diff --git a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(search)/index.tsx b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(search)/index.tsx
index 11a38636..6d1ac344 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(search)/index.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(search)/index.tsx
@@ -26,12 +26,14 @@ import React, {
   useEffect,
   useLayoutEffect,
   useMemo,
+  useRef,
   useState,
 } from "react";
 import { Platform, ScrollView, TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { useDebounce } from "use-debounce";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { eventBus } from "@/utils/eventBus";
 
 type SearchType = "Library" | "Discover";
 
@@ -120,21 +122,44 @@ export default function search() {
     [api, searchEngine, settings]
   );
 
+  type HeaderSearchBarRef = {
+    focus: () => void;
+    blur: () => void;
+    setText: (text: string) => void;
+    clearText: () => void;
+    cancelSearch: () => void;
+  };
+
+  const searchBarRef = useRef<HeaderSearchBarRef>(null);
   const navigation = useNavigation();
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
     navigation.setOptions({
       headerSearchBarOptions: {
+        ref: searchBarRef,
         placeholder: t("search.search"),
         onChangeText: (e: any) => {
           router.setParams({ q: "" });
           setSearch(e.nativeEvent.text);
         },
         hideWhenScrolling: false,
-        autoFocus: true,
+        autoFocus: false,
       },
     });
   }, [navigation]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubscribe = eventBus.on("searchTabPressed", () => {
+      // Screen not actuve
+      if (!searchBarRef.current) return;
+      // Screen is active, focus search bar
+      searchBarRef.current?.focus();
+    });
+
+    return () => {
+      unsubscribe();
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   const { data: movies, isFetching: l1 } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["search", "movies", debouncedSearch],
     queryFn: () =>
diff --git a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/_layout.tsx b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
index 1b789c62..6d097240 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import type {
   TabNavigationState,
 } from "@react-navigation/native";
 import { SystemBars } from "react-native-edge-to-edge";
+import { eventBus } from "@/utils/eventBus";
 
 export const NativeTabs = withLayoutContext<
   BottomTabNavigationOptions,
@@ -76,6 +77,11 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
           }}
         />
         <NativeTabs.Screen
+          listeners={({ navigation }) => ({
+            tabPress: (e) => {
+              eventBus.emit("searchTabPressed");
+            },
+          })}
           name="(search)"
           options={{
             title: t("tabs.search"),
@@ -137,4 +143,4 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
       </NativeTabs>
     </>
   );
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/utils/eventBus.ts b/utils/eventBus.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4df6b19f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/eventBus.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+type Listener<T = void> = (data?: T) => void;
+
+class EventBus {
+  private listeners: Record<string, Listener<any>[]> = {};
+
+  on<T = void>(event: string, callback: Listener<T>): () => void {
+    if (!this.listeners[event]) {
+      this.listeners[event] = [];
+    }
+    this.listeners[event].push(callback);
+    return () => this.off(event, callback);
+  }
+
+  off<T = void>(event: string, callback: Listener<T>): void {
+    if (!this.listeners[event]) return;
+    this.listeners[event] = this.listeners[event].filter(
+      (fn) => fn !== callback
+    );
+  }
+
+  emit<T = void>(event: string, data?: T): void {
+    this.listeners[event]?.forEach((callback) => callback(data));
+  }
+}
+
+export const eventBus = new EventBus();