diff --git a/litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/spend_management_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/spend_management_endpoints.py
index 55b50e7d9ff..0c525ee9466 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/spend_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/spend_management_endpoints.py
@@ -1695,13 +1695,10 @@ async def ui_view_spend_logs(
             code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED,
         )
 
-    if start_date is None or end_date is None:
-        raise ProxyException(
-            message="Start date and end date are required",
-            type="bad_request",
-            param="None",
-            code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
-        )
+    # Inline import — auth_utils participates in a proxy import cycle.
+    from litellm.proxy.auth.auth_utils import get_request_route  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+    is_v2 = "/spend/logs/v2" in get_request_route(request)
 
     # Validate sort_by and sort_order
     valid_sort_fields = {
@@ -1729,36 +1726,50 @@ async def ui_view_spend_logs(
         )
 
     try:
-        # Inline import — auth_utils participates in a proxy import cycle.
-        from litellm.proxy.auth.auth_utils import get_request_route  # noqa: PLC0415
+        is_admin_view = _is_admin_view_safe(user_api_key_dict=user_api_key_dict)
+        is_request_id_lookup = request_id is not None and not is_v2
 
-        is_v2 = "/spend/logs/v2" in get_request_route(request)
-        formats = ["%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", "%Y-%m-%d"] if is_v2 else ["%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"]
+        if is_request_id_lookup:
+            # request_id is the @id primary key: it identifies a single row, so a
+            # time window is meaningless. The dashboard always sends a default 24h
+            # window, which hid ids copied from an older page (LIT-3981). Drop the
+            # window for the id lookup so it resolves across all time; every other
+            # query, including the public v2 route, still requires one (below).
+            start_date_obj: datetime | None = None
+            end_date_obj: datetime | None = None
+        else:
+            if start_date is None or end_date is None:
+                raise ProxyException(
+                    message="Start date and end date are required",
+                    type="bad_request",
+                    param="None",
+                    code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                )
+            formats = ["%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", "%Y-%m-%d"] if is_v2 else ["%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"]
 
-        def parse_date(date_str: str) -> datetime:
-            date_str = date_str.strip()
-            for fmt in formats:
-                try:
-                    return datetime.strptime(date_str, fmt).replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc)
-                except ValueError:
-                    continue
-            expected = "'YYYY-MM-DD' or 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'" if is_v2 else "'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'"
-            raise HTTPException(
-                status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
-                detail=f"Invalid date format: {date_str}. Expected: {expected}",
-            )
+            def parse_date(date_str: str) -> datetime:
+                date_str = date_str.strip()
+                for fmt in formats:
+                    try:
+                        return datetime.strptime(date_str, fmt).replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+                    except ValueError:
+                        continue
+                expected = "'YYYY-MM-DD' or 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'" if is_v2 else "'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'"
+                raise HTTPException(
+                    status_code=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                    detail=f"Invalid date format: {date_str}. Expected: {expected}",
+                )
 
-        start_date_obj = parse_date(start_date)
-        end_date_obj = parse_date(end_date)
-
-        # Convert to ISO format strings for Prisma
-        start_date_iso = start_date_obj.isoformat()  # Already in UTC, no need to add Z
-        end_date_iso = end_date_obj.isoformat()  # Already in UTC, no need to add Z
+            start_date_obj = parse_date(start_date)
+            end_date_obj = parse_date(end_date)
 
         # Build where conditions
-        where_conditions: dict[str, Any] = {
-            "startTime": {"gte": start_date_iso, "lte": end_date_iso},
-        }
+        where_conditions: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        if start_date_obj is not None and end_date_obj is not None:
+            where_conditions["startTime"] = {
+                "gte": start_date_obj.isoformat(),  # Already in UTC, no need to add Z
+                "lte": end_date_obj.isoformat(),
+            }
 
         if team_id is not None:
             where_conditions["team_id"] = team_id
@@ -1827,9 +1838,19 @@ async def ui_view_spend_logs(
                 where_conditions["spend"]["gte"] = min_spend
             if max_spend is not None:
                 where_conditions["spend"]["lte"] = max_spend
-        is_admin_view = _is_admin_view_safe(user_api_key_dict=user_api_key_dict)
+        # A request_id lookup drops the date window, so a non-admin could otherwise
+        # reach any single row by id; require they own it, mirroring the detail
+        # endpoint. That ownership check fully authorizes the one row, so the
+        # general scoping below is skipped for id lookups. Scoped to the UI route
+        # so the public v2 contract is unchanged.
+        if request_id is not None and not is_v2 and not is_admin_view:
+            await _assert_user_can_view_request_id(
+                prisma_client=prisma_client,
+                user_api_key_dict=user_api_key_dict,
+                request_id=request_id,
+            )
         permitted_team_ids: List[str] | None = None
-        if not is_admin_view:
+        if not is_request_id_lookup and not is_admin_view:
             if team_id is not None:
                 can_view_team = await _can_team_member_view_log(
                     prisma_client=prisma_client,
@@ -1875,15 +1896,16 @@ async def ui_view_spend_logs(
         sql_params: List[Any] = []
         p = 1  # parameter index counter
 
-        # Date range (always present). Wrap the param side with
-        # `AT TIME ZONE 'UTC'` so comparison against the plain `timestamp`
-        # column does not depend on the DB session timezone (see #22529).
-        sql_conditions.append(f"\"startTime\" >= (${p}::timestamptz AT TIME ZONE 'UTC')")
-        sql_params.append(start_date_obj)
-        p += 1
-        sql_conditions.append(f"\"startTime\" <= (${p}::timestamptz AT TIME ZONE 'UTC')")
-        sql_params.append(end_date_obj)
-        p += 1
+        # Date range. Wrap the param side with `AT TIME ZONE 'UTC'` so comparison
+        # against the plain `timestamp` column does not depend on the DB session
+        # timezone (see #22529). Absent for a request_id-only lookup (see above).
+        if start_date_obj is not None and end_date_obj is not None:
+            sql_conditions.append(f"\"startTime\" >= (${p}::timestamptz AT TIME ZONE 'UTC')")
+            sql_params.append(start_date_obj)
+            p += 1
+            sql_conditions.append(f"\"startTime\" <= (${p}::timestamptz AT TIME ZONE 'UTC')")
+            sql_params.append(end_date_obj)
+            p += 1
 
         # Equality filters - read effective values from where_conditions (post-authorization)
         for sql_col, wc_key in [
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/test_spend_management_endpoints.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/test_spend_management_endpoints.py
index db72a7fb38c..67945436987 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/test_spend_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/spend_tracking/test_spend_management_endpoints.py
@@ -1628,6 +1628,226 @@ async def test_ui_view_spend_logs_date_range_filter(client, monkeypatch):
     assert data["data"][0]["id"] == "log2"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ui_view_spend_logs_request_id_lookup_ignores_date_window(
+    client, monkeypatch
+):
+    """
+    LIT-3981: a request_id lookup on the UI route resolves across all time even
+    when the caller sends a date window that excludes the log (the dashboard
+    always sends a window). The window is dropped and request_id alone scopes
+    the query. Pre-fix the window was always applied, so an id from an older
+    page returned nothing.
+    """
+    today = datetime.datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    mock_spend_logs = [
+        {
+            "id": "log_old",
+            "request_id": "req-old",
+            "api_key": "sk-test-key",
+            "user": "test_user_1",
+            "team_id": "team1",
+            "spend": 0.05,
+            "startTime": (today - datetime.timedelta(days=90)).isoformat(),
+            "model": "gpt-4",
+        },
+    ]
+
+    captured: dict = {}
+
+    def filter_fn(where):
+        captured["where"] = where
+        rows = _filter_logs_by_date_range(mock_spend_logs, where)
+        if where.get("request_id"):
+            rows = [r for r in rows if r["request_id"] == where["request_id"]]
+        return rows
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "litellm.proxy.proxy_server.prisma_client",
+        make_ui_spend_logs_mock_prisma(mock_spend_logs, filter_fn),
+    )
+
+    # A 5-day window that EXCLUDES the 90-day-old log, as the dashboard sends.
+    start_date = (today - datetime.timedelta(days=5)).strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
+    end_date = today.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
+
+    app.dependency_overrides[ps.user_api_key_auth] = lambda: UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        user_role=LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN
+    )
+    try:
+        response = client.get(
+            "/spend/logs/ui",
+            params={
+                "request_id": "req-old",
+                "start_date": start_date,
+                "end_date": end_date,
+            },
+            headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-test"},
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        data = response.json()
+        assert data["total"] == 1
+        assert data["data"][0]["request_id"] == "req-old"
+        # Query dropped the time window and scoped solely by the primary key.
+        assert "startTime" not in captured["where"]
+        assert captured["where"]["request_id"] == "req-old"
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.pop(ps.user_api_key_auth, None)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ui_view_spend_logs_requires_dates_without_request_id(
+    client, monkeypatch
+):
+    """The date window stays mandatory on the UI route when no request_id is set."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "litellm.proxy.proxy_server.prisma_client",
+        make_ui_spend_logs_mock_prisma([], lambda where: []),
+    )
+    app.dependency_overrides[ps.user_api_key_auth] = lambda: UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        user_role=LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN
+    )
+    try:
+        response = client.get(
+            "/spend/logs/ui", headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-test"}
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 400
+        assert "date" in response.text.lower()
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.pop(ps.user_api_key_auth, None)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_spend_logs_v2_still_requires_dates_with_request_id(client, monkeypatch):
+    """The public /spend/logs/v2 contract is unchanged: dates remain required even
+    when request_id is supplied. Only the internal UI route relaxes the window."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "litellm.proxy.proxy_server.prisma_client",
+        make_ui_spend_logs_mock_prisma([], lambda where: []),
+    )
+    app.dependency_overrides[ps.user_api_key_auth] = lambda: UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        user_role=LitellmUserRoles.PROXY_ADMIN
+    )
+    try:
+        response = client.get(
+            "/spend/logs/v2",
+            params={"request_id": "req-old"},
+            headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-test"},
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 400
+        assert "date" in response.text.lower()
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.pop(ps.user_api_key_auth, None)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ui_view_spend_logs_request_id_blocks_non_owner(client, monkeypatch):
+    """A non-admin looking up a request_id they do not own is rejected (403), so
+    the relaxed date window cannot read another tenant's log by id."""
+
+    class _ForeignRow:
+        user = "other_user"
+        team_id = None
+
+    class _SpendLogs:
+        async def find_unique(self, where, include=None):
+            return _ForeignRow()
+
+    class _DB:
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.litellm_spendlogs = _SpendLogs()
+
+    class _Prisma:
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.db = _DB()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.prisma_client", _Prisma())
+    app.dependency_overrides[ps.user_api_key_auth] = lambda: UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        user_role=LitellmUserRoles.INTERNAL_USER, user_id="user_1"
+    )
+    try:
+        response = client.get(
+            "/spend/logs/ui",
+            params={"request_id": "foreign-req"},
+            headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-test"},
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 403
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.pop(ps.user_api_key_auth, None)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ui_view_spend_logs_request_id_owner_scoped_by_id_only(
+    client, monkeypatch
+):
+    """A non-admin owner looking up their own request_id resolves across all time.
+    The ownership check authorizes the single row, so the query drops both the date
+    window and the general user/team scoping and filters by the primary key alone;
+    without that skip an internal user would have a `user`/`OR` clause added."""
+    today = datetime.datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    mock_spend_logs = [
+        {
+            "id": "log_old",
+            "request_id": "req-old",
+            "api_key": "sk-test-key",
+            "user": "user_1",
+            "team_id": "team1",
+            "spend": 0.05,
+            "startTime": (today - datetime.timedelta(days=90)).isoformat(),
+            "model": "gpt-4",
+        },
+    ]
+
+    captured: dict = {}
+
+    def filter_fn(where):
+        captured["where"] = where
+        rows = _filter_logs_by_date_range(mock_spend_logs, where)
+        if where.get("request_id"):
+            rows = [r for r in rows if r["request_id"] == where["request_id"]]
+        return rows
+
+    mock_prisma = make_ui_spend_logs_mock_prisma(mock_spend_logs, filter_fn)
+
+    class _OwnedRow:
+        user = "user_1"
+        team_id = "team1"
+
+    async def _find_unique(where, include=None):
+        return _OwnedRow()
+
+    mock_prisma.db.find_unique = _find_unique
+    monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.prisma_client", mock_prisma)
+
+    # A 5-day window that EXCLUDES the 90-day-old log, as the dashboard sends.
+    start_date = (today - datetime.timedelta(days=5)).strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
+    end_date = today.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
+
+    app.dependency_overrides[ps.user_api_key_auth] = lambda: UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        user_role=LitellmUserRoles.INTERNAL_USER, user_id="user_1"
+    )
+    try:
+        response = client.get(
+            "/spend/logs/ui",
+            params={
+                "request_id": "req-old",
+                "start_date": start_date,
+                "end_date": end_date,
+            },
+            headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-test"},
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        data = response.json()
+        assert data["total"] == 1
+        assert data["data"][0]["request_id"] == "req-old"
+        assert "startTime" not in captured["where"]
+        assert captured["where"]["request_id"] == "req-old"
+        assert "user" not in captured["where"]
+        assert "OR" not in captured["where"]
+    finally:
+        app.dependency_overrides.pop(ps.user_api_key_auth, None)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_ui_view_spend_logs_unauthorized(client):
     # Test without authorization header
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.test.tsx
index 9469c273d20..e8e2fae3f4d 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.test.tsx
@@ -121,23 +121,21 @@ describe("RequestLogsPanel", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  describe("client-side search", () => {
-    it("narrows the visible rows without refetching", async () => {
+  describe("search by request id (LIT-3981)", () => {
+    it("sends the typed request id to the server on the first page instead of filtering the loaded rows", async () => {
       const user = userEvent.setup();
-      respondWith([
-        logEntry({ request_id: "req-alpha", model: "gpt-4o" }),
-        logEntry({ request_id: "req-beta", model: "claude-opus" }),
-      ]);
       renderWithProviders(<RequestLogsPanel {...defaultProps} />);
 
-      await waitFor(() => expect(row("req-alpha")).not.toBeNull());
-      const callsBefore = vi.mocked(uiSpendLogsCall).mock.calls.length;
+      await waitFor(() => expect(uiSpendLogsCall).toHaveBeenCalled());
 
-      await user.type(screen.getByTestId("datatable-search"), "alpha");
+      await user.type(screen.getByTestId("datatable-search"), "req-on-another-page");
 
-      await waitFor(() => expect(row("req-beta")).toBeNull());
-      expect(row("req-alpha")).not.toBeNull();
-      expect(vi.mocked(uiSpendLogsCall).mock.calls.length).toBe(callsBefore);
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        const call = lastCall();
+        if (!call) throw new Error("uiSpendLogsCall was not called");
+        expect(call.params?.request_id).toBe("req-on-another-page");
+        expect(call.page).toBe(1);
+      });
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.tsx
index 05044dda791..b319b201dc7 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/view_logs/RequestLogsPanel.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { keyInfoV1Call } from "../networking";
 import KeyInfoView from "../templates/key_info_view";
 import type { LogEntry } from "./columns";
 import { AGENT_CALL_TYPES, MCP_CALL_TYPES } from "./constants";
-import { DEFAULT_LOGS_SORTING, useLogFilterLogic } from "./log_filter_logic";
+import { DEFAULT_LOGS_SORTING, LOG_FILTER_IDS, useLogFilterLogic } from "./log_filter_logic";
 import { LogDetailsDrawer } from "./LogDetailsDrawer";
 import { LiveTailBanner, LogsTableToolbar } from "./LogsTableToolbar";
 import { RequestLogsTable } from "./RequestLogsTable";
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ interface SessionComposition {
 }
 
 export default function RequestLogsPanel({ accessToken, token, userRole, userID, isActive }: RequestLogsPanelProps) {
-  const [searchTerm, setSearchTerm] = useState("");
   const [pagination, setPagination] = useState<PaginationState>({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: PAGE_SIZE });
   const [sorting, setSorting] = useState<SortingState>(DEFAULT_LOGS_SORTING);
   const [columnFilters, setColumnFilters] = useState<ColumnFiltersState>([]);
@@ -93,14 +92,7 @@ export default function RequestLogsPanel({ accessToken, token, userRole, userID,
   const { data: selectedKeyInfo } = useQuery(keyInfoQueryOptions);
 
   const rows = useMemo<LogEntry[]>(() => {
-    const searchedLogs = filteredLogs.data.filter((log) => {
-      if (!searchTerm) return true;
-      return (
-        log.request_id.includes(searchTerm) ||
-        log.model.includes(searchTerm) ||
-        (log.user !== undefined && log.user.includes(searchTerm))
-      );
-    });
+    const searchedLogs = filteredLogs.data;
 
     const sessionCompositionById = searchedLogs.reduce<Record<string, SessionComposition>>((acc, log) => {
       if (!log.session_id) return acc;
@@ -141,7 +133,20 @@ export default function RequestLogsPanel({ accessToken, token, userRole, userID,
         if (!log.session_id || (log.session_total_count || 1) <= 1) return true;
         return sessionRepresentativeMap.get(log.session_id)?.requestId === log.request_id;
       });
-  }, [filteredLogs.data, searchTerm]);
+  }, [filteredLogs.data]);
+
+  const searchTerm = useMemo(() => {
+    const entry = columnFilters.find((filter) => filter.id === LOG_FILTER_IDS.REQUEST_ID);
+    return typeof entry?.value === "string" ? entry.value : "";
+  }, [columnFilters]);
+
+  const handleSearchChange = useCallback((value: string) => {
+    setColumnFilters((previous) => {
+      const others = previous.filter((filter) => filter.id !== LOG_FILTER_IDS.REQUEST_ID);
+      return value === "" ? others : [...others, { id: LOG_FILTER_IDS.REQUEST_ID, value }];
+    });
+    setPagination((previous) => ({ ...previous, pageIndex: 0 }));
+  }, []);
 
   const handleSortingChange = useCallback<OnChangeFn<SortingState>>((updaterOrValue) => {
     setSorting(updaterOrValue);
@@ -159,7 +164,6 @@ export default function RequestLogsPanel({ accessToken, token, userRole, userID,
 
   const handleResetFilters = useCallback(() => {
     setColumnFilters([]);
-    setSearchTerm("");
     setStartTime(moment().subtract(24, "hours").format("YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm"));
     setEndTime(moment().format("YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm"));
     setIsCustomDate(false);
@@ -221,7 +225,7 @@ export default function RequestLogsPanel({ accessToken, token, userRole, userID,
         columnFilters={columnFilters}
         onColumnFiltersChange={handleColumnFiltersChange}
         searchValue={searchTerm}
-        onSearchChange={setSearchTerm}
+        onSearchChange={handleSearchChange}
         onRefresh={() => void logsQuery.refetch()}
         onRowClick={handleRowClick}
         onKeyHashClick={handleKeyHashClick}