macOS: add chat model selector and persist thinking (#42314)

* feat(macos): add chat model selector and thinking persistence UX * Chat UI: carry session model providers * Docs: add macOS model selector changelog * macOS: persist extended thinking levels * Chat UI: keep model picker state in sync * Chat UI tests: cover model selection races --------- Co-authored-by: Ubuntu <ubuntu@vps-90352893.vps.ovh.ca> Co-authored-by: Vincent Koc <vincentkoc@ieee.org>
2026-03-12 07:20:45 +00:00 · 2026-03-11 15:43:04 +11:00
parent bf70a333fa
commit 061b8258bc
7 changed files with 1126 additions and 13 deletions
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/WebChatSwiftUI.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/WebChatSwiftUI.swift
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import QuartzCore
 import SwiftUI

 private let webChatSwiftLogger = Logger(subsystem: "ai.openclaw", category: "WebChatSwiftUI")
+private let webChatThinkingLevelDefaultsKey = "openclaw.webchat.thinkingLevel"

 private enum WebChatSwiftUILayout {
    static let windowSize = NSSize(width: 500, height: 840)
@@ -21,6 +22,21 @@ struct MacGatewayChatTransport: OpenClawChatTransport {
        try await GatewayConnection.shared.chatHistory(sessionKey: sessionKey)
    }

+    func listModels() async throws -> [OpenClawChatModelChoice] {
+        do {
+            let data = try await GatewayConnection.shared.request(
+                method: "models.list",
+                params: [:],
+                timeoutMs: 15000)
+            let result = try JSONDecoder().decode(ModelsListResult.self, from: data)
+            return result.models.map(Self.mapModelChoice)
+        } catch {
+            webChatSwiftLogger.warning(
+                "models.list failed; hiding model picker: \(error.localizedDescription, privacy: .public)")
+            return []
+        }
+    }
+
    func abortRun(sessionKey: String, runId: String) async throws {
        _ = try await GatewayConnection.shared.request(
            method: "chat.abort",
@@ -46,6 +62,28 @@ struct MacGatewayChatTransport: OpenClawChatTransport {
        return try JSONDecoder().decode(OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse.self, from: data)
    }

+    func setSessionModel(sessionKey: String, model: String?) async throws {
+        var params: [String: AnyCodable] = [
+            "key": AnyCodable(sessionKey),
+        ]
+        params["model"] = model.map(AnyCodable.init) ?? AnyCodable(NSNull())
+        _ = try await GatewayConnection.shared.request(
+            method: "sessions.patch",
+            params: params,
+            timeoutMs: 15000)
+    }
+
+    func setSessionThinking(sessionKey: String, thinkingLevel: String) async throws {
+        let params: [String: AnyCodable] = [
+            "key": AnyCodable(sessionKey),
+            "thinkingLevel": AnyCodable(thinkingLevel),
+        ]
+        _ = try await GatewayConnection.shared.request(
+            method: "sessions.patch",
+            params: params,
+            timeoutMs: 15000)
+    }
+
    func sendMessage(
        sessionKey: String,
        message: String,
@@ -133,6 +171,14 @@ struct MacGatewayChatTransport: OpenClawChatTransport {
            return .seqGap
        }
    }
+
+    private static func mapModelChoice(_ model: OpenClawProtocol.ModelChoice) -> OpenClawChatModelChoice {
+        OpenClawChatModelChoice(
+            modelID: model.id,
+            name: model.name,
+            provider: model.provider,
+            contextWindow: model.contextwindow)
+    }
 }

 // MARK: - Window controller
@@ -155,7 +201,13 @@ final class WebChatSwiftUIWindowController {
    init(sessionKey: String, presentation: WebChatPresentation, transport: any OpenClawChatTransport) {
        self.sessionKey = sessionKey
        self.presentation = presentation
-        let vm = OpenClawChatViewModel(sessionKey: sessionKey, transport: transport)
+        let vm = OpenClawChatViewModel(
+            sessionKey: sessionKey,
+            transport: transport,
+            initialThinkingLevel: Self.persistedThinkingLevel(),
+            onThinkingLevelChanged: { level in
+                UserDefaults.standard.set(level, forKey: webChatThinkingLevelDefaultsKey)
+            })
        let accent = Self.color(fromHex: AppStateStore.shared.seamColorHex)
        self.hosting = NSHostingController(rootView: OpenClawChatView(
            viewModel: vm,
@@ -254,6 +306,16 @@ final class WebChatSwiftUIWindowController {
        OverlayPanelFactory.clearGlobalEventMonitor(&self.dismissMonitor)
    }

+    private static func persistedThinkingLevel() -> String? {
+        let stored = UserDefaults.standard.string(forKey: webChatThinkingLevelDefaultsKey)?
+            .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+            .lowercased()
+        guard let stored, ["off", "minimal", "low", "medium", "high", "xhigh", "adaptive"].contains(stored) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+        return stored
+    }
+
    private static func makeWindow(
        for presentation: WebChatPresentation,
        contentViewController: NSViewController) -> NSWindow
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatComposer.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatComposer.swift
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import UniformTypeIdentifiers

@MainActor
 struct OpenClawChatComposer: View {
+    private static let menuThinkingLevels = ["off", "low", "medium", "high"]
+
    @Bindable var viewModel: OpenClawChatViewModel
    let style: OpenClawChatView.Style
    let showsSessionSwitcher: Bool
@@ -27,11 +29,15 @@ struct OpenClawChatComposer: View {
                    if self.showsSessionSwitcher {
                        self.sessionPicker
                    }
+                    if self.viewModel.showsModelPicker {
+                        self.modelPicker
+                    }
                    self.thinkingPicker
                    Spacer()
                    self.refreshButton
                    self.attachmentPicker
                }
+                .padding(.horizontal, 10)
            }

            if self.showsAttachments, !self.viewModel.attachments.isEmpty {
@@ -83,11 +89,19 @@ struct OpenClawChatComposer: View {
    }

    private var thinkingPicker: some View {
-        Picker("Thinking", selection: self.$viewModel.thinkingLevel) {
+        Picker(
+            "Thinking",
+            selection: Binding(
+                get: { self.viewModel.thinkingLevel },
+                set: { next in self.viewModel.selectThinkingLevel(next) }))
+        {
            Text("Off").tag("off")
            Text("Low").tag("low")
            Text("Medium").tag("medium")
            Text("High").tag("high")
+            if !Self.menuThinkingLevels.contains(self.viewModel.thinkingLevel) {
+                Text(self.viewModel.thinkingLevel.capitalized).tag(self.viewModel.thinkingLevel)
+            }
        }
        .labelsHidden()
        .pickerStyle(.menu)
@@ -95,6 +109,25 @@ struct OpenClawChatComposer: View {
        .frame(maxWidth: 140, alignment: .leading)
    }

+    private var modelPicker: some View {
+        Picker(
+            "Model",
+            selection: Binding(
+                get: { self.viewModel.modelSelectionID },
+                set: { next in self.viewModel.selectModel(next) }))
+        {
+            Text(self.viewModel.defaultModelLabel).tag(OpenClawChatViewModel.defaultModelSelectionID)
+            ForEach(self.viewModel.modelChoices) { model in
+                Text(model.displayLabel).tag(model.selectionID)
+            }
+        }
+        .labelsHidden()
+        .pickerStyle(.menu)
+        .controlSize(.small)
+        .frame(maxWidth: 240, alignment: .leading)
+        .help("Model")
+    }
+
    private var sessionPicker: some View {
        Picker(
            "Session",
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatSessions.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatSessions.swift
@@ -1,5 +1,36 @@
 import Foundation

+public struct OpenClawChatModelChoice: Identifiable, Codable, Sendable, Hashable {
+    public var id: String { self.selectionID }
+
+    public let modelID: String
+    public let name: String
+    public let provider: String
+    public let contextWindow: Int?
+
+    public init(modelID: String, name: String, provider: String, contextWindow: Int?) {
+        self.modelID = modelID
+        self.name = name
+        self.provider = provider
+        self.contextWindow = contextWindow
+    }
+
+    /// Provider-qualified model ref used for picker identity and selection tags.
+    public var selectionID: String {
+        let trimmedProvider = self.provider.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        guard !trimmedProvider.isEmpty else { return self.modelID }
+        let providerPrefix = "\(trimmedProvider)/"
+        if self.modelID.hasPrefix(providerPrefix) {
+            return self.modelID
+        }
+        return "\(trimmedProvider)/\(self.modelID)"
+    }
+
+    public var displayLabel: String {
+        self.selectionID
+    }
+}
+
 public struct OpenClawChatSessionsDefaults: Codable, Sendable {
    public let model: String?
    public let contextTokens: Int?
@@ -27,6 +58,7 @@ public struct OpenClawChatSessionEntry: Codable, Identifiable, Sendable, Hashabl
    public let outputTokens: Int?
    public let totalTokens: Int?

+    public let modelProvider: String?
    public let model: String?
    public let contextTokens: Int?
 }
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatTransport.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatTransport.swift
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ public enum OpenClawChatTransportEvent: Sendable {

 public protocol OpenClawChatTransport: Sendable {
    func requestHistory(sessionKey: String) async throws -> OpenClawChatHistoryPayload
+    func listModels() async throws -> [OpenClawChatModelChoice]
    func sendMessage(
        sessionKey: String,
        message: String,
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ public protocol OpenClawChatTransport: Sendable {

    func abortRun(sessionKey: String, runId: String) async throws
    func listSessions(limit: Int?) async throws -> OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse
+    func setSessionModel(sessionKey: String, model: String?) async throws
+    func setSessionThinking(sessionKey: String, thinkingLevel: String) async throws

    func requestHealth(timeoutMs: Int) async throws -> Bool
    func events() -> AsyncStream<OpenClawChatTransportEvent>
@@ -42,4 +45,25 @@ extension OpenClawChatTransport {
            code: 0,
            userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "sessions.list not supported by this transport"])
    }
+
+    public func listModels() async throws -> [OpenClawChatModelChoice] {
+        throw NSError(
+            domain: "OpenClawChatTransport",
+            code: 0,
+            userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "models.list not supported by this transport"])
+    }
+
+    public func setSessionModel(sessionKey _: String, model _: String?) async throws {
+        throw NSError(
+            domain: "OpenClawChatTransport",
+            code: 0,
+            userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "sessions.patch(model) not supported by this transport"])
+    }
+
+    public func setSessionThinking(sessionKey _: String, thinkingLevel _: String) async throws {
+        throw NSError(
+            domain: "OpenClawChatTransport",
+            code: 0,
+            userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "sessions.patch(thinkingLevel) not supported by this transport"])
+    }
 }
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatViewModel.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawChatUI/ChatViewModel.swift
@@ -15,9 +15,13 @@ private let chatUILogger = Logger(subsystem: "ai.openclaw", category: "OpenClawC
@MainActor
@Observable
 public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
+    public static let defaultModelSelectionID = "__default__"
+
    public private(set) var messages: [OpenClawChatMessage] = []
    public var input: String = ""
-    public var thinkingLevel: String = "off"
+    public private(set) var thinkingLevel: String
+    public private(set) var modelSelectionID: String = "__default__"
+    public private(set) var modelChoices: [OpenClawChatModelChoice] = []
    public private(set) var isLoading = false
    public private(set) var isSending = false
    public private(set) var isAborting = false
@@ -32,6 +36,9 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
    public private(set) var pendingToolCalls: [OpenClawChatPendingToolCall] = []
    public private(set) var sessions: [OpenClawChatSessionEntry] = []
    private let transport: any OpenClawChatTransport
+    private var sessionDefaults: OpenClawChatSessionsDefaults?
+    private let prefersExplicitThinkingLevel: Bool
+    private let onThinkingLevelChanged: (@MainActor @Sendable (String) -> Void)?

    @ObservationIgnored
    private nonisolated(unsafe) var eventTask: Task<Void, Never>?
@@ -42,6 +49,17 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
    @ObservationIgnored
    private nonisolated(unsafe) var pendingRunTimeoutTasks: [String: Task<Void, Never>] = [:]
    private let pendingRunTimeoutMs: UInt64 = 120_000
+    // Session switches can overlap in-flight picker patches, so stale completions
+    // must compare against the latest request and latest desired value for that session.
+    private var nextModelSelectionRequestID: UInt64 = 0
+    private var latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession: [String: UInt64] = [:]
+    private var latestModelSelectionIDsBySession: [String: String] = [:]
+    private var lastSuccessfulModelSelectionIDsBySession: [String: String] = [:]
+    private var inFlightModelPatchCountsBySession: [String: Int] = [:]
+    private var modelPatchWaitersBySession: [String: [CheckedContinuation<Void, Never>]] = [:]
+    private var nextThinkingSelectionRequestID: UInt64 = 0
+    private var latestThinkingSelectionRequestIDsBySession: [String: UInt64] = [:]
+    private var latestThinkingLevelsBySession: [String: String] = [:]

    private var pendingToolCallsById: [String: OpenClawChatPendingToolCall] = [:] {
        didSet {
@@ -52,9 +70,18 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {

    private var lastHealthPollAt: Date?

-    public init(sessionKey: String, transport: any OpenClawChatTransport) {
+    public init(
+        sessionKey: String,
+        transport: any OpenClawChatTransport,
+        initialThinkingLevel: String? = nil,
+        onThinkingLevelChanged: (@MainActor @Sendable (String) -> Void)? = nil)
+    {
        self.sessionKey = sessionKey
        self.transport = transport
+        let normalizedThinkingLevel = Self.normalizedThinkingLevel(initialThinkingLevel)
+        self.thinkingLevel = normalizedThinkingLevel ?? "off"
+        self.prefersExplicitThinkingLevel = normalizedThinkingLevel != nil
+        self.onThinkingLevelChanged = onThinkingLevelChanged

        self.eventTask = Task { [weak self] in
            guard let self else { return }
@@ -99,6 +126,14 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        Task { await self.performSwitchSession(to: sessionKey) }
    }

+    public func selectThinkingLevel(_ level: String) {
+        Task { await self.performSelectThinkingLevel(level) }
+    }
+
+    public func selectModel(_ selectionID: String) {
+        Task { await self.performSelectModel(selectionID) }
+    }
+
    public var sessionChoices: [OpenClawChatSessionEntry] {
        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
        let cutoff = now - (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000)
@@ -134,6 +169,17 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        return result
    }

+    public var showsModelPicker: Bool {
+        !self.modelChoices.isEmpty
+    }
+
+    public var defaultModelLabel: String {
+        guard let defaultModelID = self.normalizedModelSelectionID(self.sessionDefaults?.model) else {
+            return "Default"
+        }
+        return "Default: \(self.modelLabel(for: defaultModelID))"
+    }
+
    public func addAttachments(urls: [URL]) {
        Task { await self.loadAttachments(urls: urls) }
    }
@@ -174,11 +220,14 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
                previous: self.messages,
                incoming: Self.decodeMessages(payload.messages ?? []))
            self.sessionId = payload.sessionId
-            if let level = payload.thinkingLevel, !level.isEmpty {
+            if !self.prefersExplicitThinkingLevel,
+               let level = Self.normalizedThinkingLevel(payload.thinkingLevel)
+            {
                self.thinkingLevel = level
            }
            await self.pollHealthIfNeeded(force: true)
            await self.fetchSessions(limit: 50)
+            await self.fetchModels()
            self.errorText = nil
        } catch {
            self.errorText = error.localizedDescription
@@ -320,6 +369,7 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        guard !self.isSending else { return }
        let trimmed = self.input.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
        guard !trimmed.isEmpty || !self.attachments.isEmpty else { return }
+        let sessionKey = self.sessionKey

        guard self.healthOK else {
            self.errorText = "Gateway health not OK; cannot send"
@@ -330,6 +380,7 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        self.errorText = nil
        let runId = UUID().uuidString
        let messageText = trimmed.isEmpty && !self.attachments.isEmpty ? "See attached." : trimmed
+        let thinkingLevel = self.thinkingLevel
        self.pendingRuns.insert(runId)
        self.armPendingRunTimeout(runId: runId)
        self.pendingToolCallsById = [:]
@@ -382,10 +433,11 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        self.attachments = []

        do {
+            await self.waitForPendingModelPatches(in: sessionKey)
            let response = try await self.transport.sendMessage(
-                sessionKey: self.sessionKey,
+                sessionKey: sessionKey,
                message: messageText,
-                thinking: self.thinkingLevel,
+                thinking: thinkingLevel,
                idempotencyKey: runId,
                attachments: encodedAttachments)
            if response.runId != runId {
@@ -422,6 +474,17 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        do {
            let res = try await self.transport.listSessions(limit: limit)
            self.sessions = res.sessions
+            self.sessionDefaults = res.defaults
+            self.syncSelectedModel()
+        } catch {
+            // Best-effort.
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func fetchModels() async {
+        do {
+            self.modelChoices = try await self.transport.listModels()
+            self.syncSelectedModel()
        } catch {
            // Best-effort.
        }
@@ -432,9 +495,106 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        guard !next.isEmpty else { return }
        guard next != self.sessionKey else { return }
        self.sessionKey = next
+        self.modelSelectionID = Self.defaultModelSelectionID
        await self.bootstrap()
    }

+    private func performSelectThinkingLevel(_ level: String) async {
+        let next = Self.normalizedThinkingLevel(level) ?? "off"
+        guard next != self.thinkingLevel else { return }
+
+        let sessionKey = self.sessionKey
+        self.thinkingLevel = next
+        self.onThinkingLevelChanged?(next)
+        self.nextThinkingSelectionRequestID &+= 1
+        let requestID = self.nextThinkingSelectionRequestID
+        self.latestThinkingSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey] = requestID
+        self.latestThinkingLevelsBySession[sessionKey] = next
+
+        do {
+            try await self.transport.setSessionThinking(sessionKey: sessionKey, thinkingLevel: next)
+            guard requestID == self.latestThinkingSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey] else {
+                let latest = self.latestThinkingLevelsBySession[sessionKey] ?? next
+                guard latest != next else { return }
+                try? await self.transport.setSessionThinking(sessionKey: sessionKey, thinkingLevel: latest)
+                return
+            }
+        } catch {
+            guard sessionKey == self.sessionKey,
+                  requestID == self.latestThinkingSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey]
+            else { return }
+            // Best-effort. Persisting the user's local preference matters more than a patch error here.
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func performSelectModel(_ selectionID: String) async {
+        let next = self.normalizedSelectionID(selectionID)
+        guard next != self.modelSelectionID else { return }
+
+        let sessionKey = self.sessionKey
+        let previous = self.modelSelectionID
+        let previousRequestID = self.latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey]
+        self.nextModelSelectionRequestID &+= 1
+        let requestID = self.nextModelSelectionRequestID
+        let nextModelRef = self.modelRef(forSelectionID: next)
+        self.latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey] = requestID
+        self.latestModelSelectionIDsBySession[sessionKey] = next
+        self.beginModelPatch(for: sessionKey)
+        self.modelSelectionID = next
+        self.errorText = nil
+        defer { self.endModelPatch(for: sessionKey) }
+
+        do {
+            try await self.transport.setSessionModel(
+                sessionKey: sessionKey,
+                model: nextModelRef)
+            guard requestID == self.latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey] else {
+                self.applySuccessfulModelSelection(next, sessionKey: sessionKey, syncSelection: false)
+                return
+            }
+            self.applySuccessfulModelSelection(next, sessionKey: sessionKey, syncSelection: true)
+        } catch {
+            guard requestID == self.latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey] else { return }
+            self.latestModelSelectionIDsBySession[sessionKey] = previous
+            if let previousRequestID {
+                self.latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession[sessionKey] = previousRequestID
+            } else {
+                self.latestModelSelectionRequestIDsBySession.removeValue(forKey: sessionKey)
+            }
+            if self.lastSuccessfulModelSelectionIDsBySession[sessionKey] == previous {
+                self.applySuccessfulModelSelection(previous, sessionKey: sessionKey, syncSelection: sessionKey == self.sessionKey)
+            }
+            guard sessionKey == self.sessionKey else { return }
+            self.modelSelectionID = previous
+            self.errorText = error.localizedDescription
+            chatUILogger.error("sessions.patch(model) failed \(error.localizedDescription, privacy: .public)")
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func beginModelPatch(for sessionKey: String) {
+        self.inFlightModelPatchCountsBySession[sessionKey, default: 0] += 1
+    }
+
+    private func endModelPatch(for sessionKey: String) {
+        let remaining = max(0, (self.inFlightModelPatchCountsBySession[sessionKey] ?? 0) - 1)
+        if remaining == 0 {
+            self.inFlightModelPatchCountsBySession.removeValue(forKey: sessionKey)
+            let waiters = self.modelPatchWaitersBySession.removeValue(forKey: sessionKey) ?? []
+            for waiter in waiters {
+                waiter.resume()
+            }
+            return
+        }
+        self.inFlightModelPatchCountsBySession[sessionKey] = remaining
+    }
+
+    private func waitForPendingModelPatches(in sessionKey: String) async {
+        guard (self.inFlightModelPatchCountsBySession[sessionKey] ?? 0) > 0 else { return }
+        await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
+            self.modelPatchWaitersBySession[sessionKey, default: []].append(continuation)
+        }
+    }
+
    private func placeholderSession(key: String) -> OpenClawChatSessionEntry {
        OpenClawChatSessionEntry(
            key: key,
@@ -453,10 +613,159 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
            inputTokens: nil,
            outputTokens: nil,
            totalTokens: nil,
+            modelProvider: nil,
            model: nil,
            contextTokens: nil)
    }

+    private func syncSelectedModel() {
+        let currentSession = self.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == self.sessionKey })
+        let explicitModelID = self.normalizedModelSelectionID(
+            currentSession?.model,
+            provider: currentSession?.modelProvider)
+        if let explicitModelID {
+            self.lastSuccessfulModelSelectionIDsBySession[self.sessionKey] = explicitModelID
+            self.modelSelectionID = explicitModelID
+            return
+        }
+        self.lastSuccessfulModelSelectionIDsBySession[self.sessionKey] = Self.defaultModelSelectionID
+        self.modelSelectionID = Self.defaultModelSelectionID
+    }
+
+    private func normalizedSelectionID(_ selectionID: String) -> String {
+        let trimmed = selectionID.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        guard !trimmed.isEmpty else { return Self.defaultModelSelectionID }
+        return trimmed
+    }
+
+    private func normalizedModelSelectionID(_ modelID: String?, provider: String? = nil) -> String? {
+        guard let modelID else { return nil }
+        let trimmed = modelID.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        guard !trimmed.isEmpty else { return nil }
+        if let provider = Self.normalizedProvider(provider) {
+            let providerQualified = Self.providerQualifiedModelSelectionID(modelID: trimmed, provider: provider)
+            if let match = self.modelChoices.first(where: {
+                $0.selectionID == providerQualified ||
+                    ($0.modelID == trimmed && Self.normalizedProvider($0.provider) == provider)
+            }) {
+                return match.selectionID
+            }
+            return providerQualified
+        }
+        if self.modelChoices.contains(where: { $0.selectionID == trimmed }) {
+            return trimmed
+        }
+        let matches = self.modelChoices.filter { $0.modelID == trimmed || $0.selectionID == trimmed }
+        if matches.count == 1 {
+            return matches[0].selectionID
+        }
+        return trimmed
+    }
+
+    private func modelRef(forSelectionID selectionID: String) -> String? {
+        let normalized = self.normalizedSelectionID(selectionID)
+        if normalized == Self.defaultModelSelectionID {
+            return nil
+        }
+        return normalized
+    }
+
+    private func modelLabel(for modelID: String) -> String {
+        self.modelChoices.first(where: { $0.selectionID == modelID || $0.modelID == modelID })?.displayLabel ??
+            modelID
+    }
+
+    private func applySuccessfulModelSelection(_ selectionID: String, sessionKey: String, syncSelection: Bool) {
+        self.lastSuccessfulModelSelectionIDsBySession[sessionKey] = selectionID
+        let resolved = self.resolvedSessionModelIdentity(forSelectionID: selectionID)
+        self.updateCurrentSessionModel(
+            modelID: resolved.modelID,
+            modelProvider: resolved.modelProvider,
+            sessionKey: sessionKey,
+            syncSelection: syncSelection)
+    }
+
+    private func resolvedSessionModelIdentity(forSelectionID selectionID: String) -> (modelID: String?, modelProvider: String?) {
+        guard let modelRef = self.modelRef(forSelectionID: selectionID) else {
+            return (nil, nil)
+        }
+        if let choice = self.modelChoices.first(where: { $0.selectionID == modelRef }) {
+            return (choice.modelID, Self.normalizedProvider(choice.provider))
+        }
+        return (modelRef, nil)
+    }
+
+    private static func normalizedProvider(_ provider: String?) -> String? {
+        let trimmed = provider?.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        guard let trimmed, !trimmed.isEmpty else { return nil }
+        return trimmed
+    }
+
+    private static func providerQualifiedModelSelectionID(modelID: String, provider: String) -> String {
+        let providerPrefix = "\(provider)/"
+        if modelID.hasPrefix(providerPrefix) {
+            return modelID
+        }
+        return "\(provider)/\(modelID)"
+    }
+
+    private func updateCurrentSessionModel(
+        modelID: String?,
+        modelProvider: String?,
+        sessionKey: String,
+        syncSelection: Bool)
+    {
+        if let index = self.sessions.firstIndex(where: { $0.key == sessionKey }) {
+            let current = self.sessions[index]
+            self.sessions[index] = OpenClawChatSessionEntry(
+                key: current.key,
+                kind: current.kind,
+                displayName: current.displayName,
+                surface: current.surface,
+                subject: current.subject,
+                room: current.room,
+                space: current.space,
+                updatedAt: current.updatedAt,
+                sessionId: current.sessionId,
+                systemSent: current.systemSent,
+                abortedLastRun: current.abortedLastRun,
+                thinkingLevel: current.thinkingLevel,
+                verboseLevel: current.verboseLevel,
+                inputTokens: current.inputTokens,
+                outputTokens: current.outputTokens,
+                totalTokens: current.totalTokens,
+                modelProvider: modelProvider,
+                model: modelID,
+                contextTokens: current.contextTokens)
+        } else {
+            let placeholder = self.placeholderSession(key: sessionKey)
+            self.sessions.append(
+                OpenClawChatSessionEntry(
+                    key: placeholder.key,
+                    kind: placeholder.kind,
+                    displayName: placeholder.displayName,
+                    surface: placeholder.surface,
+                    subject: placeholder.subject,
+                    room: placeholder.room,
+                    space: placeholder.space,
+                    updatedAt: placeholder.updatedAt,
+                    sessionId: placeholder.sessionId,
+                    systemSent: placeholder.systemSent,
+                    abortedLastRun: placeholder.abortedLastRun,
+                    thinkingLevel: placeholder.thinkingLevel,
+                    verboseLevel: placeholder.verboseLevel,
+                    inputTokens: placeholder.inputTokens,
+                    outputTokens: placeholder.outputTokens,
+                    totalTokens: placeholder.totalTokens,
+                    modelProvider: modelProvider,
+                    model: modelID,
+                    contextTokens: placeholder.contextTokens))
+        }
+        if syncSelection {
+            self.syncSelectedModel()
+        }
+    }
+
    private func handleTransportEvent(_ evt: OpenClawChatTransportEvent) {
        switch evt {
        case let .health(ok):
@@ -573,7 +882,9 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
                previous: self.messages,
                incoming: Self.decodeMessages(payload.messages ?? []))
            self.sessionId = payload.sessionId
-            if let level = payload.thinkingLevel, !level.isEmpty {
+            if !self.prefersExplicitThinkingLevel,
+               let level = Self.normalizedThinkingLevel(payload.thinkingLevel)
+            {
                self.thinkingLevel = level
            }
        } catch {
@@ -682,4 +993,13 @@ public final class OpenClawChatViewModel {
        nil
        #endif
    }
+
+    private static func normalizedThinkingLevel(_ level: String?) -> String? {
+        guard let level else { return nil }
+        let trimmed = level.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).lowercased()
+        guard ["off", "minimal", "low", "medium", "high", "xhigh", "adaptive"].contains(trimmed) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+        return trimmed
+    }
 }
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Tests/OpenClawKitTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Tests/OpenClawKitTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
@@ -41,17 +41,67 @@ private func sessionEntry(key: String, updatedAt: Double) -> OpenClawChatSession
        inputTokens: nil,
        outputTokens: nil,
        totalTokens: nil,
+        modelProvider: nil,
        model: nil,
        contextTokens: nil)
 }

+private func sessionEntry(
+    key: String,
+    updatedAt: Double,
+    model: String?,
+    modelProvider: String? = nil) -> OpenClawChatSessionEntry
+{
+    OpenClawChatSessionEntry(
+        key: key,
+        kind: nil,
+        displayName: nil,
+        surface: nil,
+        subject: nil,
+        room: nil,
+        space: nil,
+        updatedAt: updatedAt,
+        sessionId: nil,
+        systemSent: nil,
+        abortedLastRun: nil,
+        thinkingLevel: nil,
+        verboseLevel: nil,
+        inputTokens: nil,
+        outputTokens: nil,
+        totalTokens: nil,
+        modelProvider: modelProvider,
+        model: model,
+        contextTokens: nil)
+}
+
+private func modelChoice(id: String, name: String, provider: String = "anthropic") -> OpenClawChatModelChoice {
+    OpenClawChatModelChoice(modelID: id, name: name, provider: provider, contextWindow: nil)
+}
+
 private func makeViewModel(
    sessionKey: String = "main",
    historyResponses: [OpenClawChatHistoryPayload],
-    sessionsResponses: [OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse] = []) async -> (TestChatTransport, OpenClawChatViewModel)
+    sessionsResponses: [OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse] = [],
+    modelResponses: [[OpenClawChatModelChoice]] = [],
+    setSessionModelHook: (@Sendable (String?) async throws -> Void)? = nil,
+    setSessionThinkingHook: (@Sendable (String) async throws -> Void)? = nil,
+    initialThinkingLevel: String? = nil,
+    onThinkingLevelChanged: (@MainActor @Sendable (String) -> Void)? = nil) async
+    -> (TestChatTransport, OpenClawChatViewModel)
 {
-    let transport = TestChatTransport(historyResponses: historyResponses, sessionsResponses: sessionsResponses)
-    let vm = await MainActor.run { OpenClawChatViewModel(sessionKey: sessionKey, transport: transport) }
+    let transport = TestChatTransport(
+        historyResponses: historyResponses,
+        sessionsResponses: sessionsResponses,
+        modelResponses: modelResponses,
+        setSessionModelHook: setSessionModelHook,
+        setSessionThinkingHook: setSessionThinkingHook)
+    let vm = await MainActor.run {
+        OpenClawChatViewModel(
+            sessionKey: sessionKey,
+            transport: transport,
+            initialThinkingLevel: initialThinkingLevel,
+            onThinkingLevelChanged: onThinkingLevelChanged)
+    }
    return (transport, vm)
 }

@@ -125,27 +175,60 @@ private func emitExternalFinal(
                errorMessage: nil)))
 }

+@MainActor
+private final class CallbackBox {
+    var values: [String] = []
+}
+
+private actor AsyncGate {
+    private var continuation: CheckedContinuation<Void, Never>?
+
+    func wait() async {
+        await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
+            self.continuation = continuation
+        }
+    }
+
+    func open() {
+        self.continuation?.resume()
+        self.continuation = nil
+    }
+}
+
 private actor TestChatTransportState {
    var historyCallCount: Int = 0
    var sessionsCallCount: Int = 0
+    var modelsCallCount: Int = 0
    var sentRunIds: [String] = []
+    var sentThinkingLevels: [String] = []
    var abortedRunIds: [String] = []
+    var patchedModels: [String?] = []
+    var patchedThinkingLevels: [String] = []
 }

 private final class TestChatTransport: @unchecked Sendable, OpenClawChatTransport {
    private let state = TestChatTransportState()
    private let historyResponses: [OpenClawChatHistoryPayload]
    private let sessionsResponses: [OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse]
+    private let modelResponses: [[OpenClawChatModelChoice]]
+    private let setSessionModelHook: (@Sendable (String?) async throws -> Void)?
+    private let setSessionThinkingHook: (@Sendable (String) async throws -> Void)?

    private let stream: AsyncStream<OpenClawChatTransportEvent>
    private let continuation: AsyncStream<OpenClawChatTransportEvent>.Continuation

    init(
        historyResponses: [OpenClawChatHistoryPayload],
-        sessionsResponses: [OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse] = [])
+        sessionsResponses: [OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse] = [],
+        modelResponses: [[OpenClawChatModelChoice]] = [],
+        setSessionModelHook: (@Sendable (String?) async throws -> Void)? = nil,
+        setSessionThinkingHook: (@Sendable (String) async throws -> Void)? = nil)
    {
        self.historyResponses = historyResponses
        self.sessionsResponses = sessionsResponses
+        self.modelResponses = modelResponses
+        self.setSessionModelHook = setSessionModelHook
+        self.setSessionThinkingHook = setSessionThinkingHook
        var cont: AsyncStream<OpenClawChatTransportEvent>.Continuation!
        self.stream = AsyncStream { c in
            cont = c
@@ -175,11 +258,12 @@ private final class TestChatTransport: @unchecked Sendable, OpenClawChatTranspor
    func sendMessage(
        sessionKey _: String,
        message _: String,
-        thinking _: String,
+        thinking: String,
        idempotencyKey: String,
        attachments _: [OpenClawChatAttachmentPayload]) async throws -> OpenClawChatSendResponse
    {
        await self.state.sentRunIdsAppend(idempotencyKey)
+        await self.state.sentThinkingLevelsAppend(thinking)
        return OpenClawChatSendResponse(runId: idempotencyKey, status: "ok")
    }

@@ -201,6 +285,29 @@ private final class TestChatTransport: @unchecked Sendable, OpenClawChatTranspor
            sessions: [])
    }

+    func listModels() async throws -> [OpenClawChatModelChoice] {
+        let idx = await self.state.modelsCallCount
+        await self.state.setModelsCallCount(idx + 1)
+        if idx < self.modelResponses.count {
+            return self.modelResponses[idx]
+        }
+        return self.modelResponses.last ?? []
+    }
+
+    func setSessionModel(sessionKey _: String, model: String?) async throws {
+        await self.state.patchedModelsAppend(model)
+        if let setSessionModelHook = self.setSessionModelHook {
+            try await setSessionModelHook(model)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func setSessionThinking(sessionKey _: String, thinkingLevel: String) async throws {
+        await self.state.patchedThinkingLevelsAppend(thinkingLevel)
+        if let setSessionThinkingHook = self.setSessionThinkingHook {
+            try await setSessionThinkingHook(thinkingLevel)
+        }
+    }
+
    func requestHealth(timeoutMs _: Int) async throws -> Bool {
        true
    }
@@ -217,6 +324,18 @@ private final class TestChatTransport: @unchecked Sendable, OpenClawChatTranspor
    func abortedRunIds() async -> [String] {
        await self.state.abortedRunIds
    }
+
+    func sentThinkingLevels() async -> [String] {
+        await self.state.sentThinkingLevels
+    }
+
+    func patchedModels() async -> [String?] {
+        await self.state.patchedModels
+    }
+
+    func patchedThinkingLevels() async -> [String] {
+        await self.state.patchedThinkingLevels
+    }
 }

 extension TestChatTransportState {
@@ -228,6 +347,10 @@ extension TestChatTransportState {
        self.sessionsCallCount = v
    }

+    fileprivate func setModelsCallCount(_ v: Int) {
+        self.modelsCallCount = v
+    }
+
    fileprivate func sentRunIdsAppend(_ v: String) {
        self.sentRunIds.append(v)
    }
@@ -235,6 +358,18 @@ extension TestChatTransportState {
    fileprivate func abortedRunIdsAppend(_ v: String) {
        self.abortedRunIds.append(v)
    }
+
+    fileprivate func sentThinkingLevelsAppend(_ v: String) {
+        self.sentThinkingLevels.append(v)
+    }
+
+    fileprivate func patchedModelsAppend(_ v: String?) {
+        self.patchedModels.append(v)
+    }
+
+    fileprivate func patchedThinkingLevelsAppend(_ v: String) {
+        self.patchedThinkingLevels.append(v)
+    }
 }

@Suite struct ChatViewModelTests {
@@ -457,6 +592,512 @@ extension TestChatTransportState {
        #expect(keys == ["main", "custom"])
    }

+    @Test func bootstrapsModelSelectionFromSessionAndDefaults() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: OpenClawChatSessionsDefaults(model: "openai/gpt-4.1-mini", contextTokens: nil),
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6", name: "Claude Opus 4.6"),
+            modelChoice(id: "openai/gpt-4.1-mini", name: "GPT-4.1 mini", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (_, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models])
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.showsModelPicker })
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.defaultModelLabel } == "Default: openai/gpt-4.1-mini")
+    }
+
+    @Test func selectingDefaultModelPatchesNilAndUpdatesSelection() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: OpenClawChatSessionsDefaults(model: "openai/gpt-4.1-mini", contextTokens: nil),
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6", name: "Claude Opus 4.6"),
+            modelChoice(id: "openai/gpt-4.1-mini", name: "GPT-4.1 mini", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models])
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel(OpenClawChatViewModel.defaultModelSelectionID) }
+
+        try await waitUntil("session model patched") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == [nil]
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == OpenClawChatViewModel.defaultModelSelectionID)
+    }
+
+    @Test func selectingProviderQualifiedModelDisambiguatesDuplicateModelIDs() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: OpenClawChatSessionsDefaults(model: "openrouter/gpt-4.1-mini", contextTokens: nil),
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: "gpt-4.1-mini", modelProvider: "openrouter"),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-4.1-mini", name: "GPT-4.1 mini", provider: "openai"),
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-4.1-mini", name: "GPT-4.1 mini", provider: "openrouter"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models])
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == "openrouter/gpt-4.1-mini")
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-4.1-mini") }
+
+        try await waitUntil("provider-qualified model patched") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == ["openai/gpt-4.1-mini"]
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func slashModelIDsStayProviderQualifiedInSelectionAndPatch() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(
+                id: "openai/gpt-5.4",
+                name: "GPT-5.4 via Vercel AI Gateway",
+                provider: "vercel-ai-gateway"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models])
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel("vercel-ai-gateway/openai/gpt-5.4") }
+
+        try await waitUntil("slash model patched with provider-qualified ref") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == ["vercel-ai-gateway/openai/gpt-5.4"]
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func staleModelPatchCompletionsDoNotOverwriteNewerSelection() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4", name: "GPT-5.4", provider: "openai"),
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4-pro", name: "GPT-5.4 Pro", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models],
+            setSessionModelHook: { model in
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(200))
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        await MainActor.run {
+            vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4")
+            vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4-pro")
+        }
+
+        try await waitUntil("two model patches complete") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == ["openai/gpt-5.4", "openai/gpt-5.4-pro"]
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == "openai/gpt-5.4-pro")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.model } == "openai/gpt-5.4-pro")
+    }
+
+    @Test func sendWaitsForInFlightModelPatchToFinish() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4", name: "GPT-5.4", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+        let gate = AsyncGate()
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models],
+            setSessionModelHook: { model in
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4" {
+                    await gate.wait()
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4") }
+        try await waitUntil("model patch started") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == ["openai/gpt-5.4"]
+        }
+
+        await sendUserMessage(vm, text: "hello")
+        try await waitUntil("send entered waiting state") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.isSending }
+        }
+        #expect(await transport.lastSentRunId() == nil)
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectThinkingLevel("high") }
+        try await waitUntil("thinking level changed while send is blocked") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.thinkingLevel == "high" }
+        }
+
+        await gate.open()
+
+        try await waitUntil("send released after model patch") {
+            await transport.lastSentRunId() != nil
+        }
+        #expect(await transport.sentThinkingLevels() == ["off"])
+    }
+
+    @Test func failedLatestModelSelectionDoesNotReplayAfterOlderCompletionFinishes() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4", name: "GPT-5.4", provider: "openai"),
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4-pro", name: "GPT-5.4 Pro", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models],
+            setSessionModelHook: { model in
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(200))
+                    return
+                }
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4-pro" {
+                    throw NSError(domain: "test", code: 1, userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "boom"])
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        await MainActor.run {
+            vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4")
+            vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4-pro")
+        }
+
+        try await waitUntil("older model completion wins after latest failure") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.model == "openai/gpt-5.4" }
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == "openai/gpt-5.4")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.model } == "openai/gpt-5.4")
+        #expect(await transport.patchedModels() == ["openai/gpt-5.4", "openai/gpt-5.4-pro"])
+    }
+
+    @Test func failedLatestModelSelectionRestoresEarlierSuccessWithoutReplay() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let history = historyPayload()
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 1,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4", name: "GPT-5.4", provider: "openai"),
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4-pro", name: "GPT-5.4 Pro", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models],
+            setSessionModelHook: { model in
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(100))
+                    return
+                }
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4-pro" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(200))
+                    throw NSError(domain: "test", code: 1, userInfo: [NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "boom"])
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm)
+
+        await MainActor.run {
+            vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4")
+            vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4-pro")
+        }
+
+        try await waitUntil("latest failure restores prior successful model") {
+            await MainActor.run {
+                vm.modelSelectionID == "openai/gpt-5.4" &&
+                    vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.model == "gpt-5.4" &&
+                    vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.modelProvider == "openai"
+            }
+        }
+
+        #expect(await transport.patchedModels() == ["openai/gpt-5.4", "openai/gpt-5.4-pro"])
+    }
+
+    @Test func switchingSessionsIgnoresLateModelPatchCompletionFromPreviousSession() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let sessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 2,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+                sessionEntry(key: "other", updatedAt: now - 1000, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4", name: "GPT-5.4", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [
+                historyPayload(sessionKey: "main", sessionId: "sess-main"),
+                historyPayload(sessionKey: "other", sessionId: "sess-other"),
+            ],
+            sessionsResponses: [sessions, sessions],
+            modelResponses: [models, models],
+            setSessionModelHook: { model in
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(200))
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm, sessionId: "sess-main")
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4") }
+        await MainActor.run { vm.switchSession(to: "other") }
+
+        try await waitUntil("switched sessions") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.sessionKey == "other" && vm.sessionId == "sess-other" }
+        }
+        try await waitUntil("late model patch finished") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == ["openai/gpt-5.4"]
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == OpenClawChatViewModel.defaultModelSelectionID)
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "other" })?.model } == nil)
+    }
+
+    @Test func lateModelCompletionDoesNotReplayCurrentSessionSelectionIntoPreviousSession() async throws {
+        let now = Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000
+        let initialSessions = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 2,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+                sessionEntry(key: "other", updatedAt: now - 1000, model: nil),
+            ])
+        let sessionsAfterOtherSelection = OpenClawChatSessionsListResponse(
+            ts: now,
+            path: nil,
+            count: 2,
+            defaults: nil,
+            sessions: [
+                sessionEntry(key: "main", updatedAt: now, model: nil),
+                sessionEntry(key: "other", updatedAt: now - 1000, model: "openai/gpt-5.4-pro"),
+            ])
+        let models = [
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4", name: "GPT-5.4", provider: "openai"),
+            modelChoice(id: "gpt-5.4-pro", name: "GPT-5.4 Pro", provider: "openai"),
+        ]
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [
+                historyPayload(sessionKey: "main", sessionId: "sess-main"),
+                historyPayload(sessionKey: "other", sessionId: "sess-other"),
+                historyPayload(sessionKey: "main", sessionId: "sess-main"),
+            ],
+            sessionsResponses: [initialSessions, initialSessions, sessionsAfterOtherSelection],
+            modelResponses: [models, models, models],
+            setSessionModelHook: { model in
+                if model == "openai/gpt-5.4" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(200))
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm, sessionId: "sess-main")
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4") }
+        await MainActor.run { vm.switchSession(to: "other") }
+        try await waitUntil("switched to other session") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.sessionKey == "other" && vm.sessionId == "sess-other" }
+        }
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectModel("openai/gpt-5.4-pro") }
+        try await waitUntil("both model patches issued") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedModels()
+            return patched == ["openai/gpt-5.4", "openai/gpt-5.4-pro"]
+        }
+        await MainActor.run { vm.switchSession(to: "main") }
+        try await waitUntil("switched back to main session") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.sessionKey == "main" && vm.sessionId == "sess-main" }
+        }
+
+        try await waitUntil("late model completion updates only the original session") {
+            await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.model == "openai/gpt-5.4" }
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.modelSelectionID } == "openai/gpt-5.4")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "main" })?.model } == "openai/gpt-5.4")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.sessions.first(where: { $0.key == "other" })?.model } == "openai/gpt-5.4-pro")
+        #expect(await transport.patchedModels() == ["openai/gpt-5.4", "openai/gpt-5.4-pro"])
+    }
+
+    @Test func explicitThinkingLevelWinsOverHistoryAndPersistsChanges() async throws {
+        let history = OpenClawChatHistoryPayload(
+            sessionKey: "main",
+            sessionId: "sess-main",
+            messages: [],
+            thinkingLevel: "off")
+        let callbackState = await MainActor.run { CallbackBox() }
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            initialThinkingLevel: "high",
+            onThinkingLevelChanged: { level in
+                callbackState.values.append(level)
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm, sessionId: "sess-main")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.thinkingLevel } == "high")
+
+        await MainActor.run { vm.selectThinkingLevel("medium") }
+
+        try await waitUntil("thinking level patched") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedThinkingLevels()
+            return patched == ["medium"]
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.thinkingLevel } == "medium")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { callbackState.values } == ["medium"])
+    }
+
+    @Test func serverProvidedThinkingLevelsOutsideMenuArePreservedForSend() async throws {
+        let history = OpenClawChatHistoryPayload(
+            sessionKey: "main",
+            sessionId: "sess-main",
+            messages: [],
+            thinkingLevel: "xhigh")
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(historyResponses: [history])
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm, sessionId: "sess-main")
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.thinkingLevel } == "xhigh")
+
+        await sendUserMessage(vm, text: "hello")
+        try await waitUntil("send uses preserved thinking level") {
+            await transport.sentThinkingLevels() == ["xhigh"]
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test func staleThinkingPatchCompletionReappliesLatestSelection() async throws {
+        let history = OpenClawChatHistoryPayload(
+            sessionKey: "main",
+            sessionId: "sess-main",
+            messages: [],
+            thinkingLevel: "off")
+
+        let (transport, vm) = await makeViewModel(
+            historyResponses: [history],
+            setSessionThinkingHook: { level in
+                if level == "medium" {
+                    try await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(200))
+                }
+            })
+
+        try await loadAndWaitBootstrap(vm: vm, sessionId: "sess-main")
+
+        await MainActor.run {
+            vm.selectThinkingLevel("medium")
+            vm.selectThinkingLevel("high")
+        }
+
+        try await waitUntil("thinking patch replayed latest selection") {
+            let patched = await transport.patchedThinkingLevels()
+            return patched == ["medium", "high", "high"]
+        }
+
+        #expect(await MainActor.run { vm.thinkingLevel } == "high")
+    }
+
    @Test func clearsStreamingOnExternalErrorEvent() async throws {
        let sessionId = "sess-main"
        let history = historyPayload(sessionId: sessionId)