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What you need before setup
Open WebUI and Ollama are separate parts of the system. Open WebUI manages the chat experience, users, and settings; Ollama downloads and runs models and exposes an API that Open WebUI can use. Open WebUI can also connect to other model providers, so installing both products does not by itself ensure that every chat stays local. See the Open WebUI documentation and Open WebUI project instructions.
- A computer running a supported Docker host. Open WebUI lists macOS, Windows, and Linux on x86_64 or ARM64 among supported host platforms.
- Ollama installed and running on the host, or running as a separate service that the Open WebUI container can reach.
- Enough memory for the model you choose. Host-platform support does not mean every model will run acceptably on every computer.
Run Open WebUI in Docker
Open WebUI recommends Docker for most users. The following command publishes the interface on port 3000, maps the host gateway so the container can reach a host-installed Ollama server, and stores application data in a named Docker volume.
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:main- Make sure Ollama is installed and running on the host before connecting it.
- Generate a persistent secret key with the command shown in the Docker example, or generate one separately with
openssl rand -hex 32. Save it securely; use the same value whenever you recreate the container. - Run the Docker command. It uses the
mainimage tag, maps host port 3000 to container port 8080, and creates or reuses theopen-webuidata volume. - Open http://localhost:3000 in a browser. Create the first account; Open WebUI’s quick start says that account becomes the administrator and sign-up is then disabled.
The named volume is important: Open WebUI stores chats, users, and settings under /app/backend/data. Keep the volume when updating or recreating the container; deleting it can remove that application data. The stable secret key also matters: changing it between runs can log users out.
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Connect Open WebUI to Ollama and choose a model
- In Open WebUI, go to Settings → Admin → Connections and check the Ollama connection.
- For the Docker command above, use
http://host.docker.internal:11434as the Ollama address if it is not already configured. The project’s Python installation instructions instead usehttp://localhost:11434. - Start a new chat and open the model selector. Select an installed model, or enter a model name and confirm its download if prompted.
Downloading a model requires network access. Once downloaded, a model running locally through Ollama can perform inference on your machine. Choose a model that fits your available memory and the work you want it to do; model compatibility and performance vary by computer.
Choose an installation path that fits your setup
| Approach | When it makes sense | What to account for |
|---|---|---|
| Separate Ollama service and Open WebUI container | A good default if you want to manage or update the interface and model server independently. | Configure networking so the container can reach Ollama, and ensure Ollama itself has any GPU access you want to use. Open WebUI documents a host-Ollama Docker setup and connection guidance. |
| Open WebUI image with Ollama included | Useful if you prefer a simpler initial launch with the components bundled. | The project documents CPU and GPU variants. Preserve the required data and model volumes; a GPU image does not remove the need for suitable hardware and GPU configuration. |
| Python installation of Open WebUI | An option if you would rather install the interface directly than run it in Docker. | The project instructions list pip install open-webui followed by open-webui serve, and recommend Python 3.11 to avoid compatibility issues. The documented Ollama address for this path is http://localhost:11434. |
Check model and hardware requirements
Ollama’s current quick-start example uses Gemma 4 E2B. Ollama lists its download at about 7.2 GB and recommends 8 GB of available VRAM or unified memory for that example; these figures are for that model example, not minimum requirements for all Ollama models. Ollama says system RAM can be used when VRAM is lower, though responses may be slower. Consult the Gemma 4 model information and Ollama quick-start guidance before choosing a model.
Ollama’s GPU documentation lists supported NVIDIA GPU families and Apple Metal acceleration. GPU support depends on the Ollama process, drivers, and compatible hardware. The Open WebUI :cuda image is for Open WebUI’s own auxiliary models; it does not pass GPU access through to Ollama. If you are choosing a computer for local AI, match its memory, operating-system support, and GPU configuration to the specific model you intend to run.
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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 Ollama use; it is not a blanket guarantee about your computer, other software, plugins, or every connection configured in Open WebUI.
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Ollama distinguishes local inference from its cloud-hosted requests. For cloud requests, Ollama says it processes prompts and responses to provide the service, while saying the content is not stored or logged. Ollama also documents a setting to disable cloud features. Open WebUI can connect to hosted APIs as well as Ollama, so check which model and endpoint are selected before submitting sensitive information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common connection and persistence problems
Ollama is not showing up or no models appear
- Check the Ollama address in Settings → Admin → Connections. For the Docker host-gateway setup, it is normally
http://host.docker.internal:11434. - Confirm Ollama is running and reachable from inside the Open WebUI container. A host address that works in your browser may not work from a container.
- Check whether the model is installed. If not, use the model selector to pull it; that download needs network access.
The connection is refused
From inside a container, localhost usually means that container, not the host where Ollama is running. Check the host-gateway mapping and Ollama’s listen address. Open WebUI’s connection troubleshooting guide discusses setting OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0, restarting Ollama, and using host networking as possible remedies. Do not expose Ollama beyond the network you intend to use without an appropriate security configuration.
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Chats or settings disappear after recreating the container
Confirm that the named open-webui volume is still mounted at /app/backend/data. Do not remove that volume as routine container cleanup if you want to retain its contents.
Users are logged out after a restart
Keep the same WEBUI_SECRET_KEY across container runs rather than generating a new key every time you recreate Open WebUI.
Ollama does not seem to use the GPU
Check GPU visibility, drivers, and configuration for the Ollama service or container itself. The Open WebUI CUDA-tagged image does not provide GPU access to Ollama.
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