diff --git a/packages/eui/changelogs/upcoming/7806.md b/packages/eui/changelogs/upcoming/7806.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..208631e50e65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/eui/changelogs/upcoming/7806.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+**Bug fixes**
+
+- Fixed `EuiSearchBar`'s filter configs to always respect `autoClose: false`
diff --git a/packages/eui/src-docs/src/views/search_bar/props_info.js b/packages/eui/src-docs/src/views/search_bar/props_info.js
index 900b7d372240..6616f9270f0e 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src-docs/src/views/search_bar/props_info.js
+++ b/packages/eui/src-docs/src/views/search_bar/props_info.js
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ export const propsInfo = {
         },
         autoClose: {
           description:
-            'Should the dropdown close after the user selects a value. Ignored if multiSelect is true.',
+            'Should the dropdown close after the user selects a value. If not explicitly passed, will auto-close for single selection and remain open for multi-selection.',
           required: false,
           defaultValue: { value: 'true' },
           type: { name: 'boolean' },
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.spec.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.spec.tsx
index 112d68ce8465..0189dd6e18c6 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.spec.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.spec.tsx
@@ -225,6 +225,119 @@ describe('FieldValueSelectionFilter', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('auto-close testing', () => {
+    const FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState = ({
+      autoClose,
+      multiSelect,
+    }: {
+      autoClose: undefined | boolean;
+      multiSelect: 'or' | boolean;
+    }) => {
+      const [query, setQuery] = useState(Query.parse(''));
+      const onChange = (newQuery: Query) => setQuery(newQuery);
+
+      const props: FieldValueSelectionFilterProps = {
+        ...requiredProps,
+        index: 0,
+        onChange,
+        query,
+        config: {
+          type: 'field_value_selection',
+          field: 'tag',
+          name: 'Tag',
+          multiSelect,
+          autoClose,
+          options: staticOptions,
+        },
+      };
+
+      return <FieldValueSelectionFilter {...props} />;
+    };
+    const selectFilter = () => {
+      // Open popover
+      cy.get('button').click();
+      cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('exist');
+
+      // Select filter option
+      cy.get('li[role="option"][title="feature"]')
+        .should('have.attr', 'aria-checked', 'false')
+        .click();
+    };
+
+    describe('undefined', () => {
+      it('multi select: does not close popover', () => {
+        cy.mount(
+          <FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState
+            autoClose={undefined}
+            multiSelect={true}
+          />
+        );
+        selectFilter();
+        cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('exist');
+      });
+
+      it('single select: closes popover', () => {
+        cy.mount(
+          <FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState
+            autoClose={undefined}
+            multiSelect={false}
+          />
+        );
+        selectFilter();
+        cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('not.exist');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('false', () => {
+      it('multi select: never closes popover', () => {
+        cy.mount(
+          <FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState
+            autoClose={false}
+            multiSelect={true}
+          />
+        );
+        selectFilter();
+        cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('exist');
+      });
+
+      it('single select: never closes popover', () => {
+        cy.mount(
+          <FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState
+            autoClose={false}
+            multiSelect={false}
+          />
+        );
+        selectFilter();
+        cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('exist');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('true', () => {
+      it('multi select: always closes popover', () => {
+        cy.mount(
+          <FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState
+            autoClose={true}
+            multiSelect={true}
+          />
+        );
+        selectFilter();
+        cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('not.exist');
+      });
+
+      it('single select: always closes popover', () => {
+        cy.mount(
+          <FieldValueSelectionFilterWithState
+            autoClose={true}
+            multiSelect={false}
+          />
+        );
+
+        selectFilter();
+        cy.get('.euiPopover__panel').should('not.exist');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   it('has inactive filters, field is global', () => {
     const props: FieldValueSelectionFilterProps = {
       ...requiredProps,
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.tsx
index af27e8b02256..9ceef0f9a6b5 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/search_bar/filters/field_value_selection_filter.tsx
@@ -252,35 +252,37 @@ export class FieldValueSelectionFilter extends Component<
   ) {
     const multiSelect = this.resolveMultiSelect();
     const {
-      config: { autoClose = true, operator = Operator.EQ },
+      config: { autoClose, operator = Operator.EQ },
     } = this.props;
 
-    // we're closing popover only if the user can only select one item... if the
-    // user can select more, we'll leave it open so she can continue selecting
-
-    if (!multiSelect && autoClose) {
+    // If the consumer explicitly sets `autoClose`, always defer to that.
+    // Otherwise, default to auto-closing for single selections and leaving the
+    // popover open for multi-select (so users can continue selecting options)
+    const shouldClosePopover = autoClose ?? !multiSelect;
+    if (shouldClosePopover) {
       this.closePopover();
+    }
+
+    if (!multiSelect) {
       const query = checked
         ? this.props.query
             .removeSimpleFieldClauses(field)
             .addSimpleFieldValue(field, value, true, operator)
         : this.props.query.removeSimpleFieldClauses(field);
 
+      this.props.onChange(query);
+    } else if (multiSelect === 'or') {
+      const query = checked
+        ? this.props.query.addOrFieldValue(field, value, true, operator)
+        : this.props.query.removeOrFieldValue(field, value);
+
       this.props.onChange(query);
     } else {
-      if (multiSelect === 'or') {
-        const query = checked
-          ? this.props.query.addOrFieldValue(field, value, true, operator)
-          : this.props.query.removeOrFieldValue(field, value);
-
-        this.props.onChange(query);
-      } else {
-        const query = checked
-          ? this.props.query.addSimpleFieldValue(field, value, true, operator)
-          : this.props.query.removeSimpleFieldValue(field, value);
-
-        this.props.onChange(query);
-      }
+      const query = checked
+        ? this.props.query.addSimpleFieldValue(field, value, true, operator)
+        : this.props.query.removeSimpleFieldValue(field, value);
+
+      this.props.onChange(query);
     }
   }