diff --git a/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.test.tsx b/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.test.tsx
index 3c7caaa1..471c6d1c 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.test.tsx
@@ -69,9 +69,21 @@ vi.mock('../controls/PermissionModeSelector', () => ({
   PermissionModeSelector: () => <button type="button">Permissions</button>,
 }))
 
-vi.mock('../controls/ModelSelector', () => ({
-  ModelSelector: () => <button type="button">Model</button>,
-}))
+vi.mock('../controls/ModelSelector', async () => {
+  const React = await vi.importActual<typeof import('react')>('react')
+  return {
+    ModelSelector: React.forwardRef<{ open: () => void }, Record<string, never>>((_props, ref) => {
+      const [open, setOpen] = React.useState(false)
+      React.useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({ open: () => setOpen(true) }), [])
+      return (
+        <>
+          <button type="button">Model</button>
+          {open && <div data-testid="model-selector-dropdown">Model selector opened</div>}
+        </>
+      )
+    }),
+  }
+})
 
 import { ChatInput } from './ChatInput'
 import { useChatStore } from '../../stores/chatStore'
@@ -1335,6 +1347,32 @@ describe('ChatInput file mentions', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('opens the model selector for /model without sending a user message', async () => {
+    useSettingsStore.setState({
+      chatSendBehavior: 'enter',
+    })
+
+    render(<ChatInput />)
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(mocks.getGitInfo).toHaveBeenCalledWith(sessionId)
+    })
+
+    const input = screen.getByRole('textbox') as HTMLTextAreaElement
+    fireEvent.change(input, {
+      target: {
+        value: '/model',
+        selectionStart: 6,
+      },
+    })
+
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: 'Enter' })
+
+    expect(mocks.wsSend).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('model-selector-dropdown')).toHaveTextContent('Model selector opened')
+    expect(input).toHaveValue('')
+  })
+
   it('prioritizes active-session slash commands by command name when filtering', async () => {
     useChatStore.setState({
       sessions: {
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.tsx b/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.tsx
index 0aff84d1..36d36c78 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import {
 import { sessionsApi, type SessionGitInfo } from '../../api/sessions'
 import { agentsApi } from '../../api/agents'
 import { PermissionModeSelector } from '../controls/PermissionModeSelector'
-import { ModelSelector } from '../controls/ModelSelector'
+import { ModelSelector, type ModelSelectorHandle } from '../controls/ModelSelector'
 import type { AttachmentRef } from '../../types/chat'
 import { AttachmentGallery } from './AttachmentGallery'
 import { ComposerDropOverlay } from './ComposerDropOverlay'
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ export function ChatInput({ variant = 'default', compact = false }: ChatInputPro
   const textareaRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null)
   const panelRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null)
+  const modelSelectorRef = useRef<ModelSelectorHandle>(null)
   const plusMenuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const slashMenuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const fileSearchRef = useRef<FileSearchMenuHandle>(null)
@@ -628,6 +629,15 @@ export function ChatInput({ variant = 'default', compact = false }: ChatInputPro
       return
     }
 
+    if (pendingSlashUiAction?.type === 'model') {
+      modelSelectorRef.current?.open()
+      setComposerInput('')
+      setSlashMenuOpen(false)
+      setFileSearchOpen(false)
+      setPlusMenuOpen(false)
+      return
+    }
+
     if (showLaunchControls && (!launchReady || launchTransitioning)) return
 
     const workspaceReferencePrompt = !isMemberSession
@@ -1296,7 +1306,7 @@ export function ChatInput({ variant = 'default', compact = false }: ChatInputPro
                 />
               )}
               {!isMemberSession && activeTabId && (
-                <ModelSelector runtimeKey={activeTabId} disabled={isActive} compact={useCompactControls} />
+                <ModelSelector ref={modelSelectorRef} runtimeKey={activeTabId} disabled={isActive} compact={useCompactControls} />
               )}
               <button
                 onClick={!isMemberSession && isActive ? () => stopGeneration(activeTabId!) : handleSubmit}
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.test.ts b/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.test.ts
index 55478f7e..f713caeb 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.test.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ describe('composerUtils', () => {
     expect(resolveSlashUiAction('status')).toEqual({ type: 'panel', command: 'status' })
   })
 
+  it('routes /model to the local model selector action', () => {
+    expect(resolveSlashUiAction('model')).toEqual({ type: 'model' })
+  })
+
   it('falls back to the static English description when a translation key is missing', () => {
     // Simulate an i18n t() function that returns the raw key for missing entries
     // (this is what the real translate() does via zh[key] ?? en[key] ?? key).
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.ts b/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.ts
index 2c442831..3663d38b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/components/chat/composerUtils.ts
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ export type SlashUiAction =
       type: 'settings'
       tab: SettingsTab
     }
+  | {
+      type: 'model'
+    }
 
 export function resolveSlashUiAction(value: string): SlashUiAction | null {
   const normalizedValue = SLASH_COMMAND_ALIASES.find((alias) => alias.name === value)?.target ?? value
@@ -186,6 +189,10 @@ export function resolveSlashUiAction(value: string): SlashUiAction | null {
     return { type: 'settings', tab: settingsCommand.tab }
   }
 
+  if (normalizedValue === 'model') {
+    return { type: 'model' }
+  }
+
   return null
 }
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/components/controls/ModelSelector.tsx b/desktop/src/components/controls/ModelSelector.tsx
index 306ea2a0..9823fe8c 100644
--- a/desktop/src/components/controls/ModelSelector.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/components/controls/ModelSelector.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { forwardRef, useCallback, useEffect, useImperativeHandle, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { createPortal } from 'react-dom'
 import { OFFICIAL_DEFAULT_MODEL_ID, OFFICIAL_MODELS } from '../../constants/modelCatalog'
 import {
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ type Props = {
   compact?: boolean
 }
 
+export type ModelSelectorHandle = {
+  open: () => void
+}
+
 type DropdownPosition = {
   top: number | undefined
   bottom: number | undefined
@@ -164,7 +168,7 @@ function resolveDefaultRuntimeSelection(
   }
 }
 
-export function ModelSelector({
+export const ModelSelector = forwardRef<ModelSelectorHandle, Props>(function ModelSelector({
   value,
   onChange,
   runtimeSelection: controlledRuntimeSelection,
@@ -172,7 +176,7 @@ export function ModelSelector({
   runtimeKey,
   disabled = false,
   compact = false,
-}: Props = {}) {
+}: Props = {}, selectorRef) {
   const t = useTranslation()
   const isMobileBrowser = useMobileViewport() && !isDesktopRuntime()
   const {
@@ -228,6 +232,14 @@ export function ModelSelector({
     void fetchOpenAIOAuthStatus()
   }, [fetchClaudeOAuthStatus, fetchOpenAIOAuthStatus, isRuntimeScoped, open])
 
+  const openSelector = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!disabled) setOpen(true)
+  }, [disabled])
+
+  useImperativeHandle(selectorRef, () => ({
+    open: openSelector,
+  }), [openSelector])
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!open) return
     const handleClick = (e: MouseEvent) => {
@@ -587,4 +599,4 @@ export function ModelSelector({
       {dropdown}
     </div>
   )
-}
+})
diff --git a/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.test.tsx b/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.test.tsx
index 0926f8bd..1ed8f1d3 100644
--- a/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.test.tsx
@@ -110,13 +110,23 @@ vi.mock('../components/controls/PermissionModeSelector', () => ({
   ),
 }))
 
-vi.mock('../components/controls/ModelSelector', () => ({
-  ModelSelector: ({ compact }: { compact?: boolean }) => (
-    <button type="button" data-testid="model-selector" data-compact={compact ? 'true' : 'false'}>
-      Model
-    </button>
-  ),
-}))
+vi.mock('../components/controls/ModelSelector', async () => {
+  const React = await vi.importActual<typeof import('react')>('react')
+  return {
+    ModelSelector: React.forwardRef<{ open: () => void }, { compact?: boolean }>(({ compact }, ref) => {
+      const [open, setOpen] = React.useState(false)
+      React.useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({ open: () => setOpen(true) }), [])
+      return (
+        <>
+          <button type="button" data-testid="model-selector" data-compact={compact ? 'true' : 'false'}>
+            Model
+          </button>
+          {open && <div data-testid="model-selector-dropdown">Model selector opened</div>}
+        </>
+      )
+    }),
+  }
+})
 
 import { EmptySession } from './EmptySession'
 import { ApiError } from '../api/client'
@@ -353,6 +363,29 @@ describe('EmptySession', () => {
     expect(input).toHaveValue('/agent debugger ')
   })
 
+  it('opens the draft model selector for /model without creating or sending a session', async () => {
+    useSettingsStore.setState({
+      chatSendBehavior: 'enter',
+    })
+
+    render(<EmptySession />)
+
+    const input = screen.getByRole('textbox') as HTMLTextAreaElement
+    fireEvent.change(input, {
+      target: {
+        value: '/model',
+        selectionStart: 6,
+      },
+    })
+
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: 'Enter' })
+
+    expect(mocks.createSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mocks.wsSend).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(await screen.findByTestId('model-selector-dropdown')).toHaveTextContent('Model selector opened')
+    expect(input).toHaveValue('')
+  })
+
   it('selects a highlighted agent entry from /agent without creating a session', async () => {
     useSettingsStore.setState({
       chatSendBehavior: 'enter',
diff --git a/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.tsx b/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.tsx
index 92482e1d..c87c2133 100644
--- a/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { useUIStore } from '../stores/uiStore'
 import { SETTINGS_TAB_ID, useTabStore } from '../stores/tabStore'
 import { RepositoryLaunchControls } from '../components/shared/RepositoryLaunchControls'
 import { PermissionModeSelector } from '../components/controls/PermissionModeSelector'
-import { ModelSelector } from '../components/controls/ModelSelector'
+import { ModelSelector, type ModelSelectorHandle } from '../components/controls/ModelSelector'
 import { AttachmentGallery } from '../components/chat/AttachmentGallery'
 import { ComposerDropOverlay } from '../components/chat/ComposerDropOverlay'
 import { ContextUsageIndicator } from '../components/chat/ContextUsageIndicator'
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ export function EmptySession() {
   const textareaRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null)
   const panelRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null)
+  const modelSelectorRef = useRef<ModelSelectorHandle>(null)
   const plusMenuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const slashMenuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const fileSearchRef = useRef<FileSearchMenuHandle>(null)
@@ -303,6 +304,15 @@ export function EmptySession() {
       return
     }
 
+    if (slashUiAction?.type === 'model') {
+      modelSelectorRef.current?.open()
+      setInput('')
+      setSlashMenuOpen(false)
+      setFileSearchOpen(false)
+      setPlusMenuOpen(false)
+      return
+    }
+
     setIsSubmitting(true)
     try {
       const explicitDraftSelection = useSessionRuntimeStore.getState().selections[DRAFT_RUNTIME_SELECTION_KEY]
@@ -784,7 +794,7 @@ export function EmptySession() {
                     draft
                     compact={isMobileComposer}
                   />
-                  <ModelSelector runtimeKey={DRAFT_RUNTIME_SELECTION_KEY} disabled={isSubmitting} compact={isMobileComposer} />
+                  <ModelSelector ref={modelSelectorRef} runtimeKey={DRAFT_RUNTIME_SELECTION_KEY} disabled={isSubmitting} compact={isMobileComposer} />
                   <button
                     onClick={handleSubmit}
                     disabled={!canSubmit}