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For most Windows users, the recommended route is Docker Desktop with its WSL 2 backend. Install Open WebUI, keep its data volume and secret key, then connect a model provider—Open WebUI is an interface, not a source of models.
Choose an installation route
| Route | Best fit | Persistence |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Desktop through WSL 2 | The official Quick Start recommendation for most users; runs Open WebUI in a container. | Keep the named open-webui volume attached to preserve chats, users, and settings. |
| Python with uv | Users comfortable managing a Python environment who prefer not to use Docker. | Set DATA_DIR to a stable Windows path; otherwise uvx may use a temporary location. |
The official Open WebUI Quick Start documents Windows support and both routes. A desktop app is also linked from the official homepage, but the homepage recommends Docker or Python for production deployments. Follow one install method at a time rather than combining their commands. Open WebUI Quick Start · Open WebUI homepage
Install with Docker Desktop and WSL 2
- Install WSL using Microsoft’s WSL installation instructions, then install Docker Desktop for Windows.
- In Docker Desktop, choose the WSL 2 backend and enable integration for the Linux distribution you plan to use. The Open WebUI guide says to run its Docker commands from a WSL terminal; ensure any mounted paths are accessible from that distribution.
- Generate a stable secret key in WSL with
openssl rand -hex 32. Save it securely. Use the generated value in place ofYOUR_SECRET_KEYbelow; do not copy the placeholder literally. - Run the documented container command from WSL, replacing the secret placeholder:
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data -e WEBUI_SECRET_KEY=YOUR_SECRET_KEY --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main - Open http://localhost:3000 in a browser and create or sign in to an account as prompted.
The port mapping makes the app available at host port 3000 while the container listens on 8080. The named volume stores Open WebUI data at /app/backend/data. The host-gateway mapping lets the container reach services on the Windows host, including Ollama when configured for Docker access. Keeping the same WEBUI_SECRET_KEY when recreating the container prevents the key change from invalidating sessions.
Install with Python and uv instead
Choose this alternative if you would rather run Open WebUI directly in a Python environment. The Quick Start documents Python 3.11 for the uvx command below; it lists Python 3.11 and 3.12 as supported for the direct pip route and says 3.13 is not yet supported.
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- Install uv for Windows using the official uv installation instructions, then open PowerShell.
- Set a persistent data directory and start the app:
$env:DATA_DIR="C:open-webuidata"; uvx --python 3.11 open-webui@latest serve - Visit http://localhost:8080.
Keeping DATA_DIR set to a stable path makes chats and settings easier to find and retain. The documented direct pip alternative is pip install open-webui followed by open-webui serve; use a supported Python version and manage that environment separately from the uvx method.
Connect a model provider
Open WebUI has no models of its own. It is a self-hosted front end that can connect to local model services and hosted APIs. In the interface, open Settings > Admin > Connections and configure a provider before trying to chat.
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Connect Ollama on the same Windows computer
Start Ollama on Windows, then use the endpoint that matches your Open WebUI installation: Docker uses http://host.docker.internal:11434; Python uses http://localhost:11434. The Docker address depends on the host-gateway mapping in the command above. If the container cannot reach Ollama, the Quick Start notes Ollama may need to listen on 0.0.0.0 for Docker access. Save the connection, then use the new-chat model selector; the Quick Start says an Ollama model can be pulled from that selector.
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In the appropriate connection area, enter the provider’s endpoint URL and API key, then save. The exact fields depend on the provider. When you select a cloud model, your prompt and any context included with it are sent to that provider’s endpoint for inference; the response is returned to Open WebUI. A local model does not automatically make separately configured cloud tools, extraction, or embedding services local. Choose providers with that data flow in mind. Open WebUI feature and provider documentation
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Send your first chat
- Select New Chat.
- Choose the connected model from the model selector.
- Enter a simple test prompt, such as “Reply with the word ready,” and press Enter.
- Confirm that a response appears. After the connection works, you can explore other options, including dropping a file into the chat to ask questions about it.
Fix common setup problems and preserve your data
- The model list is empty: Check that the provider URL and API key are correct and that the provider is running and reachable. For Docker connecting to host-run Ollama, check the
host.docker.internaladdress, the host-gateway mapping, and whether Ollama needs to listen on0.0.0.0. - You are logged out after recreating the container: Confirm the recreated container uses the same saved
WEBUI_SECRET_KEY. - Chats or settings are missing after replacing the container: Make sure the
open-webuivolume is still attached at/app/backend/data. Removing that volume during uninstall deletes the data it contains. - Python/uv data does not persist where expected: Set
DATA_DIRto a stable Windows folder before starting the app instead of relying on uvx’s potentially temporary default location.
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