diff --git a/backend/open_webui/models/files.py b/backend/open_webui/models/files.py
index 937a11768..4097ae08e 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/models/files.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/models/files.py
@@ -233,6 +233,68 @@ class FilesTable:
                 for file in db.query(File).filter_by(user_id=user_id).all()
             ]
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _glob_to_like_pattern(glob: str) -> str:
+        """
+        Convert a glob/fnmatch pattern to a SQL LIKE pattern.
+
+        Escapes SQL special characters and converts glob wildcards:
+        - `*` becomes `%` (match any sequence of characters)
+        - `?` becomes `_` (match exactly one character)
+
+        Args:
+            glob: A glob pattern (e.g., "*.txt", "file?.doc")
+
+        Returns:
+            A SQL LIKE compatible pattern with proper escaping.
+        """
+        # Escape SQL special characters first, then convert glob wildcards
+        pattern = glob.replace("\\", "\\\\")
+        pattern = pattern.replace("%", "\\%")
+        pattern = pattern.replace("_", "\\_")
+        pattern = pattern.replace("*", "%")
+        pattern = pattern.replace("?", "_")
+        return pattern
+
+    def search_files(
+        self,
+        user_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        filename: str = "*",
+        skip: int = 0,
+        limit: int = 100,
+        db: Optional[Session] = None,
+    ) -> list[FileModel]:
+        """
+        Search files with glob pattern matching, optional user filter, and pagination.
+
+        Args:
+            user_id: Filter by user ID. If None, returns files for all users.
+            filename: Glob pattern to match filenames (e.g., "*.txt"). Default "*" matches all.
+            skip: Number of results to skip for pagination.
+            limit: Maximum number of results to return.
+            db: Optional database session.
+
+        Returns:
+            List of matching FileModel objects, ordered by updated_at descending.
+        """
+        with get_db_context(db) as db:
+            query = db.query(File)
+
+            if user_id:
+                query = query.filter_by(user_id=user_id)
+
+            pattern = self._glob_to_like_pattern(filename)
+            if pattern != "%":
+                query = query.filter(File.filename.ilike(pattern, escape="\\"))
+
+            return [
+                FileModel.model_validate(file)
+                for file in query.order_by(File.updated_at.desc())
+                .offset(skip)
+                .limit(limit)
+                .all()
+            ]
+
     def update_file_by_id(
         self, id: str, form_data: FileUpdateForm, db: Optional[Session] = None
     ) -> Optional[FileModel]:
diff --git a/backend/open_webui/routers/files.py b/backend/open_webui/routers/files.py
index 311f5f7b8..15d2a503c 100644
--- a/backend/open_webui/routers/files.py
+++ b/backend/open_webui/routers/files.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import logging
 import os
 import uuid
 import json
-from fnmatch import fnmatch
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 from urllib.parse import quote
@@ -377,35 +376,39 @@ async def search_files(
         description="Filename pattern to search for. Supports wildcards such as '*.txt'",
     ),
     content: bool = Query(True),
+    skip: int = Query(0, ge=0, description="Number of files to skip"),
+    limit: int = Query(100, ge=1, le=1000, description="Maximum number of files to return"),
     user=Depends(get_verified_user),
     db: Session = Depends(get_session),
 ):
     """
     Search for files by filename with support for wildcard patterns.
+    Uses SQL-based filtering with pagination for better performance.
     """
-    # Get files according to user role
-    if user.role == "admin":
-        files = Files.get_files(db=db)
-    else:
-        files = Files.get_files_by_user_id(user.id, db=db)
+    # Determine user_id: null for admin (search all), user.id for regular users
+    user_id = None if user.role == "admin" else user.id
 
-    # Get matching files
-    matching_files = [
-        file for file in files if fnmatch(file.filename.lower(), filename.lower())
-    ]
+    # Use optimized database query with pagination
+    files = Files.search_files(
+        user_id=user_id,
+        filename=filename,
+        skip=skip,
+        limit=limit,
+        db=db,
+    )
 
-    if not matching_files:
+    if not files:
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
             detail="No files found matching the pattern.",
         )
 
     if not content:
-        for file in matching_files:
-            if "content" in file.data:
+        for file in files:
+            if file.data and "content" in file.data:
                 del file.data["content"]
 
-    return matching_files
+    return files
 
 
 ############################