diff --git a/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.test.ts b/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.test.ts
index c6966dd50cf..25a9455a2b7 100644
--- a/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.test.ts
+++ b/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.test.ts
@@ -1914,9 +1914,9 @@ describe('CellsAPI', () => {
       );
     });
 
-    it('filters by tags when provided', async () => {
+    it('creates a Should metadata filter for a single tag', async () => {
       const searchPhrase = 'test';
-      const tags = ['tag1', 'tag2'];
+      const tags = ['tag1'];
       const mockResponse: RestNodeCollection = {
         Nodes: [
           {
@@ -1938,7 +1938,7 @@ describe('CellsAPI', () => {
           Status: {
             Deleted: 'Not',
           },
-          Metadata: [{Namespace: 'usermeta-tags', Term: JSON.stringify(tags.join(','))}],
+          Metadata: [{Namespace: 'usermeta-tags', Term: 'tag1', Operation: 'Should'}],
         },
         Flags: ['WithPreSignedURLs'],
         Limit: '10',
@@ -1947,6 +1947,34 @@ describe('CellsAPI', () => {
       expect(result).toEqual(mockResponse);
     });
 
+    it('creates one Should metadata filter per selected tag', async () => {
+      const searchPhrase = 'test';
+      const tags = ['tag1', 'tag2'];
+      const mockResponse: RestNodeCollection = {Nodes: []} as RestNodeCollection;
+
+      mockNodeServiceApi.lookup.mockResolvedValueOnce(createMockResponse(mockResponse));
+
+      await cellsAPI.searchNodes({phrase: searchPhrase, tags});
+
+      expect(mockNodeServiceApi.lookup).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        Scope: {Root: {Path: ''}, Recursive: true},
+        Filters: {
+          Text: {SearchIn: 'BaseName', Term: searchPhrase},
+          Type: 'UNKNOWN',
+          Status: {
+            Deleted: 'Not',
+          },
+          Metadata: [
+            {Namespace: 'usermeta-tags', Term: 'tag1', Operation: 'Should'},
+            {Namespace: 'usermeta-tags', Term: 'tag2', Operation: 'Should'},
+          ],
+        },
+        Flags: ['WithPreSignedURLs'],
+        Limit: '10',
+        Offset: '0',
+      });
+    });
+
     it('handles empty tags array', async () => {
       const searchPhrase = 'test';
       const tags: string[] = [];
@@ -2249,7 +2277,7 @@ describe('CellsAPI', () => {
           Type: 'UNKNOWN',
           Status: {Deleted: 'Not', HasPublicLink: true},
           Metadata: [
-            {Namespace: 'usermeta-tags', Term: JSON.stringify(tags.join(','))},
+            {Namespace: 'usermeta-tags', Term: 'important', Operation: 'Should'},
             {Namespace: 'mime', Term: 'image/*', Operation: 'Must'},
             {Namespace: 'usermeta-owner-uuid', Term: JSON.stringify(creatorId), Operation: 'Must'},
           ],
diff --git a/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.ts b/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.ts
index c1c3268cd41..648df68d802 100644
--- a/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.ts
+++ b/libraries/api-client/src/cells/cellsApi.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import {AxiosHeaders} from 'axios';
 import {
   NodeServiceApi,
+  LookupFilterMetaFilter,
   RestLookupRequest,
   RestCreateCheckResponse,
   RestDeleteVersionResponse,
@@ -55,6 +56,17 @@ const USER_META_TAGS_NAMESPACE = 'usermeta-tags';
 const USER_META_OWNER_UUID_NAMESPACE = 'usermeta-owner-uuid';
 const MIME_NAMESPACE = 'mime';
 
+// Each selected tag is sent as its own metadata filter with the `Should` operation so the
+// backend applies OR semantics across tags (a node matching any selected tag is returned).
+// Matches the iOS client shape in WireMessaging RestAPI.swift.
+function createTagMetadataFilters(tags: string[]): LookupFilterMetaFilter[] {
+  return tags.map(tag => ({
+    Namespace: USER_META_TAGS_NAMESPACE,
+    Term: tag,
+    Operation: 'Should',
+  }));
+}
+
 // TODO: remove the apiKey (from pydio and s3) once the Pydio backend has fully support for the auth with the Wire's access token
 // If it's passed we use it to authenticate, instead of the access token
 interface CellsConfig {
@@ -450,6 +462,7 @@ export class CellsAPI {
       throw new Error(CONFIGURATION_ERROR);
     }
 
+    const tagMetadataFilters = createTagMetadataFilters(tags ?? []);
     const mimeOp: 'Should' | 'Must' = mimeTypes !== undefined && mimeTypes.length > 1 ? 'Should' : 'Must';
     const creatorOp: 'Should' | 'Must' = creatorIds !== undefined && creatorIds.length > 1 ? 'Should' : 'Must';
 
@@ -468,9 +481,7 @@ export class CellsAPI {
           ...(hasPublicLink !== undefined ? {HasPublicLink: hasPublicLink} : {}),
         },
         Metadata: [
-          ...(tags !== undefined && tags.length > 0
-            ? [{Namespace: USER_META_TAGS_NAMESPACE, Term: this.transformTagsToJson(tags)}]
-            : []),
+          ...tagMetadataFilters,
           ...(mimeTypes?.map(term => ({Namespace: MIME_NAMESPACE, Term: term, Operation: mimeOp})) ?? []),
           ...(creatorIds?.map(term => ({
             Namespace: USER_META_OWNER_UUID_NAMESPACE,