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sidebar_position: 2  
title: "🤖 Starting With OpenAI"

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## Overview

Open WebUI makes it easy to connect and use OpenAI and other OpenAI-compatible APIs. This guide will walk you through adding your API key, setting the correct endpoint, and selecting models — so you can start chatting right away.

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## Step 1: Get Your OpenAI API Key

To use OpenAI models (such as GPT-4 or o3-mini), you need an API key from a supported provider.

You can use:

- OpenAI directly (https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys)
- Azure OpenAI
- Any OpenAI-compatible service (e.g., LocalAI, FastChat, Helicone, LiteLLM, OpenRouter etc.)

👉 Once you have the key, copy it and keep it handy.

For most OpenAI usage, the default API base URL is:  
https://api.openai.com/v1

Other providers use different URLs — check your provider’s documentation.

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## Step 2: Add the API Connection in Open WebUI

Once Open WebUI is running:

1. Go to the ⚙️ **Admin Settings**.
2. Navigate to **Connections > OpenAI > Manage** (look for the wrench icon).
3. Click ➕ **Add New Connection**.
4. Fill in the following:
   - API URL: https://api.openai.com/v1 (or the URL of your specific provider)
   - API Key: Paste your key here

5. Click Save ✅.

This securely stores your credentials and sets up the connection.

Here’s what it looks like:

![OpenAI Connection Screen](/images/getting-started/quick-start/manage-openai.png)

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## Step 3: Start Using Models

Once your connection is saved, you can start using models right inside Open WebUI.

🧠 You don’t need to download any models — just select one from the Model Selector and start chatting. If a model is supported by your provider, you’ll be able to use it instantly via their API.

Here’s what model selection looks like:

![OpenAI Model Selector](/images/getting-started/quick-start/selector-openai.png)

Simply choose GPT-4, o3-mini, or any compatible model offered by your provider.

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## All Set!

That’s it! Your OpenAI-compatible API connection is ready to use.

With Open WebUI and OpenAI, you get powerful language models, an intuitive interface, and instant access to chat capabilities — no setup headaches.

If you run into issues or need additional support, visit our [help section](/troubleshooting).

Happy prompting! 🎉
