diff --git a/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp b/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp
--- a/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp
@@ -930,6 +930,7 @@
         oldViewContainer->disconnect(this);
         oldViewContainer->view()->disconnect(this);
         oldViewContainer->urlNavigator()->disconnect(this);
+        oldViewContainer->setActive(false);
     }
 
     connectViewSignals(viewContainer);
diff --git a/src/dolphintabpage.h b/src/dolphintabpage.h
--- a/src/dolphintabpage.h
+++ b/src/dolphintabpage.h
@@ -129,6 +129,12 @@
      */
     void restoreStateV1(const QByteArray& state);
 
+    /**
+     * Notify tab page is active or not
+     *
+     */
+    void setActive(bool active);
+
 signals:
     void activeViewChanged(DolphinViewContainer* viewContainer);
     void activeViewUrlChanged(const QUrl& url);
@@ -165,6 +171,7 @@
 
     bool m_primaryViewActive;
     bool m_splitViewEnabled;
+    bool m_active;
 };
 
 #endif // DOLPHIN_TAB_PAGE_H
diff --git a/src/dolphintabpage.cpp b/src/dolphintabpage.cpp
--- a/src/dolphintabpage.cpp
+++ b/src/dolphintabpage.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 DolphinTabPage::DolphinTabPage(const QUrl &primaryUrl, const QUrl &secondaryUrl, QWidget* parent) :
     QWidget(parent),
     m_primaryViewActive(true),
-    m_splitViewEnabled(false)
+    m_splitViewEnabled(false),
+    m_active(true)
 {
     QVBoxLayout* layout = new QVBoxLayout(this);
     layout->setSpacing(0);
@@ -286,17 +287,30 @@
     m_splitter->restoreState(splitterState);
 }
 
+void DolphinTabPage::setActive(bool active)
+{
+    if (active) {
+        m_active = active;
+    } else {
+        // we should bypass changing active view in split mode
+        m_active = !m_splitViewEnabled;
+    }
+    activeViewContainer()->setActive(active);
+}
+
 void DolphinTabPage::slotViewActivated()
 {
     const DolphinView* oldActiveView = activeViewContainer()->view();
 
     // Set the view, which was active before, to inactive
-    // and update the active view type.
-    if (m_splitViewEnabled) {
-        activeViewContainer()->setActive(false);
-        m_primaryViewActive = !m_primaryViewActive;
-    } else {
-        m_primaryViewActive = true;
+    // and update the active view type, if tab is active
+    if (m_active) {
+        if (m_splitViewEnabled) {
+            activeViewContainer()->setActive(false);
+            m_primaryViewActive = !m_primaryViewActive;
+        } else {
+            m_primaryViewActive = true;
+        }
     }
 
     const DolphinView* newActiveView = activeViewContainer()->view();
diff --git a/src/dolphintabwidget.h b/src/dolphintabwidget.h
--- a/src/dolphintabwidget.h
+++ b/src/dolphintabwidget.h
@@ -186,8 +186,6 @@
 private:
     /** Caches the (negated) places panel visibility */
     bool m_placesSelectorVisible;
-
-    int m_previousTab;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/dolphintabwidget.cpp b/src/dolphintabwidget.cpp
--- a/src/dolphintabwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/dolphintabwidget.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 DolphinTabWidget::DolphinTabWidget(QWidget* parent) :
     QTabWidget(parent),
     m_placesSelectorVisible(true),
-    m_previousTab(-1)
+    m_previousTab(0)
 {
     connect(this, &DolphinTabWidget::tabCloseRequested,
             this, static_cast<void (DolphinTabWidget::*)(int)>(&DolphinTabWidget::closeTab));
@@ -304,15 +304,15 @@
 
 void DolphinTabWidget::currentTabChanged(int index)
 {
-    DolphinViewContainer* viewContainer = tabPageAt(index)->activeViewContainer();
-    viewContainer->setActive(true);
+    // we should notify tabPage to take care of its content
+    if (DolphinTabPage* tabPage = tabPageAt(m_previousTab)) {
+        tabPage->setActive(false);
+    }
+    DolphinTabPage* tabPage = tabPageAt(index);
+    DolphinViewContainer* viewContainer = tabPage->activeViewContainer();
     emit activeViewChanged(viewContainer);
     emit currentUrlChanged(viewContainer->url());
-    viewContainer->view()->setFocus();
-
-    if (tabPageAt(m_previousTab)) {
-        tabPageAt(m_previousTab)->activeViewContainer()->setActive(false);
-    }
+    tabPage->setActive(true);
     m_previousTab = index;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dolphinviewcontainer.h b/src/dolphinviewcontainer.h
--- a/src/dolphinviewcontainer.h
+++ b/src/dolphinviewcontainer.h
@@ -239,12 +239,6 @@
     void setNameFilter(const QString& nameFilter);
 
     /**
-     * Marks the view container as active
-     * (see DolphinViewContainer::setActive()).
-     */
-    void activate();
-
-    /**
      * Is invoked if the signal urlAboutToBeChanged() from the URL navigator
      * is emitted. Tries to save the view-state.
      */
diff --git a/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp b/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
--- a/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
+++ b/src/dolphinviewcontainer.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 
     m_urlNavigator = new KUrlNavigator(new KFilePlacesModel(this), url, this);
     connect(m_urlNavigator, &KUrlNavigator::activated,
-            this, &DolphinViewContainer::activate);
+            this, &DolphinViewContainer::requestFocus);
     connect(m_urlNavigator->editor(), &KUrlComboBox::completionModeChanged,
             this, &DolphinViewContainer::saveUrlCompletionMode);
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 
     m_searchBox = new DolphinSearchBox(this);
     m_searchBox->hide();
-    connect(m_searchBox, &DolphinSearchBox::activated, this, &DolphinViewContainer::activate);
+    connect(m_searchBox, &DolphinSearchBox::activated, this, &DolphinViewContainer::requestFocus);
     connect(m_searchBox, &DolphinSearchBox::closeRequest, this, &DolphinViewContainer::closeSearchBox);
     connect(m_searchBox, &DolphinSearchBox::searchRequest, this, &DolphinViewContainer::startSearching);
     connect(m_searchBox, &DolphinSearchBox::returnPressed, this, &DolphinViewContainer::requestFocus);
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
     connect(m_view, &DolphinView::urlIsFileError,
             this, &DolphinViewContainer::slotUrlIsFileError);
     connect(m_view, &DolphinView::activated,
-            this, &DolphinViewContainer::activate);
+            this, &DolphinViewContainer::requestFocus);
 
     connect(m_urlNavigator, &KUrlNavigator::urlAboutToBeChanged,
             this, &DolphinViewContainer::slotUrlNavigatorLocationAboutToBeChanged);
@@ -538,11 +538,6 @@
     delayedStatusBarUpdate();
 }
 
-void DolphinViewContainer::activate()
-{
-    setActive(true);
-}
-
 void DolphinViewContainer::slotUrlNavigatorLocationAboutToBeChanged(const QUrl&)
 {
     saveViewState();
@@ -611,7 +606,12 @@
 
 void DolphinViewContainer::requestFocus()
 {
-    m_view->setFocus();
+    if (m_searchBox->isVisible()) {
+        m_searchBox->setFocus();
+    } else {
+        m_view->setFocus();
+        m_urlNavigator->setActive(true);
+    }
 }
 
 void DolphinViewContainer::saveUrlCompletionMode(KCompletion::CompletionMode completion)