diff --git a/alembic/versions/0069_default_siglip2.py b/alembic/versions/0069_default_siglip2.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bef8b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/0069_default_siglip2.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"""default the embedder to SigLIP 2 — for FRESH installs only (#1203)
+
+Make SigLIP 2 (so400m, 512px; a 1152-d drop-in) the default embedder. New
+installs start on it. An EXISTING library is NOT touched: flipping its stored
+embedder version would mark every embedding stale (the scorer is version-gated)
+and kill suggestions until a full re-embed+retrain — so an existing instance
+switches deliberately via Settings → GPU agent → Embedding model → Re-embed →
+Retrain. We detect "fresh" by the absence of any embedded image.
+
+Revision ID: 0069
+Revises: 0068
+Create Date: 2026-06-30
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+
+revision: str = "0069"
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = "0068"
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+_NEW_NAME = "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
+_NEW_VERSION = "siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
+_OLD_NAME = "google/siglip-so400m-patch14-384"
+_OLD_VERSION = "siglip-so400m-patch14-384"
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # Fresh install (nothing embedded yet) → adopt SigLIP 2.
+    op.execute(
+        f"""
+        UPDATE ml_settings SET
+            embedder_model_name = '{_NEW_NAME}',
+            embedder_model_version = '{_NEW_VERSION}'
+        WHERE NOT EXISTS (
+            SELECT 1 FROM image_record WHERE siglip_embedding IS NOT NULL
+        )
+        """
+    )
+    op.alter_column("ml_settings", "embedder_model_name", server_default=_NEW_NAME)
+    op.alter_column(
+        "ml_settings", "embedder_model_version", server_default=_NEW_VERSION
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.alter_column("ml_settings", "embedder_model_name", server_default=_OLD_NAME)
+    op.alter_column(
+        "ml_settings", "embedder_model_version", server_default=_OLD_VERSION
+    )
diff --git a/backend/app/api/ml_admin.py b/backend/app/api/ml_admin.py
index 054fa69..5afeee8 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/ml_admin.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/ml_admin.py
@@ -23,6 +23,36 @@ _EDITABLE = (
 )
 
 
+# Supported embedders for the Settings dropdown — all 1152-d so a swap is a
+# drop-in (re-embed + retrain, no schema change). Server-authoritative so the UI
+# never free-types a model name.
+SUPPORTED_EMBEDDERS = (
+    {
+        "name": "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512",
+        "version": "siglip2-so400m-patch16-512",
+        "label": "SigLIP 2 · so400m · 512px (recommended)",
+        "dim": 1152,
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-384",
+        "version": "siglip2-so400m-patch16-384",
+        "label": "SigLIP 2 · so400m · 384px (faster)",
+        "dim": 1152,
+    },
+    {
+        "name": "google/siglip-so400m-patch14-384",
+        "version": "siglip-so400m-patch14-384",
+        "label": "SigLIP 1 · so400m · 384px (original)",
+        "dim": 1152,
+    },
+)
+
+
+@ml_admin_bp.route("/embedder-models", methods=["GET"])
+async def embedder_models():
+    return jsonify({"models": list(SUPPORTED_EMBEDDERS)})
+
+
 @ml_admin_bp.route("/settings", methods=["GET"])
 async def get_settings():
     from sqlalchemy import select
diff --git a/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py b/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
index 1d7c729..e415d9f 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/ml_settings.py
@@ -71,14 +71,16 @@ class MLSettings(Base):
     ccip_auto_apply_threshold: Mapped[float] = mapped_column(
         Float, nullable=False, default=0.92
     )
+    # Default = SigLIP 2 (so400m, 512px) for new installs (migration 0069);
+    # existing libraries keep their stored value until the operator re-embeds.
     embedder_model_version: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(
-        String(128), nullable=False, default="siglip-so400m-patch14-384"
+        String(128), nullable=False, default="siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
     )
     # The HF model NAME the embedder loads (server CPU embed + announced to the
     # GPU agent in the lease). Operator-settable so the embedder is a choice, not
     # a hardcode (#1190): set name + version together, then re-embed + retrain.
     embedder_model_name: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(
-        String(128), nullable=False, default="google/siglip-so400m-patch14-384"
+        String(128), nullable=False, default="google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
     )
     updated_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
         DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=False, server_default=func.now()
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/settings/GpuAgentCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/settings/GpuAgentCard.vue
index 45f1638..37432bb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/settings/GpuAgentCard.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/settings/GpuAgentCard.vue
@@ -117,15 +117,12 @@
       the suggest cut; 0.92 recommended.
     </p>
 
-    <!-- Embedding model (advanced) -->
-    <div v-if="ml.settings" class="fc-section-h mt-5 mb-1">Embedding model (advanced)</div>
+    <!-- Embedding model -->
+    <div v-if="ml.settings" class="fc-section-h mt-5 mb-1">Embedding model</div>
     <div v-if="ml.settings">
-      <v-text-field
-        v-model="modelName" label="HF model name" density="compact" hide-details
-        variant="outlined" class="mb-2"
-      />
-      <v-text-field
-        v-model="modelVersion" label="Version stamp" density="compact" hide-details
+      <v-select
+        v-model="selectedModel" :items="modelItems" item-title="label"
+        item-value="name" label="Model" density="compact" hide-details
         variant="outlined"
       />
       <div class="d-flex mt-3" style="gap:8px">
@@ -139,12 +136,11 @@
         >Re-embed library (GPU)</v-btn>
       </div>
       <p class="fc-muted text-caption mt-2 mb-0">
-        Changing the model means a DIFFERENT embedding space. After saving a new
-        model + version, run <b>Re-embed library</b> (the GPU agent re-embeds
-        whole images + concept crops), then <b>Retrain heads</b>. Suggestions
-        degrade until both finish. SigLIP 2 (<code>google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512</code>,
-        version <code>siglip2-so400m-patch16-512</code>) is a 1152-d drop-in at
-        512px — no schema change.
+        Switching the model is a DIFFERENT embedding space. After <b>Save model</b>,
+        run <b>Re-embed library</b> (the GPU agent re-embeds whole images + concept
+        crops), then <b>Retrain heads</b> — suggestions degrade until both finish.
+        SigLIP 2 (512px) is a 1152-d drop-in over SigLIP 1; new installs default to
+        it. Your existing library stays on its current model until you re-embed.
       </p>
     </div>
   </MaintenanceTile>
@@ -173,8 +169,8 @@ const savingThreshold = ref(false)
 const autoApply = ref(true)
 const autoThreshold = ref(0.92)
 const savingAuto = ref(false)
-const modelName = ref('')
-const modelVersion = ref('')
+const modelItems = ref([])
+const selectedModel = ref(null)
 const savingModel = ref(false)
 const reembedding = ref(false)
 const queue = ref({ pending: 0, leased: 0, done: 0, error: 0 })
@@ -204,18 +200,26 @@ onMounted(async () => {
       autoThreshold.value = ml.settings.ccip_auto_apply_threshold
     }
     if (ml.settings?.embedder_model_name != null) {
-      modelName.value = ml.settings.embedder_model_name
-      modelVersion.value = ml.settings.embedder_model_version
+      const items = await ml.embedderModels()
+      // Make sure the current model is selectable even if it's not in the list.
+      const cur = ml.settings.embedder_model_name
+      if (!items.some((m) => m.name === cur)) {
+        items.push({ name: cur, version: ml.settings.embedder_model_version, label: `${cur} (current)` })
+      }
+      modelItems.value = items
+      selectedModel.value = cur
     }
   } catch { /* non-fatal */ }
 })
 
 async function onSaveModel() {
+  const opt = modelItems.value.find((m) => m.name === selectedModel.value)
+  if (!opt) return
   savingModel.value = true
   try {
     await ml.patchSettings({
-      embedder_model_name: modelName.value.trim(),
-      embedder_model_version: modelVersion.value.trim(),
+      embedder_model_name: opt.name,
+      embedder_model_version: opt.version,
     })
     toast({ text: 'Embedding model saved — now Re-embed library, then Retrain heads', type: 'success' })
   } catch (e) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/ml.js b/frontend/src/stores/ml.js
index c67e82e..8c01ba6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/ml.js
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/ml.js
@@ -22,8 +22,14 @@ export const useMLStore = defineStore('ml', () => {
     await api.post('/api/ml/backfill')
   }
 
+  // Server-authoritative list of supported embedders for the model dropdown.
+  async function embedderModels() {
+    const r = await api.get('/api/ml/embedder-models')
+    return r.models || []
+  }
+
   return {
     settings, loading, error,
-    loadSettings, patchSettings, triggerBackfill
+    loadSettings, patchSettings, triggerBackfill, embedderModels
   }
 })
diff --git a/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py b/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py
index caa676a..5602f8c 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_ml_admin.py
@@ -34,25 +34,34 @@ async def test_get_and_patch_settings(client):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_embedder_model_settable_and_empty_rejected(client):
-    # #1190: the embedder model name + version are operator-settable (a swap),
-    # and neither may be blanked.
+async def test_embedder_model_default_settable_and_empty_rejected(client):
+    # #1203: fresh installs default to SigLIP 2 (migration 0069, no embeddings).
+    # The model is operator-settable (a swap) and neither field may be blanked.
     body = await (await client.get("/api/ml/settings")).get_json()
-    assert body["embedder_model_name"] == "google/siglip-so400m-patch14-384"
+    assert body["embedder_model_name"] == "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
 
     ok = await client.patch("/api/ml/settings", json={
-        "embedder_model_name": "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512",
-        "embedder_model_version": "siglip2-so400m-patch16-512",
+        "embedder_model_name": "google/siglip-so400m-patch14-384",
+        "embedder_model_version": "siglip-so400m-patch14-384",
     })
     assert ok.status_code == 200
     out = await ok.get_json()
-    assert out["embedder_model_name"] == "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
-    assert out["embedder_model_version"] == "siglip2-so400m-patch16-512"
+    assert out["embedder_model_name"] == "google/siglip-so400m-patch14-384"
 
     bad = await client.patch("/api/ml/settings", json={"embedder_model_name": "  "})
     assert bad.status_code == 400
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_embedder_models_list(client):
+    # #1203: the dropdown reads the supported-model list from the server.
+    body = await (await client.get("/api/ml/embedder-models")).get_json()
+    assert any(
+        m["name"] == "google/siglip2-so400m-patch16-512" for m in body["models"]
+    )
+    assert all({"name", "version", "label"} <= set(m) for m in body["models"])
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_video_settings_default_and_patch(client):
     """#747: video frame-sampling knobs are exposed + patchable."""