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 a5afc3bfeb..e18ef0dc6b 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorDropdown.svelte
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@
 							<ModelsSelectorList
 								activeId={ms.activeId}
 								{currentModel}
+								flat={!ms.isLocalBackend}
 								groups={ms.groupedFilteredOptions}
 								onInfoClick={ms.handleInfoClick}
 								onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
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 901a7ba888..551df234ed 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorList.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 		groups: GroupedModelOptions;
 		currentModel: string | null;
 		activeId: string | null;
+		/** Render one flat list without section headers (external backends). */
+		flat?: boolean;
 		sectionHeaderClass?: string;
 		onSelect: (modelId: string) => void;
 		onInfoClick: (modelName: string) => void;
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@
 	let {
 		activeId,
 		currentModel,
+		flat = false,
 		groups,
 		onInfoClick,
 		onSelect,
@@ -61,38 +64,44 @@
 	/>
 {/snippet}
 
-{#if groups.favorites.length > 0}
-	<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Favorite models</p>
-
-	{#each groups.favorites as item (`fav-${item.option.id}`)}
+{#if flat}
+	{#each [...groups.favorites, ...groups.available.flatMap((group) => group.items)] as item (item.option.id)}
 		{@render render(item, true)}
 	{/each}
-{/if}
+{:else}
+	{#if groups.favorites.length > 0}
+		<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Favorite models</p>
 
-{#if getDownloadEntries.length > 0}
-	<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Download in progress</p>
-
-	{#each getDownloadEntries as entry (entry.repoWithTag)}
-		<ModelsSelectorDownloadItem {entry} onRequestCancel={requestCancel} />
-	{/each}
-{/if}
-
-{#if groups.loaded.length > 0}
-	<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Loaded models</p>
-
-	{#each groups.loaded as item (`loaded-${item.option.id}`)}
-		{@render render(item, false)}
-	{/each}
-{/if}
-
-{#if groups.available.length > 0}
-	<h2 class={sectionHeaderClass}>Downloaded models</h2>
-
-	{#each groups.available as group (group.orgName)}
-		{#each group.items as item (item.option.id)}
+		{#each groups.favorites as item (`fav-${item.option.id}`)}
 			{@render render(item, true)}
 		{/each}
-	{/each}
+	{/if}
+
+	{#if getDownloadEntries.length > 0}
+		<p class={sectionHeaderClass}>Download in progress</p>
+
+		{#each getDownloadEntries as entry (entry.repoWithTag)}
+			<ModelsSelectorDownloadItem {entry} onRequestCancel={requestCancel} />
+		{/each}
+	{/if}
+
+	{#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.available.length > 0}
+		<h2 class={sectionHeaderClass}>Downloaded models</h2>
+
+		{#each groups.available as group (group.orgName)}
+			{#each group.items as item (item.option.id)}
+				{@render render(item, true)}
+			{/each}
+		{/each}
+	{/if}
 {/if}
 
 <DialogConfirmDownload
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 36412d98c2..99f8dceebb 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/models/ModelsSelector/ModelsSelectorSheet.svelte
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@
 							<ModelsSelectorList
 								activeId={ms.activeId}
 								{currentModel}
+								flat={!ms.isLocalBackend}
 								groups={ms.groupedFilteredOptions}
 								onInfoClick={ms.handleInfoClick}
 								onSelect={ms.handleSelect}
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 6f70f7da53..d6c427fa53 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/hooks/use-models-selector.svelte.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export interface UseModelsSelectorReturn {
 	readonly updating: boolean;
 	readonly activeId: string | null;
 	readonly activeBackendId: string;
+	readonly isLocalBackend: boolean;
 	readonly backends: Backend[];
 	readonly isMultiModel: boolean;
 	readonly isRouter: boolean;
@@ -51,8 +52,13 @@ export interface UseModelsSelectorReturn {
  * duplicating store derivations, selection handling, and model loading.
  */
 export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSelectorReturn {
+	const activeBackendId = $derived(backendsStore.active.id);
+	const isLocalBackend = $derived(backendsStore.active.protocol === 'llama.cpp');
+	// the backend switcher tabs scope the list to one backend's models
 	const options = $derived(
 		modelsStore.models.filter((option) => {
+			if (option.backendId !== activeBackendId) return false;
+
 			const modelProps = modelsStore.props.getModelProps(option.model);
 
 			return modelProps?.ui !== false;
@@ -61,7 +67,6 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 	const loading = $derived(modelsStore.loading);
 	const updating = $derived(modelsStore.updating);
 	const activeId = $derived(modelsStore.selectedModelId);
-	const activeBackendId = $derived(backendsStore.active.id);
 	const backends = $derived(backendsStore.enabled);
 	// Router mode and external backends both expose a selectable model list;
 	// a single-model llama.cpp server does not.
@@ -272,6 +277,10 @@ export function useModelsSelector(opts: UseModelsSelectorOptions): UseModelsSele
 			return isLoadingModel;
 		},
 
+		get isLocalBackend() {
+			return isLocalBackend;
+		},
+
 		get isMultiModel() {
 			return isMultiModel;
 		},