Back up your local AI app’s persistent data and export custom configurations before updating anything. Then update the interface and model runtime as separate components, pull the model revision you want, reload it, and verify your settings and a fresh model response. The exact steps depend on your setup; Open WebUI connected to Ollama is one documented example, not a universal workflow.
What to protect before you update
“Settings” may live in several places. Separate the interface’s saved data from custom model behavior, model files, and the runtime that serves them:
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- Interface data: Open WebUI stores chats, users, settings, admin configuration, uploads, knowledge-base content, generated content, and exported data in its Docker volume or local database—not inside the container. Its update guide recommends backing up before each update.
- Custom model presets: In Open WebUI, a preset sits above a base model and can bind prompts, tools, knowledge, skills, and parameter overrides. It is distinct from the model’s weights; export custom configurations as JSON from the Models workspace.
- Custom Ollama models: Save the model definition, or Modelfile, separately. Ollama documents inspecting one with
ollama show --modelfile MODEL_NAMEand using a saved Modelfile withollama createto recreate a model. This does not back up Open WebUI settings or all model weights; keep any referenced base model or local file available. See the Ollama Modelfile reference. - Runtime and model weights: Record which model server you use and the model names and tags you rely on. Updating a model tag is separate from updating the app or runtime.
Back up Open WebUI before changing its version
Use the backup method for your installation: a Docker installation needs a copy of its persistent volume or mounted data; a local installation needs a copy of its database and associated data. Confirm you can locate the backup before proceeding. The Open WebUI Docker guide demonstrates archiving the open-webui volume with an Alpine container.
When recreating a Docker container, retain the persistent volume mounted at /app/backend/data. Keep the same persistent WEBUI_SECRET_KEY as well; the guide says this avoids invalidating sessions when a container is recreated. Follow the guide’s restore procedure carefully: it deletes the target volume contents, so verify both the target volume and the archive before restoring.
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Choose a release strategy for the interface
For Open WebUI, the documented choice depends on how disruptive an update would be:
| Use case | Documented approach | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Personal or homelab use | Use :main and manually pull the latest image. |
It tracks the latest build and may include breaking changes without warning. |
| Shared or team instance | Pin a version tag. | Updates are more predictable, but you must choose when to move to a newer version. |
| Production or critical use | Pin a version, review release notes, and test in staging. | Requires a testing and upgrade process, but avoids treating an unreviewed moving build as stable. |
These are Open WebUI-specific recommendations, not rules for every local AI app. Its guide also describes previewing changes in a separate :dev instance on a separate volume. Do not point that development instance at production data: migrations can make a database unreadable by an earlier release.
Update the interface without replacing its data
- Identify how Open WebUI was installed and where its persistent data lives. Use the matching Docker or package instructions in the Open WebUI update guide; the commands differ by installation method.
- Review the release notes and select the intended version. For a container update, recreate the container using the chosen image while keeping the existing data volume mounted at
/app/backend/dataand retainingWEBUI_SECRET_KEY. - Start the updated app and load the interface. If the page appears stale, try a browser hard refresh to clear old frontend assets, then check the application logs if startup or data looks wrong.
Open WebUI describes rollback by selecting an earlier image or package version, but database migrations may be one-way. If an earlier version cannot read the migrated database, restore a compatible backup rather than assuming that changing the app version alone reverses the migration.
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Export custom configurations before changing models
Open WebUI presets
Export custom model configurations as JSON from the Models workspace before making changes. Keep that export outside the live application data location so it remains available if the app or its storage needs recovery.
Ollama Modelfiles
For an Ollama model you created or customized, inspect its definition with ollama show --modelfile MODEL_NAME and save the output as a Modelfile. Ollama’s documented recreation path uses ollama create with that file. Preserve any base model or local file referenced by the definition; the Modelfile is not a copy of all model weights.
Update model tags in the model server
Open WebUI’s model-management behavior described here applies when it is connected to Ollama. In Open WebUI, open the Ollama Manage dialog and choose Update All Models to update installed, pullable model tags. The operation processes models one at a time and downloads changed content rather than fetching everything again. Models that cannot be pulled—such as custom models that cannot be updated from Ollama.com—may be skipped. Check the list instead of assuming every local model changed. Details are in Open WebUI’s Ollama model management guide.
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This is not a general update method for every local server. Open WebUI can connect to other local servers, including llama.cpp, vLLM, and OpenAI-compatible servers; use the actual server’s update instructions for those setups. The provider connection guide lists its supported connection options.
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Reload and verify the updated model
Pulling a model tag and activating its new revision are separate steps. If Ollama had the model loaded during the pull, that loaded instance can keep using the old revision. Eject or unload it using the control available for your provider, then load it again so the updated revision is used.
Quick Recap
- Confirm the interface starts and your saved settings, chats, and presets are present.
- Check that the intended model name and tag are available, and note any model the update process skipped.
- Start a fresh session and send a prompt to confirm the reloaded model responds.
- If the interface or model fails, inspect the relevant logs and consult the update instructions for the installed app and server.
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