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URL Parameters

In Open WebUI, chat sessions can be customized through various URL parameters. These parameters allow you to set specific configurations, enable features, and define model settings on a per-chat basis. This approach provides flexibility and control over individual chat sessions directly from the URL.

URL Parameter Overview​

The following table lists the available URL parameters, their function, and example usage.

ParameterDescriptionExample
modelsSpecifies the models to be used, as a comma-separated list./?models=model1,model2
modelSpecifies a single model to be used for the chat session./?model=model1
youtubeSpecifies a YouTube video ID to be transcribed within the chat, after the user confirms./?youtube=VIDEO_ID
load-urlSpecifies a Website URL to be fetched and uploaded as a document within the chat, after the user confirms./?load-url=https://google.com
web-searchEnables web search functionality if set to true./?web-search=true
tools or tool-idsSpecifies a comma-separated list of tool IDs to activate in the chat. Tool server connections use a prefixed ID./?tools=tool1,tool2
call or voiceStarts Voice Mode if set to true, after the user confirms./?call=true
qPlaces a prompt in the message input for the user to review and send./?q=Hello%20there
temporary-chatMarks the chat as temporary if set to true, for one-time sessions./?temporary-chat=true
code-interpreterEnables the code interpreter feature if set to true./?code-interpreter=true
image-generationEnables the image generation feature if set to true./?image-generation=true
settingsOpens the settings dialog on a tab, admin: tabs for admins only./?settings=admin:documents

1. Models and Model Selection​

  • Description: The models and model parameters allow you to specify which language models should be used for a particular chat session.
  • How to Set: You can use either models for multiple models or model for a single model.
  • Example:
    • /?models=model1,model2: This initializes the chat with model1 and model2.
    • /?model=model1: This sets model1 as the sole model for the chat.
  • Note: When nothing valid is selected, for instance because the model used last was removed or hidden, a new chat without either parameter falls back to the default models of the user's groups, or to the instance's Selected Models (DEFAULT_MODELS) when no group sets any. Passing one of these parameters suppresses that fallback, so the chat waits for the model you named.

2. YouTube Transcription​

  • Description: The youtube parameter takes a YouTube video ID, enabling the chat to transcribe the specified video.
  • How to Set: Use the YouTube video ID as the value for this parameter.
  • Example: /?youtube=VIDEO_ID
  • Behavior: An Open link dialog lists the video URL and asks whether to load it. Once the user confirms, the video's transcript is added to the chat. Canceling loads nothing.

3. Website Insertion​

  • Description: The load-url parameter downloads the specified website and extracts the content to upload it as a document into the chat.
  • How to Set: Use the full website URL as the value for this parameter.
  • Example: /?load-url=https://google.com
  • Behavior: An Open link dialog lists the URL and asks whether to load it. Once the user confirms, the page's content is added to the chat as a document. Canceling loads nothing. With both youtube and load-url, one dialog lists both URLs.
  • Description: Enabling web-search allows the chat session to access web search functionality.
  • How to Set: Set this parameter to true to enable web search.
  • Example: /?web-search=true
  • Behavior: If enabled, the chat can retrieve web search results as part of its responses.

5. Tool Selection​

  • Description: The tools or tool-ids parameters specify which tools to activate within the chat.
  • How to Set: Provide a comma-separated list of tool IDs as the parameter’s value.
  • Example: /?tools=tool1,tool2 or /?tool-ids=tool1,tool2
  • Behavior: Each tool ID is matched and activated within the session for user interaction.
  • Note: The value must be the ID Open WebUI uses internally, which is not always the name you see in the Integrations menu. A workspace tool uses its plain ID, for example /?tools=my_workspace_tool. A tool server connection carries a prefix in front of the ID set on the connection. Use server:mcp:<server-id> for an MCP connection and server:<server-id> for an OpenAPI connection, for example /?tool-ids=server:mcp:my_mcp_server. An OpenAPI connection with no ID set uses its position in the connections list, starting at 0. An ID that matches nothing is not activated. The tools list endpoint returns the exact IDs, see Using Open WebUI tools, including MCP, from the API.

6. Call Overlay​

  • Description: The call parameter starts Voice Mode, the call overlay in the chat interface. voice is an alias and works the same way.
  • How to Set: Set the parameter to true to start the call overlay.
  • Example: /?call=true or /?voice=true
  • Behavior: An Open link dialog asks whether to start a voice call using the microphone. Once the user confirms, the call overlay opens, allowing features such as live transcription and video input. Canceling leaves the microphone off. When the link also carries youtube or load-url, the same dialog lists those URLs, and confirming does both. The call applies the same checks as the Voice mode button: the user needs the Allow Call permission and only one model may be selected. In Standard call mode the speech-to-text engine must also be something other than Web API.

7. Initial Query Prompt​

  • Description: The q parameter allows setting an initial query or prompt for the chat.
  • How to Set: Specify the query or prompt text as the parameter value.
  • Example: /?q=Hello%20there
  • Behavior: The text lands in the message input, and the user decides when to send it.

8. Temporary Chat Sessions​

  • Description: The temporary-chat parameter marks the chat as a temporary session. This may limit features such as saving chat history or applying persistent settings.
  • How to Set: Set this parameter to true for a temporary chat session.
  • Example: /?temporary-chat=true
  • Behavior: This initiates a disposable chat session without saving history or applying advanced configurations.
    • Note: Document processing in temporary chats is frontend-only for privacy. Complex files requiring backend parsing (e.g., DOCX) may not be fully supported.
    • Note: A temporary chat lives under a per-session ID with no stored chat record, so nothing the run produces (messages, generated images, status updates, titles or tags) is written to the database. Features that need a saved chat, such as task lists, terminals scoped per chat, sub-agents and timers, are unavailable there. Chats in channels are treated the same way, and the ask user tool is unavailable in channels as well.
    • Note: In a temporary chat, a question from the ask user tool, or a tool call waiting under Ask for approval, appears as a dialog in the open browser tab. Nobody answering within about two minutes, leaving the chat or the tab losing its connection counts as a denial. The temporary chat must be the one open in that tab; otherwise the request is cancelled at once.
    • Note: The list of unavailable features above is complete. Any feature or tool not listed there works in a temporary chat exactly as it does in a normal one. That includes tools that store or send data of their own, memory, notes and web search for example. Disable a tool on the model if you do not want a temporary chat to use it.

9. Code Interpreter​

  • Description: The code-interpreter parameter enables the code interpreter feature.
  • How to Set: Set this parameter to true to enable the code interpreter feature for this new chat session.
  • Example: /?code-interpreter=true
  • Behavior: Activates the code interpreter button to execute the code interpreter with the next prompt sent to the LLM.

10. Image Generation​

  • Description: The image-generation parameter enables the image generation for the provided prompt.
  • How to Set: Set this parameter to true to enable image generation for the chat.
  • Example: /?image-generation=true
  • Behavior: Activates the image generation button to generate an image.
  • Description: The settings parameter opens the settings dialog on a given tab and then removes itself from the URL.
  • How to Set: Use a user tab id (general, interface, notifications, shortcuts, connections, tools, personalization, audio, data_controls, usage, archived_chats, account, about) or an admin tab as admin:<tab> (general, authentication, connections, models, subagents, evaluations, analytics, integrations, documents, web, code-execution, interface, audio, images, db, pipelines).
  • Example: /?settings=admin:documents
  • Behavior: The dialog opens on that tab. A non-admin who follows an admin: link gets the General tab instead.

12. New Note​

  • Description: On the Notes pages, title and content prefill a new note.
  • How to Set: Open /notes/new (or /notes) with either parameter.
  • Example: /notes/new?title=Meeting&content=Agenda%3A
  • Behavior: A Create a new note dialog shows the title and body and asks before creating anything. Once the user confirms, the note is created and opens in the editor. The title defaults to today's date when only content is given. Canceling on /notes/new returns to the notes list.
Example Use Case
tip

Temporary Chat Session Suppose a user wants to initiate a quick chat session without saving the history. They can do so by setting temporary-chat=true in the URL. This provides a disposable chat environment ideal for one-time interactions.

Using Multiple Parameters Together​

These URL parameters can be combined to create highly customized chat sessions. For example:

/?models=model1&youtube=VIDEO_ID&web-search=true&tools=tool1,tool2&call=true&q=Hello%20there&temporary-chat=true

This URL will:

  • Initialize the chat with model1.
  • Enable web search and the specified tools.
  • Show one Open link dialog that lists the YouTube video and asks to start a voice call. Confirming loads the transcript and opens the call overlay.
  • Place "Hello there" in the message input, ready to send.
  • Mark the chat as temporary, avoiding any history saving.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a warranty, guarantee, or contractual commitment. Open WebUI is provided "as is." See your license for applicable terms.