diff --git a/milli/src/update/mod.rs b/milli/src/update/mod.rs
index eb2b6e69a..66c52a52f 100644
--- a/milli/src/update/mod.rs
+++ b/milli/src/update/mod.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ pub use self::index_documents::{
     MergeFn,
 };
 pub use self::indexer_config::IndexerConfig;
-pub use self::settings::{Setting, Settings};
+pub use self::settings::{validate_embedding_settings, Setting, Settings};
 pub use self::update_step::UpdateIndexingStep;
 pub use self::word_prefix_docids::WordPrefixDocids;
 pub use self::words_prefix_integer_docids::WordPrefixIntegerDocids;
diff --git a/milli/src/update/settings.rs b/milli/src/update/settings.rs
index e47a5ad52..d770bcd74 100644
--- a/milli/src/update/settings.rs
+++ b/milli/src/update/settings.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use crate::index::{DEFAULT_MIN_WORD_LEN_ONE_TYPO, DEFAULT_MIN_WORD_LEN_TWO_TYPOS
 use crate::proximity::ProximityPrecision;
 use crate::update::index_documents::IndexDocumentsMethod;
 use crate::update::{IndexDocuments, UpdateIndexingStep};
-use crate::vector::settings::{EmbeddingSettings, PromptSettings};
+use crate::vector::settings::{check_set, check_unset, EmbedderSource, EmbeddingSettings};
 use crate::vector::{Embedder, EmbeddingConfig, EmbeddingConfigs};
 use crate::{FieldsIdsMap, Index, OrderBy, Result};
 
@@ -958,17 +958,23 @@ impl<'a, 't, 'i> Settings<'a, 't, 'i> {
                     .merge_join_by(configs.into_iter(), |(left, _), (right, _)| left.cmp(right))
                 {
                     match joined {
+                        // updated config
                         EitherOrBoth::Both((name, mut old), (_, new)) => {
-                            old.apply(new);
-                            let new = validate_prompt(&name, old)?;
-                            changed = true;
+                            changed |= old.apply(new);
+                            let new = validate_embedding_settings(old, &name)?;
                             new_configs.insert(name, new);
                         }
+                        // unchanged config
                         EitherOrBoth::Left((name, setting)) => {
                             new_configs.insert(name, setting);
                         }
-                        EitherOrBoth::Right((name, setting)) => {
-                            let setting = validate_prompt(&name, setting)?;
+                        // new config
+                        EitherOrBoth::Right((name, mut setting)) => {
+                            // apply the default source in case the source was not set so that it gets validated
+                            crate::vector::settings::EmbeddingSettings::apply_default_source(
+                                &mut setting,
+                            );
+                            let setting = validate_embedding_settings(setting, &name)?;
                             changed = true;
                             new_configs.insert(name, setting);
                         }
@@ -1080,8 +1086,12 @@ fn validate_prompt(
 ) -> Result<Setting<EmbeddingSettings>> {
     match new {
         Setting::Set(EmbeddingSettings {
-            embedder_options,
-            document_template: Setting::Set(PromptSettings { template: Setting::Set(template) }),
+            source,
+            model,
+            revision,
+            api_key,
+            dimensions,
+            document_template: Setting::Set(template),
         }) => {
             // validate
             let template = crate::prompt::Prompt::new(template)
@@ -1089,16 +1099,71 @@ fn validate_prompt(
                 .map_err(|inner| UserError::InvalidPromptForEmbeddings(name.to_owned(), inner))?;
 
             Ok(Setting::Set(EmbeddingSettings {
-                embedder_options,
-                document_template: Setting::Set(PromptSettings {
-                    template: Setting::Set(template),
-                }),
+                source,
+                model,
+                revision,
+                api_key,
+                dimensions,
+                document_template: Setting::Set(template),
             }))
         }
         new => Ok(new),
     }
 }
 
+pub fn validate_embedding_settings(
+    settings: Setting<EmbeddingSettings>,
+    name: &str,
+) -> Result<Setting<EmbeddingSettings>> {
+    let settings = validate_prompt(name, settings)?;
+    let Setting::Set(settings) = settings else { return Ok(settings) };
+    let EmbeddingSettings { source, model, revision, api_key, dimensions, document_template } =
+        settings;
+    let Some(inferred_source) = source.set() else {
+        return Ok(Setting::Set(EmbeddingSettings {
+            source,
+            model,
+            revision,
+            api_key,
+            dimensions,
+            document_template,
+        }));
+    };
+    match inferred_source {
+        EmbedderSource::OpenAi => {
+            check_unset(&revision, "revision", inferred_source, name)?;
+            check_unset(&dimensions, "dimensions", inferred_source, name)?;
+            if let Setting::Set(model) = &model {
+                crate::vector::openai::EmbeddingModel::from_name(model.as_str()).ok_or(
+                    crate::error::UserError::InvalidOpenAiModel {
+                        embedder_name: name.to_owned(),
+                        model: model.clone(),
+                    },
+                )?;
+            }
+        }
+        EmbedderSource::HuggingFace => {
+            check_unset(&api_key, "apiKey", inferred_source, name)?;
+            check_unset(&dimensions, "dimensions", inferred_source, name)?;
+        }
+        EmbedderSource::UserProvided => {
+            check_unset(&model, "model", inferred_source, name)?;
+            check_unset(&revision, "revision", inferred_source, name)?;
+            check_unset(&api_key, "apiKey", inferred_source, name)?;
+            check_unset(&document_template, "documentTemplate", inferred_source, name)?;
+            check_set(&dimensions, "dimensions", inferred_source, name)?;
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(Setting::Set(EmbeddingSettings {
+        source,
+        model,
+        revision,
+        api_key,
+        dimensions,
+        document_template,
+    }))
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use big_s::S;