diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/BackendCard.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/BackendCard.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c9c40132f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/BackendCard.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { Pencil, Server, Trash2 } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { DialogConfirmation } from '$lib/components/app/dialogs';
+	import { Button } from '$lib/components/ui/button';
+	import * as Card from '$lib/components/ui/card';
+	import { Switch } from '$lib/components/ui/switch';
+	import { ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT } from '$lib/constants';
+	import type { Backend, BackendProtocol } from '$lib/types';
+
+	const PROTOCOL_LABELS: Record<BackendProtocol, string> = {
+		anthropic: 'Anthropic',
+		'llama.cpp': 'llama.cpp',
+		openai: 'OpenAI'
+	};
+
+	interface Props {
+		backend: Backend;
+		isLocal?: boolean;
+		onDelete?: () => void;
+		onEdit?: () => void;
+		onToggle?: (enabled: boolean) => void;
+	}
+
+	let { backend, isLocal = false, onDelete, onEdit, onToggle }: Props = $props();
+
+	let showDelete = $state(false);
+	let protocolLabel = $derived(PROTOCOL_LABELS[backend.protocol]);
+	let displayUrl = $derived(backend.baseUrl || 'This server');
+</script>
+
+<Card.Root class="!gap-3 bg-muted/30 p-4">
+	<div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-3">
+		<div class="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
+			<Server class={ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} />
+
+			<div class="min-w-0">
+				<p class="truncate text-sm font-medium">{backend.name}</p>
+
+				<p class="truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">{displayUrl}</p>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+
+		<span class="shrink-0 rounded-md border px-2 py-0.5 text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground">
+			{protocolLabel}
+		</span>
+	</div>
+
+	<div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+		{#if isLocal}
+			<span class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Built-in</span>
+		{:else}
+			<div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+				<Switch checked={backend.enabled} onCheckedChange={(value) => onToggle?.(value)} />
+
+				<span class="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+					{backend.enabled ? 'Enabled' : 'Disabled'}
+				</span>
+			</div>
+
+			<div class="flex items-center gap-1">
+				<Button aria-label="Edit backend" onclick={() => onEdit?.()} size="sm" variant="ghost">
+					<Pencil class="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+				</Button>
+
+				<Button
+					aria-label="Delete backend"
+					onclick={() => (showDelete = true)}
+					size="sm"
+					variant="ghost"
+				>
+					<Trash2 class="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+				</Button>
+			</div>
+		{/if}
+	</div>
+</Card.Root>
+
+<DialogConfirmation
+	bind:open={showDelete}
+	confirmText="Delete"
+	description="This removes the backend and its stored API key."
+	onCancel={() => (showDelete = false)}
+	onConfirm={() => {
+		showDelete = false;
+		onDelete?.();
+	}}
+	title="Delete backend?"
+	variant="destructive"
+/>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/BackendForm.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/BackendForm.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..641e217b50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/BackendForm.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import * as Collapsible from '$lib/components/ui/collapsible';
+	import { Input } from '$lib/components/ui/input';
+	import * as Select from '$lib/components/ui/select';
+	import { DEFAULT_BACKEND_CHAT_PATH, DEFAULT_BACKEND_MODELS_PATH } from '$lib/constants';
+	import type { Backend, BackendProtocol } from '$lib/types';
+
+	const PROTOCOL_OPTIONS: Array<{ label: string; value: BackendProtocol }> = [
+		{ label: 'OpenAI-compatible', value: 'openai' },
+		{ label: 'Anthropic-compatible', value: 'anthropic' },
+		{ label: 'llama.cpp (llama-server)', value: 'llama.cpp' }
+	];
+
+	interface Props {
+		backend: Backend;
+		id: string;
+		onChange: (patch: Partial<Backend>) => void;
+		urlError?: string | null;
+	}
+
+	let { backend, id, onChange, urlError = null }: Props = $props();
+
+	let showAdvanced = $state(false);
+
+	let protocolLabel = $derived(
+		PROTOCOL_OPTIONS.find((option) => option.value === backend.protocol)?.label ?? ''
+	);
+	let isAnthropic = $derived(backend.protocol === 'anthropic');
+</script>
+
+<div class="grid gap-2">
+	<div>
+		<label class="mb-2 block text-xs font-medium select-none" for="backend-url-{id}">
+			Base URL <span class="text-destructive">*</span>
+		</label>
+
+		<Input
+			class={urlError ? 'border-destructive' : ''}
+			id="backend-url-{id}"
+			oninput={(e) => onChange({ baseUrl: e.currentTarget.value })}
+			placeholder="https://api.example.com"
+			type="url"
+			value={backend.baseUrl}
+		/>
+
+		{#if urlError}
+			<p class="mt-1.5 text-xs text-destructive">{urlError}</p>
+		{/if}
+	</div>
+
+	<div>
+		<label class="mb-2 block text-xs font-medium select-none" for="backend-name-{id}">
+			Display name
+		</label>
+
+		<Input
+			id="backend-name-{id}"
+			oninput={(e) => onChange({ name: e.currentTarget.value })}
+			placeholder="Name shown in the model selector"
+			type="text"
+			value={backend.name}
+		/>
+	</div>
+
+	<div>
+		<span class="mb-2 block text-xs font-medium select-none">API format</span>
+
+		<Select.Root
+			onValueChange={(value) => onChange({ protocol: value as BackendProtocol })}
+			type="single"
+			value={backend.protocol}
+		>
+			<Select.Trigger class="w-full">{protocolLabel}</Select.Trigger>
+
+			<Select.Content>
+				{#each PROTOCOL_OPTIONS as option (option.value)}
+					<Select.Item label={option.label} value={option.value}>{option.label}</Select.Item>
+				{/each}
+			</Select.Content>
+		</Select.Root>
+	</div>
+
+	<div>
+		<label class="mb-2 block text-xs font-medium select-none" for="backend-key-{id}">
+			API key
+		</label>
+
+		<Input
+			autocomplete="off"
+			id="backend-key-{id}"
+			oninput={(e) => onChange({ apiKey: e.currentTarget.value || undefined })}
+			placeholder="Optional"
+			type="password"
+			value={backend.apiKey ?? ''}
+		/>
+
+		<p class="mt-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+			{#if isAnthropic}
+				Sent as the x-api-key header.
+			{:else}
+				Sent as a Bearer token.
+			{/if}
+		</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<Collapsible.Root bind:open={showAdvanced}>
+		<Collapsible.Trigger
+			class="flex items-center gap-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground select-none hover:text-foreground"
+		>
+			{#if showAdvanced}
+				<ChevronDown class="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+			{:else}
+				<ChevronRight class="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+			{/if}
+
+			Advanced
+		</Collapsible.Trigger>
+
+		<Collapsible.Content>
+			<div class="mt-3 grid gap-4">
+				<div>
+					<label class="mb-2 block text-xs font-medium select-none" for="backend-chat-path-{id}">
+						Chat completions path
+					</label>
+
+					<Input
+						id="backend-chat-path-{id}"
+						oninput={(e) => onChange({ chatPath: e.currentTarget.value || undefined })}
+						placeholder={DEFAULT_BACKEND_CHAT_PATH}
+						type="text"
+						value={backend.chatPath ?? ''}
+					/>
+				</div>
+
+				<div>
+					<label class="mb-2 block text-xs font-medium select-none" for="backend-models-path-{id}">
+						Models path
+					</label>
+
+					<Input
+						id="backend-models-path-{id}"
+						oninput={(e) => onChange({ modelsPath: e.currentTarget.value || undefined })}
+						placeholder={DEFAULT_BACKEND_MODELS_PATH}
+						type="text"
+						value={backend.modelsPath ?? ''}
+					/>
+				</div>
+			</div>
+		</Collapsible.Content>
+	</Collapsible.Root>
+</div>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/DialogBackendForm.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/DialogBackendForm.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a7e437b5a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/DialogBackendForm.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import BackendForm from './BackendForm.svelte';
+	import { CheckCircle2, Loader2, XCircle } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { Button } from '$lib/components/ui/button';
+	import * as Dialog from '$lib/components/ui/dialog';
+	import { BACKEND_ID_PREFIX, BACKEND_PRESETS } from '$lib/constants';
+	import { BackendsService } from '$lib/services';
+	import type { BackendTestResult } from '$lib/services/backends.service';
+	import { backendsStore } from '$lib/stores';
+	import type { Backend, BackendPreset } from '$lib/types';
+	import { uuid } from '$lib/utils';
+
+	interface Props {
+		backend?: Backend | null;
+		open?: boolean;
+		onOpenChange?: (open: boolean) => void;
+	}
+
+	let { backend = null, onOpenChange, open = $bindable(false) }: Props = $props();
+
+	let draft = $state<Backend>(createBackend());
+	let selectedPresetId = $state<string | null>(null);
+	let testResult = $state<BackendTestResult | null>(null);
+	let testing = $state(false);
+
+	let isEdit = $derived(backend !== null);
+	let urlError = $derived.by(() => {
+		const url = draft.baseUrl.trim();
+
+		if (!url) return 'Base URL is required';
+
+		try {
+			new URL(url);
+
+			return null;
+		} catch {
+			return 'Invalid URL format';
+		}
+	});
+	let canSave = $derived(!urlError && draft.name.trim().length > 0);
+
+	// reset the draft each time the dialog opens
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (!open) return;
+
+		draft = backend ? { ...backend } : createBackend();
+		selectedPresetId = null;
+		testResult = null;
+		testing = false;
+	});
+
+	function createBackend(): Backend {
+		return {
+			baseUrl: '',
+			enabled: true,
+			id: uuid() || `${BACKEND_ID_PREFIX}-${Date.now()}`,
+			name: '',
+			protocol: 'openai'
+		};
+	}
+
+	function applyPreset(preset: BackendPreset) {
+		selectedPresetId = preset.id;
+		draft = {
+			...draft,
+			baseUrl: preset.baseUrl,
+			chatPath: preset.chatPath,
+			modelsPath: preset.modelsPath,
+			name: preset.id === 'custom' ? '' : preset.name,
+			protocol: preset.protocol
+		};
+		testResult = null;
+	}
+
+	function handleChange(patch: Partial<Backend>) {
+		draft = { ...draft, ...patch };
+		testResult = null;
+	}
+
+	function handleOpenChange(value: boolean) {
+		open = value;
+		onOpenChange?.(value);
+	}
+
+	async function handleTest() {
+		if (urlError) return;
+
+		testing = true;
+		testResult = null;
+
+		try {
+			testResult = await BackendsService.test(draft);
+		} finally {
+			testing = false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	function handleSave() {
+		if (!canSave) return;
+
+		const next: Backend = { ...draft, name: draft.name.trim() || hostOf(draft.baseUrl) };
+
+		if (isEdit && backend) {
+			backendsStore.updateBackend(backend.id, next);
+		} else {
+			backendsStore.addBackend(next);
+		}
+
+		handleOpenChange(false);
+	}
+
+	function handleSubmit(event: SubmitEvent) {
+		event.preventDefault();
+		handleSave();
+	}
+
+	function hostOf(url: string): string {
+		try {
+			return new URL(url).host;
+		} catch {
+			return url;
+		}
+	}
+</script>
+
+<Dialog.Root onOpenChange={handleOpenChange} {open}>
+	<Dialog.Content class="max-w-2xl!">
+		<Dialog.Header>
+			<Dialog.Title>{isEdit ? 'Edit backend' : 'Add backend'}</Dialog.Title>
+
+			<Dialog.Description>Connect an OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible endpoint.</Dialog.Description>
+		</Dialog.Header>
+
+		{#if !isEdit}
+			<div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 pt-2 sm:grid-cols-3">
+				{#each BACKEND_PRESETS as preset (preset.id)}
+					<Button
+						class="justify-start"
+						onclick={() => applyPreset(preset)}
+						size="sm"
+						variant={selectedPresetId === preset.id ? 'secondary' : 'outline'}
+					>
+						{preset.name}
+					</Button>
+				{/each}
+			</div>
+		{/if}
+
+		<form class="contents" onsubmit={handleSubmit}>
+			<div class="py-4">
+				<BackendForm backend={draft} id="backend" onChange={handleChange} {urlError} />
+			</div>
+
+			{#if testing || testResult}
+				<div class="flex items-center gap-2 pb-2 text-xs">
+					{#if testing}
+						<Loader2 class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 animate-spin" />
+
+						<span class="text-muted-foreground">Testing connection...</span>
+					{:else if testResult?.ok}
+						<CheckCircle2 class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-emerald-500" />
+
+						<span class="text-muted-foreground">
+							Connected.
+							{testResult.modelCount ?? 0}
+							model{(testResult.modelCount ?? 0) === 1 ? '' : 's'} available.
+						</span>
+					{:else}
+						<XCircle class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-destructive" />
+
+						<span class="text-destructive">{testResult?.error ?? 'Connection failed'}</span>
+					{/if}
+				</div>
+			{/if}
+
+			<Dialog.Footer>
+				<Button onclick={() => handleOpenChange(false)} size="sm" variant="secondary">
+					Cancel
+				</Button>
+
+				<Button disabled={testing} onclick={handleTest} size="sm" type="button" variant="outline">
+					Test connection
+				</Button>
+
+				<Button disabled={!canSave} size="sm" type="submit">
+					{isEdit ? 'Save' : 'Add'}
+				</Button>
+			</Dialog.Footer>
+		</form>
+	</Dialog.Content>
+</Dialog.Root>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/SettingsBackends.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/SettingsBackends.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..abcc61a53e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/SettingsBackends.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { Plus } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { BackendCard, DialogBackendForm } from '$lib/components/app/backends';
+	import { Button } from '$lib/components/ui/button';
+	import * as Empty from '$lib/components/ui/empty';
+	import { backendsStore } from '$lib/stores';
+	import type { Backend } from '$lib/types';
+	import { fade } from 'svelte/transition';
+
+	interface Props {
+		class?: string;
+	}
+
+	let { class: className }: Props = $props();
+
+	let isAdding = $state(false);
+	let editing = $state<Backend | null>(null);
+
+	function handleAdd() {
+		editing = null;
+		isAdding = true;
+	}
+
+	function handleEdit(backend: Backend) {
+		editing = backend;
+		isAdding = true;
+	}
+
+	function handleOpenChange(open: boolean) {
+		isAdding = open;
+
+		if (!open) {
+			editing = null;
+		}
+	}
+</script>
+
+<div in:fade={{ duration: 150 }} class={['flex flex-col gap-4', className]}>
+	<DialogBackendForm bind:open={isAdding} backend={editing} onOpenChange={handleOpenChange} />
+
+	<BackendCard backend={backendsStore.local} isLocal />
+
+	{#each backendsStore.external as backend (backend.id)}
+		<BackendCard
+			{backend}
+			onDelete={() => backendsStore.removeBackend(backend.id)}
+			onEdit={() => handleEdit(backend)}
+			onToggle={(enabled) => backendsStore.updateBackend(backend.id, { enabled })}
+		/>
+	{/each}
+
+	<Empty.Root class="border">
+		<Empty.Header>
+			<Empty.Media variant="icon">
+				<Plus />
+			</Empty.Media>
+
+			<Empty.Title>Add another backend</Empty.Title>
+
+			<Empty.Description>Connect an OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible endpoint.</Empty.Description>
+		</Empty.Header>
+
+		<Empty.Content>
+			<Button onclick={handleAdd} size="sm">
+				<Plus />
+
+				Add Backend
+			</Button>
+		</Empty.Content>
+	</Empty.Root>
+</div>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..809cb6b3c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/backends/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+export { default as BackendCard } from './BackendCard.svelte';
+export { default as BackendForm } from './BackendForm.svelte';
+export { default as DialogBackendForm } from './DialogBackendForm.svelte';
+export { default as SettingsBackends } from './SettingsBackends.svelte';
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/index.ts
index 4914c743a5..aa42a18f15 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/index.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 export * from './actions';
+export * from './backends';
 export * from './badges';
 export * from './chat';
 export * from './content';
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/settings/SettingsChat/SettingsChat.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/settings/SettingsChat/SettingsChat.svelte
index 8793900759..670a5ce769 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/settings/SettingsChat/SettingsChat.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/settings/SettingsChat/SettingsChat.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { RefreshCw } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { SettingsBackends } from '$lib/components/app/backends';
 	import {
 		SettingsChatDesktopSidebar,
 		SettingsChatFields,
@@ -151,6 +152,8 @@
 						<SettingsChatToolsTab />
 					{:else if currentSection.slug === SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS.IMPORT_EXPORT}
 						<SettingsChatImportExportTab />
+					{:else if currentSection.slug === SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS.BACKENDS}
+						<SettingsBackends />
 					{:else if currentSection.fields}
 						<div class="space-y-6">
 							<SettingsChatFields
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/settings.constants.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/settings.constants.ts
index 29f83abd50..af7f63eeca 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/settings.constants.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/constants/settings.constants.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
 	Monitor,
 	Moon,
 	PencilRuler,
+	Server,
 	SlidersVertical,
 	Sun
 } from '@lucide/svelte';
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ import type {
 /** Settings sections — slug is the routing identity, title is the display label. */
 export const SETTINGS_SECTIONS = {
 	AGENTIC: { slug: 'agentic', title: 'Agentic' },
+	BACKENDS: { slug: 'backends', title: 'Backends' },
 	DEVELOPER: { slug: 'developer', title: 'Developer' },
 	DISPLAY: { slug: 'display', title: 'Display' },
 	GENERAL: { slug: 'general', title: 'General' },
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_SECTIONS = {
 
 export const SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS = {
 	AGENTIC: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.AGENTIC.slug,
+	BACKENDS: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.BACKENDS.slug,
 	DEVELOPER: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.DEVELOPER.slug,
 	DISPLAY: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.DISPLAY.slug,
 	GENERAL: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.GENERAL.slug,
@@ -48,6 +51,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS = {
 
 export const SETTINGS_SECTION_TITLES = {
 	AGENTIC: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.AGENTIC.title,
+	BACKENDS: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.BACKENDS.title,
 	DEVELOPER: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.DEVELOPER.title,
 	DISPLAY: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.DISPLAY.title,
 	GENERAL: SETTINGS_SECTIONS.GENERAL.title,
@@ -188,7 +192,15 @@ export const SETTINGS_REGISTRY: SettingsSectionEntry[] = [
 				key: SETTINGS_KEYS.MAX_IMAGE_RESOLUTION,
 				label: 'Maximum image resolution (megapixels)',
 				type: SettingsFieldType.INPUT
-			},
+			}
+		],
+		slug: SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS.GENERAL,
+		title: SETTINGS_SECTION_TITLES.GENERAL
+	},
+	// Backends (non-UI config object)
+	{
+		icon: Server,
+		settings: [
 			{
 				defaultValue: '[]',
 				help: 'Configure external API backends as a JSON list. The local backend is always available.',
@@ -198,8 +210,8 @@ export const SETTINGS_REGISTRY: SettingsSectionEntry[] = [
 				type: SettingsFieldType.INPUT
 			}
 		],
-		slug: SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS.GENERAL,
-		title: SETTINGS_SECTION_TITLES.GENERAL
+		slug: SETTINGS_SECTION_SLUGS.BACKENDS,
+		title: SETTINGS_SECTION_TITLES.BACKENDS
 	},
 	// Display
 	{