diff --git a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/ExplorerView.tsx b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/ExplorerView.tsx
index dcb3a9132..62f25e61e 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/ExplorerView.tsx
+++ b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/ExplorerView.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 	useEffect,
 	useLayoutEffect,
 	useMemo,
+	useRef,
 	useState
 } from 'react';
 import {useLocation} from 'react-router-dom';
@@ -19,7 +20,13 @@ import {TopBarItem, TopBarPortal} from '../../TopBar';
 import {ExpandableSearchButton} from './components/ExpandableSearchButton';
 import {PathBar} from './components/PathBar';
 import {VirtualPathBar} from './components/VirtualPathBar';
-import {getSpaceItemKeyFromRoute, useExplorer, type ViewMode} from './context';
+import {
+	getSpaceItemKeyFromRoute,
+	MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH,
+	useExplorer,
+	type ViewMode
+} from './context';
+import {useKeybind} from '../../hooks/useKeybind';
 import {useVirtualListing} from './hooks/useVirtualListing';
 import {SearchToolbar} from './SearchToolbar';
 import {SortMenu, SortMenuPanel} from './SortMenu';
@@ -96,21 +103,36 @@ export function ExplorerView({
 
 	const [searchValue, setSearchValue] = useState('');
 
-	const handleSearchChange = useCallback(
-		(value: string) => {
-			setSearchValue(value);
+	// The current mode, readable from the debounce effect without making it
+	// a dependency: a dispatch that changes the mode must not reschedule the
+	// timer for an unchanged input value.
+	const modeRef = useRef(mode);
+	modeRef.current = mode;
 
-			if (value.length >= 2) {
-				const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
-					enterSearchMode(value);
-				}, 300);
-				return () => clearTimeout(timeoutId);
-			} else if (value.length === 0 && mode.type === 'search') {
-				exitSearchMode();
-			}
-		},
-		[enterSearchMode, exitSearchMode, mode.type]
-	);
+	// One search per settled query. The effect owns the timer, so every
+	// keystroke cancels the previous one, and entering search mode carries
+	// the scope the user already picked instead of resetting it. Dropping
+	// under the minimum length exits deterministically, including the
+	// two-to-one-character backspace.
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (searchValue.length >= MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH) {
+			const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
+				const current = modeRef.current;
+				enterSearchMode(
+					searchValue,
+					current.type === 'search' ? current.scope : undefined
+				);
+			}, 300);
+			return () => clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+		}
+		if (modeRef.current.type === 'search') {
+			exitSearchMode();
+		}
+	}, [searchValue, enterSearchMode, exitSearchMode]);
+
+	const handleSearchChange = useCallback((value: string) => {
+		setSearchValue(value);
+	}, []);
 
 	const handleSearchClear = useCallback(() => {
 		setSearchValue('');
@@ -123,6 +145,11 @@ export function ExplorerView({
 		}
 	}, [mode.type]);
 
+	const searchInputRef = useRef<{focus: () => void}>(null);
+	useKeybind('global.focusSearchBar', () => searchInputRef.current?.focus(), {
+		ignoreWhenInputFocused: false
+	});
+
 	// When leaving column view, navigate to the deepest column so the
 	// new view shows the directory the user was actually looking at.
 	const handleViewModeChange = useCallback(
@@ -254,6 +281,7 @@ export function ExplorerView({
 								priority="high"
 							>
 								<ExpandableSearchButton
+									ref={searchInputRef}
 									placeholder={
 										currentPath
 											? 'Search in current folder...'
diff --git a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/components/ExpandableSearchButton.tsx b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/components/ExpandableSearchButton.tsx
index e0d6d3baa..651278779 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/components/ExpandableSearchButton.tsx
+++ b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/components/ExpandableSearchButton.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState, useRef, useEffect } from "react";
+import { useState, useRef, useEffect, forwardRef, useImperativeHandle } from "react";
 import { motion, AnimatePresence } from "framer-motion";
 import { MagnifyingGlass } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { CircleButton, SearchBar } from "@spacedrive/primitives";
@@ -10,16 +10,35 @@ interface ExpandableSearchButtonProps {
 	placeholder?: string;
 }
 
-export function ExpandableSearchButton({
-	value,
-	onChange,
-	onClear,
-	placeholder = "Search...",
-}: ExpandableSearchButtonProps) {
+export interface ExpandableSearchButtonHandle {
+	focus: () => void;
+}
+
+export const ExpandableSearchButton = forwardRef<
+	ExpandableSearchButtonHandle,
+	ExpandableSearchButtonProps
+>(function ExpandableSearchButton(
+	{ value, onChange, onClear, placeholder = "Search..." },
+	ref,
+) {
 	const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(false);
 	const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 	const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
+	// The keybind path: expand if collapsed, focus once the input exists.
+	// A collapsed bar has no input yet; the expand animation's completion
+	// handler takes over the focus in that case.
+	useImperativeHandle(
+		ref,
+		() => ({
+			focus: () => {
+				setIsExpanded(true);
+				inputRef.current?.focus();
+			},
+		}),
+		[],
+	);
+
 	// Expand if there's a value
 	useEffect(() => {
 		if (value) {
@@ -112,4 +131,4 @@ export function ExpandableSearchButton({
 			</motion.div>
 		</div>
 	);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/context.tsx b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/context.tsx
index 5c84c741c..2e2d833e9 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/context.tsx
+++ b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/context.tsx
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ export interface ViewSettings {
 
 export type SearchScope = 'folder' | 'location' | 'library';
 
+/** The one place the minimum query length lives; the input handler, the
+ * query gate, and the results view all read it. */
+export const MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH = 2;
+
 export interface SearchFilters {
 	fileTypes?: string[];
 	contentTypes?: string[];
diff --git a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/hooks/useExplorerFiles.ts b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/hooks/useExplorerFiles.ts
index d7807b959..ba72c6f25 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/hooks/useExplorerFiles.ts
+++ b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/hooks/useExplorerFiles.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useMemo } from "react";
 import type { DirectorySortBy, File, FileSearchInput, FileSearchOutput } from "@sd/ts-client";
 import { useNormalizedQuery } from "../../../contexts/SpacedriveContext";
-import { useExplorer } from "../context";
+import { MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH, useExplorer } from "../context";
 import { useVirtualListing } from "./useVirtualListing";
 
 export type FileSource =
@@ -177,7 +177,10 @@ export function useExplorerFiles(): ExplorerFilesResult {
 			isSearchMode && mode.type === "search" && mode.scope === "folder" && currentPath
 				? (currentPath as any)
 				: undefined,
-		enabled: isSearchMode && !!searchQueryInput && searchQueryInput.query.length >= 2,
+		enabled:
+			isSearchMode &&
+			!!searchQueryInput &&
+			searchQueryInput.query.length >= MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH,
 	});
 
 	// Recents query
diff --git a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/views/SearchView/SearchView.tsx b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/views/SearchView/SearchView.tsx
index a29ad3d6c..c0f10dfed 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/views/SearchView/SearchView.tsx
+++ b/packages/interface/src/routes/explorer/views/SearchView/SearchView.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useExplorer } from '../../context';
+import { MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH, useExplorer } from '../../context';
 import { GridView } from '../GridView';
 import { ListView } from '../ListView';
 import { MediaView } from '../MediaView';
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ export function SearchView() {
 	}
 
 	// Show minimum character hint
-	if (mode.query.length < 2) {
+	if (mode.query.length < MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH) {
 		return (
 			<div className="flex h-full flex-col items-center justify-center p-8 text-center">
 				<p className="text-ink-dull text-sm">
-					Type at least 2 characters to search
+					Type at least {MIN_SEARCH_QUERY_LENGTH} characters to search
 				</p>
 			</div>
 		);