Allow API key for Ollama connections

studio/backend/core/inference/providers.py

@@ -276,8 +276,9 @@
         "auth_header": "Authorization",
         "auth_prefix": "Bearer ",
         "notes": (
-            "Local Ollama server. OpenAI-compatible /v1/chat/completions; "
-            "no API key. Surfaced via CUSTOM_PROVIDER_PRESETS in the frontend."
+            "Ollama server (local or cloud). OpenAI-compatible "
+            "/v1/chat/completions; API key optional (required by Ollama "
+            "cloud). Surfaced via CUSTOM_PROVIDER_PRESETS in the frontend."
         ),
         "hidden": True,
     },

studio/frontend/src/features/chat/chat-providers-dialog.tsx

@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ export function ChatProvidersSettings({
     (s) => s.setConnectionsEnabled,
   );
   const isCustomProvider = isCustomProviderType(providerType);
-  // Local presets (Ollama, llama.cpp) never use API keys — hide the field.
-  // vLLM may optionally use a bearer token on secured deployments.
+  // llama.cpp hides the key field. Ollama and vLLM show an optional key:
+  // Ollama cloud and secured vLLM need one; local servers leave it empty.
   const showApiKeyField = !customPresetSkipsApiKeyField(providerType);
   const showReasoningToggle = supportsProviderReasoningToggle(providerType);
 

studio/frontend/src/features/chat/external-providers.ts

@@ -184,11 +184,12 @@ export function supportsRemoteModelCatalog(
   );
 }
 
-/** Presets that skip the API-key field (local servers with no auth by default). */
+/** Presets that hide the API-key field. Ollama is not skipped: Ollama cloud
+ * requires a key; local servers leave the optional field empty. */
 export function customPresetSkipsApiKeyField(
   providerType: string | null | undefined,
 ): boolean {
-  return providerType === "ollama" || providerType === "llama_cpp";
+  return providerType === "llama_cpp";
 }
 
 /** Catalog load plus optional manual model IDs. */