diff --git a/backend/api/admin.py b/backend/api/admin.py
index 63a1274..98bd5e2 100644
--- a/backend/api/admin.py
+++ b/backend/api/admin.py
@@ -152,6 +152,31 @@ class SystemAiConfigUpdate(BaseModel):
         return v
 
 
+class TestConnectionRequest(BaseModel):
+    """Request body for POST /api/admin/ai-config/test-connection.
+
+    Unsaved form values (api_key, base_url, model_name) override the DB row so
+    admins can verify credentials before saving.  All override fields are optional;
+    omitting them falls back to whatever is stored in system_settings.
+    """
+
+    model_config = ConfigDict(extra="forbid")
+
+    provider_id: str
+    api_key: Optional[str] = None      # If non-empty, used instead of stored api_key_enc
+    base_url: Optional[str] = None     # If non-None, overrides DB base_url
+    model_name: Optional[str] = None   # If non-empty, overrides DB model_name
+
+    @field_validator("provider_id")
+    @classmethod
+    def provider_must_be_known(cls, v: str) -> str:
+        if v not in PROVIDER_DEFAULTS:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Unknown provider_id {v!r}. Must be one of: {list(PROVIDER_DEFAULTS.keys())}"
+            )
+        return v
+
+
 class SystemTopicCreate(BaseModel):
     """Request model for admin system topic creation (D-09)."""
 
@@ -628,32 +653,124 @@ async def create_system_topic(
 
 # ── System AI Provider Configuration (D-08, D-15) ────────────────────────────
 
-@router.get("/ai-config/test-connection")
-async def test_ai_connection(
+@router.get("/ai-config/models")
+async def get_ai_config_models(
     provider_id: str,
     session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db),
     _admin: User = Depends(get_current_admin),
 ) -> dict:
-    """Test connectivity for an AI provider configuration (D-08).
+    """Return the list of model IDs available from a provider's API (D-08).
 
-    Loads the system_settings row for the given provider_id (ignoring is_active
-    so admins can test inactive configurations), builds a provider instance, and
-    calls health_check().
+    Calls the provider's standard GET /models endpoint using the stored
+    config (base_url + api_key from system_settings).  Always returns 200
+    with {"models": [...]} — never 5xx on provider failure (returns empty list).
 
-    Returns {"ok": true/false, "provider_id": str} — never raises 5xx for
-    provider-side failures (surfaces as ok=False so the UI shows a clear status).
-
-    Security: requires get_current_admin; provider_id sourced from query param,
-    provider instance built only from DB row (never from request body).
+    Security: requires get_current_admin; provider_id from query param only;
+    decrypted api_key never appears in the response.
     """
+    import httpx  # noqa: PLC0415 — local import keeps admin.py startup fast
+
     config = await load_provider_config_by_id(session, provider_id)
-    if config is None:
-        return {"ok": False, "provider_id": provider_id, "reason": "not_configured"}
+
+    # Resolve base_url: prefer DB row, fall back to PROVIDER_DEFAULTS
+    if config and config.base_url:
+        base_url = config.base_url.rstrip("/")
+    else:
+        base_url = (PROVIDER_DEFAULTS.get(provider_id, {}).get("base_url") or "").rstrip("/")
+
+    if not base_url:
+        return {"models": [], "provider_id": provider_id}
+
+    api_key = config.api_key if config else ""
+
+    # Build request headers — Anthropic uses x-api-key; all others use Bearer
+    if provider_id == "anthropic":
+        headers = {
+            "x-api-key": api_key,
+            "anthropic-version": "2023-06-01",
+        }
+        models_url = "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/models"
+    else:
+        headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"} if api_key else {}
+        models_url = f"{base_url}/models"
 
     try:
-        provider = get_provider(config)
-        await provider.health_check()
-        return {"ok": True, "provider_id": provider_id}
+        async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=8.0) as client:
+            resp = await client.get(models_url, headers=headers)
+            resp.raise_for_status()
+            data = resp.json()
+
+        # Standard OpenAI-compat shape: {"data": [{"id": "...", ...}, ...]}
+        # Anthropic shape: {"data": [{"id": "...", ...}, ...]}
+        # Ollama OpenAI-compat: same shape
+        raw_list = data.get("data") or data.get("models") or []
+        model_ids: list[str] = sorted(
+            {
+                item["id"] if isinstance(item, dict) else str(item)
+                for item in raw_list
+                if item
+            }
+        )
+        return {"models": model_ids, "provider_id": provider_id}
+    except Exception as exc:
+        return {"models": [], "provider_id": provider_id, "error": str(exc)[:120]}
+
+
+@router.post("/ai-config/test-connection")
+async def test_ai_connection(
+    body: TestConnectionRequest,
+    session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db),
+    _admin: User = Depends(get_current_admin),
+) -> dict:
+    """Test connectivity for an AI provider, optionally with unsaved form values (D-08).
+
+    Loads the stored system_settings row for body.provider_id, then overlays any
+    non-empty values from the request body so admins can verify credentials before
+    saving them to the database.
+
+    Override priority (highest → lowest):
+      1. body.api_key / base_url / model_name  (unsaved form values)
+      2. system_settings DB row               (previously saved config)
+      3. PROVIDER_DEFAULTS                    (built-in fallback)
+
+    Returns {"ok": true/false, "provider_id": str} — never raises 5xx for
+    provider-side failures; surfaces as ok=False so the UI shows a clear status.
+
+    Security: requires get_current_admin; api_key from body is used only for the
+    in-flight health_check() call and is never stored or logged.
+    """
+    provider_id = body.provider_id
+    stored = await load_provider_config_by_id(session, provider_id)
+    defaults = PROVIDER_DEFAULTS.get(provider_id, {})
+
+    # Resolve effective values: body overrides DB, DB overrides PROVIDER_DEFAULTS
+    effective_api_key = (
+        body.api_key
+        if body.api_key
+        else (stored.api_key if stored else "")
+    )
+    effective_base_url = (
+        body.base_url
+        if body.base_url is not None
+        else (stored.base_url if stored else defaults.get("base_url"))
+    )
+    effective_model = (
+        body.model_name
+        if body.model_name
+        else (stored.model if stored else defaults.get("model", ""))
+    )
+
+    effective_config = ProviderConfig(
+        provider_id=provider_id,
+        api_key=effective_api_key,
+        base_url=effective_base_url,
+        model=effective_model,
+    )
+
+    try:
+        provider = get_provider(effective_config)
+        ok = await provider.health_check()
+        return {"ok": ok, "provider_id": provider_id}
     except Exception:
         return {"ok": False, "provider_id": provider_id, "reason": "health_check_failed"}
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.js b/frontend/src/api/client.js
index d466746..25f82b2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.js
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.js
@@ -304,9 +304,17 @@ export function saveAiConfig(body) {
   })
 }
 
-export function testAiConnection(providerId) {
+export function testAiConnection(providerId, overrides = {}) {
+  return request('/api/admin/ai-config/test-connection', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ provider_id: providerId, ...overrides }),
+  })
+}
+
+export function getAiModels(providerId) {
   return request(
-    '/api/admin/ai-config/test-connection?provider_id=' + encodeURIComponent(providerId),
+    '/api/admin/ai-config/models?provider_id=' + encodeURIComponent(providerId),
     { method: 'GET' }
   )
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminAiConfigTab.vue b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminAiConfigTab.vue
index 334751b..e0eed21 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminAiConfigTab.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/admin/AdminAiConfigTab.vue
@@ -74,14 +74,13 @@
               />
             </div>
 
-            <!-- Model name -->
+            <!-- Model name — searchable dropdown populated from provider's /models endpoint -->
             <div>
               <label class="block text-xs font-medium text-gray-600 mb-1">Model Name</label>
-              <input
+              <SearchableModelSelect
                 v-model="formByProvider[prov.provider_id].model_name"
-                type="text"
+                :provider-id="prov.provider_id"
                 :placeholder="providerDefaultModel(prov.provider_id)"
-                class="block w-full rounded-lg px-3 py-2 text-sm border border-gray-300 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-indigo-500 focus:border-indigo-500 transition-colors"
               />
             </div>
 
@@ -122,10 +121,14 @@
               <!-- Test Connection -->
               <button
                 @click="runTestConnection(prov.provider_id)"
-                :disabled="savingProvider === prov.provider_id"
-                class="text-xs border border-gray-300 text-gray-700 font-semibold px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg hover:bg-gray-100 disabled:opacity-50 transition-colors"
+                :disabled="testingProvider === prov.provider_id || savingProvider === prov.provider_id"
+                class="text-xs border border-gray-300 text-gray-700 font-semibold px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg hover:bg-gray-100 disabled:opacity-50 flex items-center gap-1.5 transition-colors"
               >
-                Test Connection
+                <span
+                  v-if="testingProvider === prov.provider_id"
+                  class="animate-spin rounded-full border-2 border-current border-t-transparent w-3 h-3"
+                ></span>
+                {{ testingProvider === prov.provider_id ? 'Testing…' : 'Test Connection' }}
               </button>
 
               <!-- Test result badge -->
@@ -222,6 +225,7 @@
 import { ref, reactive, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import * as api from '../../api/client.js'
 import { getAiConfig, saveAiConfig, testAiConnection } from '../../api/client.js'
+import SearchableModelSelect from '../ui/SearchableModelSelect.vue'
 
 // ── Per-provider default lookup (mirrors backend PROVIDER_DEFAULTS) ───────────
 
@@ -251,6 +255,7 @@ const openProviderId = ref(null)
 const formByProvider = reactive({})
 const testResults = reactive({})
 const savingProvider = ref(null)
+const testingProvider = ref(null)
 
 function toggleProvider(pid) {
   openProviderId.value = openProviderId.value === pid ? null : pid
@@ -304,11 +309,21 @@ async function saveSystemProvider(providerId, opts = {}) {
 }
 
 async function runTestConnection(providerId) {
+  testingProvider.value = providerId
+  testResults[providerId] = null
+  const form = formByProvider[providerId] || {}
+  // Pass unsaved form values so admins can test credentials before saving
+  const overrides = {}
+  if (form.api_key)     overrides.api_key   = form.api_key
+  if (form.base_url)    overrides.base_url   = form.base_url
+  if (form.model_name)  overrides.model_name = form.model_name
   try {
-    const r = await testAiConnection(providerId)
+    const r = await testAiConnection(providerId, overrides)
     testResults[providerId] = r.ok ? 'ok' : 'failed'
   } catch {
     testResults[providerId] = 'failed'
+  } finally {
+    testingProvider.value = null
   }
   setTimeout(() => { testResults[providerId] = null }, 3000)
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/documents/DocumentCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/documents/DocumentCard.vue
index 2d46f05..0b4a4cf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/documents/DocumentCard.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/documents/DocumentCard.vue
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
         <p class="font-medium text-gray-900 text-sm truncate">{{ doc.original_name }}</p>
         <p class="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5">{{ formatDate(doc.created_at) }} · {{ formatSize(doc.size_bytes) }}</p>
 
-        <!-- Topics -->
-        <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mt-2">
+        <!-- Topics (only when classified) -->
+        <div v-if="doc.status === 'ready'" class="flex flex-wrap gap-1 mt-2">
           <TopicBadge
             v-for="topicName in doc.topics"
             :key="topicName"
@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@
           <span v-if="!doc.topics?.length" class="text-xs text-gray-300 italic">unclassified</span>
         </div>
 
+        <!-- Processing indicator -->
+        <div v-else-if="doc.status === 'processing'" class="flex items-center gap-1.5 mt-2">
+          <span class="animate-spin rounded-full border-2 border-indigo-400 border-t-transparent w-3 h-3 shrink-0"></span>
+          <span class="text-xs text-indigo-500 font-medium">Classifying…</span>
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- Pending / queued indicator -->
+        <div v-else-if="doc.status === 'pending'" class="mt-2">
+          <span class="bg-gray-100 text-gray-500 text-xs font-medium px-2 py-1 rounded-full">Queued</span>
+        </div>
+
         <!-- Shared indicator pill -->
         <div v-if="doc.is_shared" class="mt-2">
           <span class="bg-indigo-50 text-indigo-600 text-xs font-medium px-2 py-1 rounded-full">Shared</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/SearchableModelSelect.vue b/frontend/src/components/ui/SearchableModelSelect.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3196ece
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/SearchableModelSelect.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,277 @@
+<template>
+  <div ref="container" class="relative">
+    <!-- Input: shows current value; typing filters the dropdown list -->
+    <div class="relative">
+      <input
+        ref="inputEl"
+        v-model="query"
+        type="text"
+        :placeholder="placeholder"
+        class="block w-full rounded-lg px-3 py-2 pr-8 text-sm border border-gray-300 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-indigo-500 focus:border-indigo-500 transition-colors"
+        autocomplete="off"
+        @focus="handleFocus"
+        @blur="handleBlur"
+        @keydown.down.prevent="moveDown"
+        @keydown.up.prevent="moveUp"
+        @keydown.enter.prevent="selectHighlighted"
+        @keydown.escape="close"
+        @input="onInput"
+      />
+      <!-- Chevron toggle button -->
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        tabindex="-1"
+        class="absolute inset-y-0 right-0 flex items-center px-2 text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600"
+        @mousedown.prevent="toggleOpen"
+      >
+        <svg
+          :class="['w-4 h-4 transition-transform', isOpen ? 'rotate-180' : '']"
+          fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+        >
+          <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7" />
+        </svg>
+      </button>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Dropdown — teleported to body to avoid overflow:hidden clipping in parent sections -->
+    <Teleport to="body">
+      <ul
+        v-if="isOpen"
+        ref="listEl"
+        :style="dropdownStyle"
+        class="fixed z-[9999] bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded-lg shadow-xl overflow-y-auto"
+        style="max-height: 240px;"
+        @mousedown.prevent
+      >
+        <!-- Loading state -->
+        <li v-if="loading" class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-gray-400">
+          <span class="animate-spin rounded-full border-2 border-current border-t-transparent w-3 h-3"></span>
+          Loading models…
+        </li>
+
+        <!-- Error state -->
+        <li v-else-if="fetchError && filtered.length === 0" class="px-3 py-2 text-sm text-amber-600">
+          Could not fetch models — type a name manually below.
+        </li>
+
+        <!-- Model list -->
+        <template v-else>
+          <li
+            v-for="(model, i) in filtered"
+            :key="model"
+            :class="[
+              'px-3 py-2 text-sm cursor-pointer select-none',
+              i === highlighted ? 'bg-indigo-50 text-indigo-900' : 'text-gray-800 hover:bg-gray-50'
+            ]"
+            @mousedown.prevent="selectModel(model)"
+          >
+            {{ model }}
+          </li>
+
+          <!-- No matches hint (only when query typed but nothing matches) -->
+          <li
+            v-if="filtered.length === 0 && query.trim()"
+            class="px-3 py-2 text-xs text-gray-400 italic"
+          >
+            No matches
+          </li>
+        </template>
+
+        <!-- Static "manual entry" — always last, always visible regardless of filter -->
+        <li
+          class="sticky bottom-0 flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-indigo-600 font-medium border-t border-gray-100 bg-white cursor-pointer hover:bg-indigo-50 select-none"
+          @mousedown.prevent="selectManual"
+        >
+          <svg class="w-3.5 h-3.5 shrink-0" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+            <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M15.232 5.232l3.536 3.536m-2.036-5.036a2.5 2.5 0 113.536 3.536L6.5 21.036H3v-3.572L16.732 3.732z" />
+          </svg>
+          <span>{{ query.trim() ? `Use "${query.trim()}"` : 'Enter model name manually' }}</span>
+        </li>
+      </ul>
+    </Teleport>
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script setup>
+import { ref, computed, watch, nextTick, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
+import { getAiModels } from '../../api/client.js'
+
+const props = defineProps({
+  modelValue: { type: String, default: '' },
+  providerId: { type: String, required: true },
+  placeholder: { type: String, default: '' },
+})
+const emit = defineEmits(['update:modelValue'])
+
+// ── State ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const container = ref(null)
+const inputEl = ref(null)
+const listEl = ref(null)
+const isOpen = ref(false)
+const query = ref(props.modelValue || '')   // displayed value in the input
+const filterText = ref('')                  // separate filter — only set when user types
+const hasTyped = ref(false)                 // false on open → show all models unfiltered
+const models = ref([])
+const loading = ref(false)
+const fetchError = ref(null)
+const highlighted = ref(-1)
+const dropdownStyle = ref({})
+// Cache fetched models per providerId so we don't re-fetch on each open
+const fetchedFor = ref(null)
+
+// ── Sync external modelValue → internal query when parent changes the value ───
+
+watch(() => props.modelValue, (val) => {
+  if (val !== query.value) query.value = val || ''
+})
+
+// ── Filtered list ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Show ALL models when the dropdown first opens (hasTyped=false).
+// Only filter once the user starts typing so the pre-filled value
+// doesn't hide every model that doesn't match the current selection.
+
+const filtered = computed(() => {
+  if (!hasTyped.value) return models.value
+  const q = filterText.value.trim().toLowerCase()
+  if (!q) return models.value
+  return models.value.filter(m => m.toLowerCase().includes(q))
+})
+
+// ── Dropdown position (recalculate from input bounding rect) ──────────────────
+
+function updatePosition() {
+  if (!inputEl.value) return
+  const rect = inputEl.value.getBoundingClientRect()
+  const spaceBelow = window.innerHeight - rect.bottom
+  const dropH = Math.min(240, 40 + filtered.value.length * 36 + 40)
+
+  // Prefer opening below; flip above if not enough space
+  if (spaceBelow >= dropH || spaceBelow > 120) {
+    dropdownStyle.value = {
+      top: `${rect.bottom + 4}px`,
+      left: `${rect.left}px`,
+      width: `${rect.width}px`,
+    }
+  } else {
+    dropdownStyle.value = {
+      bottom: `${window.innerHeight - rect.top + 4}px`,
+      left: `${rect.left}px`,
+      width: `${rect.width}px`,
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Fetch models from backend ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+async function fetchModels() {
+  if (fetchedFor.value === props.providerId) return   // already cached for this provider
+  loading.value = true
+  fetchError.value = null
+  try {
+    const data = await getAiModels(props.providerId)
+    models.value = data.models || []
+    fetchedFor.value = props.providerId
+    if (data.error) fetchError.value = data.error
+  } catch (e) {
+    fetchError.value = e.message || 'fetch failed'
+    models.value = []
+  } finally {
+    loading.value = false
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Open / close ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+async function open() {
+  isOpen.value = true
+  highlighted.value = -1
+  hasTyped.value = false   // reset so all models are shown on open
+  filterText.value = ''
+  await nextTick()
+  updatePosition()
+  fetchModels()
+}
+
+function close() {
+  isOpen.value = false
+  highlighted.value = -1
+  hasTyped.value = false
+  filterText.value = ''
+}
+
+function toggleOpen() {
+  if (isOpen.value) {
+    close()
+  } else {
+    inputEl.value?.focus()
+    open()
+  }
+}
+
+function handleFocus() {
+  open()
+}
+
+// Delay close so mousedown on list items fires first
+function handleBlur() {
+  setTimeout(close, 150)
+}
+
+// ── Input handler — emit new value as user types ──────────────────────────────
+
+function onInput() {
+  hasTyped.value = true
+  filterText.value = query.value
+  emit('update:modelValue', query.value)
+  highlighted.value = -1
+  if (!isOpen.value) open()
+}
+
+// ── Selection ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function selectModel(model) {
+  query.value = model
+  emit('update:modelValue', model)
+  close()
+}
+
+function selectManual() {
+  // Commit whatever is currently typed and close
+  emit('update:modelValue', query.value)
+  close()
+}
+
+// ── Keyboard navigation ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function moveDown() {
+  if (!isOpen.value) { open(); return }
+  const max = filtered.value.length  // +1 for manual entry item, but we skip it in keyboard nav
+  highlighted.value = highlighted.value < max - 1 ? highlighted.value + 1 : 0
+}
+
+function moveUp() {
+  if (!isOpen.value) return
+  const max = filtered.value.length
+  highlighted.value = highlighted.value > 0 ? highlighted.value - 1 : max - 1
+}
+
+function selectHighlighted() {
+  if (highlighted.value >= 0 && highlighted.value < filtered.value.length) {
+    selectModel(filtered.value[highlighted.value])
+  } else {
+    selectManual()
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Reposition on scroll/resize so dropdown tracks input ─────────────────────
+
+function onScroll() { if (isOpen.value) updatePosition() }
+
+window.addEventListener('scroll', onScroll, true)
+window.addEventListener('resize', onScroll)
+onUnmounted(() => {
+  window.removeEventListener('scroll', onScroll, true)
+  window.removeEventListener('resize', onScroll)
+})
+</script>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/FileManagerView.vue b/frontend/src/views/FileManagerView.vue
index c583965..2afe2b1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/FileManagerView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/FileManagerView.vue
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { ref, reactive, computed, watch, onMounted } from 'vue'
+import { ref, reactive, computed, watch, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useFoldersStore } from '../stores/folders.js'
 import { useDocumentsStore } from '../stores/documents.js'