diff --git a/mobile/lib/features/search/search_page.dart b/mobile/lib/features/search/search_page.dart
index 48607d97f3..7bfa577247 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/features/search/search_page.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/features/search/search_page.dart
@@ -101,6 +101,16 @@ class SearchPage extends HookConsumerWidget {
 
     void activateSearch() => focusNode.requestFocus();
 
+    // Opening search as its own route means the user wants to type, so raise
+    // the keyboard right away instead of waiting for a tap on the field.
+    useEffect(() {
+      if (embedded) return null;
+      WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+        if (context.mounted) focusNode.requestFocus();
+      });
+      return null;
+    }, const []);
+
     useEffect(() {
       final reselection = tabReselection;
       if (reselection == null) return null;
diff --git a/mobile/test/features/search/search_page_test.dart b/mobile/test/features/search/search_page_test.dart
index 6aac4a4eb9..4fa4b6c964 100644
--- a/mobile/test/features/search/search_page_test.dart
+++ b/mobile/test/features/search/search_page_test.dart
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ void main() {
     debugDefaultTargetPlatformOverride = null;
   });
 
-  testWidgets('X dismisses search while the keyboard is focused', (
+  testWidgets('opening search focuses the field; X dismisses it', (
     tester,
   ) async {
     await tester.pumpWidget(
@@ -278,8 +278,9 @@ void main() {
     );
     await tester.tap(find.text('Open search'));
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
-    await tester.tap(find.byType(TextField));
-    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    final field = tester.widget<TextField>(find.byType(TextField));
+    expect(field.focusNode!.hasFocus, isTrue);
+    expect(tester.testTextInput.isVisible, isTrue);
     await tester.enterText(find.byType(TextField), 'draft');
     await tester.tap(find.byTooltip('Close search'));
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();