issue: Empty folder system prompt overrides default model system prompt.

[mirage335]

Check Existing Issues

• I have searched the existing issues and discussions.
• I am using the latest version of Open WebUI.

Installation Method

Docker

Open WebUI Version

v0.6.16

Ollama Version (if applicable)

No response

Operating System

Windows 11

Browser (if applicable)

No response

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

New Chat -> Click Folder -> Input -> Output Per Model Default System Prompt -> Regenerate -> Output Per Model Default System Prompt

Actual Behavior

New Chat -> Click Folder -> Input -> Output -> Regenerate -> Output Per EMPTY System Prompt

Steps to Reproduce

Use ollama create, etc, to install a model with a Modelfile having a system prompt that clearly differs from the AI LLM model training (eg. specifying to output flow charts in properly block quoted mermaid instead of text).

New Chat -> Click Folder -> Input -> Output -> Regenerate -> Output Per EMPTY System Prompt

Logs & Screenshots

Nothing relevant. Things seem to work normally without obvious errors, except that the system prompt is ignored (which is of course the worst possible situation since the lack of anything other than unexpected AI behavior confuses users).

Additional Information

This is DEFINITELY VERY BAD . Wherever an explicit system prompt is not configured by the user, the default system prompt shipped with the model absolutely should be used, as is the case with every other system prompt configuration text input configuration anywhere in OpenWebUI . Best case this can lead to confusion why model outputs are bad, worst case is very unexpected, not aligned, model outputs that the users unwittingly see and use, possibly forward to third-parties, as-is.

[tjbck]

Unable to reproduce from our end, keep up updated.

[mirage335]

Oh, I may have configured that folder to use a knowledge collection. Maybe that did it. Other than that, IIRC I think I was using Devstral through ollama (hence the mention of a Modelfile).

[jeannotdamoiseaux]

In addition, I would like to be able to control whether the folder system prompt is appended to the model system prompt or whether it overrides the model system prompt. What do you think?