diff --git a/applet/contents/ui/Toolbar.qml b/applet/contents/ui/Toolbar.qml
--- a/applet/contents/ui/Toolbar.qml
+++ b/applet/contents/ui/Toolbar.qml
@@ -223,7 +223,13 @@
         placeholderText: i18ndc("plasma-nm", "text field placeholder text", "Search...")
 
         visible: searchToggleButton.checked
-        onVisibleChanged: if (!visible) text = ""
+        onVisibleChanged: {
+            if (visible) {
+                searchTextField.forceActiveFocus()
+            } else {
+                text = ""
+            }
+        }
         Keys.onEscapePressed: {
             //Check if the searchbar is actually visible before accepting the escape key. Otherwise, the escape key cannot dismiss the applet until one interacts with some other element.
             if (searchToggleButton.checked) {