[GH-ISSUE #9447] Allow anon users #54174

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GiteaMirror · 2026-05-05T15:53:47-05:00

GiteaMirror commented

2026-05-05 15:53:47 -05:00

Originally created by @crizCraig on GitHub (Feb 5, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/9447

Feature Request

Problem:
Users can't chat before sign up unless WEB_AUTH is off, in which case all chats are visible to all users and only one user total can exist.

Describe the solution you'd like
Create an anonymous session automatically for new users and replace the user box below with a signup form or link to /auth:

Describe alternatives you've considered
Looked into #929 and WEB_AUTH but this only works for fresh installations per this. Another way to do this would be to use a single user, like WEB_AUTH=false does with admin@localhost but this would be an anon user instead. And then we could make all chats temporary chats. The downside being no chat history and the full functionality of Open WebUI like settings, folders, chat, would not be available.

Additional context
Users would need to be given anonymous names. Also when signing up, the user's information should UPDATE and not INSERT into the db, under the existing user_id so that their data is preserved.

Originally created by @crizCraig on GitHub (Feb 5, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/9447 # Feature Request Problem: Users can't chat before sign up unless `WEB_AUTH` is off, in which case all chats are visible to all users and only one user total can exist. **Describe the solution you'd like** Create an anonymous session automatically for new users and replace the user box below with a signup form or link to `/auth`: ![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5d5cec2e-7e30-4a54-928f-90b0d4106866) **Describe alternatives you've considered** Looked into #929 and `WEB_AUTH` but this only works for fresh installations per [this](https://docs.openwebui.com/getting-started/env-configuration/#webui_auth). Another way to do this would be to use a single user, like WEB_AUTH=false does with admin@localhost but this would be an anon user instead. And then we could make all chats temporary chats. The downside being no chat history and the full functionality of Open WebUI like settings, folders, chat, would not be available. **Additional context** Users would need to be given anonymous names. Also when signing up, the user's information should UPDATE and not INSERT into the db, under the existing user_id so that their data is preserved.

GiteaMirror closed this issue

2026-05-05 15:53:49 -05:00

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Reference: github-starred/open-webui#54174