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Browser Search Engine Integration

Open WebUI allows you to integrate directly into your web browser. This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up Open WebUI as a custom search engine, enabling you to execute queries easily from your browser's address bar.

Setting Up Open WebUI as a Search Engine​

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, ensure that:

  • You have Chrome or another supported browser installed.
  • The WEBUI_URL environment variable is set correctly, either using Docker environment variables or in the .env file as specified in the Getting Started guide.

Step 1: Set the WEBUI_URL Environment Variable​

Setting the WEBUI_URL environment variable ensures your browser knows where to direct queries.

Using Docker Environment Variables​

If you are running Open WebUI using Docker, you can set the environment variable in your docker run command:

docker run -d \
  -p 3000:8080 \
  --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway \
  -v open-webui:/app/backend/data \
  --name open-webui \
  --restart always \
  -e WEBUI_URL="https://<your-open-webui-url>" \
  ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main

Alternatively, you can add the variable to your .env file:

WEBUI_URL=https://<your-open-webui-url>

Step 2: Add Open WebUI as a Custom Search Engine​

For Chrome:​

  1. Open Chrome and navigate to Settings.
  2. Select Search engine from the sidebar, then click on Manage search engines.
  3. Click Add to create a new search engine.
  4. Fill in the details as follows:
    • Search engine: Open WebUI Search
    • Keyword: webui (or any keyword you prefer)
    • URL with %s in place of query: 
      https://<your-open-webui-url>/?q=%s
  5. Click Add to save the configuration.

For Firefox:​

  1. Go to Open WebUI in Firefox.
  2. Expand the address bar by clicking on it.
  3. Click the plus icon that is enclosed in a green circle at the bottom of the expanded address bar. This adds Open WebUI's search to the search engines in your preferences.

Alternatively:

  1. Go to Open WebUI in Firefox.
  2. Right-click on the address bar.
  3. Select "Add Open WebUI" (or similar) from the context menu.

Optional: Using Specific Models​

If you wish to utilize a specific model for your search, modify the URL format to include the model ID:

https://<your-open-webui-url>/?models=<model_id>&q=%s

Note: The model ID will need to be URL-encoded. Special characters like spaces or slashes need to be encoded (e.g., my model becomes my%20model).

Example Usage​

Once the search engine is set up, you can perform searches directly from the address bar. Simply type your chosen keyword followed by your query:

webui your search query

This command will redirect you to the Open WebUI interface with your search results.

Troubleshooting​

If you encounter any issues, check the following:

  • Ensure the WEBUI_URL is correctly configured and points to a valid Open WebUI instance.
  • Double-check that the search engine URL format is correctly entered in your browser settings.
  • Confirm your internet connection is active and that the Open WebUI service is running smoothly.