --rm -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock nickfedor/watchtower --run-once open-webui
```
#### Automatic Updates
Keep your container updated automatically every 5 minutes:
```bash
docker run -d --name watchtower --restart unless-stopped -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock nickfedor/watchtower --interval 300 open-webui
```
🔧 **Note**: Replace `open-webui` with your container name if it's different.
## Manual Installation
:::info
### Platform Compatibility
Open WebUI works on macOS, Linux (x86_64 and ARM64, including Raspberry Pi and other ARM boards like NVIDIA DGX Spark), and Windows.
:::
There are two main ways to install and run Open WebUI: using the `uv` runtime manager or Python's `pip`. While both methods are effective, **we strongly recommend using `uv`** as it simplifies environment management and minimizes potential conflicts.
### Installation with `uv` (Recommended)
The `uv` runtime manager ensures seamless Python environment management for applications like Open WebUI. Follow these steps to get started:
#### 1. Install `uv`
Pick the appropriate installation command for your operating system:
- **macOS/Linux**:
```bash
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
```
- **Windows**:
```powershell
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"
```
#### 2. Run Open WebUI
Once `uv` is installed, running Open WebUI is a breeze. Use the command below, ensuring to set the `DATA_DIR` environment variable to avoid data loss. Example paths are provided for each platform:
- **macOS/Linux**:
```bash
DATA_DIR=~/.open-webui uvx --python 3.11 open-webui@latest serve
```
- **Windows**:
```powershell
$env:DATA_DIR="C:\open-webui\data"; uvx --python 3.11 open-webui@latest serve
```
:::note
**For PostgreSQL Support:**
The default installation now uses a slimmed-down package. If you need **PostgreSQL support**, install with all optional dependencies:
```bash
pip install open-webui[all]
```
:::
### Installation with `pip`
For users installing Open WebUI with Python's package manager `pip`, **it is strongly recommended to use Python runtime managers like `uv` or `conda`**. These tools help manage Python environments effectively and avoid conflicts.
Python 3.11 is the development environment. Python 3.12 seems to work but has not been thoroughly tested. Python 3.13 is entirely untested and some dependencies do not work with Python 3.13 yet—**use at your own risk**.
1. **Install Open WebUI**:
Open your terminal and run the following command:
```bash
pip install open-webui
```
2. **Start Open WebUI**:
Once installed, start the server using:
```bash
open-webui serve
```
### Updating Open WebUI
To update to the latest version, simply run:
```bash
pip install --upgrade open-webui
```
This method installs all necessary dependencies and starts Open WebUI, allowing for a simple and efficient setup. After installation, you can access Open WebUI at [http://localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080). Enjoy! 😄
## Other Installation Methods
We offer various installation alternatives, including non-Docker native installation methods, Docker Compose, Kustomize, and Helm. Visit our [Open WebUI Documentation](https://docs.openwebui.com/getting-started/) or join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/5rJgQTnV4s) for comprehensive guidance.
Continue with the full [getting started guide](/getting-started).
### Desktop App
We also have an **experimental** desktop app, which is actively a **work in progress (WIP)**. While it offers a convenient way to run Open WebUI natively on your system without Docker or manual setup, it is **not yet stable**.
👉 For stability and production use, we strongly recommend installing via **Docker** or **Python (`uv` or `pip`)**.
## Sponsors 🙌
<SponsorList />
We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of our sponsors. Their contributions help us to maintain and improve our project, ensuring we can continue to deliver quality work to our community. Thank you!
## Acknowledgements 🙏
We are deeply grateful for the generous grant support provided by:
<div className="grid gap-4 items-start grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2">
<a href="https://a16z.com/advancing-open-source-ai-through-benchmarks-and-bold-experimentation/" title="A16z Open Source AI Grant 2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener" className="flex flex-col w-fit gap-2 items-center">
<div className="max-w-full h-auto">
![A16z](/sponsors/grants/a16z.png)
</div>
<span style={{verticalAlign:'middle', fontWeight:600, fontSize:'1.05em'}}>A16z Open Source AI Grant 2025</span>
</a>
<a href="https://builders.mozilla.org/" title="Mozilla Builders 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener" className="flex flex-col w-fit gap-2 items-center">
<div className="max-w-full h-auto">
![Mozilla](/sponsors/grants/mozilla.png)
</div>
<span style={{verticalAlign:'middle', fontWeight:600, fontSize:'1.05em'}}>Mozilla Builders 2024</span>
</a>
<a href="https://github.com/accelerator" title="GitHub Accelerator 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener" className="flex flex-col w-fit gap-2 items-center">
<div className="max-w-full h-auto">
![GitHub](/sponsors/grants/github.png)
</div>
<span style={{verticalAlign:'middle', fontWeight:600, fontSize:'1.05em'}}>GitHub Accelerator 2024</span>
</a>
</div>