diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionModels.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionModels.svelte
index 434db0cf4f..a4baa40bf9 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionModels.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionModels.svelte
@@ -1,14 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { ModelsSelectorDropdown, ModelsSelectorSheet } from '$lib/components/app';
-	import { LOCAL_BACKEND_ID } from '$lib/constants';
-	import {
-		backendsModelsStore,
-		backendsStore,
-		conversationsStore,
-		deviceStore,
-		modelsStore,
-		serverStore
-	} from '$lib/stores';
+	import { conversationsStore, deviceStore, modelsStore, serverStore } from '$lib/stores';
 	import { getConversationModel } from '$lib/utils';
 
 	interface Props {
@@ -36,14 +28,7 @@
 	}: Props = $props();
 
 	let isRouter = $derived(serverStore.isRouterMode);
-	// the provider this selector is pointed at, which is the one its colours report
-	let selectorError = $derived.by(() => {
-		const backendId = backendsStore.active.id;
-
-		return backendId === LOCAL_BACKEND_ID
-			? Boolean(serverStore.error)
-			: backendsModelsStore.get(backendId).error !== null;
-	});
+	let isOffline = $derived(!!serverStore.error);
 
 	let conversationModel = $derived(
 		getConversationModel(conversationsStore.activeMessages as DatabaseMessage[])
@@ -67,16 +52,10 @@
 
 	$effect(() => {
 		if (conversationModel && conversationModel !== lastSyncedConversationModel) {
-			const option = modelsStore.models.find((m) => m.model === conversationModel);
-
-			// only sync models served by the active backend; a model from another
-			// backend must not yank the active tab (and trigger a full backend
-			// switch) just because the conversation used it. sends resolve their
-			// backend explicitly via ensureModelBackend
-			if (option && option.backendId === backendsStore.active.id) {
+			if (modelsStore.models.some((m) => m.model === conversationModel)) {
 				modelsStore.selectedModelName = conversationModel;
 				modelsStore.selectModelByName(conversationModel);
-			} else if (!option) {
+			} else {
 				modelsStore.selectedModelName = null;
 				modelsStore.clearSelection();
 			}
@@ -176,8 +155,7 @@
 	<ModelsSelectorSheet
 		bind:this={selectorModelRef}
 		currentModel={selectorModel}
-		{disabled}
-		error={selectorError}
+		disabled={disabled || isOffline}
 		{forceForegroundText}
 		{useGlobalSelection}
 	/>
@@ -185,8 +163,7 @@
 	<ModelsSelectorDropdown
 		bind:this={selectorModelRef}
 		currentModel={selectorModel}
-		{disabled}
-		error={selectorError}
+		disabled={disabled || isOffline}
 		{forceForegroundText}
 		{useGlobalSelection}
 	/>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatScreen/ChatScreenServerError.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatScreen/ChatScreenServerError.svelte
index bf670efac0..796ae6360f 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatScreen/ChatScreenServerError.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatScreen/ChatScreenServerError.svelte
@@ -2,17 +2,10 @@
 	import { AlertTriangle, Loader2, RefreshCw } from '@lucide/svelte';
 	import * as Alert from '$lib/components/ui/alert';
 	import { ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT } from '$lib/constants';
-	import { useBackendAvailability } from '$lib/hooks/use-backend-availability.svelte';
-	import { backendsStore, serverStore } from '$lib/stores';
-
-	const availability = useBackendAvailability();
+	import { serverStore } from '$lib/stores';
 
+	let hasError = $derived(!!serverStore.error);
 	let isLoadingModel = $derived(serverStore.status === 503);
-	// A single provider leaves nowhere to switch to, so the banner is the only
-	// place the failure can be reported. With another provider available the
-	// selector carries it instead, and stays usable.
-	let isOnlyProvider = $derived(backendsStore.enabled.length <= 1);
-	let hasError = $derived(availability.isOffline && isOnlyProvider);
 </script>
 
 {#if hasError || isLoadingModel}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts
index 243856bd55..2f7d417b4e 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts
@@ -221,7 +221,6 @@ export { default as ChatFormActionReasoning } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/C
  */
 export { default as ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu.svelte';
 
-
 /**
  * Compact context-usage gauge with per-turn and cumulative breakdown in the tooltip.
  */
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte
index 295947da3c..67cccade4c 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelCapabilities.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <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';
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@
 	$effect(() => {
 		template = '';
 
-		if (!isNearViewport || !isLocalOption(option)) return;
+		if (!isNearViewport) 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 b85ac41fd4..775925ba8d 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelContext.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelContext.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <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';
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@
 	$effect(() => {
 		fetched = null;
 
-		if (reported || !isNearViewport || !isLocalOption(option)) return;
+		if (reported || !isNearViewport) 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/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
index 1a142eca9c..a989b83014 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
@@ -8,14 +8,13 @@
 		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 '$lib/components/ui/tooltip';
 	import {
 		DROPDOWN_MENU_CONTENT_SEARCH_SELECTOR,
-		MODEL_ID,
 		MODEL_ICON,
+		MODEL_ID,
 		SETTINGS_KEYS
 	} from '$lib/constants';
 	import { KeyboardKey, ServerModelStatus } from '$lib/enums';
@@ -24,20 +23,13 @@
 	import { modelsStore, settingsStore, uiStore } from '$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,
-			backendId?: string
-		) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
+		onModelChange?: (modelId: string, modelName: string) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
 		useGlobalSelection?: boolean;
 	}
 
@@ -45,7 +37,6 @@
 		class: className = '',
 		currentModel = null,
 		disabled = false,
-		error = false,
 		forceForegroundText = false,
 		onModelChange,
 		useGlobalSelection = false
@@ -53,7 +44,6 @@
 
 	let isOpen = $state(false);
 	let highlightedId = $state<string | null>(null);
-	let showAddBackend = $state(false);
 
 	const ms = useModelsSelector({
 		currentModel: () => currentModel,
@@ -128,9 +118,6 @@
 		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;
 	});
@@ -164,13 +151,6 @@
 		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) {
@@ -179,13 +159,12 @@
 			return;
 		}
 
-		const rawId = rawModelId(modelId);
-		const model = modelsStore.routerModels.find((m) => m.id === rawId);
+		const model = modelsStore.routerModels.find((m) => m.id === modelId);
 		const status = model?.status?.value as ServerModelStatus | undefined;
 
 		if (status === ServerModelStatus.LOADING) return;
 
-		await modelsStore.status.unload(rawId);
+		await modelsStore.status.unload(modelId);
 	}
 
 	export function open() {
@@ -232,13 +211,7 @@
 				<MODEL_ICON class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
 			</span>
 		{:else}
-			<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>
+			<span class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No models yet.</span>
 		{/if}
 	{:else}
 		{@const triggerStatus = triggerModel
@@ -262,15 +235,13 @@
 								{...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`,
-									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
+									!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
+										? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+										: forceForegroundText
+											? 'text-foreground'
+											: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
 												? 'text-foreground'
-												: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
-													? 'text-foreground'
-													: 'text-foreground',
+												: 'text-foreground',
 									isOpen && 'text-foreground',
 									'max-w-[min(calc(100vw-4rem) md:max-w-[min(calc(100cqw-9rem),25rem)]'
 								]}
@@ -387,8 +358,6 @@
 								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"
@@ -455,15 +424,10 @@
 
 				{#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>
-
-<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
index 4d58b89b7e..65d9c3fa4a 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@
 		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 {
@@ -40,8 +36,6 @@
 		favorites = [],
 		groups,
 		loaded = [],
-		onProviderBack,
-		onProviderOpen,
 		onSelect,
 		renderOption,
 		sectionHeaderClass = 'm-0 px-2 py-2 text-[13px] font-semibold text-muted-foreground/70 select-none',
@@ -227,39 +221,6 @@
 	</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)}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte
index 071dc145ae..151c81cb54 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorOption.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import ModelLoadHighlight from '../ModelLoadHighlight.svelte';
-	import { modelDraftsFor } from '../ModelsManager/utils';
 	import {
 		ModelAvatar,
 		ModelCapabilities,
@@ -13,8 +12,6 @@
 	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;
@@ -44,9 +41,6 @@
 		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);
@@ -102,7 +96,6 @@
 		aliases={option.aliases}
 		class="min-w-0 flex-1"
 		draftSidecars={option.draftSidecars}
-		drafts={modelDraftsFor(option)}
 		hideCapabilities
 		hideModalities
 		{hideOrgName}
@@ -119,15 +112,7 @@
 	<div class="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1">
 		<ModelRowActions {isFav} {option} />
 
-		<ModelLoadControl
-			{canLoad}
-			{isFailed}
-			{isLoaded}
-			{isLoading}
-			{isSleeping}
-			{option}
-			showBackendMark
-		/>
+		<ModelLoadControl {isFailed} {isLoaded} {isLoading} {isSleeping} {option} />
 	</div>
 
 	{#if isLoading}
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
index 74a8c42f50..18ece97254 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 		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';
@@ -19,14 +18,8 @@
 		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,
-			backendId?: string
-		) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void;
+		onModelChange?: (modelId: string, modelName: 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;
@@ -36,14 +29,12 @@
 		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,
@@ -73,13 +64,6 @@
 		// 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]}>
@@ -89,13 +73,7 @@
 			Loading models…
 		</div>
 	{: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>
+		<span class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No models yet.</span>
 	{:else}
 		{@const selectedOption = ms.getDisplayOption()}
 		{@const triggerModel = selectedOption?.model}
@@ -114,15 +92,13 @@
 			<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`,
-					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
+					!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
+						? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+						: forceForegroundText
+							? 'text-foreground'
+							: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
 								? 'text-foreground'
-								: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
-									? 'text-foreground'
-									: 'text-foreground',
+								: 'text-foreground',
 					sheetOpen && 'text-foreground'
 				]}
 				disabled={disabled || ms.updating}
@@ -201,8 +177,6 @@
 								favorites={ms.favoriteItems}
 								groups={ms.groupedFilteredOptions}
 								loaded={ms.loadedItems}
-								onProviderBack={ms.isProviderView ? ms.closeProvider : undefined}
-								onProviderOpen={ms.openProvider}
 								onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
 								sectionHeaderClass="px-2 py-2 text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground/60 select-none"
 								{showOrgName}
@@ -227,15 +201,13 @@
 			<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`,
-					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
+					!ms.isCurrentModelInCache
+						? 'bg-red-400/10 !text-red-400 hover:bg-red-400/20 hover:text-red-400'
+						: forceForegroundText
+							? 'text-foreground'
+							: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
 								? 'text-foreground'
-								: ms.isHighlightedCurrentModelActive
-									? 'text-foreground'
-									: 'text-foreground'
+								: 'text-foreground'
 				]}
 				disabled={disabled || ms.updating}
 				onclick={() => ms.handleOpenChange(true)}
@@ -257,8 +229,3 @@
 		{/if}
 	{/if}
 </div>
-
-<DialogBackendForm
-	bind:open={showAddBackend}
-	onSaved={(backend) => void ms.showBackendModels(backend.id)}
-/>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts
index ae86e98fc3..4189bc0e93 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/index.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ export { default as ModelsSection } from './ModelsSection.svelte';
  * styling stay consistent across every model-id surface.
  */
 export { default as ModelCapabilityIcons } from './ModelCapabilityIcons.svelte';
+
 /**
  * **ModelDraftSidecars** - draft sidecar badges
  *
@@ -71,18 +72,4 @@ export { default as ModelCapabilityIcons } from './ModelCapabilityIcons.svelte';
  * everywhere.
  */
 export { default as ModelDraftSidecars } from './ModelDraftSidecars.svelte';
-/**
- * **ModelId** - Parsed model identifier display
- *
- * Displays a model ID with optional org name, parameter badges, quantization,
- * 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 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/navigation/utils.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/utils.ts
index 964d6b4f96..d92eca2807 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/utils.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/navigation/utils.ts
@@ -12,25 +12,9 @@ export interface OrgGroup {
 	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 {
@@ -150,48 +134,5 @@ export function groupModelOptions(
 		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 };
-	});
+	return { available, loaded };
 }
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/css-classes.constants.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/css-classes.constants.ts
index edd33c1e92..40ea4d7458 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/css-classes.constants.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/css-classes.constants.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ export const DIALOG_SUBMENU_CONTENT = 'w-60';
 export const CHAT_INPUT_FOCUS_SELECTOR =
 	'[data-slot="input-area"] textarea, [data-slot="input-area"] [contenteditable="true"]';
 
+/**
+ * Selects the search input inside an open dropdown-menu's content, to focus it
+ * after the menu mounts (bits-ui's default auto-focus can yank page scroll).
+ */
+export const DROPDOWN_MENU_CONTENT_SEARCH_SELECTOR = '[data-slot="dropdown-menu-content"] input';
+
 /** Filter controls above the model table: one box, one height, one fill. */
 export const FILTER_TRIGGER_CLASS = `
     h-8
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/ui.constants.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/ui.constants.ts
index 661e3dcc7e..f974da43e4 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/ui.constants.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/ui.constants.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ export const STATS_UNITS = {
 
 export const DEFAULT_MOBILE_BREAKPOINT = 768;
 
+/** Models listed per remote provider before the "+ X more" line; search covers the rest. */
+export const REMOTE_PROVIDER_MODEL_LIMIT = 12;
+
 /** Orgs whose avatar is dark and needs inverting in dark mode. */
 export const DARK_INVERT_AVATAR_ORGS = ['openai'];
 
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte.ts
index 38c5f3b42b..5a435327ac 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte.ts
@@ -2,34 +2,19 @@ import type { ModelItem } from '$lib/components/app/navigation/utils';
 import {
 	filterModelOptions,
 	groupFavoriteOptions,
-	groupModelOptions,
-	groupProviderOptions
+	groupModelOptions
 } from '$lib/components/app/navigation/utils';
-import {
-	CHAT_INPUT_FOCUS_SELECTOR,
-	LOCAL_BACKEND_ID,
-	REMOTE_PROVIDER_MODEL_LIMIT
-} from '$lib/constants';
-import { backendsModelsStore, backendsStore, modelsStore, serverStore, uiStore } from '$lib/stores';
+import { CHAT_INPUT_FOCUS_SELECTOR } from '$lib/constants';
+import { modelsStore, serverStore, uiStore } from '$lib/stores';
 import type { ModelOption } from '$lib/types/models';
-import { getBackend } from '$lib/utils/api-base';
-import { getBackendCapabilities } from '$lib/utils/backend';
-import { rawModelId } from '$lib/utils/model-option-id';
 import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 import { SvelteSet } from 'svelte/reactivity';
 
-/** Groups of the favorites tab, which lists favorites only. */
-const EMPTY_GROUPS = { available: [], loaded: [], providers: [] };
-
 export interface UseModelsSelectorOptions {
 	currentModel: () => string | null;
 	useGlobalSelection?: () => boolean;
 	onModelChange?: () =>
-		| ((
-				modelId: string,
-				modelName: string,
-				backendId?: string
-		  ) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void)
+		| ((modelId: string, modelName: string) => Promise<boolean> | boolean | void)
 		| undefined;
 	onOpenChange?: (open: boolean) => void;
 }
@@ -49,14 +34,10 @@ export interface UseModelsSelectorReturn {
 	readonly loadedItems: ModelItem[];
 	readonly filteredOptions: ModelOption[];
 	readonly isEmpty: boolean;
-	readonly isProviderView: boolean;
 	readonly groupedFilteredOptions: ReturnType<typeof groupModelOptions>;
 	readonly isLoadingModel: boolean;
 	readonly searchTerm: string;
-	closeProvider(): void;
-	openProvider(backendId: string): void;
 	setSearchTerm(value: string): void;
-	showBackendModels(backendId: string): Promise<void>;
 	handleSelect(modelId: string): Promise<void>;
 	handleOpenChange(open: boolean): void;
 	isFavorite(model: string): boolean;
@@ -71,36 +52,21 @@ export interface UseModelsSelectorReturn {
  * duplicating store derivations, selection handling, and model loading.
  */
 export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSelectorReturn {
-	/**
-	 * Current view: the favorites of every backend, the local server's models, or
-	 * the remote backends'. Favorites are the default while there is at least one.
-	 */
-	/** Remote backend drilled into from its section; null while browsing. */
-	let providerViewId = $state<string | null>(null);
+	let isLoadingModel = $state(false);
+	let searchTerm = $state('');
 
-	const isProviderView = $derived(providerViewId !== null);
-	const isLocalOption = (option: ModelOption) => option.backendId === LOCAL_BACKEND_ID;
-	// every enabled backend's models are one list: favorites, then the local
-	// server, then one section per remote provider
-	const allOptions = $derived(
+	const options = $derived(
 		modelsStore.models.filter((option) => {
 			const modelProps = modelsStore.props.getModelProps(option.model);
 
 			return modelProps?.ui !== false;
 		})
 	);
-	const options = $derived(
-		providerViewId ? allOptions.filter((option) => option.backendId === providerViewId) : allOptions
-	);
 	const loading = $derived(modelsStore.loading);
 	const updating = $derived(modelsStore.updating);
 	const activeId = $derived(modelsStore.selectedModelId);
-	// Router mode and external backends both expose a selectable model list; only
-	// a lone llama.cpp server without a router has nothing to choose from.
-	const isMultiModel = $derived(
-		serverStore.isRouterMode ||
-			backendsStore.enabled.some((backend) => backend.id !== LOCAL_BACKEND_ID)
-	);
+	// a lone llama.cpp server without a router has nothing to choose from
+	const isMultiModel = $derived(serverStore.isRouterMode);
 	const isRouter = $derived(serverStore.isRouterMode);
 	const serverModel = $derived(modelsStore.singleModelName);
 	const currentModel = $derived(opts.currentModel());
@@ -108,54 +74,29 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 	const isHighlightedCurrentModelActive = $derived.by(() => {
 		if (!isRouter || !currentModel) return false;
 
-		const currentOption = allOptions.find((option) => option.model === currentModel);
+		const currentOption = options.find((option) => option.model === currentModel);
 
 		return currentOption ? currentOption.id === activeId : false;
 	});
 	const isCurrentModelInCache = $derived.by(() => {
 		if (!isRouter || !currentModel) return true;
 
-		return allOptions.some((option) => option.model === currentModel);
+		return options.some((option) => option.model === currentModel);
 	});
-
-	let isLoadingModel = $state(false);
-	let searchTerm = $state('');
-
-	const visibleOptions = $derived(allOptions.filter((option) => !modelsStore.isHidden(option.id)));
+	const visibleOptions = $derived(options.filter((option) => !modelsStore.isHidden(option.id)));
 	const filteredOptions = $derived(filterModelOptions(options, searchTerm));
-	// favorites span every backend, so they come from the full option list
 	const favoriteItems = $derived(
 		groupFavoriteOptions(
 			filterModelOptions(visibleOptions, searchTerm),
 			modelsStore.favoriteModelIds
 		)
 	);
-	const remoteProviders = $derived(
-		backendsStore.enabled
-			.filter((backend) => backend.id !== LOCAL_BACKEND_ID)
-			.map((backend) => {
-				const state = backendsModelsStore.get(backend.id);
-
-				return {
-					backendId: backend.id,
-					catalog: state.models.length,
-					error: state.error,
-					loading: state.loading,
-					name: backend.name
-				};
-			})
-	);
-	// loaded models lead the list, from any llama-compat backend
-	const isLoadedLlamaCompat = (option: ModelOption) =>
-		modelsStore.isModelLoaded(option.model) &&
-		getBackendCapabilities(getBackend(option.backendId)).loadUnload;
-	const loadedItems = $derived.by(() => {
-		if (isProviderView) return [];
-
-		return filterModelOptions(visibleOptions, searchTerm)
+	// loaded models lead the list
+	const loadedItems = $derived(
+		filterModelOptions(visibleOptions, searchTerm)
 			.map((option, flatIndex) => ({ flatIndex, option }))
-			.filter(({ option }) => isLoadedLlamaCompat(option));
-	});
+			.filter(({ option }) => modelsStore.isModelLoaded(option.model))
+	);
 	const loadedIds = $derived(new SvelteSet(loadedItems.map((item) => item.option.id)));
 	// loaded models and favorites are listed once, at the top: the sections skip both
 	const sectionOptions = $derived(
@@ -163,28 +104,9 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 			(option) => !modelsStore.favoriteModelIds.has(option.model) && !loadedIds.has(option.id)
 		)
 	);
-	const providerSections = $derived(
-		groupProviderOptions(
-			sectionOptions,
-			remoteProviders,
-			// a drill-in or a search reaches every model, the sections stay short
-			providerViewId || searchTerm ? Infinity : REMOTE_PROVIDER_MODEL_LIMIT,
-			modelsStore.recentModelIds
-		)
+	const groupedFilteredOptions = $derived(
+		groupModelOptions(sectionOptions, (model) => modelsStore.isModelLoaded(model))
 	);
-	const groupedFilteredOptions = $derived.by(() => {
-		if (isProviderView) {
-			const sections = providerSections.filter((section) => section.backendId === providerViewId);
-
-			return { ...EMPTY_GROUPS, providers: sections };
-		}
-
-		const local = groupModelOptions(sectionOptions.filter(isLocalOption), (m) =>
-			modelsStore.isModelLoaded(m)
-		);
-
-		return { ...local, providers: providerSections };
-	});
 	const isEmpty = $derived(
 		filteredOptions.length === 0 && favoriteItems.length === 0 && loadedItems.length === 0
 	);
@@ -207,8 +129,8 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 	function handleOpenChange(open: boolean) {
 		if (loading || updating) return;
 
-		// a single-model llama.cpp server with no other backend has no list to show,
-		// so the trigger opens the manager, which holds the one model's configuration
+		// a single-model llama.cpp server has no list to show, so the trigger opens
+		// the manager, which holds the one model's configuration
 		if (!isMultiModel) {
 			if (open) uiStore.openModelsManager();
 
@@ -216,7 +138,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 		}
 
 		searchTerm = '';
-		providerViewId = null;
 
 		if (open && isRouter) {
 			modelsStore.props.fetchModalitiesForLoadedModels();
@@ -225,37 +146,15 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 		opts.onOpenChange?.(open);
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Switch the rendered view. Views are display only: the backend that serves
-	 * requests follows the selected model, not the view.
-	 */
-	/** Drill into one remote backend's full model list. */
-	function openProvider(backendId: string) {
-		providerViewId = backendId;
-		searchTerm = '';
-	}
-
-	function closeProvider() {
-		providerViewId = null;
-		searchTerm = '';
-	}
-
-	/** Refresh a backend's models, e.g. right after it was added. */
-	async function showBackendModels(backendId: string): Promise<void> {
-		await backendsModelsStore.ensureLoaded(backendId);
-	}
-
 	async function handleSelect(modelId: string) {
-		// favorites live above the tabs and may belong to another backend, so the
-		// lookup spans every enabled backend
-		const option = allOptions.find((opt) => opt.id === modelId);
+		const option = options.find((opt) => opt.id === modelId);
 
 		if (!option) return;
 
 		let shouldCloseMenu = true;
 
 		if (onModelChange) {
-			const result = await onModelChange(rawModelId(option.id), option.model, option.backendId);
+			const result = await onModelChange(option.id, option.model);
 
 			if (result === false) {
 				shouldCloseMenu = false;
@@ -275,9 +174,7 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 		}
 
 		// only the built-in server loads on request, and only in router mode
-		const canLoadHere = option.backendId === LOCAL_BACKEND_ID && isRouter;
-
-		if (!onModelChange && canLoadHere && !modelsStore.isModelLoaded(option.model)) {
+		if (!onModelChange && isRouter && !modelsStore.isModelLoaded(option.model)) {
 			isLoadingModel = true;
 
 			modelsStore.status
@@ -289,18 +186,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 
 	function getDisplayOption(): ModelOption | undefined {
 		if (!isRouter) {
-			// External backend: the selection is backend-scoped, so it wins over
-			// the conversation's model, which may belong to another backend.
-			if (!serverStore.capabilities.props) {
-				const selected = activeId ? allOptions.find((option) => option.id === activeId) : undefined;
-
-				if (selected) return selected;
-
-				return currentModel
-					? allOptions.find((option) => option.model === currentModel)
-					: undefined;
-			}
-
 			const displayModel = serverModel || currentModel;
 
 			if (displayModel) {
@@ -325,11 +210,11 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 				};
 			}
 
-			return allOptions.find((option) => option.model === currentModel);
+			return options.find((option) => option.model === currentModel);
 		}
 
 		if (activeId) {
-			return allOptions.find((option) => option.id === activeId);
+			return options.find((option) => option.id === activeId);
 		}
 
 		return undefined;
@@ -340,8 +225,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 			return activeId;
 		},
 
-		closeProvider,
-
 		get emptyMessage() {
 			return emptyMessage;
 		},
@@ -387,10 +270,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 			return isMultiModel;
 		},
 
-		get isProviderView() {
-			return isProviderView;
-		},
-
 		get isRouter() {
 			return isRouter;
 		},
@@ -403,8 +282,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 			return loading;
 		},
 
-		openProvider,
-
 		get options() {
 			return options;
 		},
@@ -421,8 +298,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 			searchTerm = value;
 		},
 
-		showBackendModels,
-
 		get updating() {
 			return updating;
 		}
diff --git a/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte b/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte
index 263d1ed010..1a2c643c7f 100644
--- a/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/tests/stories/ModelsSelector.stories.svelte
@@ -103,8 +103,7 @@
 				orgName: 'intel'
 			}
 		],
-		loaded: loadedModels,
-		providers: []
+		loaded: loadedModels
 	};
 
 	function handleSelect(modelId: string) {
@@ -138,8 +137,7 @@
 			currentModel={null}
 			groups={{
 				available: [],
-				loaded: [loadedModels[0]],
-				providers: []
+				loaded: [loadedModels[0]]
 			}}
 			onSelect={handleSelect}
 		/>
@@ -154,8 +152,7 @@
 			favorites={favoriteModels}
 			groups={{
 				available: [],
-				loaded: [],
-				providers: []
+				loaded: []
 			}}
 			onSelect={handleSelect}
 		/>