diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.test.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.test.tsx
index 6745a061..1ca588c7 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.test.tsx
@@ -445,6 +445,21 @@ describe("AddFilterPanel", () => {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 describe("FilterChip", () => {
+  it("focuses the operator search input when the operator popover opens", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    const control = makeControl({
+      filters: [{ field: "name", operator: "contains", value: "Alice" }],
+    });
+    render(<TestFilters control={control} columns={[stringColumn]} />, {
+      wrapper,
+    });
+
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "contains" }));
+
+    const input = await screen.findByPlaceholderText("Search...");
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(input);
+  });
+
   it("calls removeFilter when the remove button is clicked", async () => {
     const user = userEvent.setup();
     const control = makeControl({
diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.tsx
index 3b74d5de..06fc311c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/data-table/toolbar.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { Popover } from "@base-ui/react/popover";
 import { ChevronDown, Filter as FilterIcon, X, Check, Search } from "lucide-react";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
@@ -287,17 +287,22 @@ function AddFilterPanel({
     if (col) setOperator(seedPanelOperator(control, col));
   };
 
-  // Keep the selection in sync with the search: if the query filters out the
-  // currently-selected field, advance to the first still-visible field so the
-  // field list and the value editor don't desync (empty highlight on the left
-  // while the right still shows the old field's editor).
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!fq || visibleFieldColumns.length === 0) return;
-    if (visibleFieldColumns.some((c) => c.filter.field === fieldName)) return;
-    const first = visibleFieldColumns[0];
+  const handleFieldQueryChange = (value: string) => {
+    setFieldQuery(value);
+
+    const nextQuery = value.trim().toLowerCase();
+    if (!nextQuery) return;
+
+    const nextVisible = columns.filter((c) =>
+      (c.label ?? c.filter.field).toLowerCase().includes(nextQuery),
+    );
+    if (nextVisible.length === 0) return;
+    if (nextVisible.some((c) => c.filter.field === fieldName)) return;
+
+    const first = nextVisible[0];
     setFieldName(first.filter.field);
     setOperator(seedPanelOperator(control, first));
-  }, [fq, visibleFieldColumns, fieldName, control]);
+  };
 
   // Always reopen on the first field rather than wherever the user last was.
   const handleOpenChange = (next: boolean) => {
@@ -358,7 +363,7 @@ function AddFilterPanel({
                 <Input
                   type="search"
                   value={fieldQuery}
-                  onChange={(e) => setFieldQuery(e.target.value)}
+                  onChange={(e) => handleFieldQueryChange(e.target.value)}
                   placeholder={t("searchFields")}
                   aria-label={t("searchFields")}
                   className="astw:h-8 astw:pl-8 astw:text-sm"
@@ -1255,12 +1260,6 @@ function OperatorList({
 }) {
   const t = useDataTableT();
   const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
-  const ref = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    const id = requestAnimationFrame(() => ref.current?.focus());
-    return () => cancelAnimationFrame(id);
-  }, []);
 
   const q = query.trim().toLowerCase();
   const items = operators
@@ -1271,8 +1270,10 @@ function OperatorList({
     <div className="astw:flex astw:flex-col">
       <div className="astw:flex astw:items-center astw:gap-2 astw:border-b astw:border-border astw:px-2.5">
         <Search className="astw:size-3.5 astw:text-muted-foreground" />
+        {/* Base UI's Popover.Popup moves initial focus to the first tabbable
+            element by default, which is this input. On touch it focuses the
+            popup instead so the virtual keyboard doesn't jump open. */}
         <input
-          ref={ref}
           value={query}
           onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
           placeholder={t("filterOperatorSearchPlaceholder")}