open-webui-docs/docs/getting-started/quick-start/tab-python/Uv.md

Installation with uv

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:

  curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
  

• Windows:

  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:

  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
  

:::tip Why set DATA_DIR? Setting DATA_DIR ensures your chats and settings are saved in a predictable location. If you don't set it, uvx might store it in a temporary folder that gets deleted when the process ends. :::

Uninstall

To remove Open WebUI when running with uvx:

1. Stop the Server: Press Ctrl+C in the terminal where it's running.

2. Uninstall from UV: Enter uv tool uninstall open-webui

3. Available cleanup commands: The uvx command runs the application ephemerally or from cache. To remove cached components:

   uv cache clean
   

4. Remove Data (WARNING: Deletes all data): Delete your data directory (default is ~/.open-webui or the path set in DATA_DIR):

   rm -rf ~/.open-webui