diff --git a/backends/arm/CMakeLists.txt b/backends/arm/CMakeLists.txt
index ac9df82315e..ede7a96a389 100644
--- a/backends/arm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/backends/arm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -48,44 +48,17 @@ endif()
 
 # VGF backend builds
 if(EXECUTORCH_BUILD_VGF)
+
+  # include libvgf
+  set(LIBVGF_PATH
+      "${EXECUTORCH_ROOT}/examples/arm/ethos-u-scratch/ml-sdk-for-vulkan-manifest/sw/vgf-lib/"
+  )
+
   set(VULKAN_THIRD_PARTY_PATH ${EXECUTORCH_ROOT}/backends/vulkan/third-party)
   set(VULKAN_HEADERS_PATH ${VULKAN_THIRD_PARTY_PATH}/Vulkan-Headers/include)
   set(VOLK_HEADERS_PATH ${VULKAN_THIRD_PARTY_PATH}/volk)
 
-  if(APPLE
-     OR CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR MATCHES "^(arm64|aarch64)$"
-     OR EXISTS
-        "${EXECUTORCH_ROOT}/examples/arm/ethos-u-scratch/ml-sdk-for-vulkan-manifest/"
-  )
-    message(STATUS "libvgf sourced from local scratch tree")
-
-    # Legacy layout: libvgf sourced from local scratch tree
-    set(LIBVGF_PATH
-        "${EXECUTORCH_ROOT}/examples/arm/ethos-u-scratch/ml-sdk-for-vulkan-manifest/sw/vgf-lib/"
-    )
-    set(LIBVGF_STATIC "${LIBVGF_PATH}/build/src/libvgf.a")
-  else()
-    message(STATUS "libvgf installed from pip package")
-
-    set(Python3_FIND_VIRTUALENV FIRST)
-    if(EXECUTORCH_ROOT AND EXISTS "${EXECUTORCH_ROOT}/env")
-      set(Python3_EXECUTABLE "${EXECUTORCH_ROOT}/env/bin/python3")
-    endif()
-
-    find_package(Python3 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Interpreter)
-
-    # Prefer arch-specific site-packages if present, else pure
-    set(_vgf_site_arch "${Python3_SITEARCH}/vgf_lib/binaries")
-    set(_vgf_site_pure "${Python3_SITELIB}/vgf_lib/binaries")
-    if(EXISTS "${_vgf_site_arch}")
-      set(LIBVGF_PATH "${_vgf_site_arch}")
-    else()
-      set(LIBVGF_PATH "${_vgf_site_pure}")
-    endif()
-
-    set(LIBVGF_STATIC "${LIBVGF_PATH}/lib/libvgf.a")
-  endif()
-
+  set(LIBVGF_STATIC "${LIBVGF_PATH}/build/src/libvgf.a")
   set(LIBVGF_INCLUDE "${LIBVGF_PATH}/include/")
 
   add_library(vgf STATIC IMPORTED)
diff --git a/backends/arm/requirements-arm-vgf.txt b/backends/arm/requirements-arm-vgf.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 1bf4d78c995..00000000000
--- a/backends/arm/requirements-arm-vgf.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2025 Arm Limited and/or its affiliates.
-#
-# This source code is licensed under the BSD-style license found in the
-# LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-ai_ml_emulation_layer_for_vulkan == 0.7.0
-ai_ml_sdk_model_converter == 0.7.0
-ai_ml_sdk_vgf_library == 0.7.0
diff --git a/backends/arm/scripts/mlsdk_utils.sh b/backends/arm/scripts/mlsdk_utils.sh
index 95aa5cf2a4f..2257bc674ca 100755
--- a/backends/arm/scripts/mlsdk_utils.sh
+++ b/backends/arm/scripts/mlsdk_utils.sh
@@ -205,51 +205,7 @@ function setup_path_emulation_layer() {
     model_emulation_layer_path="$(cd "${mlsdk_manifest_dir}/sw/emulation-layer/" && pwd)"
     prepend_env_in_setup_path LD_LIBRARY_PATH "${model_emulation_layer_path}/deploy/lib"
     prepend_env_in_setup_path DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH "${model_emulation_layer_path}/deploy/lib"
-    prepend_env_in_setup_path VK_LAYER_PATH "${model_emulation_layer_path}/deploy/share/vulkan/explicit_layer.d"
     prepend_env_in_setup_path VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS VK_LAYER_ML_Tensor_Emulation
     prepend_env_in_setup_path VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS VK_LAYER_ML_Graph_Emulation
-}
-
-function setup_path_emulation_layer_from_pip() {
-    if ! command -v emulation_layer >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        echo "[mlsdk_utils] 'emulation_layer' command not found; skipping pip emulation layer path setup"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    local output
-    if ! output=$(emulation_layer 2>/dev/null); then
-        echo "[mlsdk_utils] Failed to query emulation_layer environment; skipping"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    local exports
-    exports=$(echo "$output" | grep '^export ' || true)
-
-    local ld_line
-    ld_line=$(echo "$exports" | grep 'LD_LIBRARY_PATH=' || true)
-    if [[ -n "${ld_line}" ]]; then
-        local ld_value=${ld_line#export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=}
-        ld_value=${ld_value%%:\$LD_LIBRARY_PATH*}
-        if [[ -n "${ld_value}" ]]; then
-            prepend_env_in_setup_path LD_LIBRARY_PATH "${ld_value}"
-        fi
-    fi
-
-    local vk_add_line
-    vk_add_line=$(echo "$exports" | grep 'VK_ADD_LAYER_PATH=' || true)
-    if [[ -n "${vk_add_line}" ]]; then
-        local vk_add_value=${vk_add_line#export VK_ADD_LAYER_PATH=}
-        if [[ -n "${vk_add_value}" ]]; then
-            prepend_env_in_setup_path VK_ADD_LAYER_PATH "${vk_add_value}"
-        fi
-    fi
-
-    local vk_instance_line
-    vk_instance_line=$(echo "$exports" | grep 'VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS=' || true)
-    if [[ -n "${vk_instance_line}" ]]; then
-        local vk_instance_value=${vk_instance_line#export VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS=}
-        if [[ -n "${vk_instance_value}" ]]; then
-            prepend_env_in_setup_path VK_INSTANCE_LAYERS "${vk_instance_value}"
-        fi
-    fi
+    prepend_env_in_setup_path VK_LAYER_PATH "${model_emulation_layer_path}/deploy/share/vulkan/explicit_layer.d"
 }
diff --git a/backends/arm/scripts/run_vkml.sh b/backends/arm/scripts/run_vkml.sh
index 570abcb20a4..8a64a937638 100755
--- a/backends/arm/scripts/run_vkml.sh
+++ b/backends/arm/scripts/run_vkml.sh
@@ -50,14 +50,9 @@ if [[ -z ${model} ]]; then echo "Model name needs to be provided"; exit 1; fi
 
 source ${setup_path_script}
 
-if ! command -v "${converter}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    if command -v model_converter >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-        converter="model_converter"
-    fi
-fi
-
-command -v "${converter}" >/dev/null 2>&1 \
-    || { echo "Could not find a model converter executable (tried model-converter, model_converter). ${_setup_msg}"; exit 1; }
+# basic checks before we get started
+hash ${converter} \
+    || { echo "Could not find ${converter} on PATH, ${_setup_msg}"; exit 1; }
 
 
 
diff --git a/backends/arm/test/runner_utils.py b/backends/arm/test/runner_utils.py
index 83d06823a0b..2c76af1b779 100644
--- a/backends/arm/test/runner_utils.py
+++ b/backends/arm/test/runner_utils.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 from executorch.backends.arm.tosa.compile_spec import TosaCompileSpec
 from executorch.backends.arm.tosa.specification import Tosa_1_00, TosaSpecification
 from executorch.backends.arm.vgf import VgfCompileSpec
-from executorch.backends.arm.vgf.model_converter import find_model_converter_binary
 from executorch.exir import ExecutorchProgramManager, ExportedProgram
 from executorch.exir.lowered_backend_module import LoweredBackendModule
 from torch.fx.node import Node
@@ -679,15 +678,11 @@ def corstone320_installed() -> bool:
 
 
 def model_converter_installed() -> bool:
-    model_converter = find_model_converter_binary()
-    if model_converter is None:
-        return False
-
+    cmd = ["model-converter", "--version"]
     try:
-        _run_cmd([model_converter, "--version"], check=True)
-    except Exception:
+        _run_cmd(cmd, check=True)
+    except:
         return False
-
     return True
 
 
diff --git a/backends/arm/vgf/backend.py b/backends/arm/vgf/backend.py
index 5263ce6737d..82d200f44fd 100644
--- a/backends/arm/vgf/backend.py
+++ b/backends/arm/vgf/backend.py
@@ -17,24 +17,13 @@
 import tempfile
 from typing import final, List
 
-from executorch.backends.arm.tosa.backend import (  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
+from executorch.backends.arm.tosa.backend import (
     arm_get_first_delegation_tag,
     TOSABackend,
 )
-
-from executorch.backends.arm.vgf.compile_spec import (  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    VgfCompileSpec,
-)
-from executorch.backends.arm.vgf.model_converter import (  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    require_model_converter_binary,
-)
-from executorch.exir.backend.backend_details import (  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    BackendDetails,
-    PreprocessResult,
-)
-from executorch.exir.backend.compile_spec_schema import (  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
-    CompileSpec,
-)
+from executorch.backends.arm.vgf.compile_spec import VgfCompileSpec
+from executorch.exir.backend.backend_details import BackendDetails, PreprocessResult
+from executorch.exir.backend.compile_spec_schema import CompileSpec
 from torch.export.exported_program import ExportedProgram
 
 # debug functionality
@@ -107,10 +96,9 @@ def vgf_compile(
             f.write(tosa_flatbuffer)
 
         additional_flags = " ".join(compile_flags)
-        converter_binary = require_model_converter_binary()
         vgf_path = tosa_path + ".vgf"
         conversion_command = (
-            f"{converter_binary} {additional_flags} -i {tosa_path} -o {vgf_path}"
+            f"model-converter {additional_flags} -i {tosa_path} -o {vgf_path}"
         )
         try:
             subprocess.run(
diff --git a/backends/arm/vgf/model_converter.py b/backends/arm/vgf/model_converter.py
deleted file mode 100644
index dffbf76f26a..00000000000
--- a/backends/arm/vgf/model_converter.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2025 Arm Limited and/or its affiliates.
-#
-# This source code is licensed under the BSD-style license found in the
-# LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-from shutil import which
-from typing import Optional
-
-MODEL_CONVERTER_BINARY = "model-converter"
-_MODEL_CONVERTER_FALLBACK_BINARY = "model_converter"
-
-
-def find_model_converter_binary() -> Optional[str]:
-    """Return the name of the first model converter executable on PATH."""
-
-    for candidate in (MODEL_CONVERTER_BINARY, _MODEL_CONVERTER_FALLBACK_BINARY):
-        if which(candidate):
-            return candidate
-    return None
-
-
-def require_model_converter_binary() -> str:
-    """Return a usable model converter executable or raise a helpful error."""
-
-    binary = find_model_converter_binary()
-    if binary is None:
-        tried = ", ".join((MODEL_CONVERTER_BINARY, _MODEL_CONVERTER_FALLBACK_BINARY))
-        raise RuntimeError(
-            "Unable to locate a model converter executable. "
-            f"Tried: {tried}. Ensure the Model Converter is installed and on PATH."
-        )
-    return binary
diff --git a/examples/arm/setup.sh b/examples/arm/setup.sh
index ed7d90c8b42..a11b4a2eebd 100755
--- a/examples/arm/setup.sh
+++ b/examples/arm/setup.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ enable_model_converter=0   # model-converter tool for VGF output
 enable_vgf_lib=0  # vgf reader - runtime backend dependency
 enable_emulation_layer=0  # Vulkan layer driver - emulates Vulkan ML extensions
 enable_vulkan_sdk=0  # Download and export Vulkan SDK required by emulation layer
-enable_mlsdk_pip_install=0  # This is a temporary option that will soon be the default
 
 # Figure out if setup.sh was called or sourced and save it into "is_script_sourced"
 (return 0 2>/dev/null) && is_script_sourced=1 || is_script_sourced=0
@@ -52,7 +51,6 @@ OPTION_LIST=(
   "--enable-emulation-layer Enable MLSDK Vulkan emulation layer"
   "--disable-ethos-u-deps Do not setup what is needed for Ethos-U"
   "--enable-mlsdk-deps Setup what is needed for MLSDK"
-  "--install-mlsdk-deps-with-pip Use MLSDK PyPi package instead of building from source"
   "--mlsdk-manifest-url URL to the MLSDK manifest for vulkan."
   "--help Display help"
 )
@@ -142,10 +140,6 @@ function check_options() {
                 enable_vela=0
                 shift
                 ;;
-            --install-mlsdk-deps-with-pip)
-                enable_mlsdk_pip_install=1
-                shift
-                ;;
             --enable-mlsdk-deps)
                 enable_model_converter=1
                 enable_vgf_lib=1
@@ -182,22 +176,12 @@ function setup_ethos_u_tools() {
     CMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5 BUILD_PYBIND=1 pip install --no-dependencies -r $et_dir/backends/arm/requirements-arm-ethos-u.txt
 }
 
-function setup_mlsdk_dependencies() {
-    log_step "mlsdk" "Installing MLSDK dependencies from pip"
-    pip install -r $et_dir/backends/arm/requirements-arm-vgf.txt
-}
-
 function create_setup_path(){
     cd "${root_dir}"
 
     clear_setup_path
     log_step "path" "Generating setup path scripts at ${setup_path_script}"
 
-    local use_mlsdk_pip=0
-    if use_mlsdk_pip_package; then
-        use_mlsdk_pip=1
-    fi
-
     if [[ "${enable_fvps}" -eq 1 ]]; then
         setup_path_fvp
     fi
@@ -210,48 +194,19 @@ function create_setup_path(){
         setup_path_vulkan
     fi
 
-    if [[ "${enable_model_converter}" -eq 1 && "${use_mlsdk_pip}" -eq 0 ]]; then
+    if [[ "${enable_model_converter}" -eq 1 ]]; then
         setup_path_model_converter
     fi
 
-    if [[ "${enable_vgf_lib}" -eq 1 && "${use_mlsdk_pip}" -eq 0 ]]; then
+    if [[ "${enable_vgf_lib}" -eq 1 ]]; then
         setup_path_vgf_lib
     fi
 
     if [[ "${enable_emulation_layer}" -eq 1 ]]; then
-        if [[ "${use_mlsdk_pip}" -eq 0 ]]; then
-            setup_path_emulation_layer
-        else
-            setup_path_emulation_layer_from_pip
-        fi
-    fi
-
-   log_step "path" "Update PATH by sourcing ${setup_path_script}.{sh|fish}"
-}
-
-function use_mlsdk_pip_package() {
-    os=$(uname -s)
-    arch=$(uname -m)
-
-    if [[ "${enable_mlsdk_pip_install}" -eq 0 ]]; then
-        return 1
-    fi
-
-    if [[ "$os" == "Darwin" ]]; then
-        if [[ "${enable_mlsdk_pip_install}" -eq 1 ]]; then
-            log_step "mlsdk" "[error] MLSDK pip install not yet supported on MacOS"
-            exit 1
-        fi
-    fi
-
-    if [[ "$arch" == "arm64" || "$arch" == "aarch64" ]]; then
-        if [[ "${enable_mlsdk_pip_install}" -eq 1 ]]; then
-            log_step "mlsdk" "[error] MLSDK pip install not yet supported on aarch64"
-            exit 1
-        fi
+        setup_path_emulation_layer
     fi
 
-    return 0
+    log_step "path" "Update PATH by sourcing ${setup_path_script}.{sh|fish}"
 }
 
 
@@ -269,7 +224,6 @@ if [[ $is_script_sourced -eq 0 ]]; then
     source $et_dir/backends/arm/scripts/fvp_utils.sh
     source $et_dir/backends/arm/scripts/toolchain_utils.sh
     source $et_dir/backends/arm/scripts/vulkan_utils.sh
-    source $et_dir/backends/arm/scripts/mlsdk_utils.sh
 
     log_step "main" "Checking platform and OS"
     check_platform_support
@@ -285,12 +239,8 @@ if [[ $is_script_sourced -eq 0 ]]; then
         mlsdk_manifest_dir="${root_dir}/${mlsdk_manifest_dir}"
     fi
 
-    log_step "options" \
-             "root=${root_dir}, target-toolchain=${target_toolchain:-<default>}, mlsdk-dir=${mlsdk_manifest_dir}"
-    log_step "options" \
-             "ethos-u: fvps=${enable_fvps}, toolchain=${enable_baremetal_toolchain}, vela=${enable_vela} | " \
-             "mlsdk: model-converter=${enable_model_converter}, vgf-lib=${enable_vgf_lib}, " \
-                    "emu-layer=${enable_emulation_layer}, vulkan-sdk=${enable_vulkan_sdk}"
+    log_step "options" "root=${root_dir}, target-toolchain=${target_toolchain:-<default>}, mlsdk-dir=${mlsdk_manifest_dir}"
+    log_step "options" "ethos-u: fvps=${enable_fvps}, toolchain=${enable_baremetal_toolchain}, vela=${enable_vela} | mlsdk: model-converter=${enable_model_converter}, vgf-lib=${enable_vgf_lib}, emu-layer=${enable_emulation_layer}, vulkan-sdk=${enable_vulkan_sdk}"
 
     # Setup toolchain
     if [[ "${enable_baremetal_toolchain}" -eq 1 ]]; then
@@ -317,18 +267,13 @@ if [[ $is_script_sourced -eq 0 ]]; then
     if [[ "${enable_model_converter}" -eq 1 || \
           "${enable_vgf_lib}" -eq 1 || \
           "${enable_emulation_layer}" -eq 1 ]]; then
-        log_step "mlsdk" "Configuring MLSDK components (model-converter=${enable_model_converter}, " \
-                         "vgf-lib=${enable_vgf_lib}, emu-layer=${enable_emulation_layer})"
-        if use_mlsdk_pip_package; then
-            setup_mlsdk_dependencies
-        else
-            log_step "mlsdk" "Installing MLSDK dependencies from source"
-            setup_mlsdk ${root_dir} \
-                        ${mlsdk_manifest_dir} \
-                        ${enable_model_converter} \
-                        ${enable_vgf_lib} \
-                        ${enable_emulation_layer}
-        fi
+        log_step "mlsdk" "Configuring MLSDK components (model-converter=${enable_model_converter}, vgf-lib=${enable_vgf_lib}, emu-layer=${enable_emulation_layer})"
+        source $et_dir/backends/arm/scripts/mlsdk_utils.sh
+        setup_mlsdk "${root_dir}" \
+                    "${mlsdk_manifest_dir}" \
+                    "${enable_model_converter}" \
+                    "${enable_vgf_lib}" \
+                    "${enable_emulation_layer}"
     fi
 
     # Create the setup_path.sh used to create the PATH variable for shell