diff --git a/backend/open_webui/models/groups.py b/backend/open_webui/models/groups.py
index ae557f4da..f1ece68aa 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/models/groups.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/models/groups.py
@@ -165,15 +165,15 @@ class GroupTable:
                     share_value = filter["share"]
                     member_id = filter.get("member_id")
                     json_share = Group.data["config"]["share"]
-                    json_share_bool = json_share.as_boolean()
-                    json_share_str = json_share.as_string()
+                    json_share_lower = func.lower(json_share.as_string())
 
                     if share_value:
-                        # Groups open to anyone: data is null, share is null, or share is true
+                        # Groups open to anyone: data is null, config.share is null, or share is true
+                        # Use case-insensitive string comparison to handle variations like "True", "TRUE"
                         anyone_can_share = or_(
                             Group.data.is_(None),
-                            json_share_bool.is_(None),
-                            json_share_bool == True,
+                            json_share_lower.is_(None),
+                            json_share_lower == "true",
                         )
 
                         if member_id:
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class GroupTable:
                                 .subquery()
                             )
                             members_only_and_is_member = and_(
-                                json_share_str == "members",
+                                json_share_lower == "members",
                                 Group.id.in_(member_groups_subq),
                             )
                             query = query.filter(
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class GroupTable:
                             query = query.filter(anyone_can_share)
                     else:
                         query = query.filter(
-                            and_(Group.data.isnot(None), json_share_bool == False)
+                            and_(Group.data.isnot(None), json_share_lower == "false")
                         )
 
                 else:
diff --git a/src/lib/components/workspace/common/AccessControl.svelte b/src/lib/components/workspace/common/AccessControl.svelte
index 4355a6587..1bf4bbc1f 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/workspace/common/AccessControl.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/workspace/common/AccessControl.svelte
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@
 	};
 
 	onMount(async () => {
-		groups = await getGroups(localStorage.token, true);
+		groups = await getGroups(localStorage.token, true).catch((error) => {
+			console.error(error);
+			return [];
+		});
 
 		if (accessControl === null) {
 			initPublicAccess();
diff --git a/src/lib/components/workspace/common/MemberSelector.svelte b/src/lib/components/workspace/common/MemberSelector.svelte
index 6627ae445..a9bbb7149 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/workspace/common/MemberSelector.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/workspace/common/MemberSelector.svelte
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@
 	}
 
 	onMount(async () => {
-		groups = await getGroups(localStorage.token, true);
+		groups = await getGroups(localStorage.token, true).catch((error) => {
+			console.error(error);
+			return [];
+		});
+
 		if (userIds.length > 0) {
 			userIds.forEach(async (id) => {
 				const res = await getUserById(localStorage.token, id).catch((error) => {