diff --git a/studio/backend/main.py b/studio/backend/main.py
index a9f7004df7..321995885c 100644
--- a/studio/backend/main.py
+++ b/studio/backend/main.py
@@ -292,6 +292,27 @@ def _desktop_owner() -> dict[str, str] | None:
     return _DESKTOP_OWNER
 
 
+def _start_helper_precache_if_enabled() -> None:
+    """Start optional Helper LLM GGUF pre-cache only after explicit opt-in."""
+    try:
+        from utils.helper_precache_settings import should_preload_helper_on_startup
+        if not should_preload_helper_on_startup():
+            return
+    except Exception:
+        return
+
+    import threading
+
+    def _precache():
+        try:
+            from utils.datasets.llm_assist import precache_helper_gguf
+            precache_helper_gguf()
+        except Exception:
+            pass  # non-critical
+
+    threading.Thread(target = _precache, daemon = True, name = "helper-gguf-precache").start()
+
+
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
     """Startup: detect hardware, seed default admin if needed. Shutdown: clean up compiled cache."""
@@ -350,18 +371,7 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
         import structlog
         structlog.get_logger(__name__).warning("cleanup_orphaned_runs failed at startup: %s", exc)
 
-    # Pre-cache the helper GGUF model for LLM-assisted dataset detection,
-    # in a background thread so it doesn't block server startup.
-    import threading
-
-    def _precache():
-        try:
-            from utils.datasets.llm_assist import precache_helper_gguf
-            precache_helper_gguf()
-        except Exception:
-            pass  # non-critical
-
-    threading.Thread(target = _precache, daemon = True).start()
+    _start_helper_precache_if_enabled()
 
     # Initialize RSA key pair for API key encryption (external providers)
     from core.inference.key_exchange import init_key_pair
diff --git a/studio/backend/routes/settings.py b/studio/backend/routes/settings.py
index 94ea4c7b6c..516502c1e5 100644
--- a/studio/backend/routes/settings.py
+++ b/studio/backend/routes/settings.py
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ from utils.upload_limits import (
     upload_limit_bytes,
     upload_limit_label,
 )
+from utils.helper_precache_settings import (
+    DEFAULT_HELPER_PRECACHE_ENABLED,
+    get_helper_precache_enabled,
+    helper_model_disabled_by_env,
+    set_helper_precache_enabled,
+)
 
 router = APIRouter()
 
@@ -35,6 +41,16 @@ class UploadLimitResponse(BaseModel):
     max_allowed_upload_size_mb: int = MAX_UPLOAD_LIMIT_MB
 
 
+class HelperPrecachePayload(BaseModel):
+    enabled: bool
+
+
+class HelperPrecacheResponse(BaseModel):
+    enabled: bool
+    default_enabled: bool = DEFAULT_HELPER_PRECACHE_ENABLED
+    disabled_by_env: bool
+
+
 def _upload_limit_response(limit_mb: int) -> UploadLimitResponse:
     return UploadLimitResponse(
         max_upload_size_mb = limit_mb,
@@ -44,6 +60,13 @@ def _upload_limit_response(limit_mb: int) -> UploadLimitResponse:
     )
 
 
+def _helper_precache_response(enabled: bool | None = None) -> HelperPrecacheResponse:
+    return HelperPrecacheResponse(
+        enabled = get_helper_precache_enabled() if enabled is None else enabled,
+        disabled_by_env = helper_model_disabled_by_env(),
+    )
+
+
 @router.get("/upload-limit", response_model = UploadLimitResponse)
 def get_upload_limit(current_subject: str = Depends(get_current_subject)) -> UploadLimitResponse:
     return _upload_limit_response(get_upload_limit_mb())
@@ -64,3 +87,27 @@ def update_upload_limit(
             log = logger,
         ) from exc
     return _upload_limit_response(limit_mb)
+
+
+@router.get("/helper-precache", response_model = HelperPrecacheResponse)
+def get_helper_precache(
+    current_subject: str = Depends(get_current_subject),
+) -> HelperPrecacheResponse:
+    return _helper_precache_response()
+
+
+@router.put("/helper-precache", response_model = HelperPrecacheResponse)
+def update_helper_precache(
+    payload: HelperPrecachePayload, current_subject: str = Depends(get_current_subject)
+) -> HelperPrecacheResponse:
+    try:
+        enabled = set_helper_precache_enabled(payload.enabled)
+    except ValueError as exc:
+        raise log_and_http_error(
+            exc,
+            400,
+            safe_error_detail(exc, fallback = "Invalid Helper LLM pre-cache setting."),
+            event = "settings.update_helper_precache_failed",
+            log = logger,
+        ) from exc
+    return _helper_precache_response(enabled)
diff --git a/studio/backend/tests/test_llm_assist_startup_opt_in.py b/studio/backend/tests/test_llm_assist_startup_opt_in.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e81b1d3775
--- /dev/null
+++ b/studio/backend/tests/test_llm_assist_startup_opt_in.py
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+# Copyright 2026-present the Unsloth AI Inc. team. All rights reserved. See /studio/LICENSE.AGPL-3.0
+
+"""Regression tests for Helper LLM startup pre-cache opt-in behavior."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+import types
+from pathlib import Path
+
+_BACKEND_DIR = str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent)
+if _BACKEND_DIR not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, _BACKEND_DIR)
+
+from models.datasets import AiAssistMappingRequest
+from routes import datasets as datasets_route
+from routes import settings as settings_route
+from utils import helper_precache_settings
+
+
+def _install_fake_studio_db(monkeypatch, *, stored = None):
+    storage_pkg = types.ModuleType("storage")
+    studio_db = types.ModuleType("storage.studio_db")
+    values: dict[str, object] = {}
+    if stored is not None:
+        values[helper_precache_settings.HELPER_PRECACHE_SETTING_KEY] = stored
+
+    def get_app_setting(key, fallback = None):
+        return values.get(key, fallback)
+
+    def upsert_app_settings(settings):
+        values.update(settings)
+        return dict(values)
+
+    studio_db.get_app_setting = get_app_setting
+    studio_db.upsert_app_settings = upsert_app_settings
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "storage", storage_pkg)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "storage.studio_db", studio_db)
+    return values
+
+
+def test_helper_precache_defaults_off_when_setting_missing(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.delenv("UNSLOTH_HELPER_MODEL_DISABLE", raising = False)
+    _install_fake_studio_db(monkeypatch)
+
+    assert helper_precache_settings.get_helper_precache_enabled() is False
+    assert helper_precache_settings.should_preload_helper_on_startup() is False
+
+
+def test_helper_precache_opt_in_is_blocked_by_existing_disable_env(monkeypatch):
+    _install_fake_studio_db(monkeypatch, stored = True)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("UNSLOTH_HELPER_MODEL_DISABLE", "true")
+
+    assert helper_precache_settings.get_helper_precache_enabled() is True
+    assert helper_precache_settings.should_preload_helper_on_startup() is False
+
+
+def test_settings_route_persists_helper_precache_toggle(monkeypatch):
+    values = _install_fake_studio_db(monkeypatch)
+    monkeypatch.delenv("UNSLOTH_HELPER_MODEL_DISABLE", raising = False)
+
+    response = settings_route.update_helper_precache(
+        settings_route.HelperPrecachePayload(enabled = True),
+        current_subject = "test-user",
+    )
+
+    assert response.enabled is True
+    assert response.default_enabled is False
+    assert response.disabled_by_env is False
+    assert values[helper_precache_settings.HELPER_PRECACHE_SETTING_KEY] is True
+
+
+def test_main_startup_uses_helper_precache_gate_instead_of_unconditional_precache():
+    source = (Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "main.py").read_text(encoding = "utf-8")
+    startup_section = source[
+        source.index("cleanup_orphaned_runs") : source.index("# Initialize RSA key pair")
+    ]
+
+    assert "_start_helper_precache_if_enabled()" in startup_section
+    assert "precache_helper_gguf" not in startup_section
+    assert "threading.Thread(target = _precache" not in startup_section
+
+
+def test_ai_assist_route_still_calls_on_demand_advisor(monkeypatch):
+    calls: list[dict] = []
+    llm_assist = types.ModuleType("utils.datasets.llm_assist")
+
+    def fake_llm_conversion_advisor(**kwargs):
+        calls.append(kwargs)
+        return {
+            "success": True,
+            "suggested_mapping": {"prompt": "user", "answer": "assistant"},
+            "system_prompt": "Answer carefully.",
+            "dataset_type": "question_answering",
+            "is_conversational": False,
+            "user_notification": "Columns mapped by AI Assist.",
+        }
+
+    llm_assist.llm_conversion_advisor = fake_llm_conversion_advisor
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "utils.datasets.llm_assist", llm_assist)
+
+    response = datasets_route.ai_assist_mapping(
+        AiAssistMappingRequest(
+            columns = ["prompt", "answer"],
+            samples = [{"prompt": "x" * 250, "answer": "ok", "extra": "ignored"}],
+            dataset_name = "owner/dataset",
+            hf_token = "hf_test",
+            model_name = "unsloth/test",
+            model_type = "text",
+        ),
+        current_subject = "test-user",
+    )
+
+    assert response.success is True
+    assert response.suggested_mapping == {"prompt": "user", "answer": "assistant"}
+    assert response.system_prompt == "Answer carefully."
+    assert calls == [
+        {
+            "column_names": ["prompt", "answer"],
+            "samples": [{"prompt": "x" * 200, "answer": "ok"}],
+            "dataset_name": "owner/dataset",
+            "hf_token": "hf_test",
+            "model_name": "unsloth/test",
+            "model_type": "text",
+        }
+    ]
diff --git a/studio/backend/utils/helper_precache_settings.py b/studio/backend/utils/helper_precache_settings.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db19a2d028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/studio/backend/utils/helper_precache_settings.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+# Copyright 2026-present the Unsloth AI Inc. team. All rights reserved. See /studio/LICENSE.AGPL-3.0
+
+"""Persisted opt-in controls for Helper LLM startup pre-cache."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+from typing import Any
+
+HELPER_PRECACHE_SETTING_KEY = "helper_model_preload_on_startup"
+DEFAULT_HELPER_PRECACHE_ENABLED = False
+
+
+def _coerce_bool(value: Any) -> bool | None:
+    if isinstance(value, bool):
+        return value
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        normalized = value.strip().lower()
+        if normalized in {"1", "true", "yes", "on"}:
+            return True
+        if normalized in {"0", "false", "no", "off", ""}:
+            return False
+    return None
+
+
+def helper_model_disabled_by_env() -> bool:
+    """Return True when existing broad helper-disable env var is active."""
+    return os.environ.get("UNSLOTH_HELPER_MODEL_DISABLE", "").strip() in {"1", "true"}
+
+
+def get_helper_precache_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Read the persisted startup pre-cache preference.
+
+    Missing or unreadable settings default to False so Studio startup never
+    performs optional network work unless the user explicitly opted in.
+    """
+    try:
+        from storage.studio_db import get_app_setting
+        stored = get_app_setting(HELPER_PRECACHE_SETTING_KEY, None)
+    except Exception:
+        stored = None
+    parsed = _coerce_bool(stored)
+    return parsed if parsed is not None else DEFAULT_HELPER_PRECACHE_ENABLED
+
+
+def set_helper_precache_enabled(value: Any) -> bool:
+    """Persist whether Studio should pre-cache the Helper LLM at startup."""
+    parsed = _coerce_bool(value)
+    if parsed is None:
+        raise ValueError("Helper LLM startup pre-cache must be true or false.")
+
+    from storage.studio_db import upsert_app_settings
+
+    upsert_app_settings({HELPER_PRECACHE_SETTING_KEY: parsed})
+    return parsed
+
+
+def should_preload_helper_on_startup() -> bool:
+    """Gate the startup pre-cache thread.
+
+    The persisted setting is opt-in and the existing broad disable env var wins.
+    Explicit AI Assist calls do not use this gate; they remain user-triggered.
+    """
+    return get_helper_precache_enabled() and not helper_model_disabled_by_env()
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/api/helper-precache.ts b/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/api/helper-precache.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..434a6c7d03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/api/helper-precache.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+// Copyright 2026-present the Unsloth AI Inc. team. All rights reserved. See /studio/LICENSE.AGPL-3.0
+
+import { authFetch } from "@/features/auth";
+import { readFastApiError } from "@/lib/format-fastapi-error";
+
+const HELPER_PRECACHE_EVENT = "unsloth-helper-precache-change";
+
+export type HelperPrecacheSettings = {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  defaultEnabled: boolean;
+  disabledByEnv: boolean;
+};
+
+type ApiHelperPrecacheSettings = {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: API schema
+  default_enabled: boolean;
+  // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: API schema
+  disabled_by_env: boolean;
+};
+
+let cachedHelperPrecache: HelperPrecacheSettings | null = null;
+let inFlightHelperPrecache: Promise<HelperPrecacheSettings> | null = null;
+
+export function subscribeHelperPrecacheSettings(
+  listener: (settings: HelperPrecacheSettings) => void,
+) {
+  const handleChange = (event: Event) => {
+    listener((event as CustomEvent<HelperPrecacheSettings>).detail);
+  };
+  window.addEventListener(HELPER_PRECACHE_EVENT, handleChange);
+  return () => window.removeEventListener(HELPER_PRECACHE_EVENT, handleChange);
+}
+
+function fromApi(settings: ApiHelperPrecacheSettings): HelperPrecacheSettings {
+  return {
+    enabled: settings.enabled,
+    defaultEnabled: settings.default_enabled,
+    disabledByEnv: settings.disabled_by_env,
+  };
+}
+
+function cacheHelperPrecache(settings: HelperPrecacheSettings) {
+  cachedHelperPrecache = settings;
+  window.dispatchEvent(
+    new CustomEvent(HELPER_PRECACHE_EVENT, { detail: settings }),
+  );
+  return settings;
+}
+
+async function fetchHelperPrecacheSettings(): Promise<HelperPrecacheSettings> {
+  const res = await authFetch("/api/settings/helper-precache");
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error(
+      await readFastApiError(res, "Failed to load Helper LLM settings"),
+    );
+  }
+  return fromApi(await res.json());
+}
+
+export async function loadHelperPrecacheSettings() {
+  if (cachedHelperPrecache) {
+    return cachedHelperPrecache;
+  }
+  inFlightHelperPrecache ??= fetchHelperPrecacheSettings()
+    .then(cacheHelperPrecache)
+    .finally(() => {
+      inFlightHelperPrecache = null;
+    });
+  return inFlightHelperPrecache;
+}
+
+export async function updateHelperPrecacheSettings(
+  enabled: boolean,
+): Promise<HelperPrecacheSettings> {
+  const res = await authFetch("/api/settings/helper-precache", {
+    method: "PUT",
+    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ enabled }),
+  });
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error(
+      await readFastApiError(res, "Failed to update Helper LLM settings"),
+    );
+  }
+  return cacheHelperPrecache(fromApi(await res.json()));
+}
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/general-tab.tsx b/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/general-tab.tsx
index 57a52b83d1..8a15eb4985 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/general-tab.tsx
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/features/settings/tabs/general-tab.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ import { Switch } from "@/components/ui/switch";
 import { usePlatformStore } from "@/config/env";
 import { resetOnboardingDone } from "@/features/auth";
 import { useChatRuntimeStore } from "@/features/chat";
+import {
+  loadHelperPrecacheSettings,
+  updateHelperPrecacheSettings,
+  type HelperPrecacheSettings,
+} from "../api/helper-precache";
 import {
   DEFAULT_UPLOAD_LIMIT_MB,
   loadUploadLimitSettings,
@@ -114,6 +119,12 @@ export function GeneralTab() {
   );
   const [uploadLimitError, setUploadLimitError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [isSavingUploadLimit, setIsSavingUploadLimit] = useState(false);
+  const [helperPrecache, setHelperPrecache] =
+    useState<HelperPrecacheSettings | null>(null);
+  const [helperPrecacheError, setHelperPrecacheError] = useState<string | null>(
+    null,
+  );
+  const [isSavingHelperPrecache, setIsSavingHelperPrecache] = useState(false);
 
   const draftRef = useRef(draftToken);
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -158,6 +169,44 @@ export function GeneralTab() {
     };
   }, []);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false;
+    void loadHelperPrecacheSettings()
+      .then((settings) => {
+        if (cancelled) return;
+        setHelperPrecache(settings);
+        setHelperPrecacheError(null);
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        if (cancelled) return;
+        setHelperPrecacheError(
+          error instanceof Error
+            ? error.message
+            : t("settings.general.helperLlm.loadError"),
+        );
+      });
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+    };
+  }, [t]);
+
+  const saveHelperPrecache = async (enabled: boolean) => {
+    setIsSavingHelperPrecache(true);
+    setHelperPrecacheError(null);
+    try {
+      const settings = await updateHelperPrecacheSettings(enabled);
+      setHelperPrecache(settings);
+    } catch (error) {
+      setHelperPrecacheError(
+        error instanceof Error
+          ? error.message
+          : t("settings.general.helperLlm.saveError"),
+      );
+    } finally {
+      setIsSavingHelperPrecache(false);
+    }
+  };
+
   const saveUploadLimit = async () => {
     const parsed = Number(draftUploadLimit);
     if (!Number.isInteger(parsed)) {
@@ -236,6 +285,36 @@ export function GeneralTab() {
         </SettingsRow>
       </SettingsSection>
 
+      <SettingsSection title={t("settings.general.helperLlm.sectionTitle")}>
+        <SettingsRow
+          label={t("settings.general.helperLlm.preloadOnStartup")}
+          description={t(
+            "settings.general.helperLlm.preloadOnStartupDescription",
+          )}
+        >
+          <div className="flex flex-col items-end gap-1">
+            <Switch
+              checked={helperPrecache?.enabled ?? false}
+              disabled={
+                !helperPrecache ||
+                isSavingHelperPrecache ||
+                helperPrecache.disabledByEnv
+              }
+              onCheckedChange={(enabled) => void saveHelperPrecache(enabled)}
+            />
+            {helperPrecache?.disabledByEnv ? (
+              <span className="max-w-[260px] text-right text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                {t("settings.general.helperLlm.disabledByEnv")}
+              </span>
+            ) : helperPrecacheError ? (
+              <span className="max-w-[260px] text-right text-xs text-destructive">
+                {helperPrecacheError}
+              </span>
+            ) : null}
+          </div>
+        </SettingsRow>
+      </SettingsSection>
+
       <SettingsSection title={t("settings.general.uploads.sectionTitle")}>
         <SettingsRow
           label={t("settings.general.uploads.maxUploadSize")}
diff --git a/studio/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/studio/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index 45c1fabe72..1492c7bb2b 100644
--- a/studio/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/studio/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,16 @@ export const en = {
       autoTitleNewChats: "Auto-title new chats",
       autoTitleNewChatsDescription:
         "Generate a short title from the first message.",
+      helperLlm: {
+        sectionTitle: "Helper LLM",
+        preloadOnStartup: "Pre-cache Helper LLM on startup",
+        preloadOnStartupDescription:
+          "Download and cache the AI Assist helper model in the background when Studio starts. Off by default; AI Assist can still download it on demand when clicked.",
+        disabledByEnv:
+          "Disabled by UNSLOTH_HELPER_MODEL_DISABLE in the backend environment.",
+        loadError: "Failed to load Helper LLM settings.",
+        saveError: "Failed to save Helper LLM settings.",
+      },
       gettingStarted: "Getting started",
       startOnboarding: "Start onboarding",
       startOnboardingDescription: