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BOM AI Manual

FAQ & Troubleshooting

Short answers to common problems — find the fix right away.

BOM AI FAQ and troubleshooting

This manual is for BOM AI v0.3.1-r2.

Frequently asked questions

Is BOM AI really free? Do I need an API key? Chatting is free — no sign-up fee and no API key purchase. Your computer, electricity, and internet are your own costs. API keys only matter when connecting other programs.
Which systems are supported? Windows 10 version 22H2+ / 11 (x64) — tested as declared. macOS 12+ (arm64/x64) and Ubuntu 22.04+ / Debian 12+ (x64/arm64) — testing status: full clean-machine testing is still pending.
What are the RAM and disk requirements? RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended. On Windows, keep about 30 GB free. Without Ollama already installed, the Windows installer downloads about 5.1 GB; the shared model plus image reader is about 3.4 GB.
Can I use it offline? The first download and web search need the internet. Once the download completes, chatting that does not search the web works with the local model. Phone access via Tailscale away from home needs internet on both devices.
Why is Ollama involved? Ollama manages the model on your machine — it downloads and runs the model that the chat page calls. BOM AI uses it as the model backend.
What is Tailscale for? It links your devices into a private network so you can open the chat page from your phone away from home without opening any public port. See [Mobile & Remote Access](/bomai/manual/mobile).
What is the difference between BOM AI Safe and BOM AI Light? Both use the same shared model. BOM AI Safe is the recommended default setup and adds an extra safety system prompt; BOM AI Light is the standard model for everyday work. Details on the Choose BOM AI page.
Does the AI read images or generate images? It reads attached images — extracting text, describing what is visible, and reading charts. It does not generate new images.
Installed but it will not open 1) Open BOM AI the way the package installed it. 2) The chat page address defaults to `http://127.0.0.1:8080`. 3) Wait for the program and model to start, then reload. 4) Check the install/download is not stuck and read the actual message. 5) Close and reopen BOM AI keeping your data. The model manager port (such as `11434`) is internal — never open it to the internet to fix the chat page.
Web search does not work Check your internet connection first. Defaults differ by system: Windows ships with web search enabled, while macOS and Linux ship with it off. Ask with a clear topic and time range ("news published this week, with links and dates") and wait for the search status to finish. An answer without current sources cannot confirm news or prices.
Is web search private? Searches go through SearXNG on your own machine — no account, no tracking, no search history — but search terms are still sent to upstream search engines, and websites you open see your connection. Chat history is separate from search history.
I sent an image but the AI does not answer Check the model finished downloading, open the original image to confirm it is intact, then attach it again and check the preview before asking. Crop small text to just the readable part, ask for a faithful copy, and verify names, colors, and numbers against the original.
Answers are slow or forget earlier details Close heavy programs you are not using and let the previous task finish. Try a short question to confirm it still answers. Long conversations can drop early details — repeat key facts before critical instructions and start a new chat when switching tasks.
Cannot open it from my phone The computer must be on (not sleeping), BOM AI running, and Tailscale connected on both sides. Use the HTTPS URL shown by `tailscale serve status` on the computer. `localhost` on the phone means the phone itself — it can never point to your computer. Full steps: [Mobile & Remote Access](/bomai/manual/mobile).
Do I need an API key? Not for normal chatting. Keys are only for connecting other programs to the chat page on your machine. See [API Keys for Other Apps](/bomai/manual/apikey).
My chat history disappeared Check you opened the same installation and the same account, and look in the conversation list first. Open WebUI history lives in the program data of the machine that runs it, not only in the browser cache. Do not delete the data folder to fix this — keep everything for inspection.
Will my data survive an update or uninstall? Back up conversations you want to keep first, then follow the instructions shipped with that package. Uninstalling the program, deleting the model, and deleting history are three different operations — read what will be removed before confirming.
I want to send a log for inspection Prepare: 1) operating system + version + chip, 2) RAM, 3) BOM AI file/version installed, 4) chat page address and port, 5) the exact steps and message shown, 6) a screenshot with passwords, API keys, and personal data hidden. Contact details are on the [BOM AI website](https://bomai.app/).

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