diff --git a/claude/uclaude_install.sh b/claude/uclaude_install.sh
index ea5b75d..f5d0bfc 100755
--- a/claude/uclaude_install.sh
+++ b/claude/uclaude_install.sh
@@ -164,7 +164,38 @@ fi
 
 echo ""
 echo "=== Installation complete ==="
-echo "  To update later: cd $INSTALL_DIR && sudo bash claude/uclaude_update.sh"
+echo ""
+
+# Sanity check what landed in settings.json (helps diagnose "only 5 models
+# in /model picker" case — usually means CLAUDE_CUSTOM_MODELS missing
+# from settings.json env block).
+ME_HOME="${HOME:-/root}"
+SETTINGS="$ME_HOME/.claude/settings.json"
+if [ -f "$SETTINGS" ]; then
+    echo "  Verification: $SETTINGS"
+    python3 - "$SETTINGS" <<'PYEOF'
+import json, sys
+try:
+    s = json.load(open(sys.argv[1]))
+    env = s.get("env", {})
+    ccm = env.get("CLAUDE_CUSTOM_MODELS", "")
+    n = len(ccm.split(",")) if ccm else 0
+    print(f"    base_url:    {env.get('ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL','-')}")
+    auth = env.get("ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN", "")
+    print(f"    auth_token:  {auth[:8]}{'...' if auth else ' (NOT SET — auth will fail!)'}")
+    print(f"    custom_models: {n} models {'⚠ ZERO — /model will show built-ins only' if n==0 else 'OK'}")
+    if n > 0:
+        print(f"    sample:      {','.join(ccm.split(',')[:3])}...")
+except Exception as e:
+    print(f"    ERROR reading settings.json: {e}")
+PYEOF
+else
+    echo "  (no $SETTINGS to verify — patcher may not have run)"
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "  Run claude:    claude              # interactive"
+echo "  Update later:  cd $INSTALL_DIR && sudo bash claude/uclaude_update.sh"
 echo ""
 echo "  To install Codex CLI separately, see README codex section:"
 echo "    https://git.sensey24.ru/aibot777/unlimitedcoding/raw/branch/master/codex/ucodex_install.sh"
diff --git a/claude/uclaude_updater.py b/claude/uclaude_updater.py
index de3b1fe..78bbb4e 100755
--- a/claude/uclaude_updater.py
+++ b/claude/uclaude_updater.py
@@ -876,10 +876,31 @@ def patch_all_users(config):
         eprint(f"  {Y}No users found{D}")
         return
 
+    # Diagnostic: confirm config has the key fields BEFORE patching users.
+    # If models is empty/missing, claude shows only built-in defaults
+    # (user reported only 5 models in /model picker — root cause was here).
+    n_models = len(config.get("models", []))
+    if n_models == 0:
+        eprint(f"  {R}WARNING: config has 0 models — claude /model will show built-ins only{D}")
+    else:
+        print(f"  Config has {n_models} models (sample: {','.join(config['models'][:3])}...)")
+    if not config.get("api_key") or config["api_key"] in ("YOUR_API_KEY", "PLACEHOLDER", ""):
+        eprint(f"  {R}WARNING: api_key is placeholder/empty — claude API auth will fail{D}")
+
     for user in users:
         try:
             path = patch_user(user.home, user.name, user.uid, user.gid, config)
-            print(f"  {G}Patched {user.name}{D}: {path}")
+            # Verify what landed in settings.json
+            try:
+                with open(path, "r") as f:
+                    written = json.load(f)
+                env_block = written.get("env", {})
+                ccm = env_block.get("CLAUDE_CUSTOM_MODELS", "")
+                ccm_count = len(ccm.split(",")) if ccm else 0
+                print(f"  {G}Patched {user.name}{D}: {path} "
+                      f"(env.CLAUDE_CUSTOM_MODELS={ccm_count} models)")
+            except Exception:
+                print(f"  {G}Patched {user.name}{D}: {path}")
         except Exception as e:
             eprint(f"  {R}Failed to patch {user.name}: {e}{D}")