#58876 - [GH-ISSUE #24149] issue: PDFViewer is rendering all PDF's as image - Search on PDF's gone - open-webui

Originally created by @athoik on GitHub (Apr 26, 2026). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24149 ### 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 0.9.2 ### Ollama Version (if applicable) _No response_ ### Operating System Debian 12 ### Browser (if applicable) Firefox 150 ### Confirmation - [x] I have read and followed all instructions in `README.md`. - [x] I am using the latest version of **both** Open WebUI and Ollama. - [x] I have included the browser console logs. - [x] I have included the Docker container logs. - [x] I have **provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.** - [x] I have clearly **listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup** (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc). - [x] I have documented **step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation**. My steps: - Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used, - Specify exact install/launch/configure commands, - List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed), - Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed, - Include any files or environmental changes, - Identify the expected and actual result at each stage, - Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue. ### Expected Behavior When using `FileItemModal` it was possible to Search within the PDF's (among other operations), since native browser PDF rendering was used. ### Actual Behavior Since https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/commit/8b2160f2f7a253f4b75fb45062fa2831f6a9cf49 the `FileItemModal` renders PDF's using `PDFViewer`. All pages are render as canvas/image and searching text within the PDF is not possible any more. ### Steps to Reproduce To reproduce we must open any PDF preview using `FileItemModal` (eg use `#` on chat and select a PDF from existing Knowledge Base). Then using Find (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F), search is not possible. ### Logs & Screenshots Preview using iframe and native browser search: <img width="928" height="727" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f686a5e4-bc0c-4b27-b43c-b7c6f6a91d40" /> Preview using PDFViewer where search doesn't work any more: <img width="938" height="724" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/123c00c7-a861-45aa-961d-afea96e0fb07" /> ### Additional Information A possible solution is to open the PDF natively in the browser, by clicking the PDF name/title in preview. That isn't working as well and a PR was raised to fix it https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/pull/24125

GiteaMirror commented

2026-05-06 00:19:24 -05:00

Owner

Originally created by @athoik on GitHub (Apr 26, 2026).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/issues/24149

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

0.9.2

Ollama Version (if applicable)

No response

Operating System

Debian 12

Browser (if applicable)

Firefox 150

Confirmation

I have read and followed all instructions in README.md.
I am using the latest version of both Open WebUI and Ollama.
I have included the browser console logs.
I have included the Docker container logs.
I have provided every relevant configuration, setting, and environment variable used in my setup.
I have clearly listed every relevant configuration, custom setting, environment variable, and command-line option that influences my setup (such as Docker Compose overrides, .env values, browser settings, authentication configurations, etc).
I have documented step-by-step reproduction instructions that are precise, sequential, and leave nothing to interpretation. My steps:
Start with the initial platform/version/OS and dependencies used,
Specify exact install/launch/configure commands,
List URLs visited, user input (incl. example values/emails/passwords if needed),
Describe all options and toggles enabled or changed,
Include any files or environmental changes,
Identify the expected and actual result at each stage,
Ensure any reasonably skilled user can follow and hit the same issue.

Expected Behavior

When using FileItemModal it was possible to Search within the PDF's (among other operations), since native browser PDF rendering was used.

Actual Behavior

Since 8b2160f2f7 the FileItemModal renders PDF's using PDFViewer.

All pages are render as canvas/image and searching text within the PDF is not possible any more.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce we must open any PDF preview using FileItemModal (eg use # on chat and select a PDF from existing Knowledge Base). Then using Find (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F), search is not possible.

Logs & Screenshots

Preview using iframe and native browser search:

Preview using PDFViewer where search doesn't work any more:

Additional Information

A possible solution is to open the PDF natively in the browser, by clicking the PDF name/title in preview.
That isn't working as well and a PR was raised to fix it https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui/pull/24125

GiteaMirror added the bug label 2026-05-06 00:19:24 -05:00

[GH-ISSUE #24149] issue: PDFViewer is rendering all PDF's as image - Search on PDF's gone #58876