diff --git a/kmenuedit.h b/kmenuedit.h
--- a/kmenuedit.h
+++ b/kmenuedit.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 class QAction;
 class BasicTab;
 class TreeView;
+class KTreeWidgetSearchLine;
 
 class KMenuEdit : public KXmlGuiWindow
 {
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@
     TreeView *m_tree = nullptr;
     BasicTab *m_basicTab = nullptr;
     QSplitter *m_splitter = nullptr;
+    KTreeWidgetSearchLine* m_searchLine = nullptr;
 
     QAction *m_actionDelete = nullptr;
     bool m_showHidden = false;
diff --git a/kmenuedit.cpp b/kmenuedit.cpp
--- a/kmenuedit.cpp
+++ b/kmenuedit.cpp
@@ -20,17 +20,21 @@
 #include "kmenuedit.h"
 
 #include <QSplitter>
+#include <QVBoxLayout>
+#include <QFrame>
 
 #include <QAction>
 #include <KActionCollection>
 #include <KActionMenu>
 #include <QIcon>
+
 #include <KLocalizedString>
 #include <KXMLGUIFactory>
 #include <KMessageBox>
 #include <KService>
 #include <KStandardAction>
 #include <KStandardShortcut>
+#include <KTreeWidgetSearchLine>
 #include <sonnet/configdialog.h>
 
 #include "treeview.h"
@@ -127,13 +131,30 @@
 
 void KMenuEdit::setupView()
 {
+    // setup search and tree view
+    m_tree = new TreeView(actionCollection(), this);
+
+    m_searchLine = new KTreeWidgetSearchLine(this, m_tree);
+    m_searchLine->setCaseSensitivity(Qt::CaseSensitivity::CaseInsensitive);
+    m_searchLine->setKeepParentsVisible(true);
+    m_searchLine->setPlaceholderText(i18n("Search..."));
+    m_searchLine->setToolTip(i18n("Type to filter applications below"));
+
+    auto treeLayout = new QVBoxLayout;
+    treeLayout->addWidget(m_searchLine);
+    treeLayout->addWidget(m_tree);
+    auto treeFrame = new QFrame;
+    treeFrame->setLayout(treeLayout);
+
     m_splitter = new QSplitter(this);
     m_splitter->setOrientation(Qt::Horizontal);
-    m_tree = new TreeView(actionCollection(), this);
-    m_splitter->addWidget(m_tree);
+    m_splitter->addWidget(treeFrame);
+
+    // setup info tab view
     m_basicTab = new BasicTab;
     m_splitter->addWidget(m_basicTab);
 
+
     connect(m_tree, SIGNAL(entrySelected(MenuFolderInfo*)),
             m_basicTab, SLOT(setFolderInfo(MenuFolderInfo*)));
     connect(m_tree, SIGNAL(entrySelected(MenuEntryInfo*)),
@@ -150,6 +171,8 @@
     connect(m_basicTab, &BasicTab::findServiceShortcut,
             m_tree, &TreeView::findServiceShortcut);
 
+    connect(m_searchLine, &KTreeWidgetSearchLine::searchUpdated,
+            m_tree, &TreeView::searchUpdated);
     // restore splitter sizes
     QList<int> sizes = ConfigurationManager::getInstance()->getSplitterSizes();
     if (sizes.isEmpty()) {
diff --git a/treeview.h b/treeview.h
--- a/treeview.h
+++ b/treeview.h
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@
     void currentDataChanged(MenuFolderInfo *folderInfo);
     void currentDataChanged(MenuEntryInfo *entryInfo);
     void findServiceShortcut(const QKeySequence &, KService::Ptr &);
+    void searchUpdated(const QString &searchString);
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void entrySelected(MenuFolderInfo *folderInfo);
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@
     void moveUpItem();
     void moveDownItem();
 
+
 protected:
     enum SortType {
         SortByName = 0,
@@ -229,7 +231,6 @@
     TreeItem *getParentItem(QTreeWidgetItem *item) const;
     void moveUpOrDownItem(bool isMovingUpAction);
 
-    void closeAllItems(QTreeWidgetItem *item);
     TreeItem *expandPath(TreeItem *item, const QString &path);
 
     // moving = src will be removed later
diff --git a/treeview.cpp b/treeview.cpp
--- a/treeview.cpp
+++ b/treeview.cpp
@@ -497,15 +497,6 @@
         }
     }
 }
-
-void TreeView::closeAllItems(QTreeWidgetItem *item)
-{
-    item->setExpanded(false);
-    for (int i = 0; i < item->childCount(); ++i) {
-        closeAllItems(item->child(i));
-    }
-}
-
 TreeItem *TreeView::expandPath(TreeItem *item, const QString &path)
 {
     int i = path.indexOf(QStringLiteral("/"));
@@ -534,9 +525,10 @@
 
 void TreeView::selectMenu(const QString &menu)
 {
-    for (int i = 0; i < topLevelItemCount(); ++i) {
-        closeAllItems(topLevelItem(i));
-    }
+
+    // close all parent expansions and deselect everything
+    collapseAll();
+    setCurrentIndex(rootIndex());
 
     if (menu.length() <= 1) {
         setCurrentItem(topLevelItem(0));
@@ -1926,6 +1918,19 @@
     QDBusConnection::sessionBus().send(message);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Workaround to set expansion of categories when search updates
+ */
+void TreeView::searchUpdated(const QString &searchString) {
+    // expand all categories if we typed more than a few characters, otherwise collapse and un-select everything
+    if (searchString.length() > 2) {
+        expandAll();
+    } else {
+        collapseAll();
+        setCurrentIndex(rootIndex());
+    }
+}
+
 MenuItemMimeData::MenuItemMimeData(TreeItem *item)
     : QMimeData()
     , m_item(item)