diff --git a/cista/app.py b/cista/app.py
index 7b62df0..1b580bf 100644
--- a/cista/app.py
+++ b/cista/app.py
@@ -49,9 +49,7 @@ async def main_start(app):
         max_workers=preview_workers, thread_name_prefix="cista-preview"
     )
     # Larger pool for long-running but low-memory zip operations
-    app.ctx.zipexec = ThreadPoolExecutor(
-        max_workers=32, thread_name_prefix="cista-zip"
-    )
+    app.ctx.zipexec = ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=32, thread_name_prefix="cista-zip")
     watching.start(app)
 
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.vue b/frontend/src/App.vue
index 1eb861e..7e201a1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/App.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 <template>
-  <div v-if="store.error && !store.authInProgress" class="toast-message" @click="store.error = ''">
+  <div v-if="store.toast" class="toast-message" @click="store.clearToast()">
+    {{ store.toast }}
+  </div>
+  <div v-else-if="store.error && !store.authInProgress" class="toast-message status" @click="store.error = ''">
     {{ store.error }}
   </div>
   <SettingsModal />
@@ -100,6 +103,7 @@ const globalShortcutHandler = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
   // Globally close search, clear errors on Escape
   else if (keyup && event.key === 'Escape') {
     store.error = ''
+    store.clearToast()
     headerMain.value!.closeSearch(event)
     store.focusBreadcrumb()
   }
@@ -181,4 +185,8 @@ export type { Path }
   max-width: 90vw;
   text-align: center;
 }
+.toast-message.status {
+  background: #555;
+  color: #fff;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SettingsModal.vue b/frontend/src/components/SettingsModal.vue
index bcfc91d..3101527 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SettingsModal.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SettingsModal.vue
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ const submit = async (ev: Event) => {
   try {
     if (form.passwordChange) {
       if (!form.password) {
-        store.error = '⚠️ Current password is required'
+        store.showToast('⚠️ Current password is required')
         password.value!.focus()
         return
       }
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ const submit = async (ev: Event) => {
     close()
   } catch (error) {
     const httpError = error as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || '🛑 Unknown error'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || '🛑 Unknown error')
   } finally {
     confirmLoading.value = false
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/UploadButton.vue b/frontend/src/components/UploadButton.vue
index 33d142d..d2fc043 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/UploadButton.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/UploadButton.vue
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ const uploadFiles = (infiles: File[]) => {
 const uploadCloudFiles = (files: CloudFile[]) => {
   const dotfiles = files.filter(f => f.cloudName.includes('/.'))
   if (dotfiles.length) {
-    store.error = "Won't upload dotfiles"
+    store.showToast("Won't upload dotfiles")
     console.log("Dotfiles omitted", dotfiles)
     files = files.filter(f => !f.cloudName.includes('/.'))
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/UserManagementModal.vue b/frontend/src/components/UserManagementModal.vue
index 8db31de..824a2e4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/UserManagementModal.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/UserManagementModal.vue
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ const loadUsers = async () => {
     users.value = data.users
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to load users'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to load users')
   } finally {
     loading.value = false
   }
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ const addUser = async () => {
     }
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to add user'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to add user')
   }
 }
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ const toggleAdmin = async (user: User, event: Event) => {
     user.privileged = target.checked
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to update user'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to update user')
     target.checked = user.privileged // revert
   }
 }
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ const renameUser = async (user: User) => {
     }
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to rename user'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to rename user')
   }
 }
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ const resetPassword = async (user: User) => {
     }
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to reset password'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to reset password')
   }
 }
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ const deleteUserAction = async (username: string) => {
     await loadUsers()
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to delete user'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to delete user')
   }
 }
 
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ const updateServerSettings = async () => {
     success.value = 'Server settings updated'
   } catch (e) {
     const httpError = e as ISimpleError
-    store.error = httpError.message || 'Failed to update settings'
+    store.showToast(httpError.message || 'Failed to update settings')
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/main.ts b/frontend/src/stores/main.ts
index 9fdeebf..e15457c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/main.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/main.ts
@@ -4,14 +4,30 @@ import { defineStore, type StateTree } from 'pinia'
 import { collator } from '@/utils'
 import { watchConnect, resumeWatching } from '@/repositories/WS'
 import { sorted, type SortOrder } from '@/utils/docsort'
+import SearchWorker from '@/workers/searchWorker?worker'
+
+// Singleton search worker instance
+let searchWorker: Worker | null = null
+let searchId = 0
+
+function getSearchWorker(): Worker {
+  if (!searchWorker) {
+    searchWorker = new SearchWorker()
+  }
+  return searchWorker
+}
 
 export const useMainStore = defineStore('main', {
   state: () => ({
     document: [] as Doc[],
     selected: new Set<FUID>([]),
     query: '' as string,
+    searchResults: [] as Doc[],
+    searchLoading: false,
     fileExplorer: null as any,
-    error: '' as string,
+    error: '' as string,  // Permanent status message (e.g., "Reconnecting...")
+    toast: '' as string,  // Temporary toast (auto-dismisses)
+    toastTimeout: null as ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null,
     connected: false,
     authInProgress: false,
     cursor: '' as string,
@@ -61,6 +77,66 @@ export const useMainStore = defineStore('main', {
         loc.push(name)
       }
       this.document = docs
+      // Sync documents to search worker
+      this.syncSearchWorker()
+    },
+    /** Show a temporary toast message that auto-dismisses */
+    showToast(message: string, duration = 3000) {
+      if (this.toastTimeout) {
+        clearTimeout(this.toastTimeout)
+        this.toastTimeout = null
+      }
+      this.toast = message
+      this.toastTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
+        this.toast = ''
+        this.toastTimeout = null
+      }, duration)
+    },
+    /** Clear the current toast immediately */
+    clearToast() {
+      if (this.toastTimeout) {
+        clearTimeout(this.toastTimeout)
+        this.toastTimeout = null
+      }
+      this.toast = ''
+    },
+    syncSearchWorker() {
+      const worker = getSearchWorker()
+      // Send plain data to worker (no class instances)
+      const docData = this.document.map(doc => ({
+        loc: doc.loc,
+        name: doc.name,
+        key: doc.key,
+        size: doc.size,
+        mtime: doc.mtime,
+        dir: doc.dir,
+      }))
+      worker.postMessage({ type: 'update', documents: docData })
+    },
+    search(query: string, loc: string) {
+      const worker = getSearchWorker()
+      const id = ++searchId
+
+      if (!query) {
+        this.searchResults = []
+        this.searchLoading = false
+        return
+      }
+
+      this.searchLoading = true
+
+      worker.onmessage = (e) => {
+        if (e.data.id !== searchId) return  // Stale result
+
+        // Convert plain data back to Doc instances
+        this.searchResults = e.data.docs.map((d: any) => new Doc(d))
+
+        if (e.data.done) {
+          this.searchLoading = false
+        }
+      }
+
+      worker.postMessage({ type: 'search', query, loc, id })
     },
     login(username: string, privileged: boolean) {
       this.user.username = username
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/ExplorerView.vue b/frontend/src/views/ExplorerView.vue
index 73b99d0..5131575 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/ExplorerView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/ExplorerView.vue
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     :path="props.path"
     :documents="documents"
   />
+  <div v-if="store.searchLoading" class="search-loading">Searching...</div>
   <EmptyFolder :documents=documents :path=props.path />
 </template>
 
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@
 import { watchEffect, ref, computed, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useMainStore } from '@/stores/main'
 import Router from '@/router/index'
-import { needleFormat, localeIncludes, collator } from '@/utils'
+import { collator } from '@/utils'
 import { sorted, sortedGrouped } from '@/utils/docsort'
 import FileExplorer from '@/components/FileExplorer.vue'
 
@@ -30,41 +31,34 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   path: Array<string>
   query: string
 }>()
+
+// Trigger search when query changes
+watch(
+  () => [props.query, props.path.join('/')] as const,
+  ([query, loc]) => {
+    store.search(query, loc)
+  },
+  { immediate: true }
+)
+
 const documents = computed(() => {
   const loc = props.path.join('/')
   const query = props.query
-  // List the current location
+
+  // List the current location (no search)
   if (!query) return sorted(
     store.document.filter(doc => doc.loc === loc),
     store.prefs.sortListing,
   )
-  // Find up to 100 newest documents that match the search
-  const needle = needleFormat(query)
-  let limit = 100
-  let docs = []
-  for (const doc of store.recentDocuments) {
-    if (localeIncludes(doc.haystack, needle)) {
-      docs.push(doc)
-      if (--limit === 0) break
-    }
-  }
-  const locsub = loc + '/'
+
+  // Search results from worker
+  const docs = store.searchResults
+
   // Custom sort override in effect? Use grouped sorting to keep folders together
   const order = store.prefs.sortFiltered
   if (order) return sortedGrouped(docs, order)
-  // Sort by relevance - current folder, then subfolders, then others
-  docs.sort((a, b) => (
-    // @ts-ignore
-    (b.loc === loc) - (a.loc === loc) ||
-    // @ts-ignore
-    (b.loc.slice(0, locsub.length) === locsub) - (a.loc.slice(0, locsub.length) === locsub) ||
-    collator.compare(a.loc, b.loc) ||
-    // @ts-ignore
-    (a.type === 'file') - (b.type === 'file') ||
-    // @ts-ignore
-    b.name.includes(query) - a.name.includes(query) ||
-    collator.compare(a.name, b.name)
-  ))
+
+  // Results are already sorted by relevance in the worker
   return docs
 })
 
@@ -92,4 +86,15 @@ watch([() => props.path.join('/'), () => store.document.length], ([path, len], [
   text-shadow: 0 0 .3rem #000, 0 0 2rem #0008;
   color: var(--accent-color);
 }
+.search-loading {
+  position: fixed;
+  bottom: 1rem;
+  right: 1rem;
+  padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
+  background: var(--accent-color, #007bff);
+  color: white;
+  border-radius: 0.25rem;
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+  opacity: 0.9;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/workers/searchWorker.ts b/frontend/src/workers/searchWorker.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..496cdc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/workers/searchWorker.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+// Search worker - runs search in background thread
+// Receives document updates and search queries, returns incremental results
+
+interface DocData {
+  loc: string
+  name: string
+  key: string
+  size: number
+  mtime: number
+  dir: boolean
+}
+
+interface WorkerDoc extends DocData {
+  haystack: string
+}
+
+interface SearchMessage {
+  type: 'search'
+  query: string
+  loc: string
+  id: number
+}
+
+interface UpdateMessage {
+  type: 'update'
+  documents: DocData[]
+}
+
+type IncomingMessage = SearchMessage | UpdateMessage
+
+interface ResultMessage {
+  type: 'results'
+  docs: DocData[]
+  id: number
+  done: boolean
+}
+
+// Worker state
+let documents: WorkerDoc[] = []
+let recentDocuments: WorkerDoc[] = []  // Sorted by mtime descending
+let currentSearchId = 0
+
+// Haystack formatting (same as main thread utils)
+function haystackFormat(str: string): string {
+  const based = str.normalize('NFKD').replace(/[\u0300-\u036f]/g, '').toLowerCase()
+  return '^' + based + '$'
+}
+
+// Needle formatting
+function needleFormat(query: string) {
+  const based = query.normalize('NFKD').replace(/[\u0300-\u036f]/g, '').toLowerCase()
+  return { based, words: based.split(/\s+/) }
+}
+
+// Test if haystack includes needle
+function localeIncludes(haystack: string, filter: { based: string; words: string[] }): boolean {
+  const { based, words } = filter
+  return haystack.includes(based) || (words && words.every(word => haystack.includes(word)))
+}
+
+// Collator for sorting
+const collator = new Intl.Collator('en', { sensitivity: 'base', numeric: true, usage: 'search' })
+
+// Sort by mtime descending
+function sortByRecent(docs: WorkerDoc[]): WorkerDoc[] {
+  return [...docs].sort((a, b) => b.mtime - a.mtime)
+}
+
+// Yield control to check for new messages
+function yieldControl(): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 0))
+}
+
+// Perform search with incremental results
+async function performSearch(query: string, loc: string, searchId: number) {
+  const needle = needleFormat(query)
+  const limit = 100
+  const batchSize = 1000
+  const results: WorkerDoc[] = []
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < recentDocuments.length && results.length < limit; i += batchSize) {
+    // Check if search was superseded
+    if (currentSearchId !== searchId) return
+
+    // Process batch
+    const end = Math.min(i + batchSize, recentDocuments.length)
+    for (let j = i; j < end && results.length < limit; j++) {
+      const doc = recentDocuments[j]!
+      if (localeIncludes(doc.haystack, needle)) {
+        results.push(doc)
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Post incremental results if we found any in this batch
+    if (results.length > 0 && currentSearchId === searchId) {
+      const sortedResults = sortResults(results, query, loc)
+      postMessage({
+        type: 'results',
+        docs: sortedResults.map(stripHaystack),
+        id: searchId,
+        done: false
+      } as ResultMessage)
+    }
+
+    // Yield control between batches
+    if (i + batchSize < recentDocuments.length && results.length < limit) {
+      await yieldControl()
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Post final results
+  if (currentSearchId === searchId) {
+    const sortedResults = sortResults(results, query, loc)
+    postMessage({
+      type: 'results',
+      docs: sortedResults.map(stripHaystack),
+      id: searchId,
+      done: true
+    } as ResultMessage)
+  }
+}
+
+// Sort results by relevance
+function sortResults(docs: WorkerDoc[], query: string, loc: string): WorkerDoc[] {
+  const locsub = loc + '/'
+  return [...docs].sort((a, b) => (
+    // Current folder first
+    // @ts-ignore
+    (b.loc === loc) - (a.loc === loc) ||
+    // Then subfolders
+    // @ts-ignore
+    (b.loc.slice(0, locsub.length) === locsub) - (a.loc.slice(0, locsub.length) === locsub) ||
+    // Then by location
+    collator.compare(a.loc, b.loc) ||
+    // Files after folders
+    // @ts-ignore
+    (a.dir === false) - (b.dir === false) ||
+    // Exact name match first
+    // @ts-ignore
+    b.name.includes(query) - a.name.includes(query) ||
+    // Finally by name
+    collator.compare(a.name, b.name)
+  ))
+}
+
+// Strip haystack before sending back to main thread
+function stripHaystack(doc: WorkerDoc): DocData {
+  const { haystack, ...rest } = doc
+  return rest
+}
+
+// Handle incoming messages
+self.onmessage = async (e: MessageEvent<IncomingMessage>) => {
+  const msg = e.data
+
+  if (msg.type === 'update') {
+    // Update document list with haystacks
+    documents = msg.documents.map(doc => ({
+      ...doc,
+      haystack: haystackFormat(doc.name)
+    }))
+    recentDocuments = sortByRecent(documents)
+  } else if (msg.type === 'search') {
+    currentSearchId = msg.id
+    if (msg.query) {
+      await performSearch(msg.query, msg.loc, msg.id)
+    } else {
+      // Empty query - no results needed (main thread handles folder listing)
+      postMessage({
+        type: 'results',
+        docs: [],
+        id: msg.id,
+        done: true
+      } as ResultMessage)
+    }
+  }
+}