diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index c45cf9b9a..ad7a2af55 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -525,6 +525,7 @@ Follow this order so behavior is **specified**, **proven in Rust**, **proven ove
 - **Pre-merge checks** (when touching code): Prettier, ESLint, `tsc --noEmit` in `app/`; `cargo fmt` + `cargo check` for changed Rust (`Cargo.toml` at root and/or `app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml` as appropriate).
 - **No dynamic imports** in production **`app/src`** code — use **static** `import` / `import type` at the top of the module. Do **not** use `import()` (async dynamic import), `React.lazy(() => import(...))`, or `await import('…')` to load app modules, Tauri APIs, or RPC clients. **Why:** predictable chunk graph, simpler static analysis, fewer surprises in Tauri + Vite, and easier code review. **If a module must not run at load time** (e.g. heavy optional path), use a static import and **guard the call site** with `try/catch` or an explicit runtime check instead of deferring module load via dynamic import. **Exceptions:** Vitest harness patterns (`vi.importActual`, dynamic imports **only** inside `*.test.ts` / `__tests__` / `test/setup.ts` when required by the runner); ambient `typeof import('…')` in `.d.ts`; config files (e.g. `tailwind.config.js` JSDoc).- **Type-only imports**: `import type` where appropriate.
 - **Dual socket / tool sync**: If you change realtime protocol, keep **frontend** (`socketService` / MCP transport) and **core** socket behavior aligned (see [`gitbooks/developing/architecture.md`](gitbooks/developing/architecture.md) dual-socket section).
+- **i18n for all UI text**: Every user-visible string in `app/src/**` (headings, labels, button text, placeholders, status chips, toasts, dialog copy, `aria-label`, etc.) must go through `useT()` from `app/src/lib/i18n/I18nContext`. Hard-coded literals in JSX or `label=`/`placeholder=`/`aria-label=` props are not allowed. Add the new key to [`app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts`](app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts) in the same PR — other locales fall back to English. **Exceptions:** developer-only debug logs, code identifiers, and non-display data (URLs, slugs, technical sentinel values).
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index c24f5347a..b35a41661 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ Specify → prove in Rust → prove over RPC → surface in the UI → test.
 - **Pre-merge** (code changes): Prettier, ESLint, `tsc --noEmit` in `app/`; `cargo fmt` + `cargo check` for changed Rust.
 - **No dynamic imports** in production `app/src` code — static `import` / `import type` only. No `import()`, `React.lazy(() => import(...))`, `await import(...)`. For heavy optional paths, use a static import and guard the call site with `try/catch` or a runtime check. *Exceptions*: Vitest harness patterns in `*.test.ts` / `__tests__` / `test/setup.ts`; ambient `typeof import('…')` in `.d.ts`; config files (e.g. `tailwind.config.js` JSDoc).
 - **Dual socket sync**: when changing the realtime protocol, keep `socketService` / MCP transport aligned with core socket behavior (see `gitbooks/developing/architecture.md` dual-socket section).
+- **i18n for all UI text**: every user-visible string in `app/src/**` (headings, labels, button text, placeholders, status chips, toasts, error messages, dialog copy) must go through `useT()` from `app/src/lib/i18n/I18nContext`. Hard-coded literals in JSX or `label=`/`placeholder=`/`aria-label=` props are not allowed. Add the key to [`app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts`](app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts) in the same PR — other locales fall back to English. Exceptions: developer-only debug logs, code identifiers, and non-display data (URLs, slugs, technical sentinel values).
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx b/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx
index 172edbdc1..3da3da735 100644
--- a/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/settings/panels/AIPanel.tsx
@@ -18,15 +18,18 @@ import {
   type AISettings as ApiAISettings,
   type ProviderRef as ApiProviderRef,
   clearCloudProviderKey,
+  clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey,
   type CloudProviderView,
   flushCloudProviders,
   listProviderModels,
   loadAISettings,
   loadLocalProviderSnapshot,
+  loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus,
   type LocalProviderSnapshot,
   type ModelInfo,
   saveAISettings,
   setCloudProviderKey,
+  setOpenAICompatEndpointKey,
 } from '../../../services/api/aiSettingsApi';
 import {
   creditsApi,
@@ -2002,6 +2005,12 @@ const AIPanel = ({ embedded = false }: AIPanelProps = {}) => {
   const [customDialogFor, setCustomDialogFor] = useState<WorkloadId | null>(null);
   // Which provider slug's API-key dialog is currently open (null = closed).
   const [keyDialogFor, setKeyDialogFor] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [openAiCompatDialogOpen, setOpenAiCompatDialogOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [openAiCompatStatus, setOpenAiCompatStatus] = useState<{
+    baseUrl: string | null;
+    has_api_key: boolean;
+  }>({ baseUrl: null, has_api_key: false });
+  const [openAiCompatBusy, setOpenAiCompatBusy] = useState<string | null>(null);
   // When the user toggles LM Studio / Ollama (local runtimes), we
   // need to remember which label to attach to the upserted provider so the
   // chip can find it again. Cleared when the dialog closes.
@@ -2010,6 +2019,24 @@ const AIPanel = ({ embedded = false }: AIPanelProps = {}) => {
   const updateRouting = (id: WorkloadId, next: ProviderRef) =>
     setDraft({ ...draft, routing: { ...draft.routing, [id]: next } });
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let active = true;
+    loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus()
+      .then(status => {
+        if (active) {
+          setOpenAiCompatStatus(status);
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => {
+        if (active) {
+          setOpenAiCompatStatus({ baseUrl: null, has_api_key: false });
+        }
+      });
+    return () => {
+      active = false;
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   // applyPreset removed alongside the Cloud / Local / Mixed preset pills —
   // the new Default/Custom binary toggle handles routing per workload.
 
@@ -2060,6 +2087,85 @@ const AIPanel = ({ embedded = false }: AIPanelProps = {}) => {
             </p>
           </div>
 
+          <section className="rounded-2xl border border-stone-200 dark:border-neutral-800 bg-stone-50/80 dark:bg-neutral-900/70 p-4">
+            <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 lg:flex-row lg:items-start lg:justify-between">
+              <div className="min-w-0">
+                <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-stone-900 dark:text-neutral-100">
+                  {t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.title')}
+                </h3>
+                <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-stone-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+                  {t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.description')}
+                </p>
+              </div>
+              <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2">
+                <span
+                  className={`rounded-full px-2.5 py-1 text-[11px] font-medium ring-1 ${
+                    openAiCompatStatus.has_api_key
+                      ? 'bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-700 ring-emerald-200 dark:bg-emerald-500/10 dark:text-emerald-200 dark:ring-emerald-500/30'
+                      : 'bg-amber-50 text-amber-700 ring-amber-200 dark:bg-amber-500/10 dark:text-amber-200 dark:ring-amber-500/30'
+                  }`}>
+                  {openAiCompatStatus.has_api_key
+                    ? t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured')
+                    : t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired')}
+                </span>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  onClick={() => setOpenAiCompatDialogOpen(true)}
+                  disabled={openAiCompatBusy !== null}
+                  className="rounded-lg bg-primary-500 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-white hover:bg-primary-600 disabled:opacity-50">
+                  {openAiCompatStatus.has_api_key
+                    ? t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey')
+                    : t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey')}
+                </button>
+                {openAiCompatStatus.has_api_key ? (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      setOpenAiCompatBusy('clear');
+                      clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey()
+                        .then(() => {
+                          setOpenAiCompatStatus(prev => ({ ...prev, has_api_key: false }));
+                        })
+                        .catch(err => {
+                          console.warn(
+                            '[ai-settings] clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey failed',
+                            err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
+                          );
+                        })
+                        .finally(() => setOpenAiCompatBusy(null));
+                    }}
+                    disabled={openAiCompatBusy !== null}
+                    className="rounded-lg border border-stone-200 dark:border-neutral-800 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-stone-700 dark:text-neutral-200 hover:bg-stone-100 dark:hover:bg-neutral-800 disabled:opacity-50">
+                    {t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey')}
+                  </button>
+                ) : null}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
+            <div className="mt-3 grid gap-3 md:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1fr)_220px]">
+              <div>
+                <label className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-stone-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+                  {t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel')}
+                </label>
+                <input
+                  readOnly
+                  value={
+                    openAiCompatStatus.baseUrl ?? t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable')
+                  }
+                  className="mt-1 w-full rounded-lg border border-stone-200 dark:border-neutral-800 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 px-3 py-2 font-mono text-xs text-stone-900 dark:text-neutral-100"
+                />
+              </div>
+              <div>
+                <label className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-stone-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+                  {t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel')}
+                </label>
+                <div className="mt-1 rounded-lg border border-stone-200 dark:border-neutral-800 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 px-3 py-2 font-mono text-xs text-stone-700 dark:text-neutral-300">
+                  {t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample')}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </section>
+
           {/* ─── Provider chip-toggle list ────────────────────────────────── */}
           <section className="space-y-3">
             {loading && (
@@ -2378,6 +2484,25 @@ const AIPanel = ({ embedded = false }: AIPanelProps = {}) => {
           );
         })()}
 
+      {openAiCompatDialogOpen && (
+        <ProviderKeyDialog
+          slug="external-openai-compat"
+          label={t('settings.ai.openAiCompat.title')}
+          isLocalRuntime={false}
+          onCancel={() => setOpenAiCompatDialogOpen(false)}
+          onSubmit={async value => {
+            setOpenAiCompatBusy('save');
+            try {
+              await setOpenAICompatEndpointKey(value.trim());
+              setOpenAiCompatStatus(prev => ({ ...prev, has_api_key: true }));
+              setOpenAiCompatDialogOpen(false);
+            } finally {
+              setOpenAiCompatBusy(null);
+            }
+          }}
+        />
+      )}
+
       {keyDialogFor && (
         <ProviderKeyDialog
           slug={keyDialogFor}
diff --git a/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx b/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx
index bc6cc3aa9..7928f4f8d 100644
--- a/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/settings/panels/__tests__/AIPanel.test.tsx
@@ -3,11 +3,14 @@ import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 
 import { listConnections as listComposioConnections } from '../../../../lib/composio/composioApi';
 import {
+  clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey,
   listProviderModels,
   loadAISettings,
   loadLocalProviderSnapshot,
+  loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus,
   saveAISettings,
   setCloudProviderKey,
+  setOpenAICompatEndpointKey,
 } from '../../../../services/api/aiSettingsApi';
 import { creditsApi } from '../../../../services/api/creditsApi';
 import { renderWithProviders } from '../../../../test/test-utils';
@@ -33,8 +36,11 @@ vi.mock('../../../../services/api/aiSettingsApi', () => ({
     'subconscious',
   ],
   loadAISettings: vi.fn(),
+  loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus: vi.fn(),
   saveAISettings: vi.fn(),
   loadLocalProviderSnapshot: vi.fn(),
+  setOpenAICompatEndpointKey: vi.fn(),
+  clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   setCloudProviderKey: vi.fn(),
   clearCloudProviderKey: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
   serializeProviderRef: vi.fn((r: { kind: string; providerSlug?: string; model?: string }) =>
@@ -189,7 +195,13 @@ describe('AIPanel', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     vi.mocked(loadAISettings).mockResolvedValue(baseSettings);
+    vi.mocked(loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus).mockResolvedValue({
+      baseUrl: 'http://127.0.0.1:7788/v1',
+      has_api_key: false,
+    });
     vi.mocked(loadLocalProviderSnapshot).mockResolvedValue(baseLocalSnapshot);
+    vi.mocked(setOpenAICompatEndpointKey).mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    vi.mocked(clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey).mockResolvedValue(undefined);
     vi.mocked(setCloudProviderKey).mockResolvedValue(undefined);
     vi.mocked(listProviderModels).mockResolvedValue([]);
     vi.mocked(openhumanHeartbeatSettingsGet).mockResolvedValue({
@@ -231,6 +243,69 @@ describe('AIPanel', () => {
     expect(screen.getAllByText(/^Routing$/).length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
   });
 
+  it('renders the OpenAI-compatible endpoint card with the local /v1 base URL', async () => {
+    renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText('OpenAI-compatible endpoint')).toBeInTheDocument());
+    expect(screen.getByDisplayValue('http://127.0.0.1:7788/v1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/Authorization: Bearer/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Set key' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('renders Rotate/Clear controls when an OpenAI-compat key is configured', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      baseUrl: 'http://127.0.0.1:7788/v1',
+      has_api_key: true,
+    });
+    renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Rotate key' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Clear key' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText('Key configured')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to the localized "Unavailable" base URL when resolution fails', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('boom'));
+    renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByDisplayValue('Unavailable')).toBeInTheDocument());
+  });
+
+  it('clears the OpenAI-compat key when the Clear button is clicked', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      baseUrl: 'http://127.0.0.1:7788/v1',
+      has_api_key: true,
+    });
+    renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
+
+    const clearBtn = await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'Clear key' });
+    fireEvent.click(clearBtn);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1));
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Set key' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('persists a new OpenAI-compat key via the Set key dialog', async () => {
+    renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
+
+    const setBtn = await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'Set key' });
+    fireEvent.click(setBtn);
+
+    const input = await screen.findByLabelText(/API Key/i);
+    fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: 'sk-test-12345' } });
+    const submit = screen.getByRole('button', { name: /^Save$/ });
+    fireEvent.click(submit);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(setOpenAICompatEndpointKey).toHaveBeenCalledWith('sk-test-12345'));
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Rotate key' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    );
+  });
+
   it('renders the OpenHuman primary card after load', async () => {
     renderWithProviders(<AIPanel />);
     // The OpenHuman label now appears in multiple places (provider card,
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ar-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ar-4.ts
index a8542964f..40005a44f 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ar-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ar-4.ts
@@ -295,6 +295,18 @@ const ar4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'محلي (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'النموذج',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'لا يوجد مزودون مخصصون',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'المزود',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'التوجيه',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'توجيه مخصص',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/bn-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/bn-4.ts
index 68ce23e3a..d4124ed13 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/bn-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/bn-4.ts
@@ -297,6 +297,18 @@ const bn4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'লোকাল (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'মডেল',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'কোনো কাস্টম প্রোভাইডার নেই',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'প্রোভাইডার',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'রুটিং',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'কাস্টম রুটিং',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-4.ts
index 2fb9ae2ff..c62746847 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/de-4.ts
@@ -305,6 +305,18 @@ const de4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Lokal (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Modell',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Keine benutzerdefinierten Anbieter',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Anbieter',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Routenführung',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Routing benutzerdefiniert',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/en-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/en-4.ts
index b5b3e70cf..9f43f460b 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/en-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/en-4.ts
@@ -303,6 +303,18 @@ const en4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Local (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Model',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'No custom providers',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Provider',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Routing',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Routing custom',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/es-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/es-4.ts
index f0e60635f..c818c7cf9 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/es-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/es-4.ts
@@ -300,6 +300,18 @@ const es4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Local (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Modelo',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Sin proveedores personalizados',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Proveedor',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Enrutamiento',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Enrutamiento personalizado',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/fr-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/fr-4.ts
index a8da2d56d..7cd625967 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/fr-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/fr-4.ts
@@ -299,6 +299,18 @@ const fr4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Local (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Modèle',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Aucun fournisseur personnalisé',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Fournisseur',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Routage',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Routage personnalisé',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/hi-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/hi-4.ts
index 5892e10b9..0364f12b4 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/hi-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/hi-4.ts
@@ -298,6 +298,18 @@ const hi4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'लोकल (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'मॉडल',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'कोई कस्टम प्रोवाइडर नहीं',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'प्रोवाइडर',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'रूटिंग',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'कस्टम रूटिंग',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/id-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/id-4.ts
index f358752c0..091387aec 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/id-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/id-4.ts
@@ -299,6 +299,18 @@ const id4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Lokal (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Model',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Tidak ada penyedia kustom',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Penyedia',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Perutean',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Routing kustom',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/it-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/it-4.ts
index d31922e65..bd52cc04e 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/it-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/it-4.ts
@@ -300,6 +300,18 @@ const it4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Locale (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Modello',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Nessun provider personalizzato',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Provider',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Instradamento',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Instradamento personalizzato',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/pt-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/pt-4.ts
index 5bd2212b5..4cc448437 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/pt-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/pt-4.ts
@@ -300,6 +300,18 @@ const pt4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Local (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Modelo',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Sem provedores personalizados',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Provedor',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Roteamento',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Roteamento personalizado',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ru-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ru-4.ts
index f5671fb92..a3a4ff812 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ru-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/ru-4.ts
@@ -297,6 +297,18 @@ const ru4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Локально (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Модель',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'Нет пользовательских провайдеров',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Провайдер',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Маршрутизация',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Пользовательская маршрутизация',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/zh-CN-4.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/zh-CN-4.ts
index 3f2f6d737..700295dd0 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/zh-CN-4.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/chunks/zh-CN-4.ts
@@ -291,6 +291,18 @@ const zhCN4: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': '本地（Ollama）',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': '模型',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': '未配置自定义提供商',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': '提供商',
   'settings.ai.routing': '路由',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': '自定义路由',
diff --git a/app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts b/app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts
index b666e3271..aba5dba94 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/i18n/en.ts
@@ -1703,6 +1703,18 @@ const en: TranslationMap = {
   'settings.ai.localOllama': 'Local (Ollama)',
   'settings.ai.modelLabel': 'Model',
   'settings.ai.noCustomProviders': 'No custom providers',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderExample': 'Authorization: Bearer <your key>',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.authHeaderLabel': 'Auth header',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlLabel': 'Base URL',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.baseUrlUnavailable': 'Unavailable',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.clearKey': 'Clear key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.description':
+    "Point local harnesses at this /v1 server to route through the providers configured below. Authentication uses a stable key you set here, not the app's internal core bearer.",
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyConfigured': 'Key configured',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.keyRequired': 'Key required',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.rotateKey': 'Rotate key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.setKey': 'Set key',
+  'settings.ai.openAiCompat.title': 'OpenAI-compatible endpoint',
   'settings.ai.providerLabel': 'Provider',
   'settings.ai.routing': 'Routing',
   'settings.ai.routingCustom': 'Custom routing',
diff --git a/app/src/services/api/__tests__/aiSettingsApi.test.ts b/app/src/services/api/__tests__/aiSettingsApi.test.ts
index 0253ea9c4..71736b400 100644
--- a/app/src/services/api/__tests__/aiSettingsApi.test.ts
+++ b/app/src/services/api/__tests__/aiSettingsApi.test.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import {
   type AISettings,
   clearCloudProviderKey,
+  clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey,
   flushCloudProviders,
   listProviderModels,
   loadAISettings,
   loadLocalProviderSnapshot,
+  loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus,
   localProvider,
   parseProviderString,
   type ProviderRef,
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ import {
   serializeProviderRef,
   setCloudProviderKey,
   setLocalRuntimeEnabled,
+  setOpenAICompatEndpointKey,
 } from '../aiSettingsApi';
 
 // ─── Mock declarations (must be hoisted before imports) ───────────────────────
@@ -33,13 +36,17 @@ const mockOpenhumanUpdateLocalAiSettings = vi.fn();
 const mockAuthStoreProviderCredentials = vi.fn();
 const mockAuthRemoveProviderCredentials = vi.fn();
 const mockCallCoreRpc = vi.fn();
+const mockGetCoreHttpBaseUrl = vi.fn();
 const mockIsTauri = vi.fn(() => true);
 const mockOpenhumanLocalAiStatus = vi.fn();
 const mockOpenhumanLocalAiDiagnostics = vi.fn();
 const mockOpenhumanLocalAiPresets = vi.fn();
 const mockOpenhumanLocalAiApplyPreset = vi.fn();
 
-vi.mock('../../coreRpcClient', () => ({ callCoreRpc: (a: unknown) => mockCallCoreRpc(a) }));
+vi.mock('../../coreRpcClient', () => ({
+  callCoreRpc: (a: unknown) => mockCallCoreRpc(a),
+  getCoreHttpBaseUrl: () => mockGetCoreHttpBaseUrl(),
+}));
 
 vi.mock('../../../utils/tauriCommands/common', () => ({
   isTauri: () => mockIsTauri(),
@@ -458,6 +465,34 @@ describe('loadAISettings', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockGetCoreHttpBaseUrl.mockReset();
+    mockAuthListProviderCredentials.mockReset();
+  });
+
+  it('returns the local /v1 base URL and configured-key status', async () => {
+    mockGetCoreHttpBaseUrl.mockResolvedValue('http://127.0.0.1:7788');
+    mockAuthListProviderCredentials.mockResolvedValue(
+      makeAuthProfileResult([{ id: 'prof-external', provider: 'external-openai-compat' }])
+    );
+
+    const status = await loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus();
+
+    expect(mockAuthListProviderCredentials).toHaveBeenCalledWith('external-openai-compat');
+    expect(status).toEqual({ baseUrl: 'http://127.0.0.1:7788/v1', has_api_key: true });
+  });
+
+  it('degrades gracefully when URL resolution or auth-list lookup fails', async () => {
+    mockGetCoreHttpBaseUrl.mockRejectedValue(new Error('unavailable'));
+    mockAuthListProviderCredentials.mockRejectedValue(new Error('no profiles file'));
+
+    const status = await loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus();
+
+    expect(status).toEqual({ baseUrl: null, has_api_key: false });
+  });
+});
+
 describe('local provider facade', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     mockOpenhumanUpdateLocalAiSettings.mockReset();
@@ -692,6 +727,35 @@ describe('clearCloudProviderKey', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('OpenAI-compatible endpoint key helpers', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockAuthStoreProviderCredentials.mockReset();
+    mockAuthStoreProviderCredentials.mockResolvedValue({ result: {} });
+    mockAuthRemoveProviderCredentials.mockReset();
+    mockAuthRemoveProviderCredentials.mockResolvedValue({ result: { removed: true } });
+  });
+
+  it('stores the endpoint bearer under the dedicated provider id', async () => {
+    await setOpenAICompatEndpointKey('router-key');
+
+    expect(mockAuthStoreProviderCredentials).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      provider: 'external-openai-compat',
+      profile: 'default',
+      token: 'router-key',
+      setActive: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('clears the endpoint bearer under the dedicated provider id', async () => {
+    await clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey();
+
+    expect(mockAuthRemoveProviderCredentials).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      provider: 'external-openai-compat',
+      profile: 'default',
+    });
+  });
+});
+
 // ─── listProviderModels ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe('listProviderModels', () => {
diff --git a/app/src/services/api/aiSettingsApi.ts b/app/src/services/api/aiSettingsApi.ts
index e801641c2..0f6c5a5f0 100644
--- a/app/src/services/api/aiSettingsApi.ts
+++ b/app/src/services/api/aiSettingsApi.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  * through this file. Keeps the wiring testable and the panel focused on
  * presentation.
  */
-import { callCoreRpc } from '../../services/coreRpcClient';
+import { callCoreRpc, getCoreHttpBaseUrl } from '../../services/coreRpcClient';
 import {
   authListProviderCredentials,
   type AuthProfileSummary,
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ export interface AISettings {
   routing: Record<WorkloadId, ProviderRef>;
 }
 
+export interface OpenAICompatEndpointStatus {
+  baseUrl: string | null;
+  has_api_key: boolean;
+}
+
 // ─── Read path: load + parse ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
@@ -175,6 +180,10 @@ function authKeyForSlug(slug: string): string {
   return `provider:${slug}`;
 }
 
+function openAiCompatAuthProvider(): string {
+  return 'external-openai-compat';
+}
+
 /**
  * Loads the full AI settings view by joining:
  *  - the core's client-config snapshot (cloud_providers + *_provider fields)
@@ -220,6 +229,23 @@ export async function loadAISettings(): Promise<AISettings> {
   return { cloudProviders, routing };
 }
 
+export async function loadOpenAICompatEndpointStatus(): Promise<OpenAICompatEndpointStatus> {
+  const [baseUrl, profilesRes] = await Promise.all([
+    getCoreHttpBaseUrl()
+      .then(url => `${url.replace(/\/$/, '')}/v1`)
+      .catch((): string | null => null),
+    authListProviderCredentials(openAiCompatAuthProvider()).catch(
+      (): { result: AuthProfileSummary[] } => ({ result: [] })
+    ),
+  ]);
+
+  const has_api_key = profilesRes.result.some(
+    profile => profile.provider.toLowerCase() === openAiCompatAuthProvider()
+  );
+
+  return { baseUrl, has_api_key };
+}
+
 // ─── Write path: diff + save ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
@@ -300,6 +326,19 @@ export async function clearCloudProviderKey(slug: string): Promise<void> {
   await authRemoveProviderCredentials({ provider: authKeyForSlug(slug), profile: 'default' });
 }
 
+export async function setOpenAICompatEndpointKey(apiKey: string): Promise<void> {
+  await authStoreProviderCredentials({
+    provider: openAiCompatAuthProvider(),
+    profile: 'default',
+    token: apiKey,
+    setActive: true,
+  });
+}
+
+export async function clearOpenAICompatEndpointKey(): Promise<void> {
+  await authRemoveProviderCredentials({ provider: openAiCompatAuthProvider(), profile: 'default' });
+}
+
 /**
  * Eagerly write the cloud_providers list to the core config.
  *
diff --git a/src/core/auth.rs b/src/core/auth.rs
index a1498d11e..e85b8a02c 100644
--- a/src/core/auth.rs
+++ b/src/core/auth.rs
@@ -31,14 +31,18 @@
 //!   headers, so the FE forwards the bearer as a query param. Validated
 //!   against the same in-process RPC token — no separate secret.
 //!
-//! Only `POST /rpc` carries executable commands and requires the bearer token.
+//! Executable surfaces:
+//! - `POST /rpc` requires the per-launch core bearer token.
+//! - `GET /v1/models` and `POST /v1/chat/completions` accept either that
+//!   internal bearer or a stable user-managed external API key stored under
+//!   `openhuman::inference::http::EXTERNAL_OPENAI_COMPAT_PROVIDER`.
 
 use std::io::Write as _;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::sync::OnceLock;
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
-use std::os::unix::fs::{OpenOptionsExt as _, PermissionsExt as _};
+use std::os::unix::fs::OpenOptionsExt as _;
 
 use axum::http::{header, Method, StatusCode};
 use axum::middleware::Next;
@@ -46,12 +50,16 @@ use axum::response::{IntoResponse, Response};
 use axum::Json;
 use serde_json::json;
 
+use crate::openhuman::config::Config;
+use crate::openhuman::credentials::AuthService;
+use crate::openhuman::inference::http::EXTERNAL_OPENAI_COMPAT_PROVIDER;
+
 static RPC_TOKEN: OnceLock<String> = OnceLock::new();
 
 /// Paths that bypass bearer-token authentication.
 ///
-/// Only `/rpc` carries executable commands and must be protected.  All other
-/// routes are read-only, streaming, or WebSocket upgrades whose clients
+/// `/rpc` and `/v1/*` carry executable surfaces and must be protected. All
+/// other routes are read-only, streaming, or WebSocket upgrades whose clients
 /// (browser `EventSource`, browser `WebSocket`) cannot set `Authorization`
 /// headers via standard APIs.
 const PUBLIC_PATHS: &[&str] = &[
@@ -159,8 +167,9 @@ pub fn verify_bearer_token(supplied: &str) -> bool {
 /// endpoints.
 ///
 /// Public paths (see [`PUBLIC_PATHS`]) and CORS preflight `OPTIONS` requests
-/// bypass this check.  All other requests must carry the exact bearer token
-/// that was written to `core.token` at startup.
+/// bypass this check. `/rpc` requires the exact per-launch bearer token that
+/// was written to `core.token` at startup; `/v1/*` additionally accepts a
+/// stable user-managed external API key.
 pub async fn rpc_auth_middleware(req: axum::extract::Request, next: Next) -> Response {
     let path = req.uri().path().to_string();
 
@@ -196,6 +205,11 @@ pub async fn rpc_auth_middleware(req: axum::extract::Request, next: Next) -> Res
         return next.run(req).await;
     }
 
+    if is_external_inference_path(&path) && verify_external_inference_bearer(header_token).await {
+        log::trace!("[auth] authorized request to {path} (external inference bearer)");
+        return next.run(req).await;
+    }
+
     // Header path failed — fall back to `?token=…` for SSE/WS routes whose
     // browser clients cannot set headers. The query token is validated
     // against the same in-process RPC bearer (single source of truth), so
@@ -228,6 +242,42 @@ fn bearer_matches(supplied: &str, expected: &str) -> bool {
     !supplied.is_empty() && supplied == expected
 }
 
+fn is_external_inference_path(path: &str) -> bool {
+    path == "/v1" || path.starts_with("/v1/")
+}
+
+fn verify_external_inference_bearer_for_config(config: &Config, supplied: &str) -> bool {
+    if supplied.trim().is_empty() {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    let auth = AuthService::from_config(config);
+    match auth.get_provider_bearer_token(EXTERNAL_OPENAI_COMPAT_PROVIDER, None) {
+        Ok(Some(expected)) => bearer_matches(supplied, expected.trim()),
+        Ok(None) => false,
+        Err(err) => {
+            log::warn!("[auth] failed to read external inference bearer: {err}");
+            false
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+async fn verify_external_inference_bearer(supplied: &str) -> bool {
+    if supplied.trim().is_empty() {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    let config = match Config::load_or_init().await {
+        Ok(config) => config,
+        Err(err) => {
+            log::warn!("[auth] failed to load config for external inference bearer: {err}");
+            return false;
+        }
+    };
+
+    verify_external_inference_bearer_for_config(&config, supplied)
+}
+
 /// Pull the first `token` query parameter out of a URL query string.
 ///
 /// Returns `None` when the query is absent, the key is missing, or the
@@ -378,6 +428,8 @@ mod tests {
     #[cfg(unix)]
     #[test]
     fn token_file_has_owner_only_permissions() {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt as _;
+
         let tmp = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("core-auth-perms-{}", std::process::id()));
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&tmp).unwrap();
         let path = tmp.join("core.token");
@@ -386,4 +438,39 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(mode & 0o777, 0o600, "token file must be 0o600");
         std::fs::remove_dir_all(&tmp).ok();
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_external_inference_path_matches_only_v1_routes() {
+        assert!(is_external_inference_path("/v1"));
+        assert!(is_external_inference_path("/v1/models"));
+        assert!(is_external_inference_path("/v1/chat/completions"));
+        assert!(!is_external_inference_path("/rpc"));
+        assert!(!is_external_inference_path("/v10/models"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn verify_external_inference_bearer_for_config_accepts_stored_key() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let mut config = Config::default();
+        config.config_path = tmp.path().join("config.toml");
+
+        let auth = AuthService::from_config(&config);
+        auth.store_provider_token(
+            EXTERNAL_OPENAI_COMPAT_PROVIDER,
+            "default",
+            "external-test-key",
+            std::collections::HashMap::new(),
+            true,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(verify_external_inference_bearer_for_config(
+            &config,
+            "external-test-key"
+        ));
+        assert!(!verify_external_inference_bearer_for_config(
+            &config,
+            "wrong-key"
+        ));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/openhuman/inference/http/mod.rs b/src/openhuman/inference/http/mod.rs
index 775ee9c35..9984bed9b 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/inference/http/mod.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/inference/http/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,17 @@
 //! ```ignore
 //! .nest("/v1", crate::openhuman::inference::http::router())
 //! ```
-//! It inherits the same bearer-token auth middleware that guards `/rpc`.
+//! It inherits the core bearer-token auth middleware, but `/v1/*` also accepts
+//! a stable user-managed external API key so local harnesses can treat
+//! OpenHuman like an OpenAI-compatible router.
+
+/// Auth-profile provider id used for the stable external bearer that guards
+/// the OpenAI-compatible `/v1/*` endpoint.
+///
+/// The value is stored through the existing credentials/auth RPC surface and
+/// resolved from `auth-profiles.json` on each external request. This keeps the
+/// secret encrypted at rest and scoped to the active user workspace.
+pub const EXTERNAL_OPENAI_COMPAT_PROVIDER: &str = "external-openai-compat";
 
 pub mod server;
 pub mod types;
diff --git a/src/openhuman/inference/http/server.rs b/src/openhuman/inference/http/server.rs
index 5c4f877de..66ff16a25 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/inference/http/server.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/inference/http/server.rs
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@
 //!
 //! ## Authentication
 //!
-//! All routes require `Authorization: Bearer <OPENHUMAN_CORE_TOKEN>` — the
-//! same per-launch token used by the JSON-RPC endpoint. Missing or wrong
-//! tokens get a `401 Unauthorized` from the shared middleware.
+//! All routes accept `Authorization: Bearer <token>`, but the token may be
+//! either:
+//! - the per-launch `OPENHUMAN_CORE_TOKEN` used by the desktop shell, or
+//! - a stable user-managed external API key stored under
+//!   `EXTERNAL_OPENAI_COMPAT_PROVIDER` for local harnesses.
+//!
+//! Missing or wrong tokens get a `401 Unauthorized` from the shared middleware.
 //!
 //! ## Provider routing
 //!
@@ -26,6 +30,7 @@ use axum::routing::{get, post};
 use axum::{extract::State, Json, Router};
 use futures_util::stream::{self, StreamExt};
 use serde_json::json;
+use std::collections::HashSet;
 use tracing::{debug, error};
 
 use crate::core::types::AppState;
@@ -259,27 +264,89 @@ async fn models_handler(State(_state): State<AppState>) -> Response {
 
     let created = chrono::Utc::now().timestamp();
     let mut data: Vec<ModelObject> = Vec::new();
+    let mut seen: HashSet<String> = HashSet::new();
+
+    let mut push_model = |id: String, owned_by: String| {
+        if seen.insert(id.clone()) {
+            data.push(ModelObject {
+                id,
+                object: "model",
+                created,
+                owned_by,
+            });
+        }
+    };
+
+    // Stable managed-router sentinel for callers that want OpenHuman to keep
+    // selecting the effective upstream model based on the current routing config.
+    push_model("openhuman".to_string(), "openhuman".to_string());
+
+    if let Some(default_model) = config
+        .default_model
+        .as_deref()
+        .map(str::trim)
+        .filter(|model| !model.is_empty())
+    {
+        push_model(
+            strip_temperature_suffix(default_model).to_string(),
+            "openhuman".to_string(),
+        );
+    }
 
     // Cloud provider default models
     for cp in &config.cloud_providers {
         if let Some(ref model) = cp.default_model {
-            data.push(ModelObject {
-                id: format!("{}:{}", cp.slug, model),
-                object: "model",
-                created,
-                owned_by: cp.slug.clone(),
-            });
+            push_model(
+                format!("{}:{}", cp.slug, strip_temperature_suffix(model)),
+                cp.slug.clone(),
+            );
         }
     }
 
     // Configured local chat model (Ollama)
     if !config.local_ai.chat_model_id.is_empty() {
-        data.push(ModelObject {
-            id: format!("ollama:{}", config.local_ai.chat_model_id),
-            object: "model",
-            created,
-            owned_by: "ollama".to_string(),
-        });
+        push_model(
+            format!("ollama:{}", config.local_ai.chat_model_id),
+            "ollama".to_string(),
+        );
+    }
+
+    for provider_string in [
+        config.chat_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.reasoning_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.agentic_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.coding_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.memory_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.embeddings_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.heartbeat_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.learning_provider.as_deref(),
+        config.subconscious_provider.as_deref(),
+    ]
+    .into_iter()
+    .flatten()
+    .map(str::trim)
+    .filter(|value| !value.is_empty() && *value != "cloud")
+    {
+        if provider_string == "openhuman" {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(model) = provider_string.strip_prefix("ollama:") {
+            push_model(
+                format!("ollama:{}", strip_temperature_suffix(model)),
+                "ollama".to_string(),
+            );
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if let Some((slug, model)) = provider_string.split_once(':') {
+            if slug != "openhuman" {
+                push_model(
+                    format!("{}:{}", slug, strip_temperature_suffix(model)),
+                    slug.to_string(),
+                );
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     debug!(model_count = data.len(), "{LOG_PREFIX} models: ok");
@@ -293,6 +360,18 @@ async fn models_handler(State(_state): State<AppState>) -> Response {
         .into_response()
 }
 
+pub(crate) fn strip_temperature_suffix(model: &str) -> &str {
+    let trimmed = model.trim();
+    let Some((head, tail)) = trimmed.rsplit_once('@') else {
+        return trimmed;
+    };
+    if tail.parse::<f64>().is_ok() {
+        head.trim()
+    } else {
+        trimmed
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 #[path = "tests.rs"]
 mod tests;
diff --git a/src/openhuman/inference/http/tests.rs b/src/openhuman/inference/http/tests.rs
index 987ceaffd..52682e933 100644
--- a/src/openhuman/inference/http/tests.rs
+++ b/src/openhuman/inference/http/tests.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use tower::ServiceExt;
 
 use crate::core::auth::CORE_TOKEN_ENV_VAR;
 use crate::core::jsonrpc::build_core_http_router;
+use crate::openhuman::inference::http::server::strip_temperature_suffix;
 
 const TEST_RPC_TOKEN: &str = "inference-http-tests-token";
 
@@ -122,3 +123,10 @@ async fn test_chat_completions_with_bearer_not_rejected_as_auth_error() {
         "403 must not fire when bearer is present"
     );
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn strip_temperature_suffix_only_removes_numeric_suffixes() {
+    assert_eq!(strip_temperature_suffix("gpt-4o@0.7"), "gpt-4o");
+    assert_eq!(strip_temperature_suffix("llama3.1:8b@1"), "llama3.1:8b");
+    assert_eq!(strip_temperature_suffix("gpt@beta"), "gpt@beta");
+}