diff --git a/ftl/core/preferences.ftl b/ftl/core/preferences.ftl
index 3e6f436b6..e1bb61f33 100644
--- a/ftl/core/preferences.ftl
+++ b/ftl/core/preferences.ftl
@@ -36,3 +36,5 @@ preferences-user-interface-size = User interface size
 preferences-when-adding-default-to-current-deck = When adding, default to current deck
 preferences-you-can-restore-backups-via-fileswitch = You can restore backups via File>Switch Profile.
 preferences-legacy-timezone-handling = Legacy timezone handling (buggy, but required for AnkiDroid <= 2.14)
+preferences-default-search-text = Default search text
+preferences-default-search-text-example = eg. 'deck:current '
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser/browser.py b/qt/aqt/browser/browser.py
index 0e2faae5f..f284cf22d 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser/browser.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser/browser.py
@@ -333,10 +333,16 @@ class Browser(QMainWindow):
         self.onSearchActivated()
 
     def _default_search(self, card: Optional[Card] = None) -> None:
-        search = self.col.build_search_string(SearchNode(deck="current"))
+        default = self.col.get_config_string(Config.String.DEFAULT_SEARCH_TEXT)
+        if default.strip():
+            search = default
+            prompt = default
+        else:
+            search = self.col.build_search_string(SearchNode(deck="current"))
+            prompt = ""
         if card is not None:
             search = gui_hooks.default_search(search, card)
-        self.search_for(search, "")
+        self.search_for(search, prompt)
 
     def onReset(self) -> None:
         self.sidebar.refresh()
diff --git a/qt/aqt/forms/preferences.ui b/qt/aqt/forms/preferences.ui
index 5ebe7bc49..83ee430b8 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/forms/preferences.ui
+++ b/qt/aqt/forms/preferences.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
     <width>640</width>
-    <height>419</height>
+    <height>480</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -114,6 +114,20 @@
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QLabel" name="search_text_label">
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>preferences_default_search_text</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QLineEdit" name="default_search_text">
+         <property name="placeholderText">
+          <string>preferences_default_search_text_example</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
        <item>
         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_4">
          <item>
@@ -603,6 +617,7 @@
   <tabstop>nightMode</tabstop>
   <tabstop>useCurrent</tabstop>
   <tabstop>recording_driver</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>default_search_text</tabstop>
   <tabstop>uiScale</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showEstimates</tabstop>
   <tabstop>showProgress</tabstop>
diff --git a/qt/aqt/preferences.py b/qt/aqt/preferences.py
index 347b5d40e..1a41315e7 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/preferences.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/preferences.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
         )
         form.paste_strips_formatting.setChecked(editing.paste_strips_formatting)
         form.pastePNG.setChecked(editing.paste_images_as_png)
+        form.default_search_text.setText(editing.default_search_text)
 
     def update_collection(self) -> None:
         form = self.form
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ class Preferences(QDialog):
         editing.adding_defaults_to_current_deck = not form.useCurrent.currentIndex()
         editing.paste_images_as_png = self.form.pastePNG.isChecked()
         editing.paste_strips_formatting = self.form.paste_strips_formatting.isChecked()
+        editing.default_search_text = self.form.default_search_text.text()
 
         self.mw.col.set_preferences(self.prefs)
         self.mw.apply_collection_options()
diff --git a/rslib/backend.proto b/rslib/backend.proto
index 2ee556de5..7d72276b4 100644
--- a/rslib/backend.proto
+++ b/rslib/backend.proto
@@ -1213,6 +1213,7 @@ message Preferences {
     bool adding_defaults_to_current_deck = 1;
     bool paste_images_as_png = 2;
     bool paste_strips_formatting = 3;
+    string default_search_text = 4;
   }
 
   Scheduling scheduling = 1;
@@ -1468,6 +1469,7 @@ message Config {
     enum Key {
       SET_DUE_BROWSER = 0;
       SET_DUE_REVIEWER = 1;
+      DEFAULT_SEARCH_TEXT = 2;
     }
     Key key = 1;
   }
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/config.rs b/rslib/src/backend/config.rs
index 36bef5d95..f28a43d86 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/config.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/config.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ impl From<StringKeyProto> for StringKey {
         match k {
             StringKeyProto::SetDueBrowser => StringKey::SetDueBrowser,
             StringKeyProto::SetDueReviewer => StringKey::SetDueReviewer,
+            StringKeyProto::DefaultSearchText => StringKey::DefaultSearchText,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/config/string.rs b/rslib/src/config/string.rs
index a2dc43016..10da7c206 100644
--- a/rslib/src/config/string.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/config/string.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 pub enum StringKey {
     SetDueBrowser,
     SetDueReviewer,
+    DefaultSearchText,
 }
 
 impl Collection {
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ impl Collection {
         let default = match key {
             StringKey::SetDueBrowser => "0",
             StringKey::SetDueReviewer => "1",
-            // other => "",
+            _other => "",
         };
         self.get_config_optional(key)
             .unwrap_or_else(|| default.to_string())
diff --git a/rslib/src/preferences.rs b/rslib/src/preferences.rs
index 47e71cfd6..20d4a6b9f 100644
--- a/rslib/src/preferences.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/preferences.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use crate::{
         Preferences,
     },
     collection::Collection,
-    config::BoolKey,
+    config::{BoolKey, StringKey},
     error::Result,
     prelude::*,
     scheduler::timing::local_minutes_west_for_stamp,
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ impl Collection {
                 .get_config_bool(BoolKey::AddingDefaultsToCurrentDeck),
             paste_images_as_png: self.get_config_bool(BoolKey::PasteImagesAsPng),
             paste_strips_formatting: self.get_config_bool(BoolKey::PasteStripsFormatting),
+            default_search_text: self.get_config_string(StringKey::DefaultSearchText),
         })
     }
 
@@ -142,6 +143,7 @@ impl Collection {
         )?;
         self.set_config_bool_inner(BoolKey::PasteImagesAsPng, s.paste_images_as_png)?;
         self.set_config_bool_inner(BoolKey::PasteStripsFormatting, s.paste_strips_formatting)?;
+        self.set_config_string_inner(StringKey::DefaultSearchText, &s.default_search_text)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 }