Target branch: The pull request targets the dev branch.
Description: A concise description of the changes is provided below.
Changelog: A changelog entry following Keep a Changelog format is included at the bottom.
Documentation: Documentation impact is described below. I can open a follow-up Open WebUI Docs PR once maintainers confirm the setting name and warning text.
Dependencies: No new or updated dependencies are introduced.
Testing: Manual tests were performed and screenshots are included below.
No Unchecked AI Code: This PR was AI-assisted, but the changes were manually reviewed and manually tested.
Self-Review: A self-review of the code has been performed.
Architecture: The feature is default-off, admin-controlled, and limited to a small UI transparency notice.
Git Hygiene: The PR is atomic, rebased on dev, and contains no unrelated commits.
Title Prefix: The PR title uses the feat prefix.
Description
This PR adds an optional user-facing warning for Web Search.
The warning is controlled by a new Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle and defaults to off, so existing behavior is unchanged.
The main use case is managed or regulated deployments where administrators want a clear point-of-use notice when Web Search can send queries to a configured search provider.
When enabled, the chat input shows:
Web search is enabled. Queries may be sent to the configured search provider.
The warning is only shown when Web Search is active for the current message, including when the user's "Web Search in Chat" preference is set to "Always".
No new dependencies are added.
Changed
Adds a new ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING config flag that defaults to off.
Adds an Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle for the warning.
Shows a user-facing warning in the chat input only when Web Search is active and the warning is enabled.
Adds i18n entries for the admin label and user-facing warning text.
started from the default state and confirmed existing behavior is unchanged when the warning setting is disabled
verified the Admin Web Search warning toggle is visible
verified the warning appears in the chat input when Web Search is enabled
verified the admin setting and user-facing warning render in the English UI
Documentation
This PR introduces a user-facing optional warning and the ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING config flag.
A follow-up Open WebUI Docs PR will document:
ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING
the Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle
the default-off behavior
the fact that this is a transparency notice and does not change Web Search behavior
I can open the docs PR once maintainers confirm the setting name and wording.
Security Considerations
No search provider behavior changes.
No new external requests.
No changes to authentication, authorization, or data retention.
Existing Web Search behavior is unchanged unless an admin enables the warning.
AI-assisted Code Note
This PR was AI-assisted, but the changes were manually reviewed and manually tested by the author. The implementation was verified in a running Open WebUI container, including the steps listed above.
Changelog Entry
Description
Adds an optional warning that informs users when Web Search is active and queries may be sent to the configured search provider.
Added
ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING config flag.
Admin Web Search toggle for the warning.
User-facing warning in the chat input.
i18n entries for the admin label and warning text.
Changed
None.
Deprecated
None.
Removed
None.
Fixed
None.
Security
Improves transparency for deployments using configured Web Search providers.
By submitting this pull request, I confirm that I have read and fully agree to the Contributor License Agreement (CLA), and I am providing my contributions under its terms.
🔄 This issue represents a GitHub Pull Request. It cannot be merged through Gitea due to API limitations.
## 📋 Pull Request Information
**Original PR:** https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/pull/24776
**Author:** [@DuncanSARapp](https://github.com/DuncanSARapp)
**Created:** 5/15/2026
**Status:** ❌ Closed
**Base:** `dev` ← **Head:** `codex/web-search-warning`
---
### 📝 Commits (1)
- [`cdeb60c`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/cdeb60c545040f7c0f1799ac00ff58357a678bd6) feat: add optional web search warning
### 📊 Changes
**68 files changed** (+170 additions, -0 deletions)
<details>
<summary>View changed files</summary>
📝 `backend/open_webui/config.py` (+6 -0)
📝 `backend/open_webui/main.py` (+3 -0)
📝 `backend/open_webui/routers/retrieval.py` (+5 -0)
📝 `src/lib/components/admin/Settings/WebSearch.svelte` (+10 -0)
📝 `src/lib/components/chat/MessageInput.svelte` (+21 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/ar-BH/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/az-AZ/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/bg-BG/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/bn-BD/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/bo-TB/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/bs-BA/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/ca-ES/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/ceb-PH/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/cs-CZ/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/da-DK/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/de-DE/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/dg-DG/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/el-GR/translation.json` (+2 -0)
📝 `src/lib/i18n/locales/en-GB/translation.json` (+2 -0)
_...and 48 more files_
</details>
### 📄 Description
<!--
⚠️ CRITICAL CHECKS FOR CONTRIBUTORS (READ, DON'T DELETE) ⚠️
1. Target the `dev` branch. PRs targeting `main` will be automatically closed.
2. Do NOT delete the CLA section at the bottom. It is required for the bot to accept your PR.
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# Pull Request Checklist
### Note to first-time contributors: A discussion has been opened before this PR: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/discussions/24772
**Before submitting, make sure you've checked the following:**
- [x] **Linked Issue/Discussion:** This PR references an existing Issue or Discussion — Closes #24774; Relates to https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/discussions/24772.
- [x] **Target branch:** The pull request targets the `dev` branch.
- [x] **Description:** A concise description of the changes is provided below.
- [x] **Changelog:** A changelog entry following Keep a Changelog format is included at the bottom.
- [x] **Documentation:** Documentation impact is described below. I can open a follow-up Open WebUI Docs PR once maintainers confirm the setting name and warning text.
- [x] **Dependencies:** No new or updated dependencies are introduced.
- [x] **Testing:** Manual tests were performed and screenshots are included below.
- [x] **No Unchecked AI Code:** This PR was AI-assisted, but the changes were manually reviewed and manually tested.
- [x] **Self-Review:** A self-review of the code has been performed.
- [x] **Architecture:** The feature is default-off, admin-controlled, and limited to a small UI transparency notice.
- [x] **Git Hygiene:** The PR is atomic, rebased on `dev`, and contains no unrelated commits.
- [x] **Title Prefix:** The PR title uses the `feat` prefix.
## Description
This PR adds an optional user-facing warning for Web Search.
The warning is controlled by a new Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle and defaults to off, so existing behavior is unchanged.
The main use case is managed or regulated deployments where administrators want a clear point-of-use notice when Web Search can send queries to a configured search provider.
When enabled, the chat input shows:
> Web search is enabled. Queries may be sent to the configured search provider.
The warning is only shown when Web Search is active for the current message, including when the user's "Web Search in Chat" preference is set to "Always".
No new dependencies are added.
## Changed
- Adds a new `ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING` config flag that defaults to off.
- Adds an Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle for the warning.
- Shows a user-facing warning in the chat input only when Web Search is active and the warning is enabled.
- Adds i18n entries for the admin label and user-facing warning text.
## Testing
Tested locally with:
- Podman build:
- `podman build --env NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 --build-arg USE_SLIM=true --build-arg BUILD_HASH=cdeb60c54 -t localhost/open-webui-warning:web-search-warning .`
- Runtime:
- `OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://host.containers.internal:11434`
- `ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH=True`
- `ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING=True`
- Healthcheck:
- `GET /health`
- result: `{"status": true}`
- Browser test:
- started from the default state and confirmed existing behavior is unchanged when the warning setting is disabled
- verified the Admin Web Search warning toggle is visible
- verified the warning appears in the chat input when Web Search is enabled
- verified the admin setting and user-facing warning render in the English UI
## Documentation
This PR introduces a user-facing optional warning and the `ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING` config flag.
A follow-up Open WebUI Docs PR will document:
- `ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING`
- the Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle
- the default-off behavior
- the fact that this is a transparency notice and does not change Web Search behavior
I can open the docs PR once maintainers confirm the setting name and wording.
## Security Considerations
- No search provider behavior changes.
- No new external requests.
- No changes to authentication, authorization, or data retention.
- Existing Web Search behavior is unchanged unless an admin enables the warning.
## AI-assisted Code Note
This PR was AI-assisted, but the changes were manually reviewed and manually tested by the author. The implementation was verified in a running Open WebUI container, including the steps listed above.
# Changelog Entry
### Description
- Adds an optional warning that informs users when Web Search is active and queries may be sent to the configured search provider.
### Added
- `ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING` config flag.
- Admin Web Search toggle for the warning.
- User-facing warning in the chat input.
- i18n entries for the admin label and warning text.
### Changed
- None.
### Deprecated
- None.
### Removed
- None.
### Fixed
- None.
### Security
- Improves transparency for deployments using configured Web Search providers.
### Breaking Changes
- None. The setting defaults to off.
---
### Additional Information
- This PR targets `dev`.
- No new dependencies.
- Related discussion: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/discussions/24772
- Closes #24774
### Screenshots or Videos
### Contributor License Agreement
<!--
🚨 DO NOT DELETE THE TEXT BELOW 🚨
Keep the "Contributor License Agreement" confirmation text intact.
Deleting it will trigger the CLA-Bot to INVALIDATE your PR.
-->
- [x] By submitting this pull request, I confirm that I have read and fully agree to the [Contributor License Agreement (CLA)](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/blob/main/CONTRIBUTOR_LICENSE_AGREEMENT), and I am providing my contributions under its terms.
---
<sub>🔄 This issue represents a GitHub Pull Request. It cannot be merged through Gitea due to API limitations.</sub>
Blocking a user prevents them from interacting with repositories, such as opening or commenting on pull requests or issues. Learn more about blocking a user.
📋 Pull Request Information
Original PR: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/pull/24776
Author: @DuncanSARapp
Created: 5/15/2026
Status: ❌ Closed
Base:
dev← Head:codex/web-search-warning📝 Commits (1)
cdeb60cfeat: add optional web search warning📊 Changes
68 files changed (+170 additions, -0 deletions)
View changed files
📝
backend/open_webui/config.py(+6 -0)📝
backend/open_webui/main.py(+3 -0)📝
backend/open_webui/routers/retrieval.py(+5 -0)📝
src/lib/components/admin/Settings/WebSearch.svelte(+10 -0)📝
src/lib/components/chat/MessageInput.svelte(+21 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/ar-BH/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/az-AZ/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/bg-BG/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/bn-BD/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/bo-TB/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/bs-BA/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/ca-ES/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/ceb-PH/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/cs-CZ/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/da-DK/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/de-DE/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/dg-DG/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/el-GR/translation.json(+2 -0)📝
src/lib/i18n/locales/en-GB/translation.json(+2 -0)...and 48 more files
📄 Description
Pull Request Checklist
Note to first-time contributors: A discussion has been opened before this PR: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/discussions/24772
Before submitting, make sure you've checked the following:
devbranch.dev, and contains no unrelated commits.featprefix.Description
This PR adds an optional user-facing warning for Web Search.
The warning is controlled by a new Admin Panel -> Settings -> Web Search toggle and defaults to off, so existing behavior is unchanged.
The main use case is managed or regulated deployments where administrators want a clear point-of-use notice when Web Search can send queries to a configured search provider.
When enabled, the chat input shows:
The warning is only shown when Web Search is active for the current message, including when the user's "Web Search in Chat" preference is set to "Always".
No new dependencies are added.
Changed
ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNINGconfig flag that defaults to off.Testing
Tested locally with:
podman build --env NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 --build-arg USE_SLIM=true --build-arg BUILD_HASH=cdeb60c54 -t localhost/open-webui-warning:web-search-warning .OLLAMA_BASE_URL=http://host.containers.internal:11434ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH=TrueENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNING=TrueGET /health{"status": true}Documentation
This PR introduces a user-facing optional warning and the
ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNINGconfig flag.A follow-up Open WebUI Docs PR will document:
ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNINGI can open the docs PR once maintainers confirm the setting name and wording.
Security Considerations
AI-assisted Code Note
This PR was AI-assisted, but the changes were manually reviewed and manually tested by the author. The implementation was verified in a running Open WebUI container, including the steps listed above.
Changelog Entry
Description
Added
ENABLE_WEB_SEARCH_WARNINGconfig flag.Changed
Deprecated
Removed
Fixed
Security
Breaking Changes
Additional Information
dev.Screenshots or Videos
Contributor License Agreement
🔄 This issue represents a GitHub Pull Request. It cannot be merged through Gitea due to API limitations.