diff --git a/lib/core/ui.sh b/lib/core/ui.sh
index fe98143..c9feab4 100755
--- a/lib/core/ui.sh
+++ b/lib/core/ui.sh
@@ -170,7 +170,43 @@ read_key() {
         case "$key" in
             $'\n' | $'\r') echo "ENTER" ;;
             $'\x7f' | $'\x08') echo "DELETE" ;;
-            $'\x1b') echo "QUIT" ;;
+            $'\x1b')
+                # Check if this is an escape sequence (arrow keys) or ESC key
+                if IFS= read -r -s -n 1 -t 0.1 rest 2> /dev/null; then
+                    if [[ "$rest" == "[" ]]; then
+                        if IFS= read -r -s -n 1 -t 0.1 rest2 2> /dev/null; then
+                            case "$rest2" in
+                                "A") echo "UP" ;;
+                                "B") echo "DOWN" ;;
+                                "C") echo "RIGHT" ;;
+                                "D") echo "LEFT" ;;
+                                "3")
+                                    IFS= read -r -s -n 1 -t 0.1 rest3 2> /dev/null
+                                    [[ "$rest3" == "~" ]] && echo "DELETE" || echo "OTHER"
+                                    ;;
+                                *) echo "OTHER" ;;
+                            esac
+                        else echo "QUIT"; fi
+                    elif [[ "$rest" == "O" ]]; then
+                        if IFS= read -r -s -n 1 -t 0.1 rest2 2> /dev/null; then
+                            case "$rest2" in
+                                "A") echo "UP" ;;
+                                "B") echo "DOWN" ;;
+                                "C") echo "RIGHT" ;;
+                                "D") echo "LEFT" ;;
+                                *) echo "OTHER" ;;
+                            esac
+                        else echo "OTHER"; fi
+                    else
+                        # Not an escape sequence, it's ESC key
+                        echo "QUIT"
+                    fi
+                else
+                    # No following characters, it's ESC key
+                    echo "QUIT"
+                fi
+                ;;
+            ' ') echo "SPACE" ;;  # Allow space in filter mode for selection
             [[:print:]]) echo "CHAR:$key" ;;
             *) echo "OTHER" ;;
         esac
diff --git a/lib/ui/menu_paginated.sh b/lib/ui/menu_paginated.sh
index 6722947..26e8661 100755
--- a/lib/ui/menu_paginated.sh
+++ b/lib/ui/menu_paginated.sh
@@ -201,7 +201,6 @@ paginated_multi_select() {
         export MOLE_MENU_SORT_MODE="$sort_mode"
         export MOLE_MENU_SORT_REVERSE="$sort_reverse"
         restore_terminal
-        unset MOLE_READ_KEY_FORCE_CHAR
     }
 
     # Interrupt handler
@@ -595,7 +594,6 @@ paginated_multi_select() {
             "QUIT")
                 if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
                     filter_mode="false"
-                    unset MOLE_READ_KEY_FORCE_CHAR
                     filter_query=""
                     applied_query=""
                     top_index=0
@@ -791,7 +789,6 @@ paginated_multi_select() {
                 else
                     # Enter filter mode
                     filter_mode="true"
-                    export MOLE_READ_KEY_FORCE_CHAR=1
                     filter_query=""
                     top_index=0
                     cursor_pos=0
@@ -839,6 +836,46 @@ paginated_multi_select() {
                     continue
                 fi
                 ;;
+            "TOUCHID")
+                if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
+                    filter_query+="t"
+                    rebuild_view
+                    need_full_redraw=true
+                    continue
+                fi
+                ;;
+            "RIGHT")
+                if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
+                    filter_query+="l"
+                    rebuild_view
+                    need_full_redraw=true
+                    continue
+                fi
+                ;;
+            "LEFT")
+                if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
+                    filter_query+="h"
+                    rebuild_view
+                    need_full_redraw=true
+                    continue
+                fi
+                ;;
+            "MORE")
+                if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
+                    filter_query+="m"
+                    rebuild_view
+                    need_full_redraw=true
+                    continue
+                fi
+                ;;
+            "UPDATE")
+                if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
+                    filter_query+="u"
+                    rebuild_view
+                    need_full_redraw=true
+                    continue
+                fi
+                ;;
             "CHAR:f" | "CHAR:F")
                 if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
                     filter_query+="${key#CHAR:}"
@@ -906,17 +943,9 @@ paginated_multi_select() {
                 if [[ "$filter_mode" == "true" ]]; then
                     applied_query="$filter_query"
                     filter_mode="false"
-                    unset MOLE_READ_KEY_FORCE_CHAR
-                    top_index=0
-                    cursor_pos=0
-
-                    searching="true"
-                    draw_menu           # paint "searching..."
-                    drain_pending_input # drop any extra keypresses (e.g., double-Enter)
+                    # Preserve cursor/top_index so navigation during search is respected
                     rebuild_view
-                    searching="false"
-                    draw_menu
-                    continue
+                    # Fall through to confirmation logic
                 fi
                 # In normal mode: smart Enter behavior
                 # 1. Check if any items are already selected