diff --git a/common/download.cpp b/common/download.cpp
index 8aa175a07d..02f5c87082 100644
--- a/common/download.cpp
+++ b/common/download.cpp
@@ -346,10 +346,6 @@ static int common_download_file_single_online(const std::string & url,
     const std::string path_temporary = path + ".downloadInProgress";
     int delay = retry_delay_seconds;
 
-    if (opts.callback) {
-        opts.callback->on_start(p);
-    }
-
     for (int i = 0; i < max_attempts; ++i) {
         if (opts.callback && opts.callback->is_cancelled()) {
             break;
@@ -373,6 +369,12 @@ static int common_download_file_single_online(const std::string & url,
 
         p.downloaded = existing_size;
 
+        if (i == 0 && opts.callback) {
+            // report after the resume offset is known, so a resumed file does not
+            // start at 0 in the progress UI
+            opts.callback->on_start(p);
+        }
+
         LOG_DBG("%s: downloading from %s to %s (etag:%s)...\n",
                 __func__, common_http_show_masked_url(parts).c_str(),
                 path_temporary.c_str(), etag.c_str());
@@ -393,12 +395,7 @@ static int common_download_file_single_online(const std::string & url,
     if (opts.callback) {
         opts.callback->on_done(p, success);
     }
-    if (opts.callback && opts.callback->is_cancelled() &&
-        std::filesystem::exists(path_temporary)) {
-        if (remove(path_temporary.c_str()) != 0) {
-            LOG_ERR("%s: unable to delete temporary file: %s\n", __func__, path_temporary.c_str());
-        }
-    }
+    // a stopped download keeps path_temporary, so the next attempt resumes from it
     if (!success) {
         LOG_ERR("%s: download failed after %d attempts\n", __func__, max_attempts);
         return -1; // max attempts reached
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/discover/ModelsDiscoverDetails/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptions/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptionsQuantDownloadButton.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/discover/ModelsDiscoverDetails/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptions/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptionsQuantDownloadButton.svelte
index 4755ca42e9..fdc48f00a2 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/discover/ModelsDiscoverDetails/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptions/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptionsQuantDownloadButton.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/discover/ModelsDiscoverDetails/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptions/ModelsDiscoverDetailsDownloadOptionsQuantDownloadButton.svelte
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@
 	{@render tooltipTrigger(tooltipText, deleteChip)}
 {:else if entry.isDownloading || entry.isPaused}
 	<!-- in-flight / paused chips: the chip body pauses / resumes on click, the X
-	     inside the chip cancels (stops and discards the partial files). The X slot
-	     is reserved, so the chip never reflows when the affordance fades in -->
+	     inside the chip cancels the download. The X slot is reserved, so the chip
+	     never reflows when the affordance fades in -->
 	<div
 		class="group relative inline-flex h-auto items-center gap-1 overflow-hidden rounded-md! border px-2 py-1 text-left font-mono text-xs shadow-sm transition-[background-color,border-color,transform] duration-200 ease-[cubic-bezier(0.23,1,0.32,1)] active:scale-[0.97]
 			{entry.isPaused
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/models/status.svelte.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/models/status.svelte.ts
index 82ba5d649a..bb2c8996a6 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/models/status.svelte.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/stores/models/status.svelte.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ function downloadIdKey(repoWithTag: string): string {
 	return `${repo.toUpperCase()}:${tag.toUpperCase().replace(HF_UD_QUANT_PREFIX_REGEX, '')}`;
 }
 
+/** Zeroed progress, used until the first feed record reports real counts. */
+function emptyDownloadProgress(): ModelDownloadProgress {
+	return { downloadedBytes: 0, files: {}, totalBytes: 0 };
+}
+
 export class ModelStatusManager {
 	/**
 	 * Sidecar files pulled by registered models, as `<repo>/<file>` keys.
@@ -250,8 +255,11 @@ export class ModelStatusManager {
 		// the feed must be live so the resulting models_reload event refreshes the list
 		this.subscribe();
 
-		// resuming a paused download: drop the paused state, and let the server
-		// discard its stale DOWNLOADED entry (via the list fetch) before re-posting
+		// resuming a paused download: keep the last reported progress so the chip does
+		// not fall back to 0%, and let the server discard its stale DOWNLOADED entry
+		// (via the list fetch) before re-posting
+		const snapshot = this.pausedDownloads.get(repoWithTag) ?? null;
+
 		if (this.deletePausedDownload(repoWithTag) || this.stopRequests.delete(repoWithTag)) {
 			await this.host.fetchRouterModels();
 		}
@@ -264,7 +272,7 @@ export class ModelStatusManager {
 			}
 
 			// flip the chip to "downloading" right away; the feed refines it with real progress
-			this.downloadProgress.set(repoWithTag, { downloadedBytes: 0, files: {}, totalBytes: 0 });
+			this.downloadProgress.set(repoWithTag, snapshot ?? emptyDownloadProgress());
 
 			toast.success(`Download started: ${this.host.toDisplayName(repoWithTag)}`);
 		} catch (error) {
@@ -378,9 +386,10 @@ export class ModelStatusManager {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * The server stops the download child but keeps the partial files, so
-	 * re-posting the tag resumes where it stopped. The feed reports the stop
-	 * as download_failed; the 'pause' stop request marks it as intentional.
+	 * The server stops the download child but keeps the partial file, so re-posting
+	 * the tag resumes where it stopped. The feed reports the stop as download_failed;
+	 * the 'pause' stop request marks it as intentional, and the paused state is stored
+	 * before the request: an unconfirmed pause would leave the chip spinning.
 	 */
 	async pauseDownload(repoWithTag: string): Promise<void> {
 		if (!serverStore.isRouterMode) {
@@ -393,10 +402,21 @@ export class ModelStatusManager {
 
 		this.stopRequests.set(repoWithTag, ModelDownloadStopRequest.PAUSE);
 
+		const snapshot = this.downloadProgress.get(repoWithTag) ?? null;
+		const wasInFlight = this.downloadProgress.delete(repoWithTag);
+
+		this.setPausedDownload(repoWithTag, snapshot);
+
 		try {
 			await ModelsService.unload(repoWithTag);
 		} catch {
 			this.stopRequests.delete(repoWithTag);
+			this.deletePausedDownload(repoWithTag);
+
+			if (wasInFlight) {
+				this.downloadProgress.set(repoWithTag, snapshot ?? emptyDownloadProgress());
+			}
+
 			toast.error(`Failed to pause: ${repoWithTag}`);
 		}
 	}
@@ -476,7 +496,11 @@ export class ModelStatusManager {
 		}
 
 		if (request === ModelDownloadStopRequest.PAUSE) {
-			this.setPausedDownload(event.model, progress);
+			// a pause already stored its snapshot when the user asked for it
+			if (!this.pausedDownloads.has(event.model)) {
+				this.setPausedDownload(event.model, progress);
+			}
+
 			this.failedDownloads.delete(event.model);
 
 			return;