diff --git a/app/routes/api.py b/app/routes/api.py
index f614054..4f19264 100644
--- a/app/routes/api.py
+++ b/app/routes/api.py
@@ -188,3 +188,46 @@ def search_users():
         }
         for u in users
     ]})
+
+
+# ─── Ticket Search API ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+@api_bp.route('/tickets/search')
+@login_required
+def search_tickets():
+    """Return tickets matching a query string, used by the link-ticket picker.
+
+    Searches ticket_number and title (case-insensitive).
+    ?q=<search term>  — required, min 1 char
+    ?exclude=<id>     — ticket ID to exclude (the current ticket)
+    Restricted to IT staff only.
+    """
+    if not current_user.is_it_staff:
+        return jsonify({'error': 'Forbidden'}), 403
+
+    q          = request.args.get('q', '').strip()
+    exclude_id = request.args.get('exclude', 0, type=int)
+
+    if not q:
+        return jsonify({'tickets': []})
+
+    from app.models import Ticket
+    query = Ticket.query.filter(
+        Ticket.ticket_number.ilike(f'%{q}%') |
+        Ticket.title.ilike(f'%{q}%')
+    )
+    if exclude_id:
+        query = query.filter(Ticket.id != exclude_id)
+
+    results = query.order_by(Ticket.created_at.desc()).limit(10).all()
+    logger.info(f'[TICKET SEARCH] q="{q}" results={len(results)} user_id={current_user.id}')
+    return jsonify({'tickets': [
+        {
+            'id'           : t.id,
+            'ticket_number': t.ticket_number,
+            'title'        : t.title,
+            'status'       : t.status,
+            'priority'     : t.priority,
+        }
+        for t in results
+    ]})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/routes/tickets.py b/app/routes/tickets.py
index d99439d..1119e87 100644
--- a/app/routes/tickets.py
+++ b/app/routes/tickets.py
@@ -687,22 +687,32 @@ def link_ticket(ticket_id):
         abort(403)
 
     ticket = db.session.get(Ticket, ticket_id) or abort(404)
-    other_id  = request.form.get('linked_ticket_id', type=int)
+    raw_input = request.form.get('linked_ticket_id', '').strip()
     link_type = request.form.get('link_type', 'related')
 
-    if not other_id:
-        flash('Please specify a ticket to link.', 'danger')
+    if not raw_input:
+        flash('Please search for and select a ticket to link.', 'danger')
         return redirect(url_for('tickets.ticket_detail', ticket_id=ticket_id))
 
+    # Resolve by ticket_number (e.g. TKT-20260406-0001) or numeric DB id
+    if raw_input.upper().startswith('TKT-'):
+        other = Ticket.query.filter_by(ticket_number=raw_input.upper()).first()
+    else:
+        try:
+            other = db.session.get(Ticket, int(raw_input))
+        except ValueError:
+            other = Ticket.query.filter_by(ticket_number=raw_input.upper()).first()
+
+    if not other:
+        flash(f'Ticket "{raw_input}" not found.', 'danger')
+        return redirect(url_for('tickets.ticket_detail', ticket_id=ticket_id))
+
+    other_id = other.id
+
     if other_id == ticket_id:
         flash('A ticket cannot be linked to itself.', 'danger')
         return redirect(url_for('tickets.ticket_detail', ticket_id=ticket_id))
 
-    other = db.session.get(Ticket, other_id)
-    if not other:
-        flash(f'Ticket #{other_id} not found.', 'danger')
-        return redirect(url_for('tickets.ticket_detail', ticket_id=ticket_id))
-
     # Enforce canonical ordering (smaller id first) for the uniqueness constraint
     a, b = sorted([ticket_id, other_id])
     existing = TicketLink.query.filter_by(ticket_id=a, linked_ticket_id=b).first()
diff --git a/app/templates/tickets/detail.html b/app/templates/tickets/detail.html
index d18ca6b..c21c1a6 100644
--- a/app/templates/tickets/detail.html
+++ b/app/templates/tickets/detail.html
@@ -548,6 +548,8 @@ function buildCommentEl(c) {
   `;
   return wrap;
 }
+
+
 </script>
 
 <style>
@@ -667,12 +669,44 @@ function buildCommentEl(c) {
 
         <!-- Link form (collapsed by default) -->
         <div class="collapse mt-3" id="link-form-collapse">
-          <form method="POST" action="{{ url_for('tickets.link_ticket', ticket_id=ticket.id) }}">
+          <form method="POST" action="{{ url_for('tickets.link_ticket', ticket_id=ticket.id) }}"
+                id="link-ticket-form">
             <input type="hidden" name="csrf_token" value="{{ csrf_token() }}"/>
+            <!-- Hidden field submitted to the server — populated by the picker -->
+            <input type="hidden" name="linked_ticket_id" id="link-ticket-id"/>
             <div class="mb-2">
-              <label class="form-label" style="font-size:12px;">Ticket ID or Number</label>
-              <input type="number" class="form-control form-control-sm"
-                     name="linked_ticket_id" placeholder="e.g. 42" required min="1"/>
+              <label class="form-label" style="font-size:12px;">Search Ticket</label>
+              <!-- Live search input -->
+              <div style="position:relative;">
+                <input type="text" id="link-ticket-search"
+                       class="form-control form-control-sm"
+                       placeholder="Type ticket number or title…"
+                       autocomplete="off"/>
+                <!-- Results dropdown -->
+                <div id="link-ticket-results"
+                     style="display:none;position:absolute;top:calc(100% + 2px);left:0;right:0;
+                            background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:8px;
+                            box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.12);z-index:200;
+                            max-height:220px;overflow-y:auto;"></div>
+              </div>
+              <!-- Selected ticket display -->
+              <div id="link-selected-ticket"
+                   style="display:none;margin-top:6px;padding:7px 10px;
+                          background:var(--surface2);border:1px solid var(--border);
+                          border-radius:6px;font-size:12px;
+                          display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:8px;">
+                <div>
+                  <span id="link-sel-number" class="mono"
+                        style="color:var(--accent3);font-weight:600;font-size:11px;"></span>
+                  <span id="link-sel-title" style="color:var(--text);margin-left:6px;"></span>
+                </div>
+                <button type="button" id="link-clear-btn"
+                        style="background:none;border:none;color:var(--muted);
+                               cursor:pointer;padding:0;font-size:13px;flex-shrink:0;"
+                        title="Clear selection">
+                  <i class="bi bi-x-lg"></i>
+                </button>
+              </div>
             </div>
             <div class="mb-2">
               <label class="form-label" style="font-size:12px;">Relationship</label>
@@ -682,7 +716,8 @@ function buildCommentEl(c) {
                 <option value="follow_up">Follow-up</option>
               </select>
             </div>
-            <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm w-100">
+            <button type="submit" id="link-submit-btn"
+                    class="btn btn-primary btn-sm w-100" disabled>
               <i class="bi bi-link-45deg me-1"></i>Create Link
             </button>
           </form>
@@ -752,6 +787,130 @@ function buildCommentEl(c) {
   </div>
 </div>
 
+<script>
+// ── Link-ticket live search ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+(function () {
+  const CURRENT_TICKET_ID = {{ ticket.id }};
+  const searchEl   = document.getElementById('link-ticket-search');
+  const resultsEl  = document.getElementById('link-ticket-results');
+  const idField    = document.getElementById('link-ticket-id');
+  const selCard    = document.getElementById('link-selected-ticket');
+  const selNumber  = document.getElementById('link-sel-number');
+  const selTitle   = document.getElementById('link-sel-title');
+  const clearBtn   = document.getElementById('link-clear-btn');
+  const submitBtn  = document.getElementById('link-submit-btn');
+
+  if (!searchEl) return;   // guard: only runs on detail page with IT staff sidebar
+
+  // Auto-focus the search field when the collapse panel opens
+  const collapseEl = document.getElementById('link-form-collapse');
+  if (collapseEl) {
+    collapseEl.addEventListener('shown.bs.collapse', () => searchEl.focus());
+  }
+
+  let debounce = null;
+
+  searchEl.addEventListener('input', () => {
+    clearTimeout(debounce);
+    const q = searchEl.value.trim();
+    // Enable submit as soon as there is any text — server resolves ticket_number strings
+    submitBtn.disabled = (q.length === 0);
+    if (!idField.value) idField.value = '';  // clear stale selection if user retypes
+    if (q.length < 1) { resultsEl.style.display = 'none'; return; }
+    debounce = setTimeout(() => fetchTickets(q), 300);
+  });
+
+  searchEl.addEventListener('focus', () => {
+    if (searchEl.value.trim().length >= 1) fetchTickets(searchEl.value.trim());
+  });
+
+  document.addEventListener('click', e => {
+    if (!e.target.closest('#link-ticket-search') && !e.target.closest('#link-ticket-results'))
+      resultsEl.style.display = 'none';
+  });
+
+  async function fetchTickets(q) {
+    try {
+      const r = await fetch(
+        `/api/tickets/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(q)}&exclude=${CURRENT_TICKET_ID}`,
+        { credentials: 'same-origin' }
+      );
+      const data = await r.json();
+      renderResults(data.tickets || []);
+    } catch { resultsEl.style.display = 'none'; }
+  }
+
+  const STATUS_COLORS = {
+    open: 'var(--accent)', in_progress: 'var(--info)',
+    pending: 'var(--warning)', resolved: 'var(--success)', closed: 'var(--muted)'
+  };
+
+  function renderResults(tickets) {
+    if (!tickets.length) {
+      resultsEl.innerHTML =
+        '<div style="padding:10px 12px;font-size:12px;color:var(--muted);">No matching tickets found.</div>';
+      resultsEl.style.display = 'block';
+      return;
+    }
+    resultsEl.innerHTML = tickets.map(t => `
+      <div class="link-ticket-option"
+           data-id="${t.id}" data-number="${t.ticket_number}" data-title="${t.title.replace(/"/g,'&quot;')}"
+           style="padding:8px 12px;cursor:pointer;border-bottom:1px solid var(--border);
+                  display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;">
+        <div style="flex:1;min-width:0;">
+          <span class="mono" style="font-size:11px;color:var(--accent3);font-weight:600;">${t.ticket_number}</span>
+          <span style="font-size:10px;background:var(--surface2);color:${STATUS_COLORS[t.status] || 'var(--muted)'};
+                       padding:1px 6px;border-radius:4px;margin-left:5px;">${t.status.replace('_',' ')}</span>
+          <div style="font-size:12px;color:var(--text);white-space:nowrap;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;margin-top:2px;">
+            ${t.title}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    `).join('');
+
+    resultsEl.querySelectorAll('.link-ticket-option').forEach(el => {
+      el.addEventListener('mouseenter', () => el.style.background = 'var(--surface2)');
+      el.addEventListener('mouseleave', () => el.style.background = '');
+      el.addEventListener('click', () => selectTicket(el.dataset));
+    });
+    resultsEl.style.display = 'block';
+  }
+
+  function selectTicket(data) {
+    idField.value            = data.id;
+    selNumber.textContent    = data.number;
+    selTitle.textContent     = data.title;
+    selCard.style.display    = 'flex';
+    searchEl.style.display   = 'none';
+    resultsEl.style.display  = 'none';
+    submitBtn.disabled       = false;
+  }
+
+  clearBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    idField.value           = '';
+    selCard.style.display   = 'none';
+    searchEl.style.display  = '';
+    searchEl.value          = '';
+    searchEl.focus();
+    submitBtn.disabled      = true;
+  });
+
+  // If user typed a full ticket number without clicking a result,
+  // populate the hidden field from the search text so the server can resolve it.
+  document.getElementById('link-ticket-form').addEventListener('submit', e => {
+    if (!idField.value) {
+      const typed = searchEl.value.trim();
+      if (typed) {
+        idField.value = typed;  // server resolves by ticket_number string
+      } else {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        searchEl.focus();
+      }
+    }
+  });
+})();
+</script>
+
 <!-- Re-open modal trigger — shown to ticket creator when resolved or closed -->
 {% if ticket.status in ('resolved', 'closed') and
       (current_user.is_it_staff or ticket.created_by_id == current_user.id) %}