diff --git a/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.html b/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.html
index a985a5d..62f1b5a 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.html
+++ b/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.html
@@ -186,6 +186,24 @@
   </button>
 </div>
 
+<!-- type-to-filter bar (appears while a query is active) -->
+@if (panel().filter(); as query) {
+  <div class="flex items-center gap-1.5 border-b border-border bg-accent/50 px-2 py-1">
+    <ng-icon name="mynaSearch" size="0.85rem" class="shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+    <span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate font-mono text-xs">{{ query }}</span>
+    <span class="shrink-0 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
+      {{ filterMatches() }} match{{ filterMatches() === 1 ? '' : 'es' }} · Esc
+    </span>
+    <button
+      (click)="clearFilter()"
+      title="Clear filter (Esc)"
+      class="grid size-5 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground"
+    >
+      <ng-icon name="mynaX" size="0.8rem" />
+    </button>
+  </div>
+}
+
 <!-- file list -->
 <div
   #list
@@ -224,4 +242,7 @@
   } @empty {
     <div class="p-6 text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground">Empty directory</div>
   }
+  @if (panel().filter() && filterMatches() === 0) {
+    <div class="p-6 text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground">No matches</div>
+  }
 </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.ts b/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.ts
index 3cd2927..86ebb5b 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.ts
+++ b/ui/src/app/file-panel/file-panel.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,17 @@ export class FilePanel {
     return this.panel().selected().has(entry.name);
   }
 
+  clearFilter(): void {
+    this.panel().setFilter('');
+    this.listEl().nativeElement.focus();
+  }
+
+  filterMatches(): number {
+    return this.panel()
+      .sorted()
+      .filter((e) => e.name !== '..').length;
+  }
+
   sortIndicator(key: SortKey): string {
     if (this.panel().sortKey() !== key) return '';
     return this.panel().sortAsc() ? '↑' : '↓';
@@ -151,6 +162,31 @@ export class FilePanel {
       return;
     }
 
+    // type-to-filter: printable characters build the query (Space only once a
+    // query exists — an empty-filter Space keeps its toggle-select meaning)
+    if (
+      key.length === 1 &&
+      !event.metaKey &&
+      !event.ctrlKey &&
+      !event.altKey &&
+      (key !== ' ' || panel.filter() !== '')
+    ) {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      panel.setFilter(panel.filter() + key);
+      this.scrollCursorIntoView();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (key === 'Backspace' && panel.filter() !== '') {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      panel.setFilter(panel.filter().slice(0, -1));
+      return;
+    }
+    if (key === 'Escape' && panel.filter() !== '') {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      panel.setFilter('');
+      return;
+    }
+
     switch (key) {
       case 'ArrowDown':
         panel.moveCursor(1);
diff --git a/ui/src/app/icons.ts b/ui/src/app/icons.ts
index c8332fb..c2190ff 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/icons.ts
+++ b/ui/src/app/icons.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
   mynaLogout,
   mynaPlus,
   mynaRefresh,
+  mynaSearch,
   mynaServers,
   mynaSpinner,
   mynaTrash,
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ export const APP_ICONS = {
   mynaLogout,
   mynaPlus,
   mynaRefresh,
+  mynaSearch,
   mynaServers,
   mynaSpinner,
   mynaTrash,
diff --git a/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts b/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts
index d5785f1..26e3854 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts
+++ b/ui/src/app/panels.service.ts
@@ -24,10 +24,16 @@ export class PanelState {
   readonly sortAsc = signal(true);
   readonly cursor = signal(0);
   readonly selected = signal<ReadonlySet<string>>(new Set());
+  /** Type-to-filter query; entries not matching are hidden (".." always stays). */
+  readonly filter = signal('');
 
   /** Directories first, then the active sort column. ".." (parent) is pinned on top. */
   readonly sorted = computed(() => {
-    const list = [...this.entries()];
+    const query = this.filter().toLowerCase();
+    let list = [...this.entries()];
+    if (query) {
+      list = list.filter((e) => e.name.toLowerCase().includes(query));
+    }
     const key = this.sortKey();
     const dir = this.sortAsc() ? 1 : -1;
     list.sort((a, b) => {
@@ -69,6 +75,7 @@ export class PanelState {
       this.entries.set(res.entries);
       this.cursor.set(0);
       this.selected.set(new Set());
+      this.filter.set('');
     } finally {
       this.loading.set(false);
     }
@@ -110,6 +117,13 @@ export class PanelState {
     void this.load(`${this.cwd()}/..`);
   }
 
+  /** Update the filter and park the cursor on the first real match. */
+  setFilter(query: string): void {
+    this.filter.set(query);
+    const first = this.sorted().findIndex((e) => e.name !== '..');
+    this.cursor.set(first >= 0 ? first : 0);
+  }
+
   toggleSort(key: SortKey): void {
     if (this.sortKey() === key) {
       this.sortAsc.update((v) => !v);