diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/routes/model_connections_routes.py b/surfsense_backend/app/routes/model_connections_routes.py
index 84e9b830d..b7edfcc77 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/routes/model_connections_routes.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/routes/model_connections_routes.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ from app.schemas import (
     ConnectionCreate,
     ConnectionRead,
     ConnectionUpdate,
-    ModelCreate,
     ModelPreviewRead,
     ModelProviderRead,
     ModelRead,
@@ -618,49 +617,6 @@ async def discover_connection_models(
     return [_model_read(model) for model in conn.models]
 
 
-@router.post("/model-connections/{connection_id}/models", response_model=ModelRead)
-async def add_manual_model(
-    connection_id: int,
-    data: ModelCreate,
-    session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_async_session),
-    auth: AuthContext = Depends(get_auth_context),
-):
-    conn = await _load_connection(session, connection_id)
-    await _assert_connection_access(
-        session, auth, conn, Permission.LLM_CONFIGS_UPDATE.value
-    )
-
-    model_id = data.model_id.strip()
-    if not model_id:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="model_id is required")
-    if any(existing.model_id == model_id for existing in conn.models):
-        raise HTTPException(
-            status_code=400, detail="Model already exists on this connection"
-        )
-
-    capabilities = derive_capabilities(conn, model_id)
-    model = Model(
-        connection_id=conn.id,
-        model_id=model_id,
-        display_name=data.display_name or None,
-        source=ModelSource.MANUAL,
-        capabilities_override={},
-        enabled=True,
-        catalog={},
-    )
-    _apply_model_facts(model, capabilities)
-    session.add(model)
-    await session.commit()
-    await session.refresh(model)
-    conn = await _load_connection(session, connection_id)
-    await _default_unset_roles(session, conn, list(conn.models))
-    if conn.search_space_id is not None:
-        await _clear_invalid_roles(session, conn.search_space_id)
-    await session.commit()
-    await session.refresh(model)
-    return _model_read(model)
-
-
 @router.patch(
     "/model-connections/{connection_id}/models", response_model=list[ModelRead]
 )
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/__init__.py b/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/__init__.py
index f111f0226..5f5252fbd 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/__init__.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/__init__.py
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ from .model_connections import (
     ConnectionCreate,
     ConnectionRead,
     ConnectionUpdate,
-    ModelCreate,
     ModelPreviewRead,
     ModelProviderRead,
     ModelRead,
@@ -203,7 +202,6 @@ __all__ = [
     "MembershipRead",
     "MembershipReadWithUser",
     "MembershipUpdate",
-    "ModelCreate",
     "ModelPreviewRead",
     "ModelProviderRead",
     "ModelRead",
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/model_connections.py b/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/model_connections.py
index 0eec666c1..0f656dad3 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/model_connections.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/schemas/model_connections.py
@@ -93,17 +93,6 @@ class ConnectionUpdate(BaseModel):
     enabled: bool | None = None
 
 
-class ModelCreate(BaseModel):
-    """Manually register a model id on a connection.
-
-    For providers without a usable ``/models`` endpoint (Perplexity, MiniMax,
-    Azure deployments, etc.) or to pin a single model from a noisy provider.
-    """
-
-    model_id: str = Field(..., max_length=255)
-    display_name: str | None = Field(None, max_length=255)
-
-
 class ModelUpdate(BaseModel):
     display_name: str | None = Field(None, max_length=255)
     enabled: bool | None = None
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_connection_service.py b/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_connection_service.py
index cdfd1d725..be442bcb2 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_connection_service.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_connection_service.py
@@ -202,11 +202,6 @@ def _discovery_error_message(conn: Connection, exc: httpx.HTTPError) -> str:
     return _docker_hint(base_url, exc)
 
 
-def _allowlist(conn: Connection) -> set[str]:
-    raw = (conn.extra or {}).get("model_ids") or []
-    return {str(item).strip() for item in raw if str(item).strip()}
-
-
 def _litellm_info(model_string: str, model_id: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
     with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
         info = litellm.get_model_info(model=model_string)
@@ -438,7 +433,6 @@ async def _discover_bedrock_models(conn: Connection) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
 
 
 async def discover_models(conn: Connection) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
-    allowlist = _allowlist(conn)
     spec = spec_for(conn.provider)
 
     try:
@@ -459,8 +453,6 @@ async def discover_models(conn: Connection) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     except httpx.HTTPError as exc:
         raise ModelDiscoveryError(_discovery_error_message(conn, exc)) from exc
 
-    if allowlist:
-        results = [item for item in results if item["model_id"] in allowlist]
     return results
 
 
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_resolver.py b/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_resolver.py
index f31b658a4..590290b0c 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_resolver.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/services/model_resolver.py
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ def to_litellm(
     kwargs: dict[str, Any] = {}
     if api_key:
         kwargs["api_key"] = api_key
+    elif provider == "lm_studio":
+        # LiteLLM's OpenAI-compatible adapter expects an api_key value even
+        # when LM Studio accepts unauthenticated local requests.
+        kwargs["api_key"] = "not-needed"
 
     prefix = spec.litellm_prefix or str(provider)
     model_string = f"{prefix}/{model_id}" if prefix else model_id
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/services/test_model_connections.py b/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/services/test_model_connections.py
index b4e7c18d7..efc056465 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/services/test_model_connections.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/services/test_model_connections.py
@@ -64,6 +64,22 @@ def test_openai_compatible_resolver_uses_explicit_api_base() -> None:
     assert ensure_v1("http://example.com/v1") == "http://example.com/v1"
 
 
+def test_lm_studio_resolver_supplies_dummy_api_key_when_empty() -> None:
+    model, kwargs = to_litellm(
+        {
+            "provider": "lm_studio",
+            "base_url": "http://host.docker.internal:1234/v1",
+            "api_key": None,
+            "extra": {},
+        },
+        "tinyllama-1.1b-chat-v0.6",
+    )
+
+    assert model == "openai/tinyllama-1.1b-chat-v0.6"
+    assert kwargs["api_base"] == "http://host.docker.internal:1234/v1"
+    assert kwargs["api_key"] == "not-needed"
+
+
 def test_ollama_resolver_uses_native_api_base() -> None:
     model, kwargs = to_litellm(
         {
diff --git a/surfsense_web/atoms/model-connections/model-connections-mutation.atoms.ts b/surfsense_web/atoms/model-connections/model-connections-mutation.atoms.ts
index f00bf76f9..e9ff559c0 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/atoms/model-connections/model-connections-mutation.atoms.ts
+++ b/surfsense_web/atoms/model-connections/model-connections-mutation.atoms.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import type {
 	ConnectionCreateRequest,
 	ConnectionRead,
 	ConnectionUpdateRequest,
-	ModelCreateRequest,
 	ModelPreviewRead,
 	ModelRead,
 	ModelRoles,
@@ -95,13 +94,7 @@ export const verifyModelConnectionMutationAtom = atomWithMutation((get) => {
 			if (result.ok) {
 				toast.success("Connection verified");
 			} else {
-				// Non-fatal: many providers lack a /models endpoint yet still serve
-				// chat. Guide the user to add model IDs manually instead of alarming.
-				toast.warning(
-					result.message
-						? `${result.message} Chat may still work — add model IDs manually.`
-						: "Couldn't list models. Chat may still work — add model IDs manually."
-				);
+				toast.warning(result.message || "Couldn't verify this connection.");
 			}
 			invalidateModelConnections(searchSpaceId);
 		},
@@ -148,20 +141,6 @@ export const testPreviewModelMutationAtom = atomWithMutation(() => {
 	};
 });
 
-export const addManualModelMutationAtom = atomWithMutation((get) => {
-	const searchSpaceId = Number(get(activeSearchSpaceIdAtom));
-	return {
-		mutationKey: ["models", "add-manual"],
-		mutationFn: ({ connectionId, data }: { connectionId: number; data: ModelCreateRequest }) =>
-			modelConnectionsApiService.addManualModel(connectionId, data),
-		onSuccess: () => {
-			toast.success("Model added");
-			invalidateModelConnections(searchSpaceId);
-		},
-		onError: (error: Error) => toast.error(error.message || "Failed to add model"),
-	};
-});
-
 export const updateModelMutationAtom = atomWithMutation((get) => {
 	const searchSpaceId = Number(get(activeSearchSpaceIdAtom));
 	return {
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/bedrock-connect-form.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/bedrock-connect-form.tsx
index f76308421..0da545bd8 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/bedrock-connect-form.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/bedrock-connect-form.tsx
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function BedrockConnectForm({ onDraftChange }: ProviderConnectFormProps)
 				</p>
 			) : null}
 			<p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-				Add Bedrock model IDs from the provider&apos;s settings after connecting.
+				After entering credentials, refresh models to discover the Bedrock catalog for this region.
 			</p>
 		</div>
 	);
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/connection-settings-dialog.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/connection-settings-dialog.tsx
index 1f16c3bd0..0120e28ed 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/connection-settings-dialog.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/connection-settings-dialog.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { useAtomValue } from "jotai";
 import { Eye, EyeOff, Settings } from "lucide-react";
 import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
 import {
-	addManualModelMutationAtom,
 	bulkUpdateModelsMutationAtom,
 	discoverConnectionModelsMutationAtom,
 	testPreviewModelMutationAtom,
@@ -50,26 +49,17 @@ export function ConnectionSettingsDialog({
 	const discoverModels = useAtomValue(discoverConnectionModelsMutationAtom);
 	const testPreviewModel = useAtomValue(testPreviewModelMutationAtom);
 	const updateConnection = useAtomValue(updateModelConnectionMutationAtom);
-	const addManualModel = useAtomValue(addManualModelMutationAtom);
 	const bulkUpdateModels = useAtomValue(bulkUpdateModelsMutationAtom);
 
-	const allowlist = Array.isArray(connection.extra?.model_ids)
-		? (connection.extra.model_ids as string[])
-		: [];
 	const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);
 	const [baseUrlDraft, setBaseUrlDraft] = useState(connection.base_url ?? "");
 	const [apiKeyDraft, setApiKeyDraft] = useState("");
 	const [showApiKey, setShowApiKey] = useState(false);
-	const [allowlistText, setAllowlistText] = useState(allowlist.join(", "));
 	const [isSavingConnectionSettings, setIsSavingConnectionSettings] = useState(false);
 	const [draftEnabledModelIds, setDraftEnabledModelIds] = useState(() =>
 		enabledModelIds(connection.models)
 	);
 
-	const isLocal =
-		connection.provider === "ollama_chat" ||
-		connection.provider === "lm_studio" ||
-		!connection.base_url?.startsWith("https");
 	const hasConnectionChanges =
 		baseUrlDraft.trim() !== (connection.base_url ?? "") ||
 		apiKeyDraft.trim() !== (connection.api_key ?? "");
@@ -93,7 +83,6 @@ export function ConnectionSettingsDialog({
 			setBaseUrlDraft(connection.base_url ?? "");
 			setApiKeyDraft(connection.api_key ?? "");
 			setShowApiKey(false);
-			setAllowlistText(allowlist.join(", "));
 			setIsSavingConnectionSettings(false);
 			setDraftEnabledModelIds(enabledModelIds(connection.models));
 		}
@@ -168,17 +157,6 @@ export function ConnectionSettingsDialog({
 		}
 	}
 
-	function saveAllowlist() {
-		const ids = allowlistText
-			.split(",")
-			.map((value) => value.trim())
-			.filter(Boolean);
-		updateConnection.mutate({
-			id: connection.id,
-			data: { extra: { ...(connection.extra ?? {}), model_ids: ids } },
-		});
-	}
-
 	function handleToggleModel(model: SelectableModel, enabled: boolean) {
 		if (typeof model.id !== "number") return;
 		const modelId = model.id;
@@ -276,41 +254,15 @@ export function ConnectionSettingsDialog({
 							</div>
 						</div>
 
-						{!isLocal ? (
-							<div className="space-y-2">
-								<Label className="text-xs">Model IDs filter (optional)</Label>
-								<div className="flex gap-2">
-									<Input
-										value={allowlistText}
-										onChange={(event) => setAllowlistText(event.target.value)}
-										placeholder="Comma-separated, e.g. anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5, google/gemini-2.5-pro"
-									/>
-									<Button size="sm" onClick={saveAllowlist} disabled={updateConnection.isPending}>
-										Save filter
-									</Button>
-								</div>
-								<p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-									Leave empty to discover all models. Recommended for providers with large catalogs.
-								</p>
-							</div>
-						) : null}
-
 						<Separator className="bg-muted-foreground/20" />
 
 						<ModelsSelectionPanel
 							models={draftModels}
 							isRefreshing={discoverModels.isPending}
-							isAddingManual={addManualModel.isPending}
 							isUpdatingModel={isSavingConnectionSettings}
 							isBulkUpdating={isSavingConnectionSettings || bulkUpdateModels.isPending}
 							refreshLabel={`Refresh ${providerLabel} models`}
 							onRefresh={() => discoverModels.mutate(connection.id)}
-							onAddManual={(modelId) =>
-								addManualModel.mutate({
-									connectionId: connection.id,
-									data: { model_id: modelId },
-								})
-							}
 							onToggleModel={handleToggleModel}
 							onBulkToggle={handleBulkToggle}
 						/>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/model-provider-connections-panel.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/model-provider-connections-panel.tsx
index a703ab1c8..13fd39894 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/model-provider-connections-panel.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/model-provider-connections-panel.tsx
@@ -201,22 +201,6 @@ export function ModelProviderConnectionsPanel({
 		);
 	}
 
-	function addConnectModel(modelId: string) {
-		setConnectModels((current) => {
-			if (current.some((model) => model.model_id === modelId)) return current;
-			return [
-				...current,
-				{
-					model_id: modelId,
-					display_name: modelId,
-					source: "MANUAL",
-					enabled: true,
-					metadata: {},
-				},
-			];
-		});
-	}
-
 	function toggleConnectModel(model: SelectableModel, enabled: boolean) {
 		setConnectModels((current) =>
 			current.map((item) => (item.model_id === model.model_id ? { ...item, enabled } : item))
@@ -277,7 +261,6 @@ export function ModelProviderConnectionsPanel({
 				previewModels={connectModels}
 				isPreviewingModels={previewModels.isPending}
 				onPreviewModels={refreshConnectModels}
-				onAddPreviewModel={addConnectModel}
 				onTogglePreviewModel={toggleConnectModel}
 				onBulkTogglePreviewModels={bulkToggleConnectModels}
 			/>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/models-selection-panel.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/models-selection-panel.tsx
index 3c6990afb..b6258b7b2 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/models-selection-panel.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/models-selection-panel.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 import { RefreshCw } from "lucide-react";
 import { useState } from "react";
-import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Checkbox } from "@/components/ui/checkbox";
-import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
-import { Spinner } from "@/components/ui/spinner";
 import {
 	capability,
 	capabilityLabels,
@@ -18,14 +15,12 @@ interface ModelsSelectionPanelProps {
 	models: SelectableModel[];
 	description?: string;
 	emptyMessage?: string;
-	manualInputPlaceholder?: string;
 	refreshLabel?: string;
 	isRefreshing?: boolean;
-	isAddingManual?: boolean;
+	isRefreshDisabled?: boolean;
 	isUpdatingModel?: boolean;
 	isBulkUpdating?: boolean;
 	onRefresh?: () => void;
-	onAddManual?: (modelId: string) => void;
 	onToggleModel?: (model: SelectableModel, enabled: boolean) => void;
 	onBulkToggle?: (models: SelectableModel[], enabled: boolean) => void;
 }
@@ -34,18 +29,15 @@ export function ModelsSelectionPanel({
 	models,
 	description = "Select models to make available for this provider.",
 	emptyMessage = "No models available.",
-	manualInputPlaceholder = "Add a model ID manually",
 	refreshLabel = "Refresh models",
 	isRefreshing = false,
-	isAddingManual = false,
+	isRefreshDisabled = false,
 	isUpdatingModel = false,
 	isBulkUpdating = false,
 	onRefresh,
-	onAddManual,
 	onToggleModel,
 	onBulkToggle,
 }: ModelsSelectionPanelProps) {
-	const [manualModelId, setManualModelId] = useState("");
 	const [modelFilter, setModelFilter] = useState<ModelCapabilityFilter | null>(null);
 
 	const filteredModels = modelFilter
@@ -54,13 +46,6 @@ export function ModelsSelectionPanel({
 	const allFilteredModelsEnabled =
 		filteredModels.length > 0 && filteredModels.every((model) => model.enabled);
 
-	function addModel() {
-		const modelId = manualModelId.trim();
-		if (!modelId || !onAddManual) return;
-		onAddManual(modelId);
-		setManualModelId("");
-	}
-
 	function toggleFilteredModels() {
 		const nextEnabled = !allFilteredModelsEnabled;
 		const changedModels = filteredModels.filter((model) => model.enabled !== nextEnabled);
@@ -91,7 +76,7 @@ export function ModelsSelectionPanel({
 							size="icon"
 							type="button"
 							onClick={onRefresh}
-							disabled={isRefreshing}
+							disabled={isRefreshing || isRefreshDisabled}
 							aria-label={refreshLabel}
 						>
 							<RefreshCw className={`h-4 w-4 ${isRefreshing ? "animate-spin" : ""}`} />
@@ -100,32 +85,6 @@ export function ModelsSelectionPanel({
 				</div>
 			</div>
 
-			{onAddManual ? (
-				<div className="flex gap-2">
-					<Input
-						value={manualModelId}
-						onChange={(event) => setManualModelId(event.target.value)}
-						onKeyDown={(event) => {
-							if (event.key === "Enter") {
-								event.preventDefault();
-								addModel();
-							}
-						}}
-						placeholder={manualInputPlaceholder}
-					/>
-					<Button
-						size="sm"
-						type="button"
-						onClick={addModel}
-						disabled={isAddingManual || !manualModelId.trim()}
-						className="relative min-w-[88px]"
-					>
-						<span className={isAddingManual ? "opacity-0" : ""}>Add model</span>
-						{isAddingManual ? <Spinner size="xs" className="absolute" /> : null}
-					</Button>
-				</div>
-			) : null}
-
 			{models.length > 0 ? (
 				<div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
 					<span className="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground">Filter models</span>
@@ -179,11 +138,6 @@ export function ModelsSelectionPanel({
 							<div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
 								<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-medium">
 									<span className="truncate">{modelLabel(model)}</span>
-									{model.source === "MANUAL" ? (
-										<Badge variant="outline" className="text-[10px]">
-											manual
-										</Badge>
-									) : null}
 								</div>
 								<div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
 									{capabilityLabels(model) || "No discovered capabilities"}
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/provider-connect-dialog.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/provider-connect-dialog.tsx
index 2eee2cf8c..2fba3bcbf 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/provider-connect-dialog.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/provider-connect-dialog.tsx
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ interface ProviderConnectDialogProps {
 	previewModels?: SelectableModel[];
 	isPreviewingModels?: boolean;
 	onPreviewModels?: (draft: ConnectionDraft) => void;
-	onAddPreviewModel?: (modelId: string) => void;
 	onTogglePreviewModel?: (model: SelectableModel, enabled: boolean) => void;
 	onBulkTogglePreviewModels?: (models: SelectableModel[], enabled: boolean) => void;
 }
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ export function ProviderConnectDialog({
 	previewModels = [],
 	isPreviewingModels = false,
 	onPreviewModels,
-	onAddPreviewModel,
 	onTogglePreviewModel,
 	onBulkTogglePreviewModels,
 }: ProviderConnectDialogProps) {
@@ -94,7 +92,8 @@ export function ProviderConnectDialog({
 		return "Select the models to enable for this provider";
 	})();
 
-	const canRefreshModels = !isAzure && !isVertex && (!isBedrock || canSubmit);
+	const supportsModelRefresh = !isAzure && !isVertex;
+	const canRefreshModels = supportsModelRefresh && canSubmit;
 	const hasEnabledModel =
 		previewModels.some((model) => model.enabled) || Boolean(currentDraft.seedModelId);
 	const canConnect = canSubmit && hasEnabledModel;
@@ -130,18 +129,22 @@ export function ProviderConnectDialog({
 						<DefaultConnectForm {...formProps} />
 					)}
 
-					<Separator className="bg-muted-foreground/20" />
+					{!isAzure ? (
+						<>
+							<Separator className="bg-muted-foreground/20" />
 
-					<ModelsSelectionPanel
-						models={previewModels}
-						description={modelDescription}
-						isRefreshing={isPreviewingModels}
-						refreshLabel={`Refresh ${meta.name} models`}
-						onRefresh={canRefreshModels ? () => onPreviewModels?.(currentDraft) : undefined}
-						onAddManual={onAddPreviewModel}
-						onToggleModel={onTogglePreviewModel}
-						onBulkToggle={onBulkTogglePreviewModels}
-					/>
+							<ModelsSelectionPanel
+								models={previewModels}
+								description={modelDescription}
+								isRefreshing={isPreviewingModels}
+								isRefreshDisabled={!canRefreshModels}
+								refreshLabel={`Refresh ${meta.name} models`}
+								onRefresh={supportsModelRefresh ? () => onPreviewModels?.(currentDraft) : undefined}
+								onToggleModel={onTogglePreviewModel}
+								onBulkToggle={onBulkTogglePreviewModels}
+							/>
+						</>
+					) : null}
 				</div>
 				<ConnectFormFooter
 					onCancel={() => onOpenChange(false)}
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/vertex-connect-form.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/vertex-connect-form.tsx
index 1027742bc..3701ea14e 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/vertex-connect-form.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/settings/model-connections/vertex-connect-form.tsx
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ export function VertexConnectForm({ onDraftChange }: ProviderConnectFormProps) {
 				</div>
 			)}
 			<p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-				Add Vertex AI model IDs from the provider&apos;s settings after connecting.
+				SurfSense will show supported Vertex AI models from the provider catalog.
 			</p>
 		</div>
 	);
diff --git a/surfsense_web/contracts/types/model-connections.types.ts b/surfsense_web/contracts/types/model-connections.types.ts
index 0f0c7591e..73dff23eb 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/contracts/types/model-connections.types.ts
+++ b/surfsense_web/contracts/types/model-connections.types.ts
@@ -74,11 +74,6 @@ export const connectionUpdateRequest = z.object({
 	enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
 });
 
-export const modelCreateRequest = z.object({
-	model_id: z.string().min(1),
-	display_name: z.string().nullable().optional(),
-});
-
 export const modelUpdateRequest = z.object({
 	display_name: z.string().nullable().optional(),
 	enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
@@ -135,7 +130,6 @@ export type ConnectionRead = z.infer<typeof connectionRead>;
 export type ConnectionCreateRequest = z.infer<typeof connectionCreateRequest>;
 export type ModelTestPreviewRequest = z.infer<typeof modelTestPreviewRequest>;
 export type ConnectionUpdateRequest = z.infer<typeof connectionUpdateRequest>;
-export type ModelCreateRequest = z.infer<typeof modelCreateRequest>;
 export type ModelUpdateRequest = z.infer<typeof modelUpdateRequest>;
 export type ModelsBulkUpdateRequest = z.infer<typeof modelsBulkUpdateRequest>;
 export type ModelRoles = z.infer<typeof modelRoles>;
diff --git a/surfsense_web/lib/apis/model-connections-api.service.ts b/surfsense_web/lib/apis/model-connections-api.service.ts
index c69bcbef2..6083642f5 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/lib/apis/model-connections-api.service.ts
+++ b/surfsense_web/lib/apis/model-connections-api.service.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import {
 	connectionUpdateRequest,
 	type GlobalLlmConfigStatus,
 	globalLlmConfigStatus,
-	type ModelCreateRequest,
 	type ModelPreviewRead,
 	type ModelProviderRead,
 	type ModelRead,
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ import {
 	type ModelsBulkUpdateRequest,
 	type ModelTestPreviewRequest,
 	type ModelUpdateRequest,
-	modelCreateRequest,
 	modelListResponse,
 	modelPreviewListResponse,
 	modelProviderListResponse,
@@ -112,19 +110,6 @@ class ModelConnectionsApiService {
 		});
 	};
 
-	addManualModel = async (
-		connectionId: number,
-		request: ModelCreateRequest
-	): Promise<ModelRead> => {
-		const parsed = modelCreateRequest.safeParse(request);
-		if (!parsed.success) {
-			throw new ValidationError(parsed.error.issues.map((issue) => issue.message).join(", "));
-		}
-		return baseApiService.post(`/api/v1/model-connections/${connectionId}/models`, modelRead, {
-			body: parsed.data,
-		});
-	};
-
 	updateModel = async (id: number, request: ModelUpdateRequest): Promise<ModelRead> => {
 		const parsed = modelUpdateRequest.safeParse(request);
 		if (!parsed.success) {