Target branch: Verify that the pull request targets the dev branch. PRs targeting main will be immediately closed.
Description: Provide a concise description of the changes made in this pull request down below.
Changelog: Ensure a changelog entry following the format of Keep a Changelog is added at the bottom of the PR description.
Documentation: Add docs in Open WebUI Docs Repository if needed.
Dependencies: No new dependency in this PR.
Testing: Manual testing has been performed; details are included below.
Agentic AI Code: Changes have gone through additional human review and manual testing.
Code review: Self-review completed.
Design & Architecture: No major architecture change; behavior uses fallback for resilience.
Git Hygiene: PR is atomic and focused.
Title Prefix: Uses fix: prefix.
Changelog Entry
Description
Add an automatic fallback path when the external document loader fails so RAG processing continues with the default loader behavior.
Added
Fallback behavior for external document loader failures.
Changed
Error handling flow now falls back to default loader instead of hard-failing when external loader is unavailable.
Deprecated
None.
Removed
None.
Fixed
Prevents retrieval workflow interruption when external loader errors.
Security
None.
Breaking Changes
BREAKING CHANGE: None.
Additional Information
Scope is limited to fallback behavior for external loader failures.
Screenshots or Videos
Not applicable (backend change).
Contributor License Agreement
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/23803
**Author:** [@marceaupatu123](https://github.com/marceaupatu123)
**Created:** 4/16/2026
**Status:** ❌ Closed
**Base:** `dev` ← **Head:** `fix/external-loader-auto-fallback`
---
### 📝 Commits (10+)
- [`fe6783c`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/fe6783c16699911c7be17392596d579333fb110c) Merge pull request #19030 from open-webui/dev
- [`fc05e0a`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/fc05e0a6c5d39da60b603b4d520f800d6e36f748) Merge pull request #19405 from open-webui/dev
- [`e3faec6`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/e3faec62c58e3a83d89aa3df539feacefa125e0c) Merge pull request #19416 from open-webui/dev
- [`9899293`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/9899293f050ad50ae12024cbebee7e018acd851e) Merge pull request #19448 from open-webui/dev
- [`140605e`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/140605e660b8186a7d5c79fb3be6ffb147a2f498) Merge pull request #19462 from open-webui/dev
- [`6f1486f`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/6f1486ffd0cb288d0e21f41845361924e0d742b3) Merge pull request #19466 from open-webui/dev
- [`d95f533`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/d95f533214e3fe5beb5e41ec1f349940bc4c7043) Merge pull request #19729 from open-webui/dev
- [`a727153`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/a7271532f8a38da46785afcaa7e65f9a45e7d753) 0.6.43 (#20093)
- [`6adde20`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/6adde203cd292a9e3af9c64a2ae36b603fed096a) Merge pull request #20394 from open-webui/dev
- [`f9b0534`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/f9b0534e0c442631d1cb7205169588b9b6204179) Merge pull request #20522 from open-webui/dev
### 📊 Changes
**1 file changed** (+29 additions, -2 deletions)
<details>
<summary>View changed files</summary>
📝 `backend/open_webui/retrieval/loaders/main.py` (+29 -2)
</details>
### 📄 Description
# Pull Request Checklist
- [x] **Target branch:** Verify that the pull request targets the `dev` branch. **PRs targeting `main` will be immediately closed.**
- [x] **Description:** Provide a concise description of the changes made in this pull request down below.
- [ ] **Changelog:** Ensure a changelog entry following the format of Keep a Changelog is added at the bottom of the PR description.
- [ ] **Documentation:** Add docs in Open WebUI Docs Repository if needed.
- [ ] **Dependencies:** No new dependency in this PR.
- [x] **Testing:** Manual testing has been performed; details are included below.
- [x] **Agentic AI Code:** Changes have gone through additional human review and manual testing.
- [x] **Code review:** Self-review completed.
- [x] **Design & Architecture:** No major architecture change; behavior uses fallback for resilience.
- [x] **Git Hygiene:** PR is atomic and focused.
- [x] **Title Prefix:** Uses `fix:` prefix.
# Changelog Entry
### Description
- Add an automatic fallback path when the external document loader fails so RAG processing continues with the default loader behavior.
### Added
- Fallback behavior for external document loader failures.
### Changed
- Error handling flow now falls back to default loader instead of hard-failing when external loader is unavailable.
### Deprecated
- None.
### Removed
- None.
### Fixed
- Prevents retrieval workflow interruption when external loader errors.
### Security
- None.
### Breaking Changes
- **BREAKING CHANGE**: None.
---
### Additional Information
- Scope is limited to fallback behavior for external loader failures.
### Screenshots or Videos
- Not applicable (backend change).
### Contributor License Agreement
- [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/23803
Author: @marceaupatu123
Created: 4/16/2026
Status: ❌ Closed
Base:
dev← Head:fix/external-loader-auto-fallback📝 Commits (10+)
fe6783cMerge pull request #19030 from open-webui/devfc05e0aMerge pull request #19405 from open-webui/deve3faec6Merge pull request #19416 from open-webui/dev9899293Merge pull request #19448 from open-webui/dev140605eMerge pull request #19462 from open-webui/dev6f1486fMerge pull request #19466 from open-webui/devd95f533Merge pull request #19729 from open-webui/deva7271530.6.43 (#20093)6adde20Merge pull request #20394 from open-webui/devf9b0534Merge pull request #20522 from open-webui/dev📊 Changes
1 file changed (+29 additions, -2 deletions)
View changed files
📝
backend/open_webui/retrieval/loaders/main.py(+29 -2)📄 Description
Pull Request Checklist
devbranch. PRs targetingmainwill be immediately closed.fix:prefix.Changelog Entry
Description
Added
Changed
Deprecated
Removed
Fixed
Security
Breaking Changes
Additional Information
Screenshots or Videos
Contributor License Agreement
🔄 This issue represents a GitHub Pull Request. It cannot be merged through Gitea due to API limitations.