[GH-ISSUE #23989] issue: Windows start_windows.bat fails when FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS defaults to * #58811

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opened 2026-05-06 00:11:32 -05:00 by GiteaMirror · 1 comment
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Originally created by @kborowinski on GitHub (Apr 22, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/23989

Check Existing Issues

  • I have searched for any existing and/or related issues.
  • I have searched for any existing and/or related discussions.
  • I have also searched in the CLOSED issues AND CLOSED discussions and found no related items (your issue might already be addressed on the development branch!).
  • I am using the latest version of Open WebUI.

Installation Method

Git Clone

Open WebUI Version

v0.9.1

Ollama Version (if applicable)

v0.21.0

Operating System

Windows 11 25H2 x64

Browser (if applicable)

Edge 147

Bug

I ran into a Windows specific startup issue in backend/start_windows.bat.

The current script defaults FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS to *:

and then passes it to uvicorn like this:

On Windows, this appears to interact badly with uvicorn's CLI argument parsing when the value is a bare *:

Error: Got unexpected extra arguments (dev.sh open_webui requirements-min.txt requirements.txt start.sh start_windows.bat)

A working workaround on my side was:

IF "%FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS%"=="" SET "FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS='*'"
uvicorn open_webui.main:app --host "%HOST%" --port "%PORT%" --forwarded-allow-ips %FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS% --workers %UVICORN_WORKERS% --ws auto

This avoids passing a bare * token through the current Windows startup path and fixes startup on my system.

I have not fully isolated whether the behavior comes from uvicorn itself or from the CLI layer it uses internally, so I do not want to overstate the root cause. But the issue is reproducible from the current start_windows.bat logic, and the change above fixes it for me.

If this approach looks acceptable, I can open a PR with the change.

Actual Behavior

.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
backend\start_windows.bat

Loading WEBUI_SECRET_KEY from file, not provided as an environment variable.
Generating WEBUI_SECRET_KEY
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
The system cannot find the file specified.
WEBUI_SECRET_KEY generated
Loading WEBUI_SECRET_KEY from .webui_secret_key
The system cannot find the file specified.
Usage: uvicorn [OPTIONS] APP
Try 'uvicorn --help' for help.

Error: Got unexpected extra arguments (dev.sh open_webui requirements-min.txt requirements.txt start.sh start_windows.bat)

Steps to Reproduce

.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
backend\start_windows.bat

Logs & Screenshots

Image

Additional Information

No response

Originally created by @kborowinski on GitHub (Apr 22, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/23989 ### Check Existing Issues - [x] I have searched for any existing and/or related issues. - [x] I have searched for any existing and/or related discussions. - [x] I have also searched in the CLOSED issues AND CLOSED discussions and found no related items (your issue might already be addressed on the development branch!). - [x] I am using the latest version of Open WebUI. ### Installation Method Git Clone ### Open WebUI Version v0.9.1 ### Ollama Version (if applicable) v0.21.0 ### Operating System Windows 11 25H2 x64 ### Browser (if applicable) Edge 147 ### Bug I ran into a Windows specific startup issue in `backend/start_windows.bat`. The current script defaults `FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS` to `*`: - [`IF "%FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS%"=="" SET "FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS=*"`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/blame/0a8a620fb6fd4c914494f56ac06475bd5f95a985/backend/start_windows.bat#L27) and then passes it to uvicorn like this: - [`uvicorn open_webui.main:app --host "%HOST%" --port "%PORT%" --forwarded-allow-ips "%FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS%" --workers %UVICORN_WORKERS% --ws auto`](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/blame/0a8a620fb6fd4c914494f56ac06475bd5f95a985/backend/start_windows.bat#L50) On Windows, this appears to interact badly with uvicorn's CLI argument parsing when the value is a bare `*`: ```text Error: Got unexpected extra arguments (dev.sh open_webui requirements-min.txt requirements.txt start.sh start_windows.bat) ``` A working workaround on my side was: ```bat IF "%FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS%"=="" SET "FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS='*'" uvicorn open_webui.main:app --host "%HOST%" --port "%PORT%" --forwarded-allow-ips %FORWARDED_ALLOW_IPS% --workers %UVICORN_WORKERS% --ws auto ``` This avoids passing a bare `*` token through the current Windows startup path and fixes startup on my system. I have not fully isolated whether the behavior comes from uvicorn itself or from the CLI layer it uses internally, so I do not want to overstate the root cause. But the issue is reproducible from the current `start_windows.bat` logic, and the change above fixes it for me. If this approach looks acceptable, I can open a PR with the change. ### Actual Behavior ```bat .venv\Scripts\activate.bat backend\start_windows.bat Loading WEBUI_SECRET_KEY from file, not provided as an environment variable. Generating WEBUI_SECRET_KEY The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. The system cannot find the file specified. WEBUI_SECRET_KEY generated Loading WEBUI_SECRET_KEY from .webui_secret_key The system cannot find the file specified. Usage: uvicorn [OPTIONS] APP Try 'uvicorn --help' for help. Error: Got unexpected extra arguments (dev.sh open_webui requirements-min.txt requirements.txt start.sh start_windows.bat) ``` ### Steps to Reproduce ```bat .venv\Scripts\activate.bat backend\start_windows.bat ``` ### Logs & Screenshots <img width="1235" height="718" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d6a5d96f-6c48-4d2c-8808-b7fec211c27f" /> ### Additional Information _No response_
GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-05-06 00:11:32 -05:00
Author
Owner

@tjbck commented on GitHub (Apr 24, 2026):

Addressed in dev.

<!-- gh-comment-id:4311199223 --> @tjbck commented on GitHub (Apr 24, 2026): Addressed in dev.
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Reference: github-starred/open-webui#58811