diff --git a/alembic/versions/0005_note_search.py b/alembic/versions/0005_note_search.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a00de2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/0005_note_search.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+"""notes full-text search vector
+
+Revision ID: 0005
+Revises: 0004
+Create Date: 2026-07-20
+
+A generated tsvector column (title weight A, body weight B) + GIN index, so
+search is index-backed and always in sync with the row (no trigger to maintain).
+"""
+from alembic import op
+
+revision = "0005"
+down_revision = "0004"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.execute(
+        """
+        ALTER TABLE notes ADD COLUMN search_vector tsvector
+        GENERATED ALWAYS AS (
+            setweight(to_tsvector('english', coalesce(title, '')), 'A') ||
+            setweight(to_tsvector('english', coalesce(body, '')), 'B')
+        ) STORED
+        """
+    )
+    op.execute("CREATE INDEX ix_notes_search ON notes USING GIN (search_vector)")
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.execute("DROP INDEX IF EXISTS ix_notes_search")
+    op.execute("ALTER TABLE notes DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS search_vector")
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue b/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue
index 2abd2a1..e040704 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed, onMounted, ref } from "vue";
+import { computed, onMounted, ref, watch } from "vue";
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from "vue-router";
 import { useSessionStore } from "../stores/session";
 import { useConfigStore } from "../stores/config";
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ const config = useConfigStore();
 const labels = useLabelsStore();
 
 const managing = ref(false);
+const searchText = ref(typeof route.query.q === "string" ? route.query.q : "");
+let searchTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
 
 onMounted(() => {
   if (!labels.loaded) void labels.load();
@@ -21,6 +23,24 @@ onMounted(() => {
 
 const currentLabelId = computed(() => (route.name === "label" ? String(route.params.id) : null));
 
+function onSearch(value: string) {
+  searchText.value = value;
+  clearTimeout(searchTimer);
+  searchTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    const q = searchText.value.trim();
+    if (q) router.push({ name: "search", query: { q } });
+    else if (route.name === "search") router.push("/");
+  }, 250);
+}
+
+// Clear the search box when navigating to a non-search view.
+watch(
+  () => route.name,
+  (name) => {
+    if (name !== "search") searchText.value = "";
+  },
+);
+
 async function signOut() {
   await session.logout();
   await router.replace("/login");
@@ -32,15 +52,27 @@ async function signOut() {
     <header
       class="sticky top-0 z-20 border-b border-neutral-200 bg-neutral-50/90 backdrop-blur dark:border-neutral-800 dark:bg-neutral-950/90"
     >
-      <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-4 px-4 py-3">
-        <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+      <div class="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3">
+        <div class="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2">
           <div class="flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-brand text-sm font-black text-neutral-900">
             TS
           </div>
           <span class="hidden font-semibold sm:inline">{{ config.siteName }}</span>
         </div>
-        <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
-          <span class="hidden text-sm text-neutral-500 sm:inline dark:text-neutral-400">{{
+
+        <div class="flex flex-1 justify-center">
+          <input
+            :value="searchText"
+            type="search"
+            placeholder="Search notes…"
+            aria-label="Search notes"
+            class="w-full max-w-md rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 bg-white px-3 py-1.5 text-sm outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand dark:border-neutral-700 dark:bg-neutral-900"
+            @input="onSearch(($event.target as HTMLInputElement).value)"
+          />
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-3">
+          <span class="hidden text-sm text-neutral-500 md:inline dark:text-neutral-400">{{
             session.user?.display_name
           }}</span>
           <RouterLink
@@ -98,7 +130,7 @@ async function signOut() {
         </nav>
       </aside>
 
-      <main class="min-w-0 flex-1"><slot /></main>
+      <main class="min-w-0 flex-1"><RouterView /></main>
     </div>
 
     <LabelsModal v-if="managing" @close="managing = false" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/router/index.ts b/frontend/src/router/index.ts
index 8647854..82f68f0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/router/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/router/index.ts
@@ -6,28 +6,17 @@ const router = createRouter({
   history: createWebHistory(),
   routes: [
     {
+      // Persistent authed shell (sidebar + top bar + search); children render in it.
       path: "/",
-      name: "board",
-      component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue"),
-      meta: { requiresAuth: true },
-    },
-    {
-      path: "/archive",
-      name: "archive",
-      component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue"),
-      meta: { requiresAuth: true },
-    },
-    {
-      path: "/trash",
-      name: "trash",
-      component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue"),
-      meta: { requiresAuth: true },
-    },
-    {
-      path: "/label/:id",
-      name: "label",
-      component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue"),
+      component: () => import("../components/AppShell.vue"),
       meta: { requiresAuth: true },
+      children: [
+        { path: "", name: "board", component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue") },
+        { path: "archive", name: "archive", component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue") },
+        { path: "trash", name: "trash", component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue") },
+        { path: "label/:id", name: "label", component: () => import("../views/BoardView.vue") },
+        { path: "search", name: "search", component: () => import("../views/SearchView.vue") },
+      ],
     },
     {
       path: "/settings",
@@ -63,8 +52,6 @@ router.beforeEach(async (to) => {
   if (to.meta.requiresAdmin && !session.user?.is_admin) {
     return { name: "board" };
   }
-  // Registration closed: keep people out of the register screen (the very first
-  // account is still creatable because allow_registration defaults to true).
   if (to.name === "register" && !config.allowRegistration) {
     return { name: "login" };
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/BoardView.vue b/frontend/src/views/BoardView.vue
index 0f2eb0e..f09e525 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/BoardView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/BoardView.vue
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import { computed, onMounted, ref, watch } from "vue";
 import { useRoute } from "vue-router";
 import { useNotesStore, type Note, type NoteView } from "../stores/notes";
-import AppShell from "../components/AppShell.vue";
 import QuickAdd from "../components/QuickAdd.vue";
 import NoteCard from "../components/NoteCard.vue";
 import NoteEditor from "../components/NoteEditor.vue";
@@ -50,46 +49,41 @@ function closeEditor() {
 </script>
 
 <template>
-  <AppShell>
-    <div class="mx-auto w-full max-w-6xl px-4 py-6">
-      <QuickAdd v-if="isMainBoard" autofocus class="mb-8" />
+  <div class="mx-auto w-full max-w-6xl px-4 py-6">
+    <QuickAdd v-if="isMainBoard" autofocus class="mb-8" />
 
-      <div v-if="notes.loading" class="py-24 text-center text-sm text-neutral-400">Loading…</div>
+    <div v-if="notes.loading" class="py-24 text-center text-sm text-neutral-400">Loading…</div>
 
-      <div v-else-if="notes.items.length === 0" class="py-24 text-center">
-        <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200">{{ emptyState.title }}</h2>
-        <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-neutral-400">{{ emptyState.subtitle }}</p>
-      </div>
-
-      <template v-else>
-        <template v-if="isMainBoard">
-          <section v-if="pinnedNotes.length">
-            <h2 class="mb-2 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-neutral-400">Pinned</h2>
-            <div class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
-              <NoteCard v-for="n in pinnedNotes" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
-            </div>
-          </section>
-          <section v-if="otherNotes.length" :class="pinnedNotes.length ? 'mt-8' : ''">
-            <h2
-              v-if="pinnedNotes.length"
-              class="mb-2 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-neutral-400"
-            >
-              Others
-            </h2>
-            <div class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
-              <NoteCard v-for="n in otherNotes" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
-            </div>
-          </section>
-        </template>
-
-        <div v-else class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
-          <NoteCard v-for="n in notes.items" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
-        </div>
-      </template>
+    <div v-else-if="notes.items.length === 0" class="py-24 text-center">
+      <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200">{{ emptyState.title }}</h2>
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-neutral-400">{{ emptyState.subtitle }}</p>
     </div>
 
-    <template v-if="editing">
-      <NoteEditor :note="editing" @close="closeEditor" />
+    <template v-else>
+      <template v-if="isMainBoard">
+        <section v-if="pinnedNotes.length">
+          <h2 class="mb-2 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-neutral-400">Pinned</h2>
+          <div class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
+            <NoteCard v-for="n in pinnedNotes" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
+          </div>
+        </section>
+        <section v-if="otherNotes.length" :class="pinnedNotes.length ? 'mt-8' : ''">
+          <h2 v-if="pinnedNotes.length" class="mb-2 text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-neutral-400">
+            Others
+          </h2>
+          <div class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
+            <NoteCard v-for="n in otherNotes" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
+          </div>
+        </section>
+      </template>
+
+      <div v-else class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
+        <NoteCard v-for="n in notes.items" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
+      </div>
     </template>
-  </AppShell>
+  </div>
+
+  <template v-if="editing">
+    <NoteEditor :note="editing" @close="closeEditor" />
+  </template>
 </template>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/SearchView.vue b/frontend/src/views/SearchView.vue
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25643c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/views/SearchView.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed, ref, watch } from "vue";
+import { useRoute } from "vue-router";
+import { api } from "../api/client";
+import type { Note } from "../stores/notes";
+import NoteCard from "../components/NoteCard.vue";
+import NoteEditor from "../components/NoteEditor.vue";
+
+const route = useRoute();
+
+const results = ref<Note[]>([]);
+const loading = ref(false);
+const editing = ref<Note | null>(null);
+
+const query = computed(() => (typeof route.query.q === "string" ? route.query.q : ""));
+
+async function run() {
+  const q = query.value.trim();
+  if (!q) {
+    results.value = [];
+    return;
+  }
+  loading.value = true;
+  try {
+    const res = await api.get<{ notes: Note[] }>(`/api/notes/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(q)}`);
+    results.value = res.notes;
+  } finally {
+    loading.value = false;
+  }
+}
+
+watch(query, run, { immediate: true });
+
+function openEditor(n: Note) {
+  editing.value = n;
+}
+async function closeEditor() {
+  editing.value = null;
+  await run(); // reflect any edits made from a result
+}
+</script>
+
+<template>
+  <div class="mx-auto w-full max-w-6xl px-4 py-6">
+    <p class="mb-4 text-sm text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">
+      <template v-if="query"
+        >Results for <span class="font-semibold text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-200">{{ query }}</span></template
+      >
+      <template v-else>Type in the search box to find your notes.</template>
+    </p>
+
+    <div v-if="loading" class="py-20 text-center text-sm text-neutral-400">Searching…</div>
+
+    <div v-else-if="query && results.length === 0" class="py-20 text-center">
+      <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200">No matches</h2>
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-neutral-400">Nothing found for "{{ query }}".</p>
+    </div>
+
+    <div v-else class="columns-1 gap-4 sm:columns-2 lg:columns-3 xl:columns-4">
+      <NoteCard v-for="n in results" :key="n.id" :note="n" @open="openEditor" />
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <template v-if="editing">
+    <NoteEditor :note="editing" @close="closeEditor" />
+  </template>
+</template>
diff --git a/src/thoughtsync/notes.py b/src/thoughtsync/notes.py
index c2993e9..4da07e9 100644
--- a/src/thoughtsync/notes.py
+++ b/src/thoughtsync/notes.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import uuid
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 from quart import Blueprint, g, jsonify, request
-from sqlalchemy import delete, select
+from sqlalchemy import delete, func, literal_column, select
 
 from .acl import visible_to_user
 from .auth import login_required
@@ -93,6 +93,36 @@ async def list_notes():
         return jsonify({"notes": out})
 
 
+@bp.get("/search")
+@login_required
+async def search_notes():
+    q = (request.args.get("q") or "").strip()
+    if not q:
+        return jsonify({"notes": []})
+    async with session_scope() as db:
+        tsquery = func.websearch_to_tsquery("english", q)
+        # search_vector is a generated column (migration 0005), not mapped on the ORM.
+        search_col = literal_column("notes.search_vector")
+        stmt = (
+            select(Note)
+            .where(
+                visible_to_user("note", Note.owner_id, Note.id, g.user_id),
+                Note.deleted_at.is_(None),
+                search_col.op("@@")(tsquery),
+            )
+            .order_by(func.ts_rank(search_col, tsquery).desc(), Note.updated_at.desc())
+            .limit(100)
+        )
+        notes = (await db.scalars(stmt)).all()
+        labels_map = await _labels_for_notes(db, [n.id for n in notes])
+        out = []
+        for n in notes:
+            data = n.serialize()
+            data["labels"] = labels_map.get(n.id, [])
+            out.append(data)
+        return jsonify({"notes": out})
+
+
 @bp.post("")
 @login_required
 async def create_note():
diff --git a/tests/test_notes.py b/tests/test_notes.py
index 6620b9c..ded1555 100644
--- a/tests/test_notes.py
+++ b/tests/test_notes.py
@@ -50,3 +50,9 @@ async def test_notes_create_requires_auth(app):
     client = app.test_client()
     resp = await client.post("/api/notes", json={"body": "hi"})
     assert resp.status_code == 401
+
+
+async def test_search_requires_auth(app):
+    client = app.test_client()
+    resp = await client.get("/api/notes/search?q=hello")
+    assert resp.status_code == 401