|| models[0].model || 'llama3.2';
+          var modelName = flHonorModel(models, models[0].name || models[0].model || 'llama3.2', 'ollama'); // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1
           state.ollamaModel = modelName;
           var ollamaInput = document.getElementById('ollamaModel');
           if (ollamaInput) ollamaInput.value = modelName;
@@ -28374,7 +28374,7 @@ const AiSetup = (function() {
         if (data.models && data.models.length > 0) {
           // Switch to local mode
           state.isLocal = true;
-          state.ollamaModel = data.models[0].name || 'llama3.2';
+          state.ollamaModel = flHonorModel(data.models, data.models[0].name || 'llama3.2', 'ollama'); // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1
           var localToggle = document.getElementById('localToggle');
           if (localToggle) localToggle.checked = true;
           handleLocalToggle();
@@ -31651,7 +31651,7 @@ function settingsSetMode(mode) {
         var data = pick.data;
         if (data && data.models && data.models.length > 0) {
           state.isLocal = true;
-          state.ollamaModel = data.models[0].name || 'llama3.2';
+          state.ollamaModel = flHonorModel(data.models, data.models[0].name || 'llama3.2', 'ollama'); // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1
           state.provider = 'ollama';
           state.apiKey = null;
           localStorage.setItem('fl_isLocal', 'true');
@@ -31684,6 +31684,7 @@ function settingsSetMode(mode) {
       } else {
         var lmData = pick.data;
         var firstModel = (lmData && lmData.data && lmData.data[0]) ? lmData.data[0].id : 'local-model';
+        firstModel = flHonorModel(lmData && lmData.data, firstModel, 'lmstudio'); // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1
         state.isLocal = true;
         state.ollamaModel = firstModel;
         state.provider = 'lmstudio';
@@ -34552,7 +34553,13 @@ window.FLBoxPointer = (function() {
       }
     } catch (e3) {}
     if (models && models.length && typeof FLActiveModel !== 'undefined' && FLActiveModel.set) {
-      try { FLActiveModel.set(models[0], (typeof state !== 'undefined' && state.provider) || 'ollama', 'user'); } catch (e4) {}
+      // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: keep the person's model when it is here; otherwise
+      // the first model is an automatic pick ('auto', never 'user'). Was: set(models[0], ..., 'user').
+      try {
+        var provA = (typeof state !== 'undefined' && state.provider) || 'ollama';
+        var hA = FLActiveModel.honor ? FLActiveModel.honor(models, models[0], provA) : { model: models[0], source: 'auto', gone: false };
+        if (!hA.gone) FLActiveModel.set(hA.model, provA, hA.source);
+      } catch (e4) {}
     }
     try {
       if (window.InferenceRouter && InferenceRouter.setStatus) InferenceRouter.setStatus(null, null, {});
@@ -34746,8 +34753,11 @@ function flTestLMStudio() {
       if (models.length > 0) {
         if (result) result.innerHTML = '<span style="color:var(--success);">\u2713 LM Studio connected! Models: ' + models.join(', ') + '</span>';
         // Auto-select the first model if user wants
+        // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: keep the person's LM Studio model when it is here;
+        // the first model is an automatic pick ('auto', never 'user'). Was: set(models[0], 'lmstudio', 'user').
         if (typeof FLActiveModel !== 'undefined') {
-          FLActiveModel.set(models[0], 'lmstudio', 'user');
+          var hL = FLActiveModel.honor ? FLActiveModel.honor(models, models[0], 'lmstudio') : { model: models[0], source: 'auto', gone: false };
+          if (!hL.gone) FLActiveModel.set(hL.model, 'lmstudio', hL.source);
         }
         if (typeof state !== 'undefined') {
           state.isLocal = true;
@@ -34826,12 +34836,14 @@ function flAutoConnect(opts) {
         window._flAutoConnected = true;
         var firstName = (models[0].name || models[0].id || 'default').split(':')[0];
         // Reuse existing activation path — do not duplicate logic
+        // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: the person's model when it is here
+        var autoName = flHonorModel(models, models[0].name || models[0].id || 'default', t.id);
         if (typeof modalActivateOllamaModel === 'function' && t.id === 'ollama') {
-          modalActivateOllamaModel(models[0].name || models[0].id || 'default');
+          modalActivateOllamaModel(autoName);
         } else {
           state.isLocal = true;
           state.provider = t.id;
-          state.ollamaModel = models[0].name || models[0].id || 'default';
+          state.ollamaModel = autoName;
           localStorage.setItem('fl_isLocal', 'true');
           localStorage.setItem('fl_provider', t.id);
           localStorage.setItem('fl_ollamaModel', state.ollamaModel);
@@ -34880,6 +34892,10 @@ async function flProbeLocalAI() {
     var data2 = await r2.json();
     var models = (data2.data || []).map(function(m) { return m.id; });
     if (models.length > 0) {
+      // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: keep the person's LM Studio model when it is here
+      var lmPick = flHonorModel(models, models[0], 'lmstudio');
+      var lmMine = (typeof FLActiveModel !== 'undefined' && FLActiveModel.isUserChosen() && FLActiveModel.get().model === lmPick);
+      if (lmPick !== models[0]) { models = [lmPick].concat(models.filter(function(x) { return x !== lmPick; })); }
       state.provider = 'lmstudio';
       state.ollamaModel = models[0];
       safeSet('fl_provider', 'lmstudio');
@@ -34887,7 +34903,7 @@ async function flProbeLocalAI() {
       if (typeof PROVIDERS !== 'undefined' && PROVIDERS.lmstudio) {
         PROVIDERS.lmstudio.url = lmsBase + '/v1/chat/completions';
       }
-      if (typeof FLActiveModel !== 'undefined') FLActiveModel.set(models[0], 'lmstudio', 'boot');
+      if (typeof FLActiveModel !== 'undefined') FLActiveModel.set(models[0], 'lmstudio', lmMine ? 'user' : 'boot');
       if (typeof updateStatus === 'function') updateStatus();
       if (typeof ModelSwitcher !== 'undefined') ModelSwitcher.updateLabel();
       showToast('\u2713 Connected to LM Studio! Using ' + models[0]);
@@ -36229,9 +36245,15 @@ window.FLActiveModel = (function() {
   var _model = null;
   var _provider = null;
   var _source = null; // 'user', 'auto', 'boot'
+  // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1 (Hypha walk 5): boot paths (the Cascade, the
+  // saved-door pointer) ran before init(), so the person's saved choice looked empty and
+  // the first model won. Now the saved choice is read the first time anyone asks.
+  var _ready = false;
+  function ensure() { if (!_ready) init(); }
 
   function set(model, provider, source) {
     if (!model) return;
+    ensure();
     _model = model;
     _provider = provider || 'ollama';
     _source = source || 'auto';
@@ -36251,17 +36273,63 @@ window.FLActiveModel = (function() {
     }
   }
 
-  function get() { return { model: _model, provider: _provider, source: _source }; }
-  function isUserChosen() { return _source === 'user'; }
+  function get() { ensure(); return { model: _model, provider: _provider, source: _source }; }
+  function isUserChosen() { ensure(); return _source === 'user'; }
+
+  // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: one guard for every path that picks a model by itself.
+  // models: names or {name|model|id}. fallback: what that path would pick. provider: its provider.
+  // Returns { model, source, gone }. The person's choice wins when it is on the list (or the list
+  // is empty: a quiet answer never replaces anything). When it is gone, noteGone() falls back and
+  // says so. An automatic pick is always 'auto', never 'user'.
+  function _names(models) {
+    return (models || []).map(function(m) { return String((m && typeof m === 'object') ? (m.name || m.model || m.id || '') : (m || '')); }).filter(Boolean);
+  }
+  function _onList(names, n) {
+    n = String(n || '');
+    if (!n) return false;
+    return names.some(function(mn) { return mn === n || mn === n + ':latest' || (n.indexOf(':') === -1 && mn.split(':')[0] === n); });
+  }
+  function honor(models, fallback, provider) {
+    ensure();
+    var prov = provider || 'ollama';
+    if (_source === 'user' && _model && (_provider || 'ollama') === prov) {
+      var names = _names(models);
+      if (!names.length || _onList(names, _model)) return { model: _model, source: 'user', gone: false };
+      if (fallback) noteGone(_model, fallback, prov);
+      return { model: fallback || _model, source: 'auto', gone: true };
+    }
+    return { model: fallback, source: 'auto', gone: false };
+  }
+  // The chosen model left this computer: use what is here, keep it 'auto', and say so in plain words.
+  function noteGone(chosen, pick, provider) {
+    ensure();
+    if (!pick || _source !== 'user' || _model !== chosen) return;
+    safeSet('fl_modelChoiceGone', chosen);
+    set(pick, provider || 'ollama', 'auto');
+    try {
+      if (typeof showToast === 'function') showToast('The model you chose, ' + chosen + ', is no longer on this computer. Using ' + pick + ' for now. You can pick another in Connect.', 7000);
+    } catch (eT) {}
+    try { if (typeof AiSetup !== 'undefined' && AiSetup.refreshSettingsCard) AiSetup.refreshSettingsCard(); } catch (eS) {}
+  }
 
   function init() {
+    _ready = true;
     _model = safeGet('fl_ollamaModel', null);
     _provider = safeGet('fl_provider', null);
     _source = safeGet('fl_modelSource', 'boot');
   }
 
-  return { set: set, get: get, isUserChosen: isUserChosen, init: init };
+  return { set: set, get: get, isUserChosen: isUserChosen, init: init, honor: honor, noteGone: noteGone };
 })();
+// v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: short form for the older paths that write a model by
+// themselves (Test Ollama, Local without Connect, LM Studio probe, discovery): the person's model
+// when it is here, else that path's own pick.
+function flHonorModel(list, fallback, provider) {
+  try {
+    if (typeof FLActiveModel !== 'undefined' && FLActiveModel.honor) return FLActiveModel.honor(list, fallback, provider).model || fallback;
+  } catch (e) {}
+  return fallback;
+}
 
 window.FLAutoModel = (function() {
   var VISION_RE = /llava|bakllava|moondream|minicpm|qwen.*vl|llama.*vision|gemma4/i;
@@ -36307,12 +36375,8 @@ window.FLAutoModel = (function() {
       if (!pool.length) pool = models;
       var pick = String((pool[0] && (pool[0].name || pool[0].model)) || '');
       if (!pick) return;
-      safeSet('fl_modelChoiceGone', current.model);
-      FLActiveModel.set(pick, 'ollama', 'auto');
-      try {
-        if (typeof showToast === 'function') showToast('The model you chose, ' + current.model + ', is no longer on this computer. Using ' + pick + ' for now. You can pick another in Connect.', 7000);
-      } catch (eT) {}
-      try { if (typeof AiSetup !== 'undefined' && AiSetup.refreshSettingsCard) AiSetup.refreshSettingsCard(); } catch (eS) {}
+      // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1: same words, one home (FLActiveModel.noteGone).
+      FLActiveModel.noteGone(current.model, pick, 'ollama');
     });
   }
 
@@ -39686,7 +39750,7 @@ async function autoDiscoverAI() {
       if (best.type === 'ollama') {
         state.isLocal = true;
         state.provider = 'ollama';
-        state.ollamaModel = best.models[0] || 'llama3.2';
+        state.ollamaModel = flHonorModel(best.models, best.models[0] || 'llama3.2', 'ollama'); // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1
         try {
           localStorage.setItem('fl_isLocal', 'true');
           localStorage.setItem('fl_provider', 'ollama');
@@ -39696,7 +39760,7 @@ async function autoDiscoverAI() {
         // OpenAI-compatible server
         state.isLocal = true;
         state.provider = 'openai-compat-local';
-        state.ollamaModel = best.models[0] || 'default';
+        state.ollamaModel = flHonorModel(best.models, best.models[0] || 'default', 'openai-compat-local'); // v-model-choice-survives-reload-v0.1.1
         state._localAIUrl = best.url;
         state._localAIName = best.name;
         try {
@@ -39771,7 +39835,12 @@ async function runConnectionCascade(info) {