diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/model-picker.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/model-picker.tsx
index 37de510c6537a..fcd1e63e14cf3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/model-picker.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/model-picker.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useState } from 'react'
 import { useI18n } from '@/i18n'
 import { requestModelOptions } from '@/lib/model-options'
 import { currentPickerSelection } from '@/lib/model-status-label'
+import { modelSearchText } from '@/lib/model-search-text'
 import { normalize } from '@/lib/text'
 import type { ModelOptionProvider, ModelPricing } from '@/types/hermes'
 
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ function ModelResults({
 
   const matches = (provider: ModelOptionProvider, model: string) =>
     !q ||
-    model.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
+    modelSearchText(model).toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
     provider.name.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
     provider.slug.toLowerCase().includes(q)
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/model-search-text.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/model-search-text.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a370182abe261
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/model-search-text.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Extra tokens used only for model-picker search ranking.
+ *
+ * Wire IDs stay unchanged — some providers report short or brand-less ids
+ * (Kimi Coding's flagship is literally `k3`) that users still search for by
+ * the familiar `kimi-…` naming of sibling models.
+ *
+ * Keep in sync with ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.ts,
+ * web/src/lib/model-search-text.ts, and hermes_cli/model_search.py.
+ */
+const MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES: Record<string, readonly string[]> = {
+  k3: ['kimi-k3', 'kimi']
+}
+
+/** Haystack for fuzzy/substring model search; never changes the wire id. */
+export function modelSearchText(model: string): string {
+  const id = model.trim()
+  if (!id) {
+    return model
+  }
+
+  const aliases = MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES[id.toLowerCase()]
+  if (!aliases?.length) {
+    return id
+  }
+
+  return `${id} ${aliases.join(' ')}`
+}
diff --git a/hermes_cli/auth.py b/hermes_cli/auth.py
index 13f7cf362f6b9..803c204c1be56 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/auth.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/auth.py
@@ -6939,6 +6939,22 @@ def _label(mid):
             desc_lines.append(f"  ── {unavailable_footer} ──")
         description = "\n".join(desc_lines) if desc_lines else None
 
+        # Search haystacks keep pricing labels visible while adding aliases
+        # for brand-less wire ids (e.g. Kimi Coding `k3` ↔ query "kimi").
+        from hermes_cli.model_search import model_search_text
+
+        model_search_labels = []
+        for mid in ordered:
+            label = _label(mid)
+            haystack = model_search_text(mid)
+            # model_search_text always starts with the wire id; only append when
+            # aliases add tokens beyond the bare id already in the label.
+            model_search_labels.append(
+                label if haystack == mid else f"{label} {haystack}"
+            )
+        model_search_labels.append("Enter custom model name")
+        model_search_labels.append("Skip (keep current)")
+
         idx = curses_radiolist(
             "Select default model:",
             choices,
@@ -6946,6 +6962,7 @@ def _label(mid):
             cancel_returns=-1,
             description=description,
             searchable=True,
+            search_labels=model_search_labels,
         )
         if idx < 0:
             return None
diff --git a/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py b/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py
index acaa614b0673a..e03a70f473b6d 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/curses_ui.py
@@ -627,6 +627,7 @@ def curses_radiolist(
     cancel_returns: int | None = None,
     description: str | None = None,
     searchable: bool = False,
+    search_labels: List[str] | None = None,
 ) -> int:
     """Curses single-select radio list. Returns the selected index.
 
@@ -641,6 +642,8 @@ def curses_radiolist(
         searchable: When true, ``/`` opens a type-to-filter prompt. The
             returned value is always the original item index, not a filtered
             row position.
+        search_labels: Optional haystacks for type-to-filter (length must
+            match ``items``). Defaults to the display labels when omitted.
     """
     if cancel_returns is None:
         cancel_returns = selected
@@ -709,7 +712,11 @@ def _on_action(action, cursor):
         fallback=lambda: _radio_numbered_fallback(title, items, selected, cancel_returns),
         cancel_value=cancel_returns,
         searchable=searchable,
-        search_labels=list(items) if searchable else None,
+        search_labels=(
+            list(search_labels)
+            if searchable and search_labels is not None
+            else (list(items) if searchable else None)
+        ),
     )
 
 
diff --git a/hermes_cli/model_search.py b/hermes_cli/model_search.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..74b110fdd5f62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hermes_cli/model_search.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""Picker-only search aliases for model ids.
+
+Wire IDs stay unchanged. Some providers report short or brand-less ids
+(Kimi Coding's flagship is literally ``k3``) that users still search for by
+the familiar ``kimi-…`` naming of sibling models.
+
+Keep in sync with ``ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.ts`` and
+``web/src/lib/model-search-text.ts``.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+# Lowercased wire id → extra tokens appended to the search haystack only.
+_MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {
+    "k3": ("kimi-k3", "kimi"),
+}
+
+
+def model_search_text(model: str) -> str:
+    """Return the haystack used for fuzzy/substring model search.
+
+    Never changes the wire id passed to the provider.
+    """
+    mid = (model or "").strip()
+    if not mid:
+        return model or ""
+    aliases = _MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES.get(mid.lower())
+    if not aliases:
+        return mid
+    return f"{mid} {' '.join(aliases)}"
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_search.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_search.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..1b7728a14a1e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_model_search.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Picker search aliases for brand-less wire model ids."""
+
+from hermes_cli.curses_ui import _filter_indices
+from hermes_cli.model_search import model_search_text
+
+
+def test_model_search_text_keeps_ordinary_ids():
+    assert model_search_text("kimi-k2.6") == "kimi-k2.6"
+    assert model_search_text("glm-5.2") == "glm-5.2"
+
+
+def test_model_search_text_adds_kimi_aliases_for_k3():
+    assert model_search_text("k3") == "k3 kimi-k3 kimi"
+    assert model_search_text("K3") == "K3 kimi-k3 kimi"
+
+
+def test_filter_indices_surfaces_k3_for_kimi_query():
+    models = ["kimi-k2.6", "kimi-k2.5", "k3", "kimi-for-coding"]
+    haystacks = [model_search_text(m) for m in models]
+    ranked = [models[i] for i in _filter_indices(haystacks, "kimi")]
+    assert "k3" in ranked
+
+
+def test_filter_indices_still_finds_k3_by_wire_id():
+    models = ["kimi-k2.6", "k3", "kimi-for-coding"]
+    haystacks = [model_search_text(m) for m in models]
+    ranked = [models[i] for i in _filter_indices(haystacks, "k3")]
+    assert ranked == ["k3"]
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_menu_curses_migration.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_menu_curses_migration.py
index 46b1515bf79e8..6e8e687d017d6 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_menu_curses_migration.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_setup_menu_curses_migration.py
@@ -13,9 +13,19 @@ def test_prompt_model_selection_uses_curses_radiolist():
 
     seen = {}
 
-    def _fake(title, items, *, selected=0, cancel_returns=None, description=None, searchable=False):
+    def _fake(
+        title,
+        items,
+        *,
+        selected=0,
+        cancel_returns=None,
+        description=None,
+        searchable=False,
+        search_labels=None,
+    ):
         seen["title"] = title
         seen["items"] = items
+        seen["search_labels"] = search_labels
         return 1  # pick second model
 
     with patch("hermes_cli.curses_ui.curses_radiolist", side_effect=_fake), \
@@ -27,6 +37,8 @@ def _fake(title, items, *, selected=0, cancel_returns=None, description=None, se
     # Items are the models plus the custom/skip entries.
     assert seen["items"][:2] == ["model-a", "model-b"]
     assert "Skip (keep current)" in seen["items"]
+    assert seen["search_labels"] is not None
+    assert len(seen["search_labels"]) == len(seen["items"])
 
 
 def test_prompt_model_selection_esc_cancels():
@@ -67,8 +79,18 @@ def test_model_selection_with_pricing_passes_description():
 
     seen = {}
 
-    def _fake(title, items, *, selected=0, cancel_returns=None, description=None, searchable=False):
+    def _fake(
+        title,
+        items,
+        *,
+        selected=0,
+        cancel_returns=None,
+        description=None,
+        searchable=False,
+        search_labels=None,
+    ):
         seen["description"] = description
+        seen["search_labels"] = search_labels
         return len(items) - 1  # Skip
 
     pricing = {
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/components/modelPicker.tsx b/ui-tui/src/components/modelPicker.tsx
index 3be32d2112991..d31ea1f60ac4a 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/components/modelPicker.tsx
+++ b/ui-tui/src/components/modelPicker.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { TUI_SESSION_MODEL_FLAG } from '../domain/slash.js'
 import type { GatewayClient } from '../gatewayClient.js'
 import type { ModelOptionProvider, ModelOptionsResponse } from '../gatewayTypes.js'
 import { fuzzyRank } from '../lib/fuzzy.js'
+import { modelSearchText } from '../lib/model-search-text.js'
 import { asRpcResult, rpcErrorMessage } from '../lib/rpc.js'
 import type { Theme } from '../theme.js'
 
@@ -132,7 +133,9 @@ export function ModelPicker({
       return allModels
     }
 
-    return fuzzyRank(allModels, filter, m => m).map(r => r.item)
+    // modelSearchText adds aliases for brand-less wire ids (e.g. Kimi
+    // Coding `k3` still matches a "kimi" query).
+    return fuzzyRank(allModels, filter, modelSearchText).map(r => r.item)
   }, [allModels, filter, stage])
 
   const models = filteredModels
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.test.ts b/ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..9f8d3a0c5b36d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import { fuzzyRank } from './fuzzy.js'
+import { modelSearchText } from './model-search-text.js'
+
+describe('modelSearchText', () => {
+  it('keeps ordinary model ids unchanged', () => {
+    expect(modelSearchText('kimi-k2.6')).toBe('kimi-k2.6')
+    expect(modelSearchText('glm-5.2')).toBe('glm-5.2')
+  })
+
+  it('adds kimi aliases for the bare Kimi Coding k3 wire id', () => {
+    expect(modelSearchText('k3')).toBe('k3 kimi-k3 kimi')
+    expect(modelSearchText('K3')).toBe('K3 kimi-k3 kimi')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('model picker search with aliases', () => {
+  const models = [
+    'kimi-k2.6',
+    'kimi-k2.5',
+    'k3',
+    'kimi-for-coding',
+  ]
+
+  it('surfaces k3 when the user searches kimi', () => {
+    const ranked = fuzzyRank(models, 'kimi', modelSearchText).map(r => r.item)
+    expect(ranked).toContain('k3')
+  })
+
+  it('still finds k3 by its wire id', () => {
+    const ranked = fuzzyRank(models, 'k3', modelSearchText).map(r => r.item)
+    expect(ranked).toEqual(['k3'])
+  })
+
+  it('does not invent k3 for unrelated queries', () => {
+    const ranked = fuzzyRank(models, 'glm', modelSearchText).map(r => r.item)
+    expect(ranked).toEqual([])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.ts b/ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..3495e315ceb4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Extra tokens used only for model-picker search ranking.
+ *
+ * Wire IDs stay unchanged — some providers report short or brand-less ids
+ * (Kimi Coding's flagship is literally `k3`) that users still search for by
+ * the familiar `kimi-…` naming of sibling models.
+ *
+ * Keep in sync with web/src/lib/model-search-text.ts and
+ * hermes_cli/model_search.py.
+ */
+const MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES: Record<string, readonly string[]> = {
+  k3: ['kimi-k3', 'kimi'],
+}
+
+/** Haystack for fuzzy/substring model search; never changes the wire id. */
+export function modelSearchText(model: string): string {
+  const id = model.trim()
+  if (!id) {
+    return model
+  }
+
+  const aliases = MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES[id.toLowerCase()]
+  if (!aliases?.length) {
+    return id
+  }
+
+  return `${id} ${aliases.join(' ')}`
+}
diff --git a/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx b/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx
index b05e389bdb40c..4cd02c71ab366 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ModelPickerDialog.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { createPortal } from "react-dom";
 import { cn, themedBody } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { fuzzyRank } from "@/lib/fuzzy";
+import { modelSearchText } from "@/lib/model-search-text";
 
 /**
  * Two-stage model picker modal.
@@ -227,12 +228,14 @@ export function ModelPickerDialog(props: Props) {
   );
 
   // Fuzzy-ranked models carrying the matched character positions so the model
-  // list can highlight why each entry matched.
+  // list can highlight why each entry matched. modelSearchText adds aliases
+  // for brand-less wire ids (e.g. Kimi Coding `k3` ↔ search "kimi").
   const filteredModels = useMemo(
     () =>
-      fuzzyRank(models, trimmedQuery, (m) => m).map((r) => ({
+      fuzzyRank(models, trimmedQuery, modelSearchText).map((r) => ({
         model: r.item,
-        positions: r.positions,
+        // Positions may land in alias suffixes — keep only in-id highlights.
+        positions: r.positions.filter((i) => i >= 0 && i < r.item.length),
       })),
     [models, trimmedQuery],
   );
diff --git a/web/src/lib/model-search-text.ts b/web/src/lib/model-search-text.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..471d80c472c07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/model-search-text.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Extra tokens used only for model-picker search ranking.
+ *
+ * Wire IDs stay unchanged — some providers report short or brand-less ids
+ * (Kimi Coding's flagship is literally `k3`) that users still search for by
+ * the familiar `kimi-…` naming of sibling models.
+ *
+ * Keep in sync with ui-tui/src/lib/model-search-text.ts and
+ * hermes_cli/model_search.py. Behavioural tests live in the TUI package.
+ */
+const MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES: Record<string, readonly string[]> = {
+  k3: ["kimi-k3", "kimi"],
+};
+
+/** Haystack for fuzzy/substring model search; never changes the wire id. */
+export function modelSearchText(model: string): string {
+  const id = model.trim();
+  if (!id) {
+    return model;
+  }
+
+  const aliases = MODEL_SEARCH_ALIASES[id.toLowerCase()];
+  if (!aliases?.length) {
+    return id;
+  }
+
+  return `${id} ${aliases.join(" ")}`;
+}