Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo use Open WebUI as a browser-based chat interface for models running locally, install Ollama, start Open WebUI with Docker, and connect the two services. Keep Open WebUI’s data volume and secret key, and check which model endpoint is selected before entering sensitive information: Open WebUI can also connect to cloud providers, so the setup is private only when you use a local model endpoint.
What Open WebUI and Ollama each do
Ollama runs and serves language models. Open WebUI provides the self-hosted interface for chatting with them. They are separate components: Open WebUI can connect to Ollama, but it can also connect to other model APIs. For most users, the simplest general-purpose setup is Ollama running on the computer and Open WebUI in a Docker container.
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Set up Open WebUI with Docker
First install and start Ollama on the host computer. Then run Open WebUI using its documented Docker quick-start command:
docker run -d
-p 3000:8080
--add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway
-v open-webui:/app/backend/data
-e WEBUI_SECRET_KEY="$(openssl rand -hex 32)"
--name open-webui
--restart always
ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:mainThe command maps port 3000 on the host to port 8080 in the container, adds a hostname the container can use to reach the host, and saves Open WebUI data in a named Docker volume. The Open WebUI documentation recommends Docker for most users and lists macOS, Windows, and Linux on x86_64 and ARM64 among supported host platforms. See the Open WebUI quick start.
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- Open
http://localhost:3000in a browser. - Create the first account. The quick start says the first account becomes the administrator and sign-up is disabled after that account is created.
- Keep the generated
WEBUI_SECRET_KEYsomewhere secure and use the same key if you recreate the container. Generate one withopenssl rand -hex 32if needed.
The open-webui volume mounted at /app/backend/data holds chats, users, and settings. Keep it when updating or recreating the container. Removing the container does not require deleting this volume; deleting the volume can remove the stored application data.
Connect Open WebUI to Ollama and choose a model
- In Open WebUI, open Settings → Admin → Connections and check the Ollama connection.
- For Ollama installed on the Docker host with the command above, use
http://host.docker.internal:11434as the Ollama URL. If Open WebUI is installed directly with Python rather than in Docker, the local address is typicallyhttp://localhost:11434. - Start a new chat and open the model selector. Choose an installed model, or enter a model name and confirm its download if prompted.
Downloading a model requires network access. After it is installed, a local Ollama model can run without sending prompts to a hosted model endpoint. Choose a model that fits your system’s memory and the task; platform support does not mean every model will run acceptably on every computer.
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Choose an installation arrangement
| Arrangement | When it fits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Separate Ollama host service and Open WebUI Docker container | You want to manage and update the interface and model server separately. | Configure container-to-host networking as above. Open WebUI’s quick-start guide documents this route. |
| Open WebUI image with bundled Ollama | You prefer a simpler initial launch with both components in one container. | Open WebUI documents CPU and GPU variants. You still need persistent volumes and appropriate GPU access if you want acceleration; see its quick-start documentation and GPU guidance. |
| Python installation of Open WebUI | You prefer running the interface directly rather than in Docker. | The project lists pip install open-webui followed by open-webui serve and recommends Python 3.11 to avoid compatibility issues. See the Open WebUI GitHub instructions. |
Check model and hardware requirements
Model memory needs vary. Ollama’s current quick-start example uses Gemma 4 E2B, with a download of about 7.2 GB and a recommendation of 8 GB of available VRAM or unified memory. Those figures apply to that example, not to every Ollama model. Ollama notes that system RAM can be used when VRAM is lower, but responses may be slower. Check the Ollama quick start for current model guidance and its GPU documentation for supported NVIDIA GPU families and Apple Metal acceleration.
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Understand what “private” means here
Ollama states in its official FAQ: “We don’t see your prompts or data when you run locally.” That statement concerns local model use; it is not a guarantee about every service or component on your computer.
Cloud models and third-party hosted APIs are different routes. Ollama says it processes prompts and responses to provide its cloud service, while stating that content is not stored or logged. Open WebUI can connect to hosted providers as well as Ollama, so check the endpoint for the selected model before sharing sensitive information. Ollama also documents a setting to disable cloud features in its cloud FAQ.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot common connection and persistence problems
- No models appear: In Settings → Admin → Connections, check the Ollama URL and whether it is reachable from the Open WebUI container. Confirm Ollama is running and that a model is installed, or use the selector to download one. See Open WebUI’s connection troubleshooting guide.
- Connection refused: A container’s
localhostnormally means that container, not the host. Confirm Ollama listens on an address the container can reach. For host-installed Ollama, the official guide discusses settingOLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0, restarting Ollama, or using host networking. Do not expose the service beyond the intended network without suitable security controls; consult the connection guide. - Ollama runs in another container: Put both containers on the same Docker network and use the Ollama service name in the base URL, rather than using
localhost. Open WebUI’s quick-start documentation covers connection options. - Chats or settings disappear after recreation: Make sure the named volume is still mounted at
/app/backend/data; Open WebUI describes the stored data in its quick start. - Users are logged out after recreation: Reuse the same
WEBUI_SECRET_KEYrather than generating a new one each time. The quick-start instructions explain this setting. - The GPU appears unused: Check GPU visibility and drivers for Ollama itself. The Open WebUI CUDA image applies to its own auxiliary models, not as GPU passthrough for Ollama. Refer to Ollama’s GPU requirements.
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