diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/misc/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/misc/index.ts
index e695f242e4..9c48eadc3d 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/misc/index.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/misc/index.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ export { default as CodeBlockActions } from './CodeBlockActions.svelte';
  * `class` and `style` props and inherits color via `currentColor`.
  */
 export { default as Logo } from './Logo.svelte';
+
 /**
  * **CollapsibleSection** - Section with a trigger that expands in place
  *
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte
index 67cccade4c..295947da3c 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import ModelCapabilityIcons from './ModelCapabilityIcons.svelte';
+	import { isLocalOption } from './ModelsManager/utils';
 	import { ModelCapability } from '$lib/enums';
 	import { HuggingFaceService } from '$lib/services';
 	import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
 	$effect(() => {
 		template = '';
 
-		if (!isNearViewport) return;
+		if (!isNearViewport || !isLocalOption(option)) return;
 
 		// the listing says nothing about tools and reasoning; only the model's chat
 		// template does, and the Hub carries that template for a local GGUF whether
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelContext.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelContext.svelte
index 775925ba8d..b85ac41fd4 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelContext.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelContext.svelte
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+	import { isLocalOption } from './ModelsManager/utils';
 	import { HuggingFaceService } from '$lib/services';
 	import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
 	import { nearViewport } from '$lib/utils';
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@
 	$effect(() => {
 		fetched = null;
 
-		if (reported || !isNearViewport) return;
+		if (reported || !isNearViewport || !isLocalOption(option)) return;
 
 		// a local GGUF carries its trained context in the model metadata
 		const repo = option.model.split(':')[0] ?? '';
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
similarity index 52%
rename from tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
rename to tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
index 2e279e4edb..1a142eca9c 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
@@ -1,32 +1,43 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import ModelLoadHighlight from './ModelLoadHighlight.svelte';
-	import type { ModelItem } from './utils';
-	import { ChevronDown, Lightbulb, Loader2 } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import ModelLoadHighlight from '../ModelLoadHighlight.svelte';
+	import { ChevronDown, Loader2 } from '@lucide/svelte';
 	import {
-		ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu,
-		DialogModelInformation,
 		DropdownMenuSearchable,
 		ModelId,
 		ModelsSelectorList,
-		ModelsSelectorOption
+		ModelsSelectorOption,
+		ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon
 	} from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { DialogBackendForm } from '$lib/components/app/backends';
+	import type { ModelItem } from '$lib/components/app/navigation/utils';
 	import * as DropdownMenu from '$lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
 	import * as Tooltip from '$lib/components/ui/tooltip';
-	import { MODEL_ID, MODEL_SELECTOR_ICON, SETTINGS_KEYS } from '$lib/constants';
+	import {
+		DROPDOWN_MENU_CONTENT_SEARCH_SELECTOR,
+		MODEL_ID,
+		MODEL_ICON,
+		SETTINGS_KEYS
+	} from '$lib/constants';
 	import { KeyboardKey, ServerModelStatus } from '$lib/enums';
 	import { useModelsSelector } from '$lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte';
-	import { useReasoningMenu } from '$lib/hooks/use-reasoning-menu.svelte';
 	import { ModelsService } from '$lib/services/models.service';
-	import { modelsStore, settingsStore } from '$lib/stores';
+	import { modelsStore, settingsStore, uiStore } from '$lib/stores';
 	import type { ModelOption, ModelSidecarBadge } from '$lib/types/models';
 	import { modelLoadFraction } from '$lib/utils';
+	import { rawModelId } from '$lib/utils/model-option-id';
 
 	interface Props {
 		class?: string;
 		currentModel?: string | null;
 		disabled?: boolean;
+		/** The provider behind this selector is unreachable. */
+		error?: boolean;
 		forceForegroundText?: boolean;
-		onModelChange?: (modelId: string, modelName: string) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
+		onModelChange?: (
+			modelId: string,
+			modelName: string,
+			backendId?: string
+		) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
 		useGlobalSelection?: boolean;
 	}
 
@@ -34,6 +45,7 @@
 		class: className = '',
 		currentModel = null,
 		disabled = false,
+		error = false,
 		forceForegroundText = false,
 		onModelChange,
 		useGlobalSelection = false
@@ -41,9 +53,7 @@
 
 	let isOpen = $state(false);
 	let highlightedId = $state<string | null>(null);
-	// The model submenu opens together with the menu so the list and its search
-	// box are immediately available, as before the submenu was introduced
-	let modelSubOpen = $state(false);
+	let showAddBackend = $state(false);
 
 	const ms = useModelsSelector({
 		currentModel: () => currentModel,
@@ -51,22 +61,15 @@
 		onOpenChange: (open) => {
 			isOpen = open;
 			highlightedId = null;
-
-			if (open) {
-				// Defer submenu open so the Sub component is mounted first;
-				// setting bind:open synchronously can be lost if the Sub hasn't
-				// rendered yet.
-				queueMicrotask(() => {
-					if (isOpen) modelSubOpen = true;
-				});
-			} else {
-				modelSubOpen = false;
-			}
 		},
 		useGlobalSelection: () => useGlobalSelection
 	});
 
-	const reasoning = useReasoningMenu();
+	const selectedOption = $derived(ms.getDisplayOption());
+	const triggerModel = $derived(selectedOption?.model ?? null);
+
+	// one setting for every model id in the selector: the trigger and the rows
+	const showOrgName = $derived(settingsStore.config[SETTINGS_KEYS.SHOW_MODEL_ORG_NAME] ?? true);
 
 	/** Draft sidecar as it reads in the trigger tooltip, with its own quant. */
 	function draftSidecarLabel(baseModel: string, badge: ModelSidecarBadge): string {
@@ -89,39 +92,45 @@
 		return [option.model, ...drafts].join(' + ');
 	}
 
-	const showOrgNameInTrigger = $derived(
-		settingsStore.config[SETTINGS_KEYS.SHOW_MODEL_ORG_NAME_IN_TRIGGER] ?? false
-	);
-
 	$effect(() => {
 		void ms.searchTerm;
 		highlightedId = null;
 	});
 
-	// Focus the model submenu's search box without scrolling the page. bits-ui
-	// auto-focuses the opened content by default, which can yank the page
-	// scroll; we prevent that on the Content and refocus the search here.
+	// The search input takes focus as soon as it is mounted. bits-ui auto-focuses
+	// the opened content by default, which can yank the page scroll, so the content
+	// prevents that and this waits for the input instead.
 	$effect(() => {
-		if (!isOpen || !modelSubOpen) return;
+		if (!isOpen) return;
 
-		requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-			const search = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
-				'[data-slot="dropdown-menu-sub-content"] input'
-			);
+		let frames = 0;
+		let handle = requestAnimationFrame(function focusSearch() {
+			const input = document.querySelector<HTMLElement>(DROPDOWN_MENU_CONTENT_SEARCH_SELECTOR);
 
-			search?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+			if (input) {
+				input.focus({ preventScroll: true });
+
+				return;
+			}
+
+			if (frames++ < 20) handle = requestAnimationFrame(focusSearch);
 		});
+
+		return () => cancelAnimationFrame(handle);
 	});
 
 	// Keyboard navigation follows the on-screen row order, not the flat option list order.
 	let visualOrder = $derived.by(() => {
 		const order: string[] = [];
 
+		for (const item of ms.favoriteItems) order.push(item.option.id);
 		for (const item of ms.groupedFilteredOptions.loaded) order.push(item.option.id);
-		for (const item of ms.groupedFilteredOptions.favorites) order.push(item.option.id);
 		for (const group of ms.groupedFilteredOptions.available) {
 			for (const item of group.items) order.push(item.option.id);
 		}
+		for (const provider of ms.groupedFilteredOptions.providers) {
+			for (const item of provider.items) order.push(item.option.id);
+		}
 
 		return order;
 	});
@@ -148,6 +157,20 @@
 		highlightedId = visualOrder[index];
 	}
 
+	function handleManageModels() {
+		isOpen = false;
+
+		// let the menu finish closing before the dialog takes focus
+		setTimeout(() => uiStore.openModelsManager(), 0);
+	}
+
+	function handleAddBackend() {
+		isOpen = false;
+
+		// let the menu finish closing before the dialog takes focus
+		setTimeout(() => (showAddBackend = true), 0);
+	}
+
 	// Alt+Enter only unloads and keeps the dropdown open.
 	async function handleModelKeyAction(modelId: string, unload: boolean) {
 		if (!unload) {
@@ -156,12 +179,13 @@
 			return;
 		}
 
-		const model = modelsStore.routerModels.find((m) => m.id === modelId);
+		const rawId = rawModelId(modelId);
+		const model = modelsStore.routerModels.find((m) => m.id === rawId);
 		const status = model?.status?.value as ServerModelStatus | undefined;
 
 		if (status === ServerModelStatus.LOADING) return;
 
-		await modelsStore.status.unload(modelId);
+		await modelsStore.status.unload(rawId);
 	}
 
 	export function open() {
@@ -190,29 +214,33 @@
 </script>
 
 <div class={['relative inline-flex flex-col items-end gap-1', className]}>
-	{#if ms.loading && ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isRouter}
+	{#if ms.loading && ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isMultiModel}
 		<div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
 			<Loader2 class="h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin" />
 
 			Loading models…
 		</div>
-	{:else if ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isRouter}
+	{:else if ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isMultiModel}
 		{#if currentModel}
 			<span
 				class={[
 					'inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-sm bg-muted-foreground/10 px-1.5 py-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground',
 					className
 				]}
-				style="max-width: min(calc(100cqw - 10rem), 20rem)"
+				style="max-width: min(calc(100cqw - 10rem), 48rem)"
 			>
-				<MODEL_SELECTOR_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+				<MODEL_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
 			</span>
 		{:else}
-			<p class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No models available.</p>
+			<button
+				class="cursor-pointer text-xs text-muted-foreground underline-offset-2 hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+				onclick={handleAddBackend}
+				type="button"
+			>
+				No models yet. Add a backend to get started.
+			</button>
 		{/if}
 	{:else}
-		{@const selectedOption = ms.getDisplayOption()}
-		{@const triggerModel = selectedOption?.model}
 		{@const triggerStatus = triggerModel
 			? modelsStore.routerModels.find((m) => m.id === triggerModel)?.status?.value
 			: undefined}
@@ -224,7 +252,7 @@
 			? Math.round(modelLoadFraction(modelsStore.status.getLoadProgress(triggerModel)) * 100)
 			: 0}
 
-		{#if ms.isRouter}
+		{#if ms.isMultiModel}
 			<DropdownMenu.Root bind:open={isOpen} onOpenChange={ms.handleOpenChange}>
 				<Tooltip.Root>
 					<Tooltip.Trigger>
@@ -234,35 +262,36 @@
 								{...props}
 								class={[
 									`relative inline-grid cursor-pointer grid-cols-[1fr_auto_1fr] items-center gap-1 rounded-sm bg-background px-1.5 py-1 text-xs shadow-sm transition hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60 dark:bg-muted-foreground/15 dark:text-secondary-foreground`,
-									!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
-										? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
-										: forceForegroundText
-											? 'text-foreground'
-											: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
+									error
+										? 'border-destructive/40 bg-destructive/10 !text-destructive hover:bg-destructive/20'
+										: !ms.isCurrentModelInCache
+											? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+											: forceForegroundText
 												? 'text-foreground'
-												: 'text-foreground',
+												: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
+													? 'text-foreground'
+													: 'text-foreground',
 									isOpen && 'text-foreground',
 									'max-w-[min(calc(100vw-4rem) md:max-w-[min(calc(100cqw-9rem),25rem)]'
 								]}
 								disabled={disabled || ms.updating}
 							>
-								<MODEL_SELECTOR_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+								<ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon
+									class="size-3.5 shrink-0 mr-0.375"
+									option={selectedOption}
+								/>
 
-								<span class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1">
+								<span class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-0.5">
 									{#if selectedOption}
 										<ModelId
 											class="min-w-0 overflow-hidden"
 											draftSidecars={selectedOption.draftSidecars}
-											hideOrgName={!showOrgNameInTrigger}
+											hideOrgName={!showOrgName}
 											modelId={selectedOption.model}
 										/>
 									{:else}
 										<span class="min-w-0 font-medium">Select model</span>
 									{/if}
-
-									{#if reasoning.isReasoningActive}
-										<Lightbulb class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-amber-400" />
-									{/if}
 								</span>
 
 								{#if ms.updating || ms.isLoadingModel}
@@ -287,94 +316,98 @@
 
 				<DropdownMenu.Content
 					align="end"
-					class="w-full md:min-w-64 md:max-w-80 max-w-[calc(100vw-2rem)]"
+					class="w-full md:min-w-80 md:w-112 max-w-[calc(100vw-2rem)] p-0! max-h-[min(40rem,calc(var(--bits-dropdown-menu-content-available-height)-1rem))]"
 					onOpenAutoFocus={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
 				>
-					<DropdownMenu.Sub bind:open={modelSubOpen}>
-						<DropdownMenu.SubTrigger class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2">
-							<MODEL_SELECTOR_ICON class="h-4 w-4" />
-
-							{#if selectedOption}
-								<ModelId
-									class="min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden"
-									draftSidecars={selectedOption.draftSidecars}
-									hideOrgName={!showOrgNameInTrigger}
-									modelId={selectedOption.model}
-								/>
-							{:else}
-								<span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-muted-foreground">No model</span>
-							{/if}
-						</DropdownMenu.SubTrigger>
-
-						<DropdownMenu.SubContent class="w-100 max-w-[calc(100vw-2rem)] pt-0">
-							<DropdownMenuSearchable
-								emptyMessage="No models found."
-								isEmpty={ms.filteredOptions.length === 0 && ms.isCurrentModelInCache}
-								onSearchChange={(v) => ms.setSearchTerm(v)}
-								onSearchKeyDown={handleSearchKeyDown}
-								placeholder="Search models..."
-								searchValue={ms.searchTerm}
-							>
-								<div class="models-list">
-									{#if !ms.isCurrentModelInCache && currentModel}
-										<!-- Show unavailable model as first option (disabled) -->
-										<button
-											aria-disabled="true"
-											aria-selected="true"
-											class="flex w-full cursor-not-allowed items-center bg-red-400/10 p-2 text-left text-sm text-red-400"
-											disabled
-											role="option"
-											type="button"
-										>
-											<ModelId class="flex-1" hideQuantization modelId={currentModel} />
-
-											<span class="ml-2 text-xs whitespace-nowrap opacity-70">(not available)</span>
-										</button>
-									{/if}
-
-									{#if ms.filteredOptions.length === 0}
-										<p class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">No models found.</p>
-									{/if}
-
-									{#snippet modelOption(item: ModelItem, hideOrgName: boolean)}
-										{@const { option } = item}
-										{@const isSelected = currentModel === option.model || ms.activeId === option.id}
-										{@const isHighlighted = option.id === highlightedId}
-										{@const isFav = ms.isFavorite(option.model)}
-
-										<ModelsSelectorOption
-											{hideOrgName}
-											{isFav}
-											{isHighlighted}
-											{isSelected}
-											onInfoClick={ms.handleInfoClick}
-											onKeyDown={(event) => {
-												if (event.key === KeyboardKey.ENTER || event.key === KeyboardKey.SPACE) {
-													event.preventDefault();
-													void handleModelKeyAction(option.id, event.altKey);
-												}
-											}}
-											onMouseEnter={() => (highlightedId = option.id)}
-											onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
-											{option}
-										/>
-									{/snippet}
-
-									<ModelsSelectorList
-										activeId={ms.activeId}
-										{currentModel}
-										groups={ms.groupedFilteredOptions}
-										onInfoClick={ms.handleInfoClick}
-										onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
-										renderOption={modelOption}
-										sectionHeaderClass="my-1.5 px-2 py-2 text-[13px] font-semibold text-muted-foreground/70 select-none"
+					<DropdownMenuSearchable
+						emptyMessage={ms.emptyMessage}
+						isEmpty={ms.isEmpty && ms.isCurrentModelInCache}
+						onSearchChange={(v) => ms.setSearchTerm(v)}
+						onSearchKeyDown={handleSearchKeyDown}
+						placeholder="Search models..."
+						searchClass="bg-transparent"
+						searchValue={ms.searchTerm}
+					>
+						<!-- Option list; the search header sticks to the top and the actions
+						     footer to the bottom of the content scrollport. -->
+						<div class="models-list px-1.5">
+							{#if !ms.isCurrentModelInCache && currentModel}
+								<!-- Show unavailable model as first option (disabled) -->
+								<button
+									aria-disabled="true"
+									aria-selected="true"
+									class="flex w-full cursor-not-allowed items-center bg-red-400/10 p-2 text-left text-sm text-red-400"
+									disabled
+									role="option"
+									type="button"
+								>
+									<ModelId
+										class="flex-1"
+										hideOrgName={!showOrgName}
+										hideQuantization
+										modelId={currentModel}
 									/>
-								</div>
-							</DropdownMenuSearchable>
-						</DropdownMenu.SubContent>
-					</DropdownMenu.Sub>
 
-					<ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu />
+									<span class="ml-2 text-xs whitespace-nowrap opacity-70">(not available)</span>
+								</button>
+							{/if}
+
+							{#if ms.isEmpty}
+								<p class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">{ms.emptyMessage}</p>
+							{/if}
+
+							{#snippet modelOption(item: ModelItem, hideOrgName: boolean)}
+								{@const { option } = item}
+								{@const isSelected = currentModel === option.model || ms.activeId === option.id}
+								{@const isHighlighted = option.id === highlightedId}
+								{@const isFav = ms.isFavorite(option.model)}
+
+								<ModelsSelectorOption
+									{hideOrgName}
+									{isFav}
+									{isHighlighted}
+									{isSelected}
+									onKeyDown={(event) => {
+										if (event.key === KeyboardKey.ENTER || event.key === KeyboardKey.SPACE) {
+											event.preventDefault();
+											void handleModelKeyAction(option.id, event.altKey);
+										}
+									}}
+									onMouseEnter={() => (highlightedId = option.id)}
+									onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
+									{option}
+									showBaseModelAvatar={!settingsStore.config.groupModelsByFamily}
+									showRepoOrgAvatar={settingsStore.config.groupModelsByFamily}
+								/>
+							{/snippet}
+
+							<ModelsSelectorList
+								activeId={ms.activeId}
+								{currentModel}
+								favorites={ms.favoriteItems}
+								groups={ms.groupedFilteredOptions}
+								loaded={ms.loadedItems}
+								onProviderBack={ms.isProviderView ? ms.closeProvider : undefined}
+								onProviderOpen={ms.openProvider}
+								onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
+								renderOption={modelOption}
+								sectionHeaderClass="[&:not(:first-child)]:mt-1 mb-1 px-2 py-2 text-[13px] font-semibold text-foreground/80 select-none"
+								{showOrgName}
+							/>
+						</div>
+
+						{#snippet footer()}
+							<!-- Sticky action footer: it sticks to the bottom of the content
+							     scrollport, past the option list. -->
+							<DropdownMenu.Group class="px-2">
+								<DropdownMenu.Item class="gap-2" onSelect={handleManageModels}>
+									<MODEL_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+
+									Manage models
+								</DropdownMenu.Item>
+							</DropdownMenu.Group>
+						{/snippet}
+					</DropdownMenuSearchable>
 				</DropdownMenu.Content>
 			</DropdownMenu.Root>
 		{:else}
@@ -387,7 +420,7 @@
 							class={[
 								`inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 rounded-sm bg-background px-1.5 py-1 text-xs shadow-sm transition hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60 dark:bg-muted-foreground/15 dark:text-secondary-foreground`,
 								!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
-									? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+									? 'bg-red-400/10 text-red-400! hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
 									: forceForegroundText
 										? 'text-foreground'
 										: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
@@ -399,21 +432,20 @@
 							onclick={() => ms.handleOpenChange(true)}
 							style="max-width: min(calc(100cqw - 6.5rem), 32rem)"
 						>
-							<MODEL_SELECTOR_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+							<ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon
+								class="size-3.5 shrink-0 mr-0.375"
+								option={selectedOption}
+							/>
 
 							{#if selectedOption}
 								<ModelId
 									class="min-w-0 overflow-hidden"
 									draftSidecars={selectedOption.draftSidecars}
-									hideOrgName={!showOrgNameInTrigger}
+									hideOrgName={!showOrgName}
 									modelId={selectedOption.model}
 								/>
 							{/if}
 
-							{#if reasoning.isReasoningActive}
-								<Lightbulb class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-amber-400" />
-							{/if}
-
 							{#if ms.updating}
 								<Loader2 class="h-3 w-3.5 shrink-0 animate-spin" />
 							{/if}
@@ -423,18 +455,15 @@
 
 				{#if selectedOption}
 					<Tooltip.Content>
-						<p class="font-mono">{triggerTooltipLabel(selectedOption)}</p>
-					</Tooltip.Content>
+							<p class="font-mono">{triggerTooltipLabel(selectedOption)}</p>
+						</Tooltip.Content>
 				{/if}
 			</Tooltip.Root>
 		{/if}
 	{/if}
 </div>
 
-{#if ms.showModelDialog}
-	<DialogModelInformation
-		modelId={ms.infoModelId}
-		onOpenChange={(v) => ms.setShowModelDialog(v)}
-		open={ms.showModelDialog}
-	/>
-{/if}
+<DialogBackendForm
+	bind:open={showAddBackend}
+	onSaved={(backend) => void ms.showBackendModels(backend.id)}
+/>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4d58b89b7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import ModelsSelectorDownloadItem from './ModelsSelectorDownloadItem.svelte';
+	import { Heart, Power } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { GroupedList, ModelAvatar, ModelsSelectorOption } from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { ModelsSection } from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { DialogConfirmDownload } from '$lib/components/app/dialogs';
+	import Logo from '$lib/components/app/misc/Logo.svelte';
+	import {
+		type GroupedModelOptions,
+		type ModelItem,
+		windowLocalGroups
+	} from '$lib/components/app/navigation/utils';
+	import { LOCAL_BACKEND_ID, MODEL_ROW_WINDOW } from '$lib/constants';
+	import { ModelDownloadConfirmAction } from '$lib/enums';
+	import { modelsStore, settingsStore } from '$lib/stores';
+	import { groupModelFamilies, type ModelFamilyGroup } from '$lib/utils/model-families';
+
+	interface Props {
+		groups: GroupedModelOptions;
+		currentModel: string | null;
+		activeId: string | null;
+		sectionHeaderClass?: string;
+		onSelect: (modelId: string) => void;
+		renderOption?: import('svelte').Snippet<[ModelItem, boolean]>;
+		/** Favorite models of every backend, listed in their own section. */
+		favorites?: ModelItem[];
+		/** Loaded models of every llama-compat backend, leading the list. */
+		loaded?: ModelItem[];
+		/** Show the organization name in every model id of the list. */
+		showOrgName?: boolean;
+		/** Open one provider's full list, offered when a section is cut short. */
+		onProviderOpen?: (backendId: string) => void;
+		/** Leave the drilled-in provider; enables the back affordance. */
+		onProviderBack?: () => void;
+	}
+
+	let {
+		activeId,
+		currentModel,
+		favorites = [],
+		groups,
+		loaded = [],
+		onProviderBack,
+		onProviderOpen,
+		onSelect,
+		renderOption,
+		sectionHeaderClass = 'm-0 px-2 py-2 text-[13px] font-semibold text-muted-foreground/70 select-none',
+		showOrgName = true
+	}: Props = $props();
+	let render = $derived(renderOption ?? defaultOption);
+	// A large local catalog is mounted a window at a time; the sentinel at the end
+	// of the list grows the window when it scrolls into view.
+	let visibleCount = $state(MODEL_ROW_WINDOW);
+	let sentinelEl = $state<HTMLElement | null>(null);
+	const localGroups = $derived(windowLocalGroups(groups, visibleCount));
+	const localRowCount = $derived(
+		groups.loaded.length + groups.available.reduce((count, group) => count + group.items.length, 0)
+	);
+	const hasMoreLocal = $derived(localGroups.shown < localRowCount);
+
+	$effect(() => {
+		const sentinel = sentinelEl;
+
+		if (!sentinel || !hasMoreLocal) return;
+
+		// scroll does not bubble, so listen in the capture phase and ask the
+		// sentinel where it is instead of guessing which ancestor scrolls
+		const onScroll = () => {
+			const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect();
+
+			// grow only when the end of the list is actually on screen, otherwise
+			// every scroll event of the page would mount the whole catalog
+			if (rect.top > window.innerHeight || rect.bottom < 0) return;
+
+			visibleCount += MODEL_ROW_WINDOW;
+		};
+
+		document.addEventListener('scroll', onScroll, { capture: true, passive: true });
+		onScroll();
+
+		return () => document.removeEventListener('scroll', onScroll, { capture: true });
+	});
+	// section headers stick right below the search/tabs block of the dropdown
+	// scrollport; `--dropdown-sticky-height` is set by DropdownMenuSearchable
+	// and falls back to 0 in surfaces without one (the mobile sheet)
+	let headerClass = $derived(`${sectionHeaderClass} sticky z-10 bg-popover`);
+	const headerStyle = 'top: var(--dropdown-sticky-height, 0px)';
+
+	/** In-flight / paused downloads, tracked by the status feed. */
+	let getDownloadEntries = $derived(modelsStore.status.getDownloadEntries());
+
+	// Cancel is confirmed once for the whole list rather than per download row, so
+	// a single dialog instance is mounted however many downloads are in flight.
+	// The target is kept while the dialog closes so its copy stays rendered.
+	let pendingCancel = $state('');
+	let cancelOpen = $state(false);
+
+	function requestCancel(repoWithTag: string) {
+		pendingCancel = repoWithTag;
+		cancelOpen = true;
+	}
+</script>
+
+{#snippet familyHeading({ group: family }: { group: ModelFamilyGroup<ModelItem> })}
+	<div class="flex items-center gap-2 px-2 py-1.5 select-none">
+		<ModelAvatar
+			option={family.entries[0].option}
+			showBaseModelAvatar
+			showQuantBadge={false}
+			size="size-6"
+		/>
+
+		<span class="truncate text-[13px] font-semibold text-muted-foreground/70">
+			{family.label}
+		</span>
+
+		<span class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+			{family.entries.length} model{family.entries.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}
+		</span>
+	</div>
+{/snippet}
+
+{#snippet listItem({ depth, entry }: { depth: number; entry: ModelItem })}
+	<div style="padding-left: {depth * 16}px">{@render render(entry, !showOrgName)}</div>
+{/snippet}
+
+{#snippet listRows(items: ModelItem[], prefix: string)}
+	{#if settingsStore.config.groupModelsByFamily}
+		<GroupedList
+			group={familyHeading}
+			groupStateKey={prefix}
+			groups={groupModelFamilies(items, (row) => row.option.model).map((family) => ({
+				entries: family.entries,
+				group: family,
+				key: `${prefix}-${family.key}`
+			}))}
+			item={listItem}
+			keyOf={(row) => `${prefix}-${row.option.id}`}
+			stickyStyle="top: calc(var(--dropdown-sticky-height, 0px) + 2.25rem - 1px)"
+		/>
+	{:else}
+		<GroupedList item={listItem} {items} keyOf={(row) => `${prefix}-${row.option.id}`} />
+	{/if}
+{/snippet}
+
+{#snippet defaultOption(item: ModelItem, hideOrgName: boolean)}
+	{@const { option } = item}
+	{@const isSelected = currentModel === option.model || activeId === option.id}
+	{@const isFav = modelsStore.favoriteModelIds.has(option.model)}
+
+	<ModelsSelectorOption
+		{hideOrgName}
+		{isFav}
+		isHighlighted={false}
+		{isSelected}
+		onKeyDown={() => {}}
+		onMouseEnter={() => {}}
+		{onSelect}
+		{option}
+		showBaseModelAvatar={!settingsStore.config.groupModelsByFamily}
+		showRepoOrgAvatar={settingsStore.config.groupModelsByFamily}
+	/>
+{/snippet}
+
+{#if loaded.length > 0}
+	<ModelsSection
+		count={loaded.length}
+		label="Loaded models"
+		persistKey="loaded"
+		revealChevronOnHover
+		sticky
+	>
+		{#snippet icon()}
+			<Power class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+		{/snippet}
+
+		{#each loaded as item (item.option.id)}
+			{@render render(item, !showOrgName)}
+		{/each}
+	</ModelsSection>
+{/if}
+
+{#if favorites.length > 0}
+	<!-- Favorites come first; the sections below skip them -->
+	<ModelsSection label="Favorites" persistKey="favorites" revealChevronOnHover sticky>
+		{#snippet icon()}
+			<Heart class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+		{/snippet}
+
+		{#each favorites as item (`fav-${item.option.id}`)}
+			{@render render(item, !showOrgName)}
+		{/each}
+	</ModelsSection>
+{/if}
+
+{#if getDownloadEntries.length > 0}
+	<p class={headerClass} style={headerStyle}>Download in progress</p>
+
+	{#each getDownloadEntries as entry (entry.repoWithTag)}
+		<ModelsSelectorDownloadItem {entry} onRequestCancel={requestCancel} {showOrgName} />
+	{/each}
+{/if}
+
+{#snippet localRows()}
+	<!-- the loaded models first -->
+	{#each localGroups.loaded as item (`loaded-${item.option.id}`)}
+		{@render render(item, !showOrgName)}
+	{/each}
+
+	{@render listRows(
+		localGroups.available.flatMap((group) => group.items),
+		'local'
+	)}
+
+	{#if hasMoreLocal}
+		<div bind:this={sentinelEl} aria-hidden="true" class="h-px"></div>
+	{/if}
+{/snippet}
+
+{#if groups.loaded.length > 0 || groups.available.length > 0}
+	<ModelsSection label="Local models" persistKey={LOCAL_BACKEND_ID} revealChevronOnHover sticky>
+		{#snippet icon()}
+			<Logo class="shrink-0" style="--size: 0.875rem" />
+		{/snippet}
+
+		{@render localRows()}
+	</ModelsSection>
+{/if}
+
+<!-- One section per remote provider. -->
+{#each groups.providers as provider (provider.backendId)}
+	<ModelsSection
+		backendId={provider.backendId}
+		error={Boolean(provider.error)}
+		label={provider.name}
+		loading={provider.loading}
+		onBack={onProviderBack}
+		persistKey={provider.backendId}
+		revealChevronOnHover
+		sticky
+	>
+		{#if provider.items.length > 0}
+			{@render listRows(provider.items, provider.backendId)}
+
+			{#if onProviderOpen && provider.matched > provider.items.length}
+				<!-- same box as a model row, it opens the provider's full list -->
+				<button
+					class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center gap-2 rounded-sm p-2 text-left text-sm text-muted-foreground transition hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground focus:outline-none"
+					onclick={() => onProviderOpen(provider.backendId)}
+					type="button"
+				>
+					+ {provider.matched - provider.items.length} more
+				</button>
+			{/if}
+		{:else if provider.catalog === 0}
+			<p class="px-4 pb-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+				{provider.error ?? (provider.loading ? 'Loading models...' : 'No models')}
+			</p>
+		{/if}
+	</ModelsSection>
+{/each}
+
+<DialogConfirmDownload
+	action={ModelDownloadConfirmAction.CANCEL}
+	onClose={() => (cancelOpen = false)}
+	open={cancelOpen}
+	repoWithTag={pendingCancel}
+/>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..071dc145ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import ModelLoadHighlight from '../ModelLoadHighlight.svelte';
+	import { modelDraftsFor } from '../ModelsManager/utils';
+	import {
+		ModelAvatar,
+		ModelCapabilities,
+		ModelId,
+		ModelLoadControl,
+		ModelRowActions
+	} from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { SETTINGS_KEYS } from '$lib/constants';
+	import { ServerModelStatus } from '$lib/enums';
+	import { modelsStore, settingsStore } from '$lib/stores';
+	import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
+	import { modelLoadFraction, modelLoadProgressText } from '$lib/utils';
+	import { getBackend } from '$lib/utils/api-base';
+	import { getBackendCapabilities } from '$lib/utils/backend';
+
+	interface Props {
+		option: ModelOption;
+		isSelected: boolean;
+		isHighlighted: boolean;
+		isFav: boolean;
+		hideOrgName?: boolean;
+		onSelect: (modelId: string) => void;
+		onMouseEnter: () => void;
+		onKeyDown: (e: KeyboardEvent) => void;
+		/** Show the base model's org as the main avatar and the repo (quant) org as the corner badge; resolves the base org lazily via HF. */
+		showBaseModelAvatar?: boolean;
+		/** Show the repo's own org instead of the base model's. */
+		showRepoOrgAvatar?: boolean;
+	}
+
+	let {
+		hideOrgName = false,
+		isFav,
+		isHighlighted,
+		isSelected,
+		onKeyDown,
+		onMouseEnter,
+		onSelect,
+		option,
+		showBaseModelAvatar = false,
+		showRepoOrgAvatar = false
+	}: Props = $props();
+
+	// row actions follow the backend that serves the row, not the selected one
+	let rowBackend = $derived(getBackend(option.backendId));
+	let canLoad = $derived(rowBackend ? getBackendCapabilities(rowBackend).loadUnload : false);
+	let currentRouterModels = $derived(modelsStore.routerModels);
+	let serverStatus = $derived.by(() => {
+		const model = currentRouterModels.find((m) => m.id === option.model);
+
+		return (model?.status?.value as ServerModelStatus) ?? null;
+	});
+	let isOperationInProgress = $derived(modelsStore.status.isOperationInProgress(option.model));
+	let isFailed = $derived(serverStatus === ServerModelStatus.FAILED);
+	let isSleeping = $derived(serverStatus === ServerModelStatus.SLEEPING);
+	let isLoaded = $derived(
+		(serverStatus === ServerModelStatus.LOADED || isSleeping) && !isOperationInProgress
+	);
+	let isLoading = $derived(serverStatus === ServerModelStatus.LOADING || isOperationInProgress);
+
+	let loadProgress = $derived(isLoading ? modelsStore.status.getLoadProgress(option.model) : null);
+	let loadPercent = $derived(Math.round(modelLoadFraction(loadProgress) * 100));
+	let loadTitle = $derived(modelLoadProgressText(loadProgress));
+	let modalities = $derived(option.modalities);
+	let showCapabilities = $derived(
+		settingsStore.config[SETTINGS_KEYS.SHOW_MODEL_CAPABILITIES_IN_SELECTOR] ?? false
+	);
+	// Avatar: with showBaseModelAvatar the original base model's org is the main
+	// image and the repo (quantizer) org the corner badge, as in the discover
+	// list. Loaded models usually carry the `base_model` tag on the option; GGUF
+	// repos only known to HF are resolved lazily via the cached getBaseModel
+	// lookup.
+</script>
+
+<div
+	aria-selected={isSelected || isHighlighted}
+	class={[
+		'group relative flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded-sm p-2 text-left text-sm transition focus:outline-none',
+		'cursor-pointer',
+		// skip layout and paint for rows scrolled out of the long lists
+		'[content-visibility:auto] [contain-intrinsic-size:auto_2.25rem]',
+		isSelected && !isHighlighted && 'bg-accent/50',
+		isHighlighted && 'bg-accent',
+		(isSelected || isHighlighted) && 'text-accent-foreground',
+		'hover:bg-accent',
+		'focus:bg-accent',
+		isLoaded ? 'text-popover-foreground' : 'text-muted-foreground'
+	]}
+	onclick={() => onSelect(option.id)}
+	onkeydown={onKeyDown}
+	onmouseenter={onMouseEnter}
+	role="option"
+	tabindex="0"
+	title={loadTitle}
+>
+	<ModelAvatar {option} {showBaseModelAvatar} {showRepoOrgAvatar} />
+
+	<ModelId
+		aliases={option.aliases}
+		class="min-w-0 flex-1"
+		draftSidecars={option.draftSidecars}
+		drafts={modelDraftsFor(option)}
+		hideCapabilities
+		hideModalities
+		{hideOrgName}
+		{modalities}
+		modelId={option.model}
+		tags={option.tags}
+		title={option.model}
+	/>
+
+	{#if showCapabilities}
+		<ModelCapabilities {option} />
+	{/if}
+
+	<div class="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1">
+		<ModelRowActions {isFav} {option} />
+
+		<ModelLoadControl
+			{canLoad}
+			{isFailed}
+			{isLoaded}
+			{isLoading}
+			{isSleeping}
+			{option}
+			showBackendMark
+		/>
+	</div>
+
+	{#if isLoading}
+		<ModelLoadHighlight percent={loadPercent} />
+	{/if}
+</div>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
similarity index 62%
rename from tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
rename to tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
index c89ca186e3..74a8c42f50 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
@@ -1,24 +1,32 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import ModelLoadHighlight from './ModelLoadHighlight.svelte';
-	import { ChevronDown, Loader2, Package } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import ModelLoadHighlight from '../ModelLoadHighlight.svelte';
+	import { ChevronDown, Loader2 } from '@lucide/svelte';
 	import {
-		DialogModelInformation,
 		ModelId,
 		ModelsSelectorList,
+		ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon,
 		SearchInput
 	} from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { DialogBackendForm } from '$lib/components/app/backends';
 	import * as Sheet from '$lib/components/ui/sheet';
+	import { MODEL_ICON, SETTINGS_KEYS } from '$lib/constants';
 	import { ServerModelStatus } from '$lib/enums';
 	import { useModelsSelector } from '$lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte';
-	import { modelsStore } from '$lib/stores';
+	import { modelsStore, settingsStore, uiStore } from '$lib/stores';
 	import { modelLoadFraction } from '$lib/utils';
 
 	interface Props {
 		class?: string;
 		currentModel?: string | null;
 		/** Callback when model changes. Return false to keep menu open (e.g., for validation failures) */
-		onModelChange?: (modelId: string, modelName: string) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
+		onModelChange?: (
+			modelId: string,
+			modelName: string,
+			backendId?: string
+		) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
 		disabled?: boolean;
+		/** The provider behind this selector is unreachable. */
+		error?: boolean;
 		forceForegroundText?: boolean;
 		/** When true, user's global selection takes priority over currentModel (for form selector) */
 		useGlobalSelection?: boolean;
@@ -28,12 +36,14 @@
 		class: className = '',
 		currentModel = null,
 		disabled = false,
+		error = false,
 		forceForegroundText = false,
 		onModelChange,
 		useGlobalSelection = false
 	}: Props = $props();
 
 	let sheetOpen = $state(false);
+	let showAddBackend = $state(false);
 
 	const ms = useModelsSelector({
 		currentModel: () => currentModel,
@@ -44,6 +54,9 @@
 		useGlobalSelection: () => useGlobalSelection
 	});
 
+	// one setting for every model id in the selector: the trigger and the rows
+	const showOrgName = $derived(settingsStore.config[SETTINGS_KEYS.SHOW_MODEL_ORG_NAME] ?? true);
+
 	export function open() {
 		ms.handleOpenChange(true);
 	}
@@ -53,16 +66,36 @@
 			ms.handleOpenChange(false);
 		}
 	}
+
+	function handleManageModels() {
+		sheetOpen = false;
+
+		// let the sheet finish closing before the dialog takes focus
+		setTimeout(() => uiStore.openModelsManager(), 0);
+	}
+
+	function handleAddBackend() {
+		sheetOpen = false;
+
+		// let the sheet finish closing before the dialog takes focus
+		setTimeout(() => (showAddBackend = true), 0);
+	}
 </script>
 
 <div class={['relative inline-flex flex-col items-end gap-1', className]}>
-	{#if ms.loading && ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isRouter}
+	{#if ms.loading && ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isMultiModel}
 		<div class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
 			<Loader2 class="h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin" />
 			Loading models…
 		</div>
-	{:else if ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isRouter}
-		<p class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No models available.</p>
+	{:else if ms.options.length === 0 && ms.isMultiModel}
+		<button
+			class="cursor-pointer text-xs text-muted-foreground underline-offset-2 hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+			onclick={handleAddBackend}
+			type="button"
+		>
+			No models yet. Add a backend to get started.
+		</button>
 	{:else}
 		{@const selectedOption = ms.getDisplayOption()}
 		{@const triggerModel = selectedOption?.model}
@@ -77,17 +110,19 @@
 			? Math.round(modelLoadFraction(modelsStore.status.getLoadProgress(triggerModel)) * 100)
 			: 0}
 
-		{#if ms.isRouter}
+		{#if ms.isMultiModel}
 			<button
 				class={[
 					`relative inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 rounded-sm bg-background px-1.5 py-1 text-xs shadow-sm transition hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60 max-sm:px-3 max-sm:py-2 max-sm:text-sm dark:bg-muted-foreground/15 dark:text-secondary-foreground`,
-					!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
-						? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
-						: forceForegroundText
-							? 'text-foreground'
-							: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
+					error
+						? 'border-destructive/40 bg-destructive/10 !text-destructive hover:bg-destructive/20'
+						: !ms.isCurrentModelInCache
+							? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+							: forceForegroundText
 								? 'text-foreground'
-								: 'text-foreground',
+								: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
+									? 'text-foreground'
+									: 'text-foreground',
 					sheetOpen && 'text-foreground'
 				]}
 				disabled={disabled || ms.updating}
@@ -95,7 +130,7 @@
 				style="max-width: min(calc(100cqw - 9rem), 20rem)"
 				type="button"
 			>
-				<Package class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+				<ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" option={selectedOption} />
 
 				{#if !selectedOption}
 					<span class="min-w-0 font-medium">Select model</span>
@@ -156,20 +191,35 @@
 								<div class="my-1 h-px bg-border"></div>
 							{/if}
 
-							{#if ms.filteredOptions.length === 0}
-								<p class="px-3 py-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">No models found.</p>
+							{#if ms.isEmpty}
+								<p class="px-3 py-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">{ms.emptyMessage}</p>
 							{/if}
 
 							<ModelsSelectorList
 								activeId={ms.activeId}
 								{currentModel}
+								favorites={ms.favoriteItems}
 								groups={ms.groupedFilteredOptions}
-								onInfoClick={ms.handleInfoClick}
+								loaded={ms.loadedItems}
+								onProviderBack={ms.isProviderView ? ms.closeProvider : undefined}
+								onProviderOpen={ms.openProvider}
 								onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
-								orgHeaderClass="px-2 py-2 text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground/60 select-none [&:not(:first-child)]:mt-2"
 								sectionHeaderClass="px-2 py-2 text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground/60 select-none"
+								{showOrgName}
 							/>
 						</div>
+
+						<div class="px-2 pb-1">
+							<button
+								class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center gap-2 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-left text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-accent"
+								onclick={handleManageModels}
+								type="button"
+							>
+								<MODEL_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+
+								Manage models
+							</button>
+						</div>
 					</div>
 				</Sheet.Content>
 			</Sheet.Root>
@@ -177,21 +227,28 @@
 			<button
 				class={[
 					`inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 rounded-sm bg-background px-1.5 py-1 text-xs shadow-sm transition hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-60 dark:bg-muted-foreground/15 dark:text-secondary-foreground`,
-					!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
-						? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
-						: forceForegroundText
-							? 'text-foreground'
-							: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
+					error
+						? 'border-destructive/40 bg-destructive/10 !text-destructive hover:bg-destructive/20'
+						: !ms.isCurrentModelInCache
+							? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+							: forceForegroundText
 								? 'text-foreground'
-								: 'text-foreground'
+								: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
+									? 'text-foreground'
+									: 'text-foreground'
 				]}
 				disabled={disabled || ms.updating}
 				onclick={() => ms.handleOpenChange(true)}
 				style="max-width: min(calc(100cqw - 6.5rem), 32rem)"
 			>
-				<Package class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+				<ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" option={selectedOption} />
 
-				<ModelId class="font-medium" hideQuantization modelId={selectedOption?.model || ''} />
+				<ModelId
+					class="font-medium"
+					hideOrgName={!showOrgName}
+					hideQuantization
+					modelId={selectedOption?.model || ''}
+				/>
 
 				{#if ms.updating}
 					<Loader2 class="h-3 w-3.5 shrink-0 animate-spin" />
@@ -201,10 +258,7 @@
 	{/if}
 </div>
 
-{#if ms.showModelDialog}
-	<DialogModelInformation
-		modelId={ms.infoModelId}
-		onOpenChange={(v) => ms.setShowModelDialog(v)}
-		open={ms.showModelDialog}
-	/>
-{/if}
+<DialogBackendForm
+	bind:open={showAddBackend}
+	onSaved={(backend) => void ms.showBackendModels(backend.id)}
+/>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6c9621cddc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import ModelAvatar from '../ModelAvatar.svelte';
+	import { MODEL_ICON } from '$lib/constants';
+	import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
+
+	interface Props {
+		class?: string;
+		/** Selected model; its avatar decides the mark, the generic icon when absent. */
+		option?: ModelOption | null;
+	}
+
+	let { class: className = 'h-3.5 w-3.5', option }: Props = $props();
+</script>
+
+{#if option}
+	<ModelAvatar class={className} {option} showQuantBadge={false} showRepoOrgAvatar size={className}>
+		{#snippet fallback()}
+			<MODEL_ICON class={className} />
+		{/snippet}
+	</ModelAvatar>
+{:else}
+	<MODEL_ICON class={className} />
+{/if}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..42ff366a10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * MODELS SELECTOR
+ *
+ * Model selection UI for the chat form: a desktop dropdown and a mobile sheet,
+ * each backed by a shared grouped options list, option rows, in-flight download
+ * rows and an inline reasoning-effort picker. Supports two server modes:
+ * - **Single model mode**: Server runs with one model, selector shows model info
+ * - **Router mode**: Server runs with multiple models, selector enables switching
+ *
+ * Integrates with modelsStore for model data and serverStore for mode detection.
+ *
+ */
+
+/**
+ * **ModelsSelectorDropdown** - Model selection dropdown (desktop)
+ *
+ * Dropdown for selecting AI models with status indicators,
+ * search, and model information display. Adapts UI based on server mode.
+ *
+ * **Architecture:**
+ * - Uses DropdownMenuSearchable for model list
+ * - Integrates with modelsStore for model options and selection
+ * - Detects router vs single mode from serverStore
+ * - Opens DialogModelInformation for model details
+ *
+ * **Features:**
+ * - Searchable model list with keyboard navigation
+ * - Model status indicators (loading/ready/error/updating)
+ * - Model capabilities badges (vision, tools, etc.)
+ * - Current/active model highlighting
+ * - Model information dialog on info button click
+ * - Router mode: shows all available models with status
+ * - Single mode: shows current model name only
+ * - Loading/updating skeleton states
+ * - Global selection support for form integration
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```svelte
+ * <ModelsSelectorDropdown
+ *   currentModel={conversation.modelId}
+ *   onModelChange={(id, name) => updateModel(id)}
+ *   useGlobalSelection
+ * />
+ * ```
+ */
+export { default as ModelsSelectorDropdown } from './ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte';
+
+/**
+ *
+ * Switches the rendered view: the favorites of every backend, the local server's
+ * models, or the remote backends'. Purely a display concern - the backend that
+ * serves requests follows the selected model.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * **ModelsSelectorList** - Grouped model options list
+ *
+ * Renders grouped model options (loaded, favorites, available) with section
+ * headers and org subgroups. Shared between ModelsSelectorDropdown and ModelsSelectorSheet
+ * to avoid template duplication.
+ *
+ * Accepts an optional `renderOption` snippet to customize how each option is
+ * rendered (e.g., to add keyboard navigation or highlighting).
+ */
+export { default as ModelsSelectorList } from './ModelsSelectorList.svelte';
+
+/**
+ * **ModelsSelectorDownloadItem** - Single in-flight download row
+ *
+ * One "Download in progress" row for the models selector: live progress bar,
+ * pause / resume on click and a hover-revealed cancel, mirroring the discover
+ * quant chips.
+ */
+export { default as ModelsSelectorDownloadItem } from './ModelsSelectorDownloadItem.svelte';
+
+/**
+ * **ModelsSelectorOption** - Single model option row
+ *
+ * Renders a single model option with selection state, favorite toggle,
+ * load/unload actions, status indicators, and an info button.
+ * Used inside ModelsSelectorList or directly in custom render snippets.
+ */
+export { default as ModelsSelectorOption } from './ModelsSelectorOption.svelte';
+
+/**
+ *
+ * Collapsible row that expands in place to reveal the reasoning effort levels.
+ * Used in the sticky footer of ModelsSelectorDropdown, where a flyout submenu
+ * would float over the model list it belongs to.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * **ModelsSelectorSheet** - Mobile model selection sheet
+ *
+ * Bottom sheet variant of ModelsSelectorDropdown optimized for touch interaction
+ * on mobile devices. Same functionality as ModelsSelectorDropdown but uses Sheet UI
+ * instead of DropdownMenu.
+ */
+export { default as ModelsSelectorSheet } from './ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte';
+
+/**
+ * **ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon** - Icon for the selector trigger button
+ *
+ * Shows the selected model's own org avatar (the same mark the option rows
+ * use) and falls back to the generic model icon when the model has neither an
+ * org nor a provider mark.
+ */
+export { default as ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon } from './ModelsSelectorTriggerIcon.svelte';
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorList.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index e40e33d0c0..0000000000
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,76 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-	import type { GroupedModelOptions, ModelItem } from './utils';
-	import { ModelsSelectorOption } from '$lib/components/app';
-	import { modelsStore } from '$lib/stores';
-
-	interface Props {
-		groups: GroupedModelOptions;
-		currentModel: string | null;
-		activeId: string | null;
-		sectionHeaderClass?: string;
-		orgHeaderClass?: string;
-		onSelect: (modelId: string) => void;
-		onInfoClick: (modelName: string) => void;
-		renderOption?: import('svelte').Snippet<[ModelItem, boolean]>;
-	}
-
-	let {
-		activeId,
-		currentModel,
-		groups,
-		onInfoClick,
-		onSelect,
-		orgHeaderClass = 'px-2 py-2 text-[11px] font-semibold text-muted-foreground/50 select-none [&:not(:first-child)]:mt-1',
-		renderOption,
-		sectionHeaderClass = 'my-1 px-2 py-2 text-[13px] font-semibold text-muted-foreground/70 select-none'
-	}: Props = $props();
-	let render = $derived(renderOption ?? defaultOption);
-</script>
-
-{#snippet defaultOption(item: ModelItem, hideOrgName: boolean)}
-	{@const { option } = item}
-	{@const isSelected = currentModel === option.model || activeId === option.id}
-	{@const isFav = modelsStore.favoriteModelIds.has(option.model)}
-
-	<ModelsSelectorOption
-		{hideOrgName}
-		{isFav}
-		isHighlighted={false}
-		{isSelected}
-		{onInfoClick}
-		onKeyDown={() => {}}
-		onMouseEnter={() => {}}
-		{onSelect}
-		{option}
-	/>
-{/snippet}
-
-{#if groups.loaded.length > 0}
-	<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Loaded models</p>
-
-	{#each groups.loaded as item (`loaded-${item.option.id}`)}
-		{@render render(item, false)}
-	{/each}
-{/if}
-
-{#if groups.favorites.length > 0}
-	<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Favorite models</p>
-
-	{#each groups.favorites as item (`fav-${item.option.id}`)}
-		{@render render(item, true)}
-	{/each}
-{/if}
-
-{#if groups.available.length > 0}
-	<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Available models</p>
-
-	{#each groups.available as group (group.orgName)}
-		{#if group.orgName}
-			<p class={orgHeaderClass}>{group.orgName}</p>
-		{/if}
-
-		{#each group.items as item (item.option.id)}
-			{@render render(item, true)}
-		{/each}
-	{/each}
-{/if}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts
index 6eff6df294..ae86e98fc3 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts
@@ -8,72 +8,11 @@
  *
  * Integrates with modelsStore for model data and serverStore for mode detection.
  *
+ * The selection UI lives in the ModelsSelector subfolder; the shared model
+ * display primitives (id / badge rendering) stay here.
+ *
  */
 
-/**
- * **ModelsSelectorDropdown** - Model selection dropdown (desktop)
- *
- * Dropdown for selecting AI models with status indicators,
- * search, and model information display. Adapts UI based on server mode.
- *
- * **Architecture:**
- * - Uses DropdownMenuSearchable for model list
- * - Integrates with modelsStore for model options and selection
- * - Detects router vs single mode from serverStore
- * - Opens DialogModelInformation for model details
- *
- * **Features:**
- * - Searchable model list with keyboard navigation
- * - Model status indicators (loading/ready/error/updating)
- * - Model capabilities badges (vision, tools, etc.)
- * - Current/active model highlighting
- * - Model information dialog on info button click
- * - Router mode: shows all available models with status
- * - Single mode: shows current model name only
- * - Loading/updating skeleton states
- * - Global selection support for form integration
- *
- * @example
- * ```svelte
- * <ModelsSelectorDropdown
- *   currentModel={conversation.modelId}
- *   onModelChange={(id, name) => updateModel(id)}
- *   useGlobalSelection
- * />
- * ```
- */
-export { default as ModelsSelectorDropdown } from './ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte';
-
-/**
- * **ModelsSelectorList** - Grouped model options list
- *
- * Renders grouped model options (loaded, favorites, available) with section
- * headers and org subgroups. Shared between ModelsSelectorDropdown and ModelsSelectorSheet
- * to avoid template duplication.
- *
- * Accepts an optional `renderOption` snippet to customize how each option is
- * rendered (e.g., to add keyboard navigation or highlighting).
- */
-export { default as ModelsSelectorList } from './ModelsSelectorList.svelte';
-
-/**
- * **ModelsSelectorOption** - Single model option row
- *
- * Renders a single model option with selection state, favorite toggle,
- * load/unload actions, status indicators, and an info button.
- * Used inside ModelsSelectorList or directly in custom render snippets.
- */
-export { default as ModelsSelectorOption } from './ModelsSelectorOption.svelte';
-
-/**
- * **ModelsSelectorSheet** - Mobile model selection sheet
- *
- * Bottom sheet variant of ModelsSelectorDropdown optimized for touch interaction
- * on mobile devices. Same functionality as ModelsSelectorDropdown but uses Sheet UI
- * instead of DropdownMenu.
- */
-export { default as ModelsSelectorSheet } from './ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte';
-
 /** * **ModelBadge** - Model name display badge
  *
  * Compact badge showing current model name with package icon.
@@ -108,7 +47,13 @@ export { default as ModelBadge } from './ModelBadge.svelte';
  * aliases, and tags. Supports raw mode to show the unprocessed model name.
  * Respects the user's `showRawModelNames` setting.
  */
+export { default as ModelCapabilities } from './ModelCapabilities.svelte';
+export { default as ModelContext } from './ModelContext.svelte';
 export { default as ModelId } from './ModelId.svelte';
+export { default as ModelAvatar } from './ModelAvatar.svelte';
+export { default as ModelLoadControl } from './ModelLoadControl.svelte';
+export { default as ModelRowActions } from './ModelRowActions.svelte';
+export { default as ModelsSection } from './ModelsSection.svelte';
 
 /**
  * **ModelCapabilityIcons** - Capability and modality icon row
@@ -139,3 +84,5 @@ export { default as ModelAvatar } from './ModelAvatar.svelte';
 export { default as ModelLoadControl } from './ModelLoadControl.svelte';
 export { default as ModelRowActions } from './ModelRowActions.svelte';
 export { default as ModelsSection } from './ModelsSection.svelte';
+
+export * from './ModelsSelector';
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/utils.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/utils.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 35bfb58a25..0000000000
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/utils.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,101 +0,0 @@
-import { ModelModality } from '$lib/enums';
-import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
-import { SvelteMap } from 'svelte/reactivity';
-
-export interface ModelItem {
-	option: ModelOption;
-	flatIndex: number;
-}
-
-export interface OrgGroup {
-	orgName: string | null;
-	items: ModelItem[];
-}
-
-export interface GroupedModelOptions {
-	loaded: ModelItem[];
-	favorites: ModelItem[];
-	available: OrgGroup[];
-}
-
-function matchesModality(option: ModelOption, term: string): boolean {
-	const modalities = option.modalities;
-
-	if (!modalities) return false;
-
-	switch (term) {
-		case ModelModality.VISION.toLowerCase():
-			return modalities.vision;
-		case ModelModality.AUDIO.toLowerCase():
-			return modalities.audio;
-		case ModelModality.VIDEO.toLowerCase():
-			return modalities.video;
-		default:
-			return false;
-	}
-}
-
-export function filterModelOptions(options: ModelOption[], searchTerm: string): ModelOption[] {
-	const term = searchTerm.trim().toLowerCase();
-
-	if (!term) return options;
-
-	return options.filter(
-		(option) =>
-			option.model.toLowerCase().includes(term) ||
-			option.name?.toLowerCase().includes(term) ||
-			option.aliases?.some((alias: string) => alias.toLowerCase().includes(term)) ||
-			option.tags?.some((tag: string) => tag.toLowerCase().includes(term)) ||
-			matchesModality(option, term)
-	);
-}
-
-export function groupModelOptions(
-	filteredOptions: ModelOption[],
-	favoriteIds: Set<string>,
-	isModelLoaded: (model: string) => boolean
-): GroupedModelOptions {
-	// Loaded models
-	const loaded: ModelItem[] = [];
-
-	for (let i = 0; i < filteredOptions.length; i++) {
-		if (isModelLoaded(filteredOptions[i].model)) {
-			loaded.push({ flatIndex: i, option: filteredOptions[i] });
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Favorites (excluding loaded)
-	const loadedModelIds = new Set(loaded.map((item) => item.option.model));
-	const favorites: ModelItem[] = [];
-
-	for (let i = 0; i < filteredOptions.length; i++) {
-		if (
-			favoriteIds.has(filteredOptions[i].model) &&
-			!loadedModelIds.has(filteredOptions[i].model)
-		) {
-			favorites.push({ flatIndex: i, option: filteredOptions[i] });
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Available models grouped by org (excluding loaded and favorites)
-	const available: OrgGroup[] = [];
-	const orgGroups = new SvelteMap<string, ModelItem[]>();
-
-	for (let i = 0; i < filteredOptions.length; i++) {
-		const option = filteredOptions[i];
-
-		if (loadedModelIds.has(option.model) || favoriteIds.has(option.model)) continue;
-
-		const key = option.parsedId?.orgName ?? '';
-
-		if (!orgGroups.has(key)) orgGroups.set(key, []);
-
-		orgGroups.get(key)!.push({ flatIndex: i, option });
-	}
-
-	for (const [orgName, items] of orgGroups) {
-		available.push({ items, orgName: orgName || null });
-	}
-
-	return { available, favorites, loaded };
-}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/DropdownMenuSearchable.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/DropdownMenuSearchable.svelte
index f14db5f23c..897bb847dc 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/DropdownMenuSearchable.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/DropdownMenuSearchable.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { SearchInput } from '$lib/components/app';
-	import * as DropdownMenu from '$lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
 	import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
 
 	interface Props {
@@ -10,41 +9,67 @@
 		onSearchKeyDown?: (event: KeyboardEvent) => void;
 		emptyMessage?: string;
 		isEmpty?: boolean;
+		/** Extra classes for the wrapper around the option list. */
+		contentClass?: string;
+		/** Extra classes for the search input. */
+		searchClass?: string;
 		children: Snippet;
+		/**
+		 * Optional sticky footer. It sticks to the bottom of the dropdown content's
+		 * own scrollport, so it stays visible while the option list scrolls. For this
+		 * to work, DropdownMenu.Content must be the scroll container (keep its
+		 * overflow-y-auto and a max-height) and must not be `overflow-hidden`.
+		 */
 		footer?: Snippet;
 	}
 
 	let {
 		children,
+		contentClass = '',
 		emptyMessage = 'No items found',
 		footer,
 		isEmpty = false,
 		onSearchChange,
 		onSearchKeyDown,
 		placeholder = 'Search...',
+		searchClass = '',
 		searchValue = $bindable('')
 	}: Props = $props();
+
+	// the search sticks to the top; its height is published so
+	// list section headers can stick right below it
+	let stickyHeaderHeight = $state(0);
 </script>
 
-<div class="sticky top-0 z-10 mb-2 bg-popover p-1 pt-2">
+<div bind:clientHeight={stickyHeaderHeight} class="sticky top-0 z-20 bg-popover p-1.5">
 	<SearchInput
 		bind:value={searchValue}
+		class={searchClass}
 		onInput={onSearchChange}
 		onKeyDown={onSearchKeyDown}
 		{placeholder}
 	/>
 </div>
 
-<div class="overflow-y-auto">
-	{@render children()}
+<div class={contentClass}>
+	<!-- wrapper carries the sticky offset: bits-ui owns the style of the scrollport -->
+	<div style="--dropdown-sticky-height: {stickyHeaderHeight}px">
+		{@render children()}
 
-	{#if isEmpty}
-		<div class="px-2 py-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">{emptyMessage}</div>
-	{/if}
+		{#if isEmpty}
+			<div class="px-2 py-3 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">{emptyMessage}</div>
+		{/if}
+	</div>
 </div>
 
 {#if footer}
-	<DropdownMenu.Separator />
+	<div class="sticky bottom-0 z-20 bg-popover py-1.5">
+		<div
+			aria-orientation="horizontal"
+			class="h-px bg-border/20 mb-1.5 mx-1.5"
+			role="separator"
+		></div>
 
-	{@render footer()}
+		{@render footer()}
+	</div>
 {/if}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/utils.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..964d6b4f96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+import { ModelModality } from '$lib/enums';
+import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
+import { SvelteMap } from 'svelte/reactivity';
+
+export interface ModelItem {
+	option: ModelOption;
+	flatIndex: number;
+}
+
+export interface OrgGroup {
+	orgName: string | null;
+	items: ModelItem[];
+}
+
+/** One remote backend's section on the remote view. */
+export interface ProviderGroup {
+	backendId: string;
+	/** Models the provider lists without any search filtering. */
+	catalog: number;
+	error: string | null;
+	/** Rows to render, capped by the display limit. */
+	items: ModelItem[];
+	loading: boolean;
+	/** Rows left after the search filter, before the cap. */
+	matched: number;
+	name: string;
+}
+
+export interface GroupedModelOptions {
+	available: OrgGroup[];
+	loaded: ModelItem[];
+	/** Remote backends, one section each. */
+	providers: ProviderGroup[];
+}
+
+function matchesModality(option: ModelOption, term: string): boolean {
+	const modalities = option.modalities;
+
+	if (!modalities) return false;
+
+	switch (term) {
+		case ModelModality.VISION.toLowerCase():
+			return modalities.vision;
+		case ModelModality.AUDIO.toLowerCase():
+			return modalities.audio;
+		case ModelModality.VIDEO.toLowerCase():
+			return modalities.video;
+		default:
+			return false;
+	}
+}
+
+export function filterModelOptions(options: ModelOption[], searchTerm: string): ModelOption[] {
+	const term = searchTerm.trim().toLowerCase();
+
+	if (!term) return options;
+
+	return options.filter(
+		(option) =>
+			option.model.toLowerCase().includes(term) ||
+			option.name?.toLowerCase().includes(term) ||
+			option.aliases?.some((alias: string) => alias.toLowerCase().includes(term)) ||
+			option.tags?.some((tag: string) => tag.toLowerCase().includes(term)) ||
+			matchesModality(option, term)
+	);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Favorite models across every backend, in list order. The favorites tab spans
+ * all backends, so they are collected from the full option list.
+ */
+export function groupFavoriteOptions(
+	options: ModelOption[],
+	favoriteIds: Set<string>
+): ModelItem[] {
+	const favorites: ModelItem[] = [];
+
+	for (let i = 0; i < options.length; i++) {
+		if (favoriteIds.has(options[i].model)) {
+			favorites.push({ flatIndex: i, option: options[i] });
+		}
+	}
+
+	return favorites;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Cut the local groups down to a window of rows. Loaded models come first, then
+ * the org groups, so the caller can grow the window as the list is scrolled.
+ */
+export function windowLocalGroups(
+	groups: GroupedModelOptions,
+	limit: number
+): { available: GroupedModelOptions['available']; loaded: ModelItem[]; shown: number } {
+	const loaded = groups.loaded.slice(0, Math.max(0, limit));
+
+	let budget = limit - loaded.length;
+
+	const available: GroupedModelOptions['available'] = [];
+
+	let shown = loaded.length;
+
+	for (const group of groups.available) {
+		if (budget <= 0) break;
+
+		const items = group.items.slice(0, budget);
+
+		budget -= items.length;
+		shown += items.length;
+
+		if (items.length > 0) available.push({ ...group, items });
+	}
+
+	return { available, loaded, shown };
+}
+
+export function groupModelOptions(
+	filteredOptions: ModelOption[],
+	isModelLoaded: (model: string) => boolean
+): GroupedModelOptions {
+	// Loaded models
+	const loaded: ModelItem[] = [];
+
+	for (let i = 0; i < filteredOptions.length; i++) {
+		const option = filteredOptions[i];
+
+		if (isModelLoaded(option.model)) {
+			loaded.push({ flatIndex: i, option });
+		}
+	}
+
+	const loadedModelIds = new Set(loaded.map((item) => item.option.model));
+	// Available models grouped by org (excluding loaded)
+	const available: OrgGroup[] = [];
+	const orgGroups = new SvelteMap<string, ModelItem[]>();
+
+	for (let i = 0; i < filteredOptions.length; i++) {
+		const option = filteredOptions[i];
+
+		if (loadedModelIds.has(option.model)) continue;
+
+		const key = option.parsedId?.orgName ?? '';
+
+		if (!orgGroups.has(key)) orgGroups.set(key, []);
+
+		orgGroups.get(key)!.push({ flatIndex: i, option });
+	}
+
+	for (const [orgName, items] of orgGroups) {
+		available.push({ items, orgName: orgName || null });
+	}
+
+	return { available, loaded, providers: [] };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Remote backends as sections, one per backend, in the given order. Each section
+ * keeps at most `limit` rows; `matched` carries the full count so the caller can
+ * offer the rest.
+ */
+export function groupProviderOptions(
+	options: ModelOption[],
+	providers: {
+		backendId: string;
+		catalog: number;
+		error: string | null;
+		loading: boolean;
+		name: string;
+	}[],
+	limit = Infinity,
+	recentIds: readonly string[] = []
+): ProviderGroup[] {
+	const byBackend = new SvelteMap<string, ModelItem[]>();
+	const rank = new SvelteMap<string, number>();
+
+	recentIds.forEach((id, index) => rank.set(id, index));
+
+	const rankOf = (id: string) => rank.get(id) ?? Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER;
+	// recently used models lead their section, the rest keep the backend's order
+	const byRecency = (items: ModelItem[]) =>
+		rank.size === 0 ? items : [...items].sort((a, b) => rankOf(a.option.id) - rankOf(b.option.id));
+
+	for (let i = 0; i < options.length; i++) {
+		const option = options[i];
+		const backendId = option.backendId ?? '';
+
+		if (!byBackend.has(backendId)) byBackend.set(backendId, []);
+
+		byBackend.get(backendId)!.push({ flatIndex: i, option });
+	}
+
+	return providers.map((provider) => {
+		const items = byRecency(byBackend.get(provider.backendId) ?? []);
+
+		return { ...provider, items: items.slice(0, limit), matched: items.length };
+	});
+}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu/dropdown-menu-content.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu/dropdown-menu-content.svelte
index 014e85b58b..83f54958f6 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu/dropdown-menu-content.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu/dropdown-menu-content.svelte
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 	<DropdownMenuPrimitive.Content
 		bind:ref
 		class={cn(
-			'z-50 max-h-(--bits-dropdown-menu-content-available-height) min-w-[8rem] origin-(--bits-dropdown-menu-content-transform-origin) overflow-x-hidden overflow-y-auto rounded-md border border-border bg-popover p-1.5 text-popover-foreground shadow-md outline-none data-[side=bottom]:slide-in-from-top-2 data-[side=left]:slide-in-from-right-2 data-[side=right]:slide-in-from-left-2 data-[side=top]:slide-in-from-bottom-2 data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:fade-out-0 data-[state=closed]:fill-mode-forwards data-[state=closed]:zoom-out-95 data-[state=open]:animate-in data-[state=open]:fade-in-0 data-[state=open]:zoom-in-95 dark:border-border/20',
+			'z-50 max-h-[calc(var(--bits-dropdown-menu-content-available-height)-1rem)] min-w-[8rem] origin-(--bits-dropdown-menu-content-transform-origin) overflow-x-hidden overflow-y-auto rounded-md border border-border bg-popover p-1.5 text-popover-foreground shadow-md outline-none data-[side=bottom]:slide-in-from-top-2 data-[side=left]:slide-in-from-right-2 data-[side=right]:slide-in-from-left-2 data-[side=top]:slide-in-from-bottom-2 data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:fade-out-0 data-[state=closed]:fill-mode-forwards data-[state=closed]:zoom-out-95 data-[state=open]:animate-in data-[state=open]:fade-in-0 data-[state=open]:zoom-in-95 dark:border-border/20',
 			className
 		)}
 		data-slot="dropdown-menu-content"
diff --git a/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte b/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte
index e577226f29..263d1ed010 100644
--- a/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <script lang="ts" module>
 	import { defineMeta } from '@storybook/addon-svelte-csf';
-	import ModelsSelectorList from '$lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorList.svelte';
-	import ModelsSelectorOption from '$lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte';
-	import type { GroupedModelOptions, ModelItem } from '$lib/components/app/models/utils';
+	import ModelsSelectorList from '$lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte';
+	import ModelsSelectorOption from '$lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte';
+	import type { GroupedModelOptions, ModelItem } from '$lib/components/app/navigation/utils';
 	import { ServerModelStatus } from '$lib/enums';
 	import { modelsStore } from '$lib/stores/models/index.svelte';
 
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@
 				orgName: 'intel'
 			}
 		],
-		favorites: favoriteModels,
-		loaded: loadedModels
+		loaded: loadedModels,
+		providers: []
 	};
 
 	function handleSelect(modelId: string) {
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@
 		<ModelsSelectorList
 			{activeId}
 			currentModel={selectedModel}
+			favorites={favoriteModels}
 			groups={groupedOptions}
-			onInfoClick={(modelName) => console.log('Info clicked:', modelName)}
 			onSelect={handleSelect}
 		/>
 	</div>
@@ -138,10 +138,9 @@
 			currentModel={null}
 			groups={{
 				available: [],
-				favorites: [],
-				loaded: [loadedModels[0]]
+				loaded: [loadedModels[0]],
+				providers: []
 			}}
-			onInfoClick={(modelName) => console.log('Info clicked:', modelName)}
 			onSelect={handleSelect}
 		/>
 	</div>
@@ -152,12 +151,12 @@
 		<ModelsSelectorList
 			activeId={null}
 			currentModel={null}
+			favorites={favoriteModels}
 			groups={{
 				available: [],
-				favorites: favoriteModels,
-				loaded: []
+				loaded: [],
+				providers: []
 			}}
-			onInfoClick={(modelName) => console.log('Info clicked:', modelName)}
 			onSelect={handleSelect}
 		/>
 	</div>