feat(downloads): add resume-safe pause action (#11222)

Give gallery operations distinct pause and cancel paths. Pause preserves partial download data so reinstalling the same model or backend resumes through HTTP Range, while cancel keeps its destructive semantics. Surface the action in the Activity UI and document the API behavior.

Assisted-by: Codex:gpt-5

Co-authored-by: localai-org-maint-bot <306269227+localai-org-maint-bot@users.noreply.github.com>

core/http/react-ui/e2e/activity-page.spec.js

@@ -43,6 +43,40 @@ test('lists live operations and cancels one from a labelled button', async ({ pa
   expect(cancelledPath).toBe('/api/operations/job-gemma/cancel')
 })
 
+test('pauses a model download without invoking destructive cancel', async ({ page }) => {
+  await stub(page, {
+    operations: [{
+      id: 'gemma-3-27b-it',
+      name: 'gemma-3-27b-it',
+      jobID: 'job-gemma',
+      progress: 22,
+      taskType: 'installation',
+      isBackend: false,
+      isQueued: false,
+      isDeletion: false,
+      cancellable: true,
+      phase: 'downloading',
+    }],
+  })
+
+  const requests = []
+  await page.route('**/api/operations/job-gemma/pause', (route) => {
+    requests.push(new URL(route.request().url()).pathname)
+    return route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+  })
+  await page.route('**/api/operations/job-gemma/cancel', (route) => {
+    requests.push(new URL(route.request().url()).pathname)
+    return route.fulfill({ contentType: 'application/json', body: '{}' })
+  })
+
+  await page.goto('/app/activity')
+
+  const card = page.locator('.operation-card').filter({ hasText: 'gemma-3-27b-it' })
+  await card.locator('.operation-card__pause').click()
+
+  await expect.poll(() => requests).toEqual(['/api/operations/job-gemma/pause'])
+})
+
 test('separates an unacknowledged failure from the record', async ({ page }) => {
   await stub(page, {
     operations: [{

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/de/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/en/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/es/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/id/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/it/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/ko/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/public/locales/zh-CN/admin.json

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
     "timeLeft": "{{value}} left",
     "cancel": "Cancel",
     "cancelLabel": "Cancel {{name}}",
+    "pause": "Pause",
+    "pauseLabel": "Pause {{name}} and keep downloaded data",
     "retry": "Retry",
     "retryLabel": "Retry {{name}}",
     "nodeCount": "{{count}} nodes",

core/http/react-ui/src/components/OperationCard.jsx

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function formatEta(seconds) {
   return `${Math.floor(minutes / 60)}h ${minutes % 60}m`
 }
 
-export default function OperationCard({ operation, onCancel, onDismiss, onRetry }) {
+export default function OperationCard({ operation, onCancel, onPause, onDismiss, onRetry }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation('admin')
   const nodes = Array.isArray(operation.nodes) ? operation.nodes : []
   // Holds only what the user chose. The default has to stay a live
@@ -144,6 +144,16 @@ export default function OperationCard({ operation, onCancel, onDismiss, onRetry
 
         <div className="operation-card__actions">
           {showProgress && <span className="operation-card__pct" aria-hidden="true">{Math.round(operation.progress)}%</span>}
+          {canCancel && (
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              className="btn btn-sm btn-secondary operation-card__pause"
+              onClick={() => onPause?.(operation.jobID)}
+              aria-label={t('activity.pauseLabel', { name })}
+            >
+              {t('activity.pause')}
+            </button>
+          )}
           {canCancel && (
             // A page of cards would otherwise hand a screen reader a list of
             // identical "Cancel" buttons with nothing to tell them apart.

core/http/react-ui/src/contexts/OperationsContext.jsx

@@ -137,6 +137,16 @@ export function OperationsProvider({ children, pollInterval = 1000 }) {
     }
   }, [fetchOperations])
 
+  const pauseOperation = useCallback(async (jobID) => {
+    try {
+      await operationsApi.pause(jobID)
+      cancelledRef.current.set(jobID, Date.now())
+      await fetchOperations()
+    } catch (err) {
+      setError(err.message)
+    }
+  }, [fetchOperations])
+
   // Whether this tab cancelled the job. Read by the strip to tell "the last
   // operation finished" from "the user called it off": both look identical in
   // /api/operations, which lists neither.
@@ -226,6 +236,7 @@ export function OperationsProvider({ children, pollInterval = 1000 }) {
     fetchHistory,
     clearHistory,
     cancelOperation,
+    pauseOperation,
     wasCancelled,
     dismissFailedOp,
     refetch: fetchOperations,

core/http/react-ui/src/pages/Activity.jsx

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export default function Activity() {
   const { t } = useTranslation('admin')
   const outlet = useOutletContext()
   const addToast = outlet?.addToast
-  const { operations, history, fetchHistory, clearHistory, cancelOperation, dismissFailedOp } = useOperations()
+  const { operations, history, fetchHistory, clearHistory, cancelOperation, pauseOperation, dismissFailedOp } = useOperations()
   const [filter, setFilter] = useState('all')
 
   useEffect(() => { fetchHistory() }, [fetchHistory])
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ export default function Activity() {
             {t('activity.inProgress')} <span className="activity-section__count">{live.length}</span>
           </h2>
           {live.map((op) => (
-            <OperationCard key={op.jobID || op.id} operation={op} onCancel={cancelOperation} />
+            <OperationCard key={op.jobID || op.id} operation={op} onCancel={cancelOperation} onPause={pauseOperation} />
           ))}
         </section>
       )}

core/http/react-ui/src/utils/api.js

@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ export const resourcesApi = {
 export const operationsApi = {
   list: () => fetchJSON(API_CONFIG.endpoints.operations),
   cancel: (jobID) => postJSON(API_CONFIG.endpoints.cancelOperation(jobID), {}),
+  pause: (jobID) => postJSON(API_CONFIG.endpoints.pauseOperation(jobID), {}),
   dismiss: (jobID) => postJSON(API_CONFIG.endpoints.dismissOperation(jobID), {}),
   history: () => fetchJSON(API_CONFIG.endpoints.operationsHistory),
   clearHistory: () => fetchJSON(API_CONFIG.endpoints.operationsHistory, { method: 'DELETE' }),

core/http/react-ui/src/utils/config.js

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ export const API_CONFIG = {
     operations: '/api/operations',
     operationsHistory: '/api/operations/history',
     cancelOperation: (jobID) => `/api/operations/${jobID}/cancel`,
+    pauseOperation: (jobID) => `/api/operations/${jobID}/pause`,
     dismissOperation: (jobID) => `/api/operations/${jobID}/dismiss`,
 
     // Models gallery

core/http/routes/ui_api.go

@@ -356,6 +356,24 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 		})
 	}, adminMiddleware)
 
+	// Pause operation endpoint (admin only). Unlike cancel, pause preserves a
+	// partial download so submitting the same install later resumes it.
+	app.POST("/api/operations/:jobID/pause", func(c echo.Context) error {
+		jobID := c.Param("jobID")
+		xlog.Debug("API request to pause operation", "jobID", jobID)
+
+		if err := galleryService.PauseOperation(jobID); err != nil {
+			xlog.Error("Failed to pause operation", "error", err, "jobID", jobID)
+			return c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]any{"error": err.Error()})
+		}
+
+		opcache.DeleteUUID(jobID)
+		return c.JSON(200, map[string]any{
+			"success": true,
+			"message": "Operation paused",
+		})
+	}, adminMiddleware)
+
 	// Dismiss a failed operation (acknowledge the error and remove it from the list)
 	app.POST("/api/operations/:jobID/dismiss", func(c echo.Context) error {
 		jobID := c.Param("jobID")
@@ -970,7 +988,7 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 		uid := id.String()
 		opcache.Set(galleryID, uid)
 
-		ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		ctx, cancelFunc, pauseFunc := galleryop.NewUserCancellableContext(context.Background())
 		op := galleryop.ManagementOp[gallery.GalleryModel, gallery.ModelConfig]{
 			ID:                 uid,
 			GalleryElementName: galleryID,
@@ -979,9 +997,10 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 			BackendGalleries:   appConfig.BackendGalleries,
 			Context:            ctx,
 			CancelFunc:         cancelFunc,
+			PauseFunc:          pauseFunc,
 		}
 		// Store cancellation function immediately so queued operations can be cancelled
-		galleryService.StoreCancellation(uid, cancelFunc)
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(uid, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 		galleryService.EnqueueModelOp(op)
 
 		return c.JSON(200, map[string]any{
@@ -1017,7 +1036,7 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 
 		opcache.Set(galleryID, uid)
 
-		ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		ctx, cancelFunc, pauseFunc := galleryop.NewUserCancellableContext(context.Background())
 		op := galleryop.ManagementOp[gallery.GalleryModel, gallery.ModelConfig]{
 			ID:                 uid,
 			Delete:             true,
@@ -1026,9 +1045,10 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 			BackendGalleries:   appConfig.BackendGalleries,
 			Context:            ctx,
 			CancelFunc:         cancelFunc,
+			PauseFunc:          pauseFunc,
 		}
 		// Store cancellation function immediately so queued operations can be cancelled
-		galleryService.StoreCancellation(uid, cancelFunc)
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(uid, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 		galleryService.EnqueueModelOp(op)
 		cl.RemoveModelConfig(galleryName)
 
@@ -1423,19 +1443,20 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 		uid := id.String()
 		opcache.SetBackend(backendID, uid)
 
-		ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		ctx, cancelFunc, pauseFunc := galleryop.NewUserCancellableContext(context.Background())
 		op := galleryop.ManagementOp[gallery.GalleryBackend, any]{
 			ID:                 uid,
 			GalleryElementName: backendID,
 			Galleries:          appConfig.BackendGalleries,
 			Context:            ctx,
 			CancelFunc:         cancelFunc,
+			PauseFunc:          pauseFunc,
 			// The React UI's "Reinstall backend" action reuses this route, so
 			// the op must force even when the backend is already installed.
 			Force: true,
 		}
 		// Store cancellation function immediately so queued operations can be cancelled
-		galleryService.StoreCancellation(uid, cancelFunc)
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(uid, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 		galleryService.EnqueueBackendOp(op)
 
 		return c.JSON(200, map[string]any{
@@ -1485,19 +1506,20 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 		}
 		opcache.SetBackend(cacheKey, uid)
 
-		ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		ctx, cancelFunc, pauseFunc := galleryop.NewUserCancellableContext(context.Background())
 		op := galleryop.ManagementOp[gallery.GalleryBackend, any]{
 			ID:                 uid,
 			GalleryElementName: req.Name, // May be empty, will be derived during installation
 			Galleries:          appConfig.BackendGalleries,
 			Context:            ctx,
 			CancelFunc:         cancelFunc,
+			PauseFunc:          pauseFunc,
 			ExternalURI:        req.URI,
 			ExternalName:       req.Name,
 			ExternalAlias:      req.Alias,
 		}
 		// Store cancellation function immediately so queued operations can be cancelled
-		galleryService.StoreCancellation(uid, cancelFunc)
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(uid, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 		galleryService.EnqueueBackendOp(op)
 
 		return c.JSON(200, map[string]any{
@@ -1533,7 +1555,7 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 
 		opcache.SetBackend(backendID, uid)
 
-		ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		ctx, cancelFunc, pauseFunc := galleryop.NewUserCancellableContext(context.Background())
 		op := galleryop.ManagementOp[gallery.GalleryBackend, any]{
 			ID:                 uid,
 			Delete:             true,
@@ -1541,9 +1563,10 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 			Galleries:          appConfig.BackendGalleries,
 			Context:            ctx,
 			CancelFunc:         cancelFunc,
+			PauseFunc:          pauseFunc,
 		}
 		// Store cancellation function immediately so queued operations can be cancelled
-		galleryService.StoreCancellation(uid, cancelFunc)
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(uid, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 		galleryService.EnqueueBackendOp(op)
 
 		return c.JSON(200, map[string]any{
@@ -1652,7 +1675,7 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 		// and the Backends UI can reflect progress on the affected row.
 		opcache.SetBackend(backendName, uid)
 
-		ctx, cancelFunc := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		ctx, cancelFunc, pauseFunc := galleryop.NewUserCancellableContext(context.Background())
 		op := galleryop.ManagementOp[gallery.GalleryBackend, any]{
 			ID:                 uid,
 			GalleryElementName: backendName,
@@ -1660,9 +1683,10 @@ func RegisterUIAPIRoutes(app *echo.Echo, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader, ml *model
 			Upgrade:            true,
 			Context:            ctx,
 			CancelFunc:         cancelFunc,
+			PauseFunc:          pauseFunc,
 		}
 		// Store cancellation function immediately so queued operations can be cancelled
-		galleryService.StoreCancellation(uid, cancelFunc)
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(uid, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 		galleryService.EnqueueBackendOp(op)
 
 		return c.JSON(200, map[string]any{

core/http/routes/ui_api_operations_test.go

@@ -339,6 +339,33 @@ var _ = Describe("/api/operations with node-scoped backend ops", func() {
 		Expect(envelope.Operations[0]).ToNot(HaveKey("isCancelled"))
 	})
 
+	It("pauses through the resume-safe operation callback", func() {
+		state, err := system.GetSystemState(system.WithModelPath(GinkgoT().TempDir()))
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		appCfg := &config.ApplicationConfig{SystemState: state}
+		galleryService := galleryop.NewGalleryService(appCfg, nil)
+		opcache := galleryop.NewOpCache(galleryService)
+		opcache.Set("localai@gemma", "job-pause")
+
+		var cancelled, paused bool
+		galleryService.StoreCancellationActions(
+			"job-pause",
+			func() { cancelled = true },
+			func() { paused = true },
+		)
+
+		e := echo.New()
+		routes.RegisterUIAPIRoutes(e, nil, nil, appCfg, galleryService, opcache, &application.Application{}, noopMw)
+		req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/api/operations/job-pause/pause", nil)
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		e.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+
+		Expect(rec.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+		Expect(paused).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(cancelled).To(BeFalse())
+		Expect(opcache.Get("localai@gemma")).To(BeEmpty())
+	})
+
 	It("reports a running removal as a deletion", func() {
 		state, err := system.GetSystemState(system.WithModelPath(GinkgoT().TempDir()))
 		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())

core/services/galleryop/cancel_persist_test.go

@@ -54,6 +54,22 @@ var _ = Describe("GalleryService.CancelOperation persistence", func() {
 		Expect(fresh.GetStatus("op-cancel")).To(BeNil(),
 			"a cancelled op must not hydrate back as active after a restart")
 	})
+
+	It("pauses with the resume-safe callback instead of the destructive cancel callback", func() {
+		svc := galleryop.NewGalleryService(&config.ApplicationConfig{}, nil)
+		var cancelled, paused bool
+		svc.StoreCancellationActions("op-pause", func() { cancelled = true }, func() { paused = true })
+
+		Expect(svc.PauseOperation("op-pause")).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(paused).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(cancelled).To(BeFalse())
+
+		status := svc.GetStatus("op-pause")
+		Expect(status).ToNot(BeNil())
+		Expect(status.Processed).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(status.Cancelled).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(status.Message).To(Equal("paused"))
+	})
 })
 
 // Reproduces "an op orphaned by a replica that died mid-flight stays 'pending'

core/services/galleryop/operation.go

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type ManagementOp[T any, E any] struct {
 	// Context for cancellation support
 	Context    context.Context
 	CancelFunc context.CancelFunc
+	PauseFunc  context.CancelFunc
 
 	// External backend installation parameters (for OCI/URL/path)
 	// These are used when installing backends from external sources rather than galleries
@@ -189,6 +190,7 @@ type GalleryProgressEvent struct {
 // runs the cancel func on whichever replica registered it.
 type GalleryCancelEvent struct {
 	JobID string `json:"id"`
+	Pause bool   `json:"pause,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // NodeStatus values shared between NodeProgress (per-node tick) and the

core/services/galleryop/service.go

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ type GalleryService struct {
 	modelManager   ModelManager
 	backendManager BackendManager
 	statuses       map[string]*OpStatus
-	cancellations  map[string]context.CancelFunc
+	cancellations  map[string]cancellationActions
 
 	// Distributed mode (nil when not in distributed mode).
 	// natsClient is the wider MessagingClient (Publisher + subscribe methods)
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func NewGalleryService(appConfig *config.ApplicationConfig, ml *model.ModelLoade
 		modelManager:          NewLocalModelManager(appConfig, ml),
 		backendManager:        NewLocalBackendManager(appConfig, ml),
 		statuses:              make(map[string]*OpStatus),
-		cancellations:         make(map[string]context.CancelFunc),
+		cancellations:         make(map[string]cancellationActions),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -387,6 +387,17 @@ func (g *GalleryService) failStaleStatus(id string) {
 // SubjectGalleryCancelWildcard subscriber and runs it locally. The caller
 // gets a non-error reply so the UI shows the cancel as accepted.
 func (g *GalleryService) CancelOperation(id string) error {
+	return g.stopOperation(id, false)
+}
+
+// PauseOperation stops an in-progress download while preserving its partial
+// file. Re-submitting the same install resumes it through the downloader's
+// existing HTTP Range support.
+func (g *GalleryService) PauseOperation(id string) error {
+	return g.stopOperation(id, true)
+}
+
+func (g *GalleryService) stopOperation(id string, pause bool) error {
 	g.Lock()
 
 	if status, ok := g.statuses[id]; ok && status.Cancelled {
@@ -394,7 +405,7 @@ func (g *GalleryService) CancelOperation(id string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("operation %q is already cancelled", id)
 	}
 
-	cancelFunc, localExists := g.cancellations[id]
+	actions, localExists := g.cancellations[id]
 	if localExists {
 		delete(g.cancellations, id)
 	}
@@ -410,12 +421,12 @@ func (g *GalleryService) CancelOperation(id string) error {
 	if status, ok := g.statuses[id]; ok {
 		status.Cancelled = true
 		status.Processed = true
-		status.Message = "cancelled"
+		status.Message = map[bool]string{true: "paused", false: "cancelled"}[pause]
 	} else {
 		g.statuses[id] = &OpStatus{
 			Cancelled:   true,
 			Processed:   true,
-			Message:     "cancelled",
+			Message:     map[bool]string{true: "paused", false: "cancelled"}[pause],
 			Cancellable: false,
 		}
 	}
@@ -435,11 +446,15 @@ func (g *GalleryService) CancelOperation(id string) error {
 	// I/O and user-provided callback after Unlock — the cancel-wildcard
 	// subscriber loops back into applyCancel on this same replica, which
 	// would otherwise deadlock on g.Mutex.
-	if cancelFunc != nil {
+	stopFunc := actions.cancel
-		cancelFunc()
+	if pause {
+		stopFunc = actions.pause
+	}
+	if stopFunc != nil {
+		stopFunc()
 	}
 	if nc != nil {
-		if err := nc.Publish(messaging.SubjectGalleryCancel(id), GalleryCancelEvent{JobID: id}); err != nil {
+		if err := nc.Publish(messaging.SubjectGalleryCancel(id), GalleryCancelEvent{JobID: id, Pause: pause}); err != nil {
 			xlog.Warn("Failed to broadcast gallery cancel", "op_id", id, "error", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -452,9 +467,9 @@ func (g *GalleryService) CancelOperation(id string) error {
 // run the local cancel func if we have one (no echo via NATS), and reflect
 // the cancellation in the local statuses map. Idempotent: a replica that
 // already cancelled this op locally treats the inbound event as a no-op.
-func (g *GalleryService) applyCancel(id string) {
+func (g *GalleryService) applyCancel(id string, pause bool) {
 	g.Lock()
-	cancelFunc, hasCancel := g.cancellations[id]
+	actions, hasCancel := g.cancellations[id]
 	if hasCancel {
 		delete(g.cancellations, id)
 	}
@@ -465,12 +480,12 @@ func (g *GalleryService) applyCancel(id string) {
 		}
 		status.Cancelled = true
 		status.Processed = true
-		status.Message = "cancelled"
+		status.Message = map[bool]string{true: "paused", false: "cancelled"}[pause]
 	} else {
 		g.statuses[id] = &OpStatus{
 			Cancelled:   true,
 			Processed:   true,
-			Message:     "cancelled",
+			Message:     map[bool]string{true: "paused", false: "cancelled"}[pause],
 			Cancellable: false,
 		}
 	}
@@ -478,8 +493,12 @@ func (g *GalleryService) applyCancel(id string) {
 
 	// Invoke the cancel func after Unlock so a callback that touches
 	// GalleryService doesn't re-enter the mutex.
-	if hasCancel {
+	stopFunc := actions.cancel
-		cancelFunc()
+	if pause {
+		stopFunc = actions.pause
+	}
+	if hasCancel && stopFunc != nil {
+		stopFunc()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -488,23 +507,40 @@ func (g *GalleryService) applyCancel(id string) {
 // distinguish a deliberate user cancel (discard the half-downloaded .partial)
 // from an incidental cancellation such as process shutdown (keep the .partial
 // so the next run resumes via Range instead of restarting from zero).
-func newUserCancellableContext(parent context.Context) (context.Context, context.CancelFunc) {
+// NewUserCancellableContext creates distinct callbacks for destructive cancel
+// and resume-safe pause while sharing one operation context.
+func NewUserCancellableContext(parent context.Context) (context.Context, context.CancelFunc, context.CancelFunc) {
 	ctx, cancelCause := context.WithCancelCause(parent)
-	return ctx, func() { cancelCause(downloader.ErrUserCancelled) }
+	return ctx,
+		func() { cancelCause(downloader.ErrUserCancelled) },
+		func() { cancelCause(context.Canceled) }
 }
 
-// storeCancellation stores a cancellation function for an operation
+type cancellationActions struct {
-func (g *GalleryService) storeCancellation(id string, cancelFunc context.CancelFunc) {
+	cancel context.CancelFunc
+	pause  context.CancelFunc
+}
+
+func (g *GalleryService) storeCancellation(id string, cancelFunc, pauseFunc context.CancelFunc) {
 	g.Lock()
 	defer g.Unlock()
-	g.cancellations[id] = cancelFunc
+	if pauseFunc == nil {
+		pauseFunc = cancelFunc
+	}
+	g.cancellations[id] = cancellationActions{cancel: cancelFunc, pause: pauseFunc}
 }
 
 // StoreCancellation is a public method to store a cancellation function for an operation
 // This allows cancellation functions to be stored immediately when operations are created,
 // enabling cancellation of queued operations that haven't started processing yet.
 func (g *GalleryService) StoreCancellation(id string, cancelFunc context.CancelFunc) {
-	g.storeCancellation(id, cancelFunc)
+	g.storeCancellation(id, cancelFunc, cancelFunc)
+}
+
+// StoreCancellationActions registers distinct destructive-cancel and
+// resume-safe pause callbacks for an operation.
+func (g *GalleryService) StoreCancellationActions(id string, cancelFunc, pauseFunc context.CancelFunc) {
+	g.storeCancellation(id, cancelFunc, pauseFunc)
 }
 
 // removeCancellation removes a cancellation function when operation completes
@@ -554,10 +590,10 @@ func (g *GalleryService) Start(c context.Context, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader,
 			case op := <-g.BackendGalleryChannel:
 				// Create context if not provided
 				if op.Context == nil {
-					op.Context, op.CancelFunc = newUserCancellableContext(c)
+					op.Context, op.CancelFunc, op.PauseFunc = NewUserCancellableContext(c)
-					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc)
+					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc, op.PauseFunc)
 				} else if op.CancelFunc != nil {
-					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc)
+					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc, op.PauseFunc)
 				}
 				// Create DB record for distributed tracking
 				if g.galleryStore != nil {
@@ -597,10 +633,10 @@ func (g *GalleryService) Start(c context.Context, cl *config.ModelConfigLoader,
 			case op := <-g.ModelGalleryChannel:
 				// Create context if not provided
 				if op.Context == nil {
-					op.Context, op.CancelFunc = newUserCancellableContext(c)
+					op.Context, op.CancelFunc, op.PauseFunc = NewUserCancellableContext(c)
-					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc)
+					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc, op.PauseFunc)
 				} else if op.CancelFunc != nil {
-					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc)
+					g.storeCancellation(op.ID, op.CancelFunc, op.PauseFunc)
 				}
 				// Create DB record for distributed tracking
 				if g.galleryStore != nil {
@@ -663,7 +699,7 @@ func (g *GalleryService) SubscribeBroadcasts() error {
 		if evt.JobID == "" {
 			return
 		}
-		g.applyCancel(evt.JobID)
+		g.applyCancel(evt.JobID, evt.Pause)
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		if uerr := progressSub.Unsubscribe(); uerr != nil {

docs/content/features/authentication.md

@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ When authentication is enabled, the following endpoints require admin role:
 **Model & Backend Management:**
 - `GET /api/models`, `POST /api/models/install/*`, `POST /api/models/delete/*`
 - `GET /api/backends`, `POST /api/backends/install/*`, `POST /api/backends/delete/*`
-- `GET /api/operations`, `POST /api/operations/*/cancel`, `POST /api/operations/*/dismiss`
+- `GET /api/operations`, `POST /api/operations/*/cancel`, `POST /api/operations/*/pause`, `POST /api/operations/*/dismiss`
 - `GET /api/operations/history`, `DELETE /api/operations/history`
 - `GET /models/available`, `GET /models/galleries`, `GET /models/jobs/*`
 - `GET /backends`, `GET /backends/available`, `GET /backends/galleries`

docs/content/operations/activity.md

@@ -170,10 +170,15 @@ Both surfaces are backed by these endpoints. All of them are admin-only when
 | -------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
 | `GET`    | `/api/operations`                | Running, queued and failed operations, least advanced first.              |
 | `POST`   | `/api/operations/{jobID}/cancel` | Cancel a queued operation, or a running install. Not a running removal.  |
+| `POST`   | `/api/operations/{jobID}/pause`  | Pause a queued operation or running download and preserve partial data.  |
 | `POST`   | `/api/operations/{jobID}/dismiss`| Acknowledge a failed operation and move it into the record.               |
 | `GET`    | `/api/operations/history`        | List finished operations, newest first.                                   |
 | `DELETE` | `/api/operations/history`        | Clear the record. Live operations are untouched.                          |
 
+Pausing preserves the download's `.partial` file. Start the same model or
+backend installation again to resume from the saved bytes when the origin
+supports HTTP Range requests. Cancelling intentionally discards partial data.
+
 Both `GET` endpoints wrap their list in an `operations` key rather than
 returning a bare array: