diff --git a/lib/screens/home/search/search.dart b/lib/screens/home/search/search.dart
index e1cb1517..adcc8bf0 100644
--- a/lib/screens/home/search/search.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/home/search/search.dart
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class _SearchState extends State<Search> {
         Positioned.fill(
           child: Observer(
             builder: (context) {
-              if (_searchStore.textEditingController.text.isEmpty) {
+              if (_searchStore.searchText.isEmpty) {
                 if (_searchStore.searchHistory.isEmpty) {
                   // Keep controller attached so borders stay in sync
                   return CustomScrollView(
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ class _SearchState extends State<Search> {
                         controller: _searchStore.textEditingController,
                         focusNode: _searchStore.textFieldFocusNode,
                         autocorrect: false,
+                        onChanged: _searchStore.onSearchTextChanged,
                         decoration: InputDecoration(
                           prefixIcon: const Icon(Icons.search_rounded),
                           hintText: 'Search channels or categories',
@@ -218,6 +219,7 @@ class _SearchState extends State<Search> {
                                       _searchStore.textFieldFocusNode.unfocus();
                                     }
                                     _searchStore.textEditingController.clear();
+                                    _searchStore.onSearchTextChanged('');
                                     // Ensure borders reset: scroll back to top and trigger listeners
                                     if (widget.scrollController.hasClients) {
                                       widget.scrollController.animateTo(
diff --git a/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_categories.dart b/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_categories.dart
index 45690520..2f7634fc 100644
--- a/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_categories.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_categories.dart
@@ -18,7 +18,14 @@ class SearchResultsCategories extends StatelessWidget {
       builder: (context) {
         final future = searchStore.categoryFuture;
 
+        // Show skeletons immediately while waiting for debounce.
         if (future == null) {
+          if (searchStore.isSearching) {
+            return SliverList.builder(
+              itemCount: 8,
+              itemBuilder: (context, index) => const CategorySkeletonLoader(),
+            );
+          }
           return const SliverToBoxAdapter(child: SizedBox.shrink());
         }
 
diff --git a/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_channels.dart b/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_channels.dart
index cbb2bc46..f7413995 100644
--- a/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_channels.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/home/search/search_results_channels.dart
@@ -72,7 +72,15 @@ class _SearchResultsChannelsState extends State<SearchResultsChannels> {
       builder: (context) {
         final future = widget.searchStore.channelFuture;
 
+        // Show skeletons immediately while waiting for debounce.
         if (future == null) {
+          if (widget.searchStore.isSearching) {
+            return SliverList.builder(
+              itemCount: 8,
+              itemBuilder: (context, index) =>
+                  ChannelSkeletonLoader(index: index),
+            );
+          }
           return const SliverToBoxAdapter(child: SizedBox.shrink());
         }
 
diff --git a/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.dart b/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.dart
index 6dc8e67f..7afe3318 100644
--- a/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.dart
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import 'dart:async';
+
 import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
 import 'package:frosty/apis/twitch_api.dart';
 import 'package:frosty/models/category.dart';
@@ -19,12 +21,17 @@ abstract class SearchStoreBase with Store {
 
   final textFieldFocusNode = FocusNode();
 
+  Timer? _debounceTimer;
+
   @readonly
   var _searchText = '';
 
   @readonly
   var _searchHistory = ObservableList<String>();
 
+  @readonly
+  var _isSearching = false;
+
   @readonly
   ObservableFuture<List<ChannelQuery>>? _channelFuture;
 
@@ -57,15 +64,48 @@ abstract class SearchStoreBase with Store {
     );
   }
 
+  /// Debounced handler for search-as-you-type.
+  @action
+  void onSearchTextChanged(String query) {
+    _debounceTimer?.cancel();
+
+    if (query.isEmpty) {
+      _isSearching = false;
+      _channelFuture = null;
+      _categoryFuture = null;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Show loading state immediately for responsive feedback.
+    _isSearching = true;
+
+    _debounceTimer = Timer(const Duration(milliseconds: 300), () {
+      runInAction(() => _performSearch(query));
+    });
+  }
+
   /// Obtain the channels and categories that match the provided [query].
+  /// Adds the query to search history.
   @action
   void handleQuery(String query) {
     if (query.isEmpty) return;
 
+    // Cancel any pending debounce since we're searching immediately.
+    _debounceTimer?.cancel();
+
     // Move the query to the most recent result (top of the stack).
     _searchHistory.remove(query);
     _searchHistory.insert(0, query);
 
+    _performSearch(query);
+  }
+
+  /// Performs the actual search API calls.
+  @action
+  void _performSearch(String query) {
+    // Futures are now pending, so isSearching can be cleared.
+    _isSearching = false;
+
     // Fetch the matching channels, sort it by live status, and then set it.
     _channelFuture = twitchApi.searchChannels(query: query).then((channels) {
       channels.sort((c1, c2) => c2.isLive ? 1 : -1);
@@ -96,6 +136,7 @@ abstract class SearchStoreBase with Store {
   }
 
   void dispose() {
+    _debounceTimer?.cancel();
     textEditingController.dispose();
     textFieldFocusNode.dispose();
   }
diff --git a/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.g.dart b/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.g.dart
index bb576710..ace3f885 100644
--- a/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.g.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/home/search/search_store.g.dart
@@ -49,6 +49,26 @@ mixin _$SearchStore on SearchStoreBase, Store {
     });
   }
 
+  late final _$_isSearchingAtom = Atom(
+    name: 'SearchStoreBase._isSearching',
+    context: context,
+  );
+
+  bool get isSearching {
+    _$_isSearchingAtom.reportRead();
+    return super._isSearching;
+  }
+
+  @override
+  bool get _isSearching => isSearching;
+
+  @override
+  set _isSearching(bool value) {
+    _$_isSearchingAtom.reportWrite(value, super._isSearching, () {
+      super._isSearching = value;
+    });
+  }
+
   late final _$_channelFutureAtom = Atom(
     name: 'SearchStoreBase._channelFuture',
     context: context,
@@ -104,6 +124,18 @@ mixin _$SearchStore on SearchStoreBase, Store {
     context: context,
   );
 
+  @override
+  void onSearchTextChanged(String query) {
+    final _$actionInfo = _$SearchStoreBaseActionController.startAction(
+      name: 'SearchStoreBase.onSearchTextChanged',
+    );
+    try {
+      return super.onSearchTextChanged(query);
+    } finally {
+      _$SearchStoreBaseActionController.endAction(_$actionInfo);
+    }
+  }
+
   @override
   void handleQuery(String query) {
     final _$actionInfo = _$SearchStoreBaseActionController.startAction(
@@ -116,6 +148,18 @@ mixin _$SearchStore on SearchStoreBase, Store {
     }
   }
 
+  @override
+  void _performSearch(String query) {
+    final _$actionInfo = _$SearchStoreBaseActionController.startAction(
+      name: 'SearchStoreBase._performSearch',
+    );
+    try {
+      return super._performSearch(query);
+    } finally {
+      _$SearchStoreBaseActionController.endAction(_$actionInfo);
+    }
+  }
+
   @override
   String toString() {
     return '''