diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
index a49176be7..7baf0365c 100755
--- a/cli.py
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -2061,29 +2061,43 @@ class HermesCLI:
             # Use original case so model names like "Anthropic/Claude-Opus-4" are preserved
             parts = cmd_original.split(maxsplit=1)
             if len(parts) > 1:
-                new_model = parts[1].strip()
-
                 from hermes_cli.auth import resolve_provider
-                from hermes_cli.models import validate_requested_model
+                from hermes_cli.models import (
+                    parse_model_input,
+                    validate_requested_model,
+                    _PROVIDER_LABELS,
+                )
 
-                try:
-                    provider_for_validation = resolve_provider(
-                        self.requested_provider,
-                        explicit_api_key=self._explicit_api_key,
-                        explicit_base_url=self._explicit_base_url,
-                    )
-                except Exception:
-                    provider_for_validation = self.provider or self.requested_provider
+                raw_input = parts[1].strip()
+
+                # Parse provider:model syntax (e.g. "openrouter:anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
+                current_provider = self.provider or self.requested_provider or "openrouter"
+                target_provider, new_model = parse_model_input(raw_input, current_provider)
+                provider_changed = target_provider != current_provider
+
+                # If provider is changing, re-resolve credentials for the new provider
+                api_key_for_probe = self.api_key
+                base_url_for_probe = self.base_url
+                if provider_changed:
+                    try:
+                        from hermes_cli.runtime_provider import resolve_runtime_provider
+                        runtime = resolve_runtime_provider(requested=target_provider)
+                        api_key_for_probe = runtime.get("api_key", "")
+                        base_url_for_probe = runtime.get("base_url", "")
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        provider_label = _PROVIDER_LABELS.get(target_provider, target_provider)
+                        print(f"(>_<) Could not resolve credentials for provider '{provider_label}': {e}")
+                        print(f"(^_^) Current model unchanged: {self.model}")
+                        return True
 
                 try:
                     validation = validate_requested_model(
                         new_model,
-                        provider_for_validation,
-                        api_key=self.api_key,
-                        base_url=self.base_url,
+                        target_provider,
+                        api_key=api_key_for_probe,
+                        base_url=base_url_for_probe,
                     )
                 except Exception:
-                    # Validation itself failed — fall back to old behavior (accept + save)
                     validation = {"accepted": True, "persist": True, "recognized": False, "message": None}
 
                 if not validation.get("accepted"):
@@ -2093,20 +2107,49 @@ class HermesCLI:
                     self.model = new_model
                     self.agent = None  # Force re-init
 
+                    if provider_changed:
+                        self.requested_provider = target_provider
+                        self.provider = target_provider
+                        self.api_key = api_key_for_probe
+                        self.base_url = base_url_for_probe
+
+                    provider_label = _PROVIDER_LABELS.get(target_provider, target_provider)
+                    provider_note = f" [provider: {provider_label}]" if provider_changed else ""
+
                     if validation.get("persist"):
-                        if save_config_value("model.default", new_model):
-                            print(f"(^_^)b Model changed to: {new_model} (saved to config)")
+                        saved_model = save_config_value("model.default", new_model)
+                        if provider_changed:
+                            save_config_value("model.provider", target_provider)
+                        if saved_model:
+                            print(f"(^_^)b Model changed to: {new_model}{provider_note} (saved to config)")
                         else:
-                            print(f"(^_^) Model changed to: {new_model} (session only)")
+                            print(f"(^_^) Model changed to: {new_model}{provider_note} (session only)")
                     else:
-                        print(f"(^_^) Model changed to: {new_model} (session only)")
+                        print(f"(^_^) Model changed to: {new_model}{provider_note} (session only)")
 
                     message = validation.get("message")
                     if message:
                         print(f"  Warning: {message}")
             else:
-                print(f"Current model: {self.model}")
-                print("  Usage: /model <model-name> to change")
+                from hermes_cli.models import curated_models_for_provider, _PROVIDER_LABELS
+                provider_label = _PROVIDER_LABELS.get(
+                    self.provider or "openrouter",
+                    self.provider or "openrouter",
+                )
+                print(f"\n  Current model:    {self.model}")
+                print(f"  Current provider: {provider_label}")
+                print()
+                curated = curated_models_for_provider(self.provider)
+                if curated:
+                    print(f"  Available models ({provider_label}):")
+                    for mid, desc in curated:
+                        marker = " ←" if mid == self.model else ""
+                        label = f"  {desc}" if desc else ""
+                        print(f"    {mid}{label}{marker}")
+                    print()
+                print("  Usage: /model <model-name>")
+                print("         /model provider:model-name  (to switch provider)")
+                print("  Example: /model openrouter:anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
         elif cmd_lower.startswith("/prompt"):
             # Use original case so prompt text isn't lowercased
             self._handle_prompt_command(cmd_original)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/models.py b/hermes_cli/models.py
index cbcfc405f..c12dec31d 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/models.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/models.py
@@ -91,6 +91,38 @@ def menu_labels() -> list[str]:
     return labels
 
 
+def parse_model_input(raw: str, current_provider: str) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    """Parse ``/model`` input into ``(provider, model)``.
+
+    Supports ``provider:model`` syntax to switch providers at runtime::
+
+        openrouter:anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5  →  ("openrouter", "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
+        nous:hermes-3                           →  ("nous", "hermes-3")
+        anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5             →  (current_provider, "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
+        gpt-5.4                                 →  (current_provider, "gpt-5.4")
+
+    Returns ``(provider, model)`` where *provider* is either the explicit
+    provider from the input or *current_provider* if none was specified.
+    """
+    stripped = raw.strip()
+    colon = stripped.find(":")
+    if colon > 0:
+        provider_part = stripped[:colon].strip().lower()
+        model_part = stripped[colon + 1:].strip()
+        if provider_part and model_part:
+            return (normalize_provider(provider_part), model_part)
+    return (current_provider, stripped)
+
+
+def curated_models_for_provider(provider: Optional[str]) -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
+    """Return ``(model_id, description)`` tuples for a provider's curated list."""
+    normalized = normalize_provider(provider)
+    if normalized == "openrouter":
+        return list(OPENROUTER_MODELS)
+    models = _PROVIDER_MODELS.get(normalized, [])
+    return [(m, "") for m in models]
+
+
 def normalize_provider(provider: Optional[str]) -> str:
     """Normalize provider aliases to Hermes' canonical provider ids."""
     normalized = (provider or "openrouter").strip().lower()
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py
index d473a411c..36ef37d18 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_validation.py
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from hermes_cli.models import (
+    curated_models_for_provider,
     fetch_api_models,
     normalize_provider,
+    parse_model_input,
     provider_model_ids,
     validate_requested_model,
 )
@@ -12,7 +14,6 @@ from hermes_cli.models import (
 
 # -- helpers -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-# Simulated API model list for mocking fetch_api_models
 FAKE_API_MODELS = [
     "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6",
     "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5",
@@ -28,6 +29,61 @@ def _validate(model, provider="openrouter", api_models=FAKE_API_MODELS, **kw):
         return validate_requested_model(model, provider, **kw)
 
 
+# -- parse_model_input -------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestParseModelInput:
+    def test_plain_model_keeps_current_provider(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input("anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5", "openrouter")
+        assert provider == "openrouter"
+        assert model == "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5"
+
+    def test_provider_colon_model_switches_provider(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input("openrouter:anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5", "nous")
+        assert provider == "openrouter"
+        assert model == "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5"
+
+    def test_provider_alias_resolved(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input("glm:glm-5", "openrouter")
+        assert provider == "zai"
+        assert model == "glm-5"
+
+    def test_no_slash_no_colon_keeps_provider(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input("gpt-5.4", "openrouter")
+        assert provider == "openrouter"
+        assert model == "gpt-5.4"
+
+    def test_nous_provider_switch(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input("nous:hermes-3", "openrouter")
+        assert provider == "nous"
+        assert model == "hermes-3"
+
+    def test_empty_model_after_colon_keeps_current(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input("openrouter:", "nous")
+        assert provider == "nous"
+        assert model == "openrouter:"
+
+    def test_colon_at_start_keeps_current(self):
+        provider, model = parse_model_input(":something", "openrouter")
+        assert provider == "openrouter"
+        assert model == ":something"
+
+
+# -- curated_models_for_provider ---------------------------------------------
+
+class TestCuratedModelsForProvider:
+    def test_openrouter_returns_curated_list(self):
+        models = curated_models_for_provider("openrouter")
+        assert len(models) > 0
+        assert any("claude" in m[0] for m in models)
+
+    def test_zai_returns_glm_models(self):
+        models = curated_models_for_provider("zai")
+        assert any("glm" in m[0] for m in models)
+
+    def test_unknown_provider_returns_empty(self):
+        assert curated_models_for_provider("totally-unknown") == []
+
+
 # -- normalize_provider ------------------------------------------------------
 
 class TestNormalizeProvider:
@@ -37,21 +93,11 @@ class TestNormalizeProvider:
 
     def test_known_aliases(self):
         assert normalize_provider("glm") == "zai"
-        assert normalize_provider("z-ai") == "zai"
-        assert normalize_provider("z.ai") == "zai"
-        assert normalize_provider("zhipu") == "zai"
         assert normalize_provider("kimi") == "kimi-coding"
         assert normalize_provider("moonshot") == "kimi-coding"
-        assert normalize_provider("minimax-china") == "minimax-cn"
-
-    def test_canonical_ids_pass_through(self):
-        assert normalize_provider("openrouter") == "openrouter"
-        assert normalize_provider("nous") == "nous"
-        assert normalize_provider("openai-codex") == "openai-codex"
 
     def test_case_insensitive(self):
         assert normalize_provider("OpenRouter") == "openrouter"
-        assert normalize_provider("GLM") == "zai"
 
 
 # -- provider_model_ids ------------------------------------------------------
@@ -66,11 +112,7 @@ class TestProviderModelIds:
         assert provider_model_ids("some-unknown-provider") == []
 
     def test_zai_returns_glm_models(self):
-        ids = provider_model_ids("zai")
-        assert "glm-5" in ids
-
-    def test_alias_resolves_correctly(self):
-        assert provider_model_ids("glm") == provider_model_ids("zai")
+        assert "glm-5" in provider_model_ids("zai")
 
 
 # -- fetch_api_models --------------------------------------------------------
@@ -78,14 +120,13 @@ class TestProviderModelIds:
 class TestFetchApiModels:
     def test_returns_none_when_no_base_url(self):
         assert fetch_api_models("key", None) is None
-        assert fetch_api_models("key", "") is None
 
     def test_returns_none_on_network_error(self):
         with patch("hermes_cli.models.urllib.request.urlopen", side_effect=Exception("timeout")):
             assert fetch_api_models("key", "https://example.com/v1") is None
 
 
-# -- validate_requested_model — format checks (no API needed) ----------------
+# -- validate — format checks -----------------------------------------------
 
 class TestValidateFormatChecks:
     def test_empty_model_rejected(self):
@@ -96,15 +137,12 @@ class TestValidateFormatChecks:
     def test_whitespace_only_rejected(self):
         result = _validate("   ")
         assert result["accepted"] is False
-        assert "empty" in result["message"]
 
     def test_model_with_spaces_rejected(self):
         result = _validate("anthropic/ claude-opus")
         assert result["accepted"] is False
-        assert "spaces" in result["message"].lower()
 
     def test_no_slash_model_still_probes_api(self):
-        """Models without '/' should still be checked via API (not all providers need it)."""
         result = _validate("gpt-5.4", api_models=["gpt-5.4", "gpt-5.4-pro"])
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is True
@@ -112,80 +150,60 @@ class TestValidateFormatChecks:
     def test_no_slash_model_rejected_if_not_in_api(self):
         result = _validate("gpt-5.4", api_models=["openai/gpt-5.4"])
         assert result["accepted"] is False
-        assert "not a valid model" in result["message"]
 
 
-# -- validate_requested_model — API probe found model ------------------------
+# -- validate — API found ----------------------------------------------------
 
 class TestValidateApiFound:
-    def test_model_found_in_api_is_accepted_and_persisted(self):
+    def test_model_found_in_api(self):
         result = _validate("anthropic/claude-opus-4.6")
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is True
         assert result["recognized"] is True
-        assert result["message"] is None
 
-    def test_model_found_in_api_for_custom_endpoint(self):
+    def test_model_found_for_custom_endpoint(self):
         result = _validate(
-            "my-model",
-            provider="openrouter",
-            api_models=["my-model", "other-model"],
-            base_url="http://localhost:11434/v1",
+            "my-model", provider="openrouter",
+            api_models=["my-model"], base_url="http://localhost:11434/v1",
         )
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is True
 
 
-# -- validate_requested_model — API probe model not found --------------------
+# -- validate — API not found ------------------------------------------------
 
 class TestValidateApiNotFound:
-    def test_model_not_in_api_is_rejected(self):
+    def test_model_not_in_api_rejected(self):
         result = _validate("anthropic/claude-nonexistent")
         assert result["accepted"] is False
-        assert result["persist"] is False
         assert "not a valid model" in result["message"]
 
     def test_rejection_includes_suggestions(self):
-        result = _validate("anthropic/claude-opus-4.5")  # close to claude-opus-4.6
+        result = _validate("anthropic/claude-opus-4.5")
         assert result["accepted"] is False
         assert "Did you mean" in result["message"]
 
-    def test_completely_wrong_model_rejected(self):
-        result = _validate("totally/fake-model-xyz")
-        assert result["accepted"] is False
-        assert "not a valid model" in result["message"]
 
-
-# -- validate_requested_model — API unreachable (fallback) -------------------
+# -- validate — API unreachable (fallback) -----------------------------------
 
 class TestValidateApiFallback:
     def test_known_catalog_model_accepted_when_api_down(self):
-        """If API is unreachable, fall back to hardcoded catalog."""
         result = _validate("anthropic/claude-opus-4.6", api_models=None)
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is True
-        assert result["recognized"] is True
 
-    def test_unknown_model_is_session_only_when_api_down(self):
+    def test_unknown_model_session_only_when_api_down(self):
         result = _validate("anthropic/claude-next-gen", api_models=None)
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is False
-        assert "Could not validate" in result["message"]
         assert "session only" in result["message"].lower()
 
     def test_zai_known_model_accepted_when_api_down(self):
         result = _validate("glm-5", provider="zai", api_models=None)
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is True
-        assert result["recognized"] is True
-
-    def test_zai_unknown_model_session_only_when_api_down(self):
-        result = _validate("glm-99", provider="zai", api_models=None)
-        assert result["accepted"] is True
-        assert result["persist"] is False
 
     def test_unknown_provider_session_only_when_api_down(self):
         result = _validate("some-model", provider="totally-unknown", api_models=None)
         assert result["accepted"] is True
         assert result["persist"] is False
-        assert result["message"] is not None
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_model_command.py b/tests/test_cli_model_command.py
index a43b96379..13c4f0f22 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_model_command.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_model_command.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Regression tests for the `/model` slash command in the interactive CLI."""
 
-from unittest.mock import patch
+from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
 
 from cli import HermesCLI
 
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ class TestModelCommand:
     def test_valid_model_from_api_saved_to_config(self, capsys):
         cli_obj = self._make_cli()
 
-        with patch("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_provider", return_value="openrouter"), \
-             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
+        with patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
                    return_value=["anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5", "openai/gpt-5.4"]), \
              patch("cli.save_config_value", return_value=True) as save_mock:
             cli_obj.process_command("/model anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
@@ -30,60 +29,51 @@ class TestModelCommand:
         output = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert "saved to config" in output
         assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5"
-        assert cli_obj.agent is None
         save_mock.assert_called_once_with("model.default", "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
 
     def test_invalid_model_from_api_is_rejected(self, capsys):
         cli_obj = self._make_cli()
 
-        with patch("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_provider", return_value="openrouter"), \
-             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
+        with patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
                    return_value=["anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"]), \
              patch("cli.save_config_value") as save_mock:
             cli_obj.process_command("/model anthropic/fake-model")
 
         output = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert "not a valid model" in output
-        assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"  # unchanged
-        assert cli_obj.agent is not None  # not reset
+        assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"
         save_mock.assert_not_called()
 
     def test_model_when_api_unreachable_falls_back_session_only(self, capsys):
         cli_obj = self._make_cli()
 
-        with patch("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_provider", return_value="openrouter"), \
-             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", return_value=None), \
+        with patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models", return_value=None), \
              patch("cli.save_config_value") as save_mock:
             cli_obj.process_command("/model anthropic/claude-sonnet-next")
 
         output = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert "session only" in output
         assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-sonnet-next"
-        assert cli_obj.agent is None
         save_mock.assert_not_called()
 
     def test_no_slash_model_probes_api_and_rejects(self, capsys):
-        """Model without '/' is still probed via API — not rejected on format alone."""
         cli_obj = self._make_cli()
 
-        with patch("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_provider", return_value="openrouter"), \
-             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
+        with patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
                    return_value=["openai/gpt-5.4"]) as fetch_mock, \
              patch("cli.save_config_value") as save_mock:
             cli_obj.process_command("/model gpt-5.4")
 
         output = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert "not a valid model" in output
-        assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"  # unchanged
-        fetch_mock.assert_called_once()  # API was probed
+        assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"
+        fetch_mock.assert_called_once()
         save_mock.assert_not_called()
 
     def test_validation_crash_falls_back_to_save(self, capsys):
-        """If validate_requested_model throws, /model should still work (old behavior)."""
         cli_obj = self._make_cli()
 
-        with patch("hermes_cli.auth.resolve_provider", return_value="openrouter"), \
-             patch("hermes_cli.models.validate_requested_model",
+        with patch("hermes_cli.models.validate_requested_model",
                    side_effect=RuntimeError("boom")), \
              patch("cli.save_config_value", return_value=True) as save_mock:
             cli_obj.process_command("/model anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5")
@@ -99,4 +89,42 @@ class TestModelCommand:
 
         output = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6" in output
-        assert "Usage" in output
+        assert "OpenRouter" in output
+        assert "Available models" in output
+        assert "provider:model-name" in output
+
+    # -- provider switching tests -------------------------------------------
+
+    def test_provider_colon_model_switches_provider(self, capsys):
+        cli_obj = self._make_cli()
+
+        with patch("hermes_cli.runtime_provider.resolve_runtime_provider", return_value={
+                 "provider": "zai",
+                 "api_key": "zai-key",
+                 "base_url": "https://api.z.ai/api/paas/v4",
+             }), \
+             patch("hermes_cli.models.fetch_api_models",
+                   return_value=["glm-5", "glm-4.7"]), \
+             patch("cli.save_config_value", return_value=True) as save_mock:
+            cli_obj.process_command("/model zai:glm-5")
+
+        output = capsys.readouterr().out
+        assert "glm-5" in output
+        assert "provider:" in output.lower() or "Z.AI" in output
+        assert cli_obj.model == "glm-5"
+        assert cli_obj.provider == "zai"
+        assert cli_obj.base_url == "https://api.z.ai/api/paas/v4"
+        # Both model and provider should be saved
+        assert save_mock.call_count == 2
+
+    def test_provider_switch_fails_on_bad_credentials(self, capsys):
+        cli_obj = self._make_cli()
+
+        with patch("hermes_cli.runtime_provider.resolve_runtime_provider",
+                   side_effect=Exception("No API key found")):
+            cli_obj.process_command("/model nous:hermes-3")
+
+        output = capsys.readouterr().out
+        assert "Could not resolve credentials" in output
+        assert cli_obj.model == "anthropic/claude-opus-4.6"  # unchanged
+        assert cli_obj.provider == "openrouter"  # unchanged