# Open WebUI (/en/docs/cookbook/chat-clients/open-webui)









Connect Praxis to [Open WebUI](https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui)—the most popular self-hosted AI chat interface. One Docker command to start, configure the connection in your browser, and chat with every Praxis model.

Every step lists its **expected result**: follow along yourself, or hand this page to an AI assistant that can operate your computer and let it do the install, setup, and verification for you.

## What you'll accomplish [#what-youll-accomplish]

* Run a self-hosted Open WebUI instance with Docker, connected to Praxis models
* Done when: you send "Hello" in the chat and get a reply
* Time needed: **5 minutes** (excluding the Docker image download)
* Protocol: OpenAI-compatible (`/openai/v1`)

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

Confirm each item before you start:

* **Docker installed and running** (check `docker --version`). Install from [Docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) if needed.
* **A Praxis API key** (starting with `sk-praxis-`). If you don't have one, create it at [Console → API Keys](https://console.deepraxis.ai/keys): click "Create Key"—the name is required, validity offers 30/60/90 days or permanent, defaulting to 90 days; the success dialog shows the full key with a "Copy Key" button. New accounts ship with **$1 of free credit**. See [Quickstart](/en/docs/developers/model/quickstart) for the full flow.

## Install & Start [#install--start]

**Step 1: start the Open WebUI container**

```bash
docker run -d --name open-webui --restart always -p 3080:8080 ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
```

Expected: a container ID prints with no errors. The first run pulls the image (\~2GB) and takes a few minutes.

**Step 2: open the browser**

Visit `http://localhost:3080`.

Expected: the Open WebUI welcome page with a "Get started" button.

<img alt="The Open WebUI signup page on first visit" src="__img0" />

**Step 3: create an admin account**

Click "Get started", fill in Name, Email, and Password (this is a local admin account, unrelated to Praxis), then click "Create Admin Account".

Expected: the Open WebUI main interface loads—conversation list on the left, chat box in the center.

<img alt="The Open WebUI main interface" src="__img1" />

## Configure [#configure]

**Step 4: open connection settings**

Click your **username** in the bottom-right, then select "Admin Panel" → "Settings" → "Connections".

Expected: the OpenAI API connection configuration area appears.

<img alt="Admin Panel → Settings → Connections" src="__img2" />

**Step 5: enter the Praxis connection**

In the **OpenAI API** section:

| Field | Value                                 |
| ----- | ------------------------------------- |
| URL   | `https://api.deepraxis.com/openai/v1` |
| Key   | your key starting with `sk-praxis-`   |

Click "Save".

Expected: after saving, return to the chat page—Praxis models now appear in the model picker.

> You can also preset the connection via environment variables at container start (no UI needed):
>
> ```bash
> docker run -d --name open-webui --restart always -p 3080:8080 \
>   -e OPENAI_API_BASE_URL=https://api.deepraxis.com/openai/v1 \
>   -e OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-praxis-your-key \
>   ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
> ```

## Verify [#verify]

Back on the chat page, pick a model (e.g. `deepseek-flash`) from the model selector at the top and send "Hello" in the input box.

Expected: a reply arrives within seconds—**a reply means you're connected**.

Finally, check [Console → Usage & Billing](https://console.deepraxis.ai/usage): the call you just made is already on the books—every call is billed and traceable.

## FAQ [#faq]

| Symptom                     | Cause                                                  | Fix                                                                                            |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `localhost:3080` won't open | Container still starting (first run takes 1-2 minutes) | Wait and refresh; check `docker logs open-webui` for progress                                  |
| Model list is empty         | The connection URL is missing the `/openai/v1` suffix  | It must be `https://api.deepraxis.com/openai/v1`                                               |
| 401 / invalid token         | API key copied incompletely                            | Copy it again in full (mind the `sk-praxis-` prefix)                                           |
| "Model not found"           | Model ID doesn't match the catalog                     | Copy the exact ID from [Console → Models → Model Catalog](https://console.deepraxis.ai/models) |
| Container keeps restarting  | Port conflict or insufficient memory                   | Check that port 3080 is free; ensure Docker has at least 2GB                                   |

## Advanced [#advanced]

* **What did that chat cost?** [Console → Usage & Billing](https://console.deepraxis.ai/usage)—pay per call, no idle fees
* **Switch models**: change models anytime in Open WebUI's model picker; `deepseek-flash` always points at the latest Flash generation
* **Multi-user**: Open WebUI supports user registration—manage access in Admin Panel → Users
* **Customize the interface**: Admin Panel → Settings → Interface for themes and languages (Chinese supported)
* **Persistent data**: add `-v open-webui:/app/backend/data` to persist chat history across container rebuilds

## Related recipes [#related-recipes]

* [Cherry Studio](/en/docs/cookbook/chat-clients/cherry-studio) (desktop client, no Docker needed)
* [Dify](/en/docs/cookbook/platforms/dify) (low-code platform, also Docker)
* Rather not install anything? See [Praxis App](/en/docs/help/install): open a URL and start chatting