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[GH-ISSUE #2824] 403 Error with websearch using searxng engine #13027
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Originally created by @andrewginns on GitHub (Jun 4, 2024).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/2824
Bug Report
Description
Bug Summary:
Using searxng as the engine results in queries failing due to 403 errors
Steps to Reproduce:
Set web search engine to a searxng website e.g. https://searx.hu/search?q=
Expected Behavior:
Queries with web search turned on will result in responses including context from returned results.
Actual Behavior:
Sending the query results in a 403 error for the web search component.
Environment
Open WebUI Version: 0.2.4
Ollama (if applicable): n/a
Operating System: MacOS client browser, docker host
Browser (if applicable): n/a
Reproduction Details
Confirmation:
Logs and Screenshots
Browser Console Logs:
console.log
Docker Container Logs:
[Include relevant Docker container logs, if applicable]
Screenshots (if applicable):

Installation Method
Docker compose using
ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:mainAdditional Information
Applicable to all searxng instances.
Found a similar issue mentioned in https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/2717 but the fix seems applicable only to
settings.ymlwhen I only have aconfig.jsonin my/app/backend/datafolder.Note
If the bug report is incomplete or does not follow the provided instructions, it may not be addressed. Please ensure that you have followed the steps outlined in the README.md and troubleshooting.md documents, and provide all necessary information for us to reproduce and address the issue. Thank you!
@cheahjs commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2024):
Most public instances do not have JSON format enabled, the recommendation is to self host an instance if you want to use it.
@mdillondc commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2024):
Example searxng config to enable JSON:
@justinh-rahb commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2024):
Tutorial page is on docs now:
https://docs.openwebui.com/tutorial/web_search/
@andrewginns commented on GitHub (Jun 4, 2024):
Ah I see, thanks
Will follow this, much appreciated!
@sail1369 commented on GitHub (Jun 10, 2024):
I tried the fixes and followed the guide, at first with no luck, as i used the "3. Alternative: Docker Run", from the guide,
to make it work,
Step 1:
i went into the container and edited the settings file (/etc/searxng/settings.yml), for good measure i also did it in (/usr/local/searxng/searx/settings.yml) in both these files i added :
formats:
- html
- json #this line
Step 2:
set the websearch url as only the base url: http://localhost:8080/
hoping maybe this will help some people,
seems to work in my case, but no idea why
@rootcli commented on GitHub (Jul 12, 2024):
I've added all the settings that worked for me in discussions
Hope it helps
@iplayfast commented on GitHub (Jul 29, 2024):
Not working for me. I even tried using public addresses eg https://searxng.site/ and got "too many requests" error. But I can access them through the browser. Looks to me like open-webui has problems.
@justinh-rahb commented on GitHub (Jul 30, 2024):
It doesn't if you follow the docs:
https://docs.openwebui.com/tutorial/web_search#searxng-docker
Specifically the
settings.ymlfile must havejsonoutput format enabled:Most public instances of SearXNG only have
htmlformat enabled, or restrict access to API usage.@fahadshery commented on GitHub (Aug 16, 2024):
This fixed it for me. Thank you!
just had to add
- jsonunder formats in thesettings.ymlfile@grimaldiss commented on GitHub (Aug 26, 2024):
where do i find settings.yml?
@rootcli commented on GitHub (Aug 27, 2024):
https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/2824#issuecomment-2225356957
👆🏻
@interzone2 commented on GitHub (Oct 7, 2024):
I've followed all instructions above but still get forbidden.
Relevant settings.yml :
http://xxx.xx.xx.xx/search - is live
deno app attempting to communicate with searxng:
Search command:
SEARCH_URL="http://xxx.xx.xx.xx/search" deno run --allow-net --allow-env --watch main.ts "breaking news"Reply:
@aayusharyan commented on GitHub (Nov 20, 2024):
This page is no longer there on the website. Instead following this URL - https://docs.openwebui.com/features/web_search
However, same issue.
@magentaFire commented on GitHub (Dec 6, 2024):
This worked for me with some variants:
I'd highlight that I needed to edit settings.yml files as above by entering in the docker container:
Finally I added websearch url as only the base url: http://wsl-ip:3001/
and that works!!
BUT..... Also I don't know why 🫤
@Atomique commented on GitHub (Dec 6, 2024):
I had the same problem, but already set anything suggested here. Problem was that I set the Base URL "correct". I set it to SEARXNG_BASE_URL=https://sub.domain.tld but this wasnt working with my open webui connecting to it. Its a bit weird. I changed to SEARXNG_BASE_URL=http://0.0.0.0:3001 in the container environment and also have set the following in my settings.yml:
@jaltgen commented on GitHub (Jan 18, 2025):
This will also depend on how you are hosting the rest of your containers @Atomique. If you set the Base URL to your FQDN this may lead to the local connection via the Docker network not working. I am not a dev on either project and have not reviewed the code to make sure, but generally speaking, if you only want to use searxng as a tool for Open Web UI, you may not need to give it a FQDN or expose a port, just make sure both containers are on a shared Docker network. Then, you can use the container name of searxng as the hostname in your query:
http://searxng:8080/
This ofc does not use TLS, however, searxng is not exposed outside of the specific Docker network. Given layered security, this to me is reasonably safe. To expose searxng you may then use a reverse proxy such as Traefik or Caddy, without the need to let searxng know its FQDN, as this will be handled by the proxy.
@tjwebb commented on GitHub (Sep 2, 2025):
This link is dead.
@rgaricano commented on GitHub (Sep 2, 2025):
https://docs.openwebui.com/category/-web-search
@SteveCaruso commented on GitHub (Apr 6, 2026):
Dead again :-) Whack-a-mole link rot edition.
@Classic298 commented on GitHub (Apr 6, 2026):
@SteveCaruso the docs website fortunately has a good-enough search https://docs.openwebui.com/features/chat-conversations/web-search/providers/searxng
https://docs.openwebui.com/category/web-search