diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml
index 742cba9ed9..668111d1dc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-api-smoke.yml
@@ -69,9 +69,10 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           # Same key as studio-ui-smoke.yml so the two jobs share a
@@ -79,7 +80,8 @@ jobs:
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -88,6 +90,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml
index 19e1ab9cc5..922d883cc9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-inference-smoke.yml
@@ -85,15 +85,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -102,6 +104,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -324,15 +333,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache GGUF model file
+      - name: Restore GGUF model file
         id: cache-gguf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: gguf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Download GGUF if cache miss
-        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: download-gguf
+        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-gguf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -341,6 +352,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE" --local-dir gguf-cache
 
+      - name: Save GGUF model file
+        if: always() && steps.download-gguf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: gguf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -632,15 +650,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF + mmproj
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -651,6 +671,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$MMPROJ_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml
index 98596f374a..6a98776fa3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-api-smoke.yml
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -73,6 +75,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml
index 97efe3e74d..82438f0c27 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-inference-smoke.yml
@@ -79,15 +79,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -96,6 +98,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -318,15 +327,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache GGUF model file
+      - name: Restore GGUF model file
         id: cache-gguf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: gguf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Download GGUF if cache miss
-        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: download-gguf
+        if: steps.cache-gguf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-gguf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -335,6 +346,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE" --local-dir gguf-cache
 
+      - name: Save GGUF model file
+        if: always() && steps.download-gguf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: gguf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gguf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
@@ -674,15 +692,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF + mmproj
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         # Authenticated + parallel: shared macos-14 NAT egress stalls
         # multi-GB anonymous downloads.
         env:
@@ -702,6 +722,13 @@ jobs:
           find hf-cache -name "$GGUF_FILE" -o -name "$MMPROJ_FILE" \
             | xargs -I{} ls -lhL {}
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }} (model + mmproj)
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-${{ env.MMPROJ_FILE }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml
index c921ddf63e..df3654277f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-mac-ui-smoke.yml
@@ -56,15 +56,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -73,6 +75,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml
index 756eea64b2..82496c3665 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-ui-smoke.yml
@@ -70,15 +70,17 @@ jobs:
           python-version: '3.12'
           cache: 'pip'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -87,6 +89,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Install Studio (--local, --no-torch)
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml
index d9ed5d5594..fd80377352 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-api-smoke.yml
@@ -63,15 +63,17 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: '3.12'
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -80,6 +82,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Pre-install Windows tweaks (npm 11 + Defender exclusions)
         shell: pwsh
         # See studio-windows-update-smoke.yml for the full rationale.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml
index a5a4753ba5..6ee262163b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/studio-windows-ui-smoke.yml
@@ -72,15 +72,17 @@ jobs:
           # then fatal-errors with "Cache folder path is retrieved
           # for pip but doesn't exist on disk".
 
-      - name: Cache HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+      - name: Restore HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
         id: cache-hf
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        continue-on-error: true
         with:
           path: hf-cache
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
 
       - name: Prime HF_HOME with the GGUF
-        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+        id: prime-hf
+        if: steps.cache-hf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' || steps.cache-hf.outcome != 'success'
         env:
           HF_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.HF_TOKEN }}
         run: |
@@ -89,6 +91,13 @@ jobs:
           HF_HUB_ENABLE_HF_TRANSFER=1 \
             hf download "$GGUF_REPO" "$GGUF_FILE"
 
+      - name: Save HF_HOME for ${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}
+        if: always() && steps.prime-hf.outcome == 'success'
+        uses: actions/cache/save@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae  # v5.0.5
+        with:
+          path: hf-cache
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-hf-${{ env.GGUF_REPO }}-${{ env.GGUF_VARIANT }}-v1
+
       - name: Pre-install Windows tweaks (npm 11 + Defender exclusions)
         shell: pwsh
         # See studio-windows-update-smoke.yml for the full rationale.