[GH-ISSUE #22925] feat: Configurable default sidebar state for new users (desktop UX) #35372

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GiteaMirror · 2026-04-25T09:35:24-05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-04-25 09:35:24 -05:00

Originally created by @DywiTom on GitHub (Mar 22, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/22925

Check Existing Issues

I have searched for all existing open AND closed issues and discussions for similar requests. I have found none that is comparable to my request.

Verify Feature Scope

I have read through and understood the scope definition for feature requests in the Issues section. I believe my feature request meets the definition and belongs in the Issues section instead of the Discussions.

Problem Description

The sidebar state is initialized using:

localStorage.sidebar === 'true'

For new users, localStorage.sidebar is undefined, which evaluates to false. As a result, the sidebar is collapsed by default on desktop.

This leads to a suboptimal first-time user experience:

The chat list is hidden on initial load
Users do not immediately see existing conversations
Requires an extra interaction to access core functionality

This is especially noticeable in multi-user or shared environments.

Desired Solution you'd like

Improve the default behavior for new users on desktop:

Treat undefined localStorage.sidebar as true (sidebar open by default)

Proposed implementation:

const sidebarDefaultOpen =
localStorage.sidebar == null
? true
: localStorage.sidebar === 'true';

showSidebar.set(!$mobile ? sidebarDefaultOpen : false);

Additionally, it would be useful to make this configurable via an environment variable or admin setting.

Alternatives Considered

Manually opening the sidebar (not suitable for first-time UX)
Injecting localStorage via reverse proxy (e.g., Traefik rewrite) – works but is fragile and not maintainable
Forking and patching the frontend – effective but requires maintaining a custom build

Additional Context

There are already known issues around sidebar state handling (e.g. #18149), indicating that this area could benefit from clearer and more predictable behavior.

This change would be backward-compatible, as it only affects users without an existing localStorage value.

Originally created by @DywiTom on GitHub (Mar 22, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/22925 ### Check Existing Issues - [x] I have searched for all existing **open AND closed** issues and discussions for similar requests. I have found none that is comparable to my request. ### Verify Feature Scope - [x] I have read through and understood the scope definition for feature requests in the Issues section. I believe my feature request meets the definition and belongs in the Issues section instead of the Discussions. ### Problem Description The sidebar state is initialized using: localStorage.sidebar === 'true' For new users, localStorage.sidebar is undefined, which evaluates to false. As a result, the sidebar is collapsed by default on desktop. This leads to a suboptimal first-time user experience: - The chat list is hidden on initial load - Users do not immediately see existing conversations - Requires an extra interaction to access core functionality This is especially noticeable in multi-user or shared environments. ### Desired Solution you'd like Improve the default behavior for new users on desktop: - Treat undefined localStorage.sidebar as true (sidebar open by default) Proposed implementation: const sidebarDefaultOpen = localStorage.sidebar == null ? true : localStorage.sidebar === 'true'; showSidebar.set(!$mobile ? sidebarDefaultOpen : false); Additionally, it would be useful to make this configurable via an environment variable or admin setting. ### Alternatives Considered - Manually opening the sidebar (not suitable for first-time UX) - Injecting localStorage via reverse proxy (e.g., Traefik rewrite) – works but is fragile and not maintainable - Forking and patching the frontend – effective but requires maintaining a custom build ### Additional Context There are already known issues around sidebar state handling (e.g. #18149), indicating that this area could benefit from clearer and more predictable behavior. This change would be backward-compatible, as it only affects users without an existing localStorage value.

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2026-04-25 09:35:24 -05:00

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Reference: github-starred/open-webui#35372