# Getting Started with Open WebUI ![Getting Started with Open WebUI: install, connect a provider, start chatting, then expand into app install, agents, sharing, and updates](/images/banners/getting-started-light.svg)![Getting Started with Open WebUI: install, connect a provider, start chatting, then expand into app install, agents, sharing, and updates](/images/banners/getting-started-dark.svg)

Source: https://docs.openwebui.com/getting-started

**From zero to your first AI conversation in under five minutes.**

Open WebUI runs anywhere (Docker, Kubernetes, pip, bare metal) and connects to Ollama, OpenAI-compatible, and Open Responses providers out of the box. Pick an install method, connect a provider, and start chatting.

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## ⏱️ Quick Start

**Install Open WebUI, connect a model, and start chatting.**

Everything you need for a working setup. Choose Docker for the fastest path, Python for lightweight installs, or Kubernetes for production orchestration. Each guide includes connecting your first model provider.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| 🐳 Docker | One-command deploy, the officially recommended path |
| 📦 Python (pip / uv) | Lightweight install for low-resource or manual setups |
| ☸️ Kubernetes (Helm) | Production-ready orchestration with scaling |
| 🖥️ Desktop app | Native app, no Docker required |
| 🔌 Connect a provider | Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic, llama.cpp, vLLM, and more |
| ⚙️ Understanding settings | Learn how Admin Settings and User Settings work together |

[**Start installing →**](/getting-started/quick-start)

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## 📱 Open WebUI as an App

**Already running Open WebUI? Install it as an app on any device.**

Open WebUI is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Add it to your phone's home screen, your desktop taskbar, or your dock. No separate download required. Get a full-screen, native-feeling experience from any browser.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| 📱 iPhone / iPad | Share → Add to Home Screen |
| 🤖 Android | Menu → Install app |
| 🖥️ Chrome / Edge | Address bar install icon |

[**Install as an app →**](/getting-started/open-webui-as-app)

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## Essentials for Open WebUI

**Installed and chatting. Now what?**

Five short sections that cover the things every new user eventually wishes they'd known on day one: what plugins are and how to install them, why long chats eventually error out (and how to fix it with a filter), the "invisible" Task Model that powers titles/autocomplete, getting started with RAG over your own documents, and turning on Native tool calling.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| 🧩 Plugins | Tools, Pipes, Filters, Actions: the extensibility story |
| 🧠 Context management | Why long chats hit a wall and how to handle it |
| 🤖 Task models | Keep titles, tags, and autocomplete off your main model |
| 📚 Basic RAG | Chatting with your own documents |
| 🔧 Tool calling | Native mode + first Tools to install |

[**Read the essentials →**](/getting-started/essentials)

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## 🤖 Connect an Agent

**Go beyond simple model providers. Connect an autonomous AI agent.**

AI agents like Hermes Agent and OpenClaw bring their own tools (terminal, file ops, web search, memory) and use Open WebUI as a rich chat frontend. The agent decides when to use tools, executes them, and streams results back to you.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| 🧠 Hermes Agent | Nous Research's agent with terminal, file ops, web search, and skills |
| 🐾 OpenClaw | Self-hosted agent framework with shell access, web browsing, and channel bots |

[**Connect an agent →**](/getting-started/quick-start/connect-an-agent)

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## Sharing Open WebUI

**Bring AI to your entire organization with a single deployment.**

Open WebUI isn't just a local interface for AI. It is designed to be a centralized AI operating system for teams. Deploy it once to leverage streamlined onboarding, collaborative intelligence, resource pooling, and centralized security.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| LAN & Tunnels | Tailscale, Cloudflare Tunnels, and local IP access |
| Reverse Proxies | Secure your instance with Nginx, Caddy, or HAProxy |
| Team Onboarding | Admin approval flows and Enterprise SSO integrations |
| Shared Context | Channels, shared chats, and common knowledge bases |

[**Learn how to share Open WebUI →**](/getting-started/sharing)

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## 🛠️ Advanced Topics

**Scale, observe, and customize your deployment.**

Go beyond the basics. Configure environment variables, connect external databases, add cloud storage, enable OpenTelemetry, or scale horizontally with Redis and multiple workers.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| ⚖️ Scaling | Multi-worker, multi-node, Redis-backed sessions |
| 📊 Logging & observability | OpenTelemetry traces, metrics, and structured logs |
| 🧪 Development setup | Run from source for local development and testing |

[**Explore advanced topics →**](/getting-started/advanced-topics)

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## 🔄 Updating

**Stay current with the latest features and security patches.**

Update manually with a single Docker or pip command, or automate with Watchtower, WUD, or Diun. Includes backup/restore procedures and version pinning for production.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| 🔄 Manual update | Docker pull + recreate, or pip upgrade |
| 🤖 Automated updates | Watchtower, WUD, or Diun |
| 📌 Version pinning | Lock to a specific release for stability |
| 💾 Backup & restore | One-command volume backup and recovery |

[**Update guide →**](/getting-started/updating)