[GH-ISSUE #21089] Feature request: Model-specific welcome/intro message for new chats #139104

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GiteaMirror · 2026-05-25T12:22:43-05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-05-25 12:22:43 -05:00

Originally created by @thekirkulees on GitHub (Feb 1, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/21089

Feature Request

Add an optional welcome message field for models that automatically displays when a user starts a new chat with that model.

Use Case

Custom models/agents often have specific commands, capabilities, or usage instructions. Currently users must:

Hover over a truncated description tooltip
Type a help command manually
Remember what the model does

A welcome message would surface this immediately, improving discoverability.

Proposed Behavior

User selects a model and starts a new chat
If the model has a welcome message defined, it appears in the chat area (as a system message or assistant message)
User can then interact normally

Configuration

Could be implemented as:

Per-model setting: A welcome_message field in the model's meta configuration (Workspace → Models → Edit)
Global default: Optional admin setting for a default welcome message when models don't define one
Or both: Per-model overrides global

Example

A model with custom slash commands could display:

Welcome! Here are my available commands:
• /brief - Daily portfolio summary
• /orders - Open orders
• /margin - Cash & margin status
...

Similar Patterns

ChatGPT custom GPTs show a conversation starter/intro
Many chatbot platforms support welcome messages
Slack bots often greet users with capabilities

Notes

This is different from:

Prompt suggestions (clickable buttons above input) - already exists
Model description (tooltip, often truncated) - already exists
System prompt (instructions to model, not user-visible) - already exists

This would be user-facing text displayed in the chat itself.

Originally created by @thekirkulees on GitHub (Feb 1, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/21089 ## Feature Request Add an optional **welcome message** field for models that automatically displays when a user starts a new chat with that model. ## Use Case Custom models/agents often have specific commands, capabilities, or usage instructions. Currently users must: - Hover over a truncated description tooltip - Type a help command manually - Remember what the model does A welcome message would surface this immediately, improving discoverability. ## Proposed Behavior 1. User selects a model and starts a new chat 2. If the model has a welcome message defined, it appears in the chat area (as a system message or assistant message) 3. User can then interact normally ## Configuration Could be implemented as: - **Per-model setting**: A `welcome_message` field in the model's meta configuration (Workspace → Models → Edit) - **Global default**: Optional admin setting for a default welcome message when models don't define one - **Or both**: Per-model overrides global ## Example A model with custom slash commands could display: ``` Welcome! Here are my available commands: • /brief - Daily portfolio summary • /orders - Open orders • /margin - Cash & margin status ... ``` ## Similar Patterns - ChatGPT custom GPTs show a conversation starter/intro - Many chatbot platforms support welcome messages - Slack bots often greet users with capabilities ## Notes This is different from: - **Prompt suggestions** (clickable buttons above input) - already exists - **Model description** (tooltip, often truncated) - already exists - **System prompt** (instructions to model, not user-visible) - already exists This would be user-facing text displayed *in the chat itself*.

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2026-05-25 12:22:44 -05:00

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Reference: github-starred/open-webui#139104