diff --git a/backend/open_webui/env.py b/backend/open_webui/env.py
index 1e96689d7e..2f6b4ed632 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/env.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/env.py
@@ -813,6 +813,17 @@ FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_ROLE = os.getenv('FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_RO
 FORWARD_SESSION_INFO_HEADER_MESSAGE_ID = os.getenv('FORWARD_SESSION_INFO_HEADER_MESSAGE_ID', 'X-OpenWebUI-Message-Id')
 FORWARD_SESSION_INFO_HEADER_CHAT_ID = os.getenv('FORWARD_SESSION_INFO_HEADER_CHAT_ID', 'X-OpenWebUI-Chat-Id')
 
+# If set while ENABLE_FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADERS is True, send one signed HS256 JWT
+# (FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT) instead of separate X-OpenWebUI-User-* headers.
+FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_SECRET = (os.environ.get('FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_SECRET') or '').strip() or None
+FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT = os.environ.get('FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT', 'X-OpenWebUI-User-Jwt')
+try:
+    FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_EXPIRES_SECONDS = int(
+        os.environ.get('FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_EXPIRES_SECONDS', '300')
+    )
+except ValueError:
+    FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_EXPIRES_SECONDS = 300
+
 ####################################
 # Progressive Web App
 ####################################
diff --git a/backend/open_webui/utils/headers.py b/backend/open_webui/utils/headers.py
index 7c6751f7f3..72a5d4c4d1 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/utils/headers.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/utils/headers.py
@@ -1,14 +1,55 @@
+import logging
+import time
+from typing import Any, Optional
 from urllib.parse import quote
 
+import jwt
 from open_webui.env import (
+    FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT,
+    FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_EXPIRES_SECONDS,
+    FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_SECRET,
     FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_EMAIL,
     FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_ID,
     FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_NAME,
     FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_ROLE,
 )
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def _mint_forward_user_jwt(user: Any) -> str:
+    now = int(time.time())
+    payload = {
+        'sub': str(user.id),
+        'email': str(user.email),
+        'name': str(user.name),
+        'role': str(user.role),
+        'iss': 'open-webui',
+        'iat': now,
+        'exp': now + FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_EXPIRES_SECONDS,
+    }
+    return jwt.encode(payload, FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_SECRET, algorithm='HS256')
+
+
+def include_user_info_headers(headers: dict, user: Optional[Any] = None) -> dict:
+    """
+    Forward user identity to external backends: signed JWT in
+    FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT if FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_SECRET is set;
+    otherwise the legacy X-OpenWebUI-User-* headers.
+    """
+    if user is None:
+        return headers
+
+    if FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT_SECRET:
+        try:
+            token = _mint_forward_user_jwt(user)
+            return {**headers, FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT: token}
+        except Exception:
+            log.exception(
+                'Failed to mint %s; falling back to plain user-info headers.',
+                FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_JWT,
+            )
 
-def include_user_info_headers(headers, user):
     return {
         **headers,
         FORWARD_USER_INFO_HEADER_USER_NAME: quote(user.name, safe=' '),