diff --git a/.github/workflows/desktop-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/desktop-linux.yml
index f826ccbbfc..40ad0f164c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/desktop-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/desktop-linux.yml
@@ -274,6 +274,15 @@ jobs:
         timeout-minutes: 30
         run: scripts/ci/desktop-linux/backend.sh start ~/backend/${{ env.BACKEND_PKG }} "$RUNNER_TEMP/backend"
 
+      - name: Point the app at the test directory
+        id: link
+        if: steps.backend.outcome == 'success'
+        run: |
+          link=$(cat "$RUNNER_TEMP/backend/directory-link")
+          file=apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/DirectorySearch.kt
+          sed -i "s|^const val DIRECTORY_SERVICE_LINK = \".*\"$|const val DIRECTORY_SERVICE_LINK = \"$link\"|" "$file"
+          grep -F "const val DIRECTORY_SERVICE_LINK = \"$link\"" "$file"
+
       # the app and its tests are still built when the backend fails
       - name: Setup Java
         if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.core.outcome == 'success' }}
@@ -304,13 +313,13 @@ jobs:
         run: scripts/ci/desktop-linux/test-summary.py apps/multiplatform/common/build/test-results/desktopTest
 
       - name: Run smoke test
-        if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.build.outcome == 'success' && steps.backend.outcome != 'failure' }}
+        if: ${{ !cancelled() && steps.build.outcome == 'success' && steps.backend.outcome != 'failure' && steps.link.outcome != 'failure' }}
         env:
           BACKEND: ${{ steps.backend.outcome }}
         run: |
           if [ "$BACKEND" = success ]; then
             export NAMES_SERVER=$(cat "$RUNNER_TEMP/backend/names-server")
-            cases=backend
+            cases=search
           fi
           scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh apps/multiplatform/release/main/app/simplex "$RUNNER_TEMP/smoke-test" ${cases:-}
 
diff --git a/scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh b/scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh
index a3561865d9..e26539e291 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 
 # Starts the desktop app on a virtual display and runs the scripted UI cases with the ui helper: onboarding to the
 # chat list, a local group, then the chat list with the toolbar at the bottom (the default) and at the top.
-# Usage: scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh <app dir> <output dir> [start|onboarding|layouts|setup|backend]
+# Usage: scripts/ci/desktop-linux/smoke-test.sh <app dir> <output dir> [start|onboarding|layouts|setup|backend|search]
 # With "start" it stops at the first screen, for an agent to go on from; with "onboarding", at the chat list.
 # "setup" creates the group, makes the test SMP server (backend.sh) the one that resolves SimpleX names, and stops;
 # "backend" does the same, connects to the name that backend.sh registered, and goes on to both layouts.
-# Both need NAMES_SERVER, the test SMP server's address.
+# "search" also searches in both layouts: the test directory with "Search in Directory", and the full search with
+# Enter, which also resolves a SimpleX name; with the toolbar at the bottom, also the full search in the New chat sheet.
+# These three need NAMES_SERVER, the test SMP server's address.
 # Each step saves a numbered screenshot and the text read from it to the output dir, prints the text to the log,
 # and adds a line to steps.log there. What the screens show is checked without stopping: every check is listed in
 # checks.txt and the job summary, and the test fails at the end if any failed. The app keeps running for later
@@ -18,17 +20,21 @@ app_dir=$1
 export UI_OUT=$2
 cases=${3:-layouts}
 case "$cases" in
-  start | onboarding | layouts | setup | backend) ;;
+  start | onboarding | layouts | setup | backend | search) ;;
   *)
-    echo "error: unknown case \"$cases\": start, onboarding, layouts (the default), setup or backend"
+    echo "error: unknown case \"$cases\": start, onboarding, layouts (the default), setup, backend or search"
     exit 1
     ;;
 esac
-# backend.sh registered seeded.testing for ci_contact
+search_text="ci seed"
+# backend.sh registered seeded.testing for ci_contact; as a SimpleX name candidate, Enter also searches the directory,
+# whose entries are "CI seeded ..."
 name_label=seeded
 local_chat="seeded notes"
 ui=$(dirname "$0")/ui
 checks=$UI_OUT/checks.txt
+# the Wefunder banner, the reachable toolbars card and the connect cards, which the chat list hides while it shows online results
+cards=("Invest in SimpleX Chat" "Top bar" "New 1-time link")
 # switches are at the right of the left pane, where Settings open
 switch_x=335
 mkdir -p "$UI_OUT"
@@ -131,6 +137,24 @@ above() {
   [ "$a" -lt "$b" ]
 }
 
+# each text is above the next
+in_order() {
+  local text y previous=-1
+  for text in "$@"; do
+    y=$(y_of "$text") || return 1
+    [ "$y" -gt "$previous" ] || return 1
+    previous=$y
+  done
+}
+
+# the label is in the row headed by the name: below the name, by less than a row's height
+in_row_of() {
+  local label name
+  label=$(y_of "$1") || return 1
+  name=$(y_of "$2") || return 1
+  [ "$label" -ge "$name" ] && [ $((label - name)) -lt 45 ]
+}
+
 # the value is on the same line as its setting's title
 in_line_with() {
   local value title
@@ -151,6 +175,187 @@ scroll_to() {
   return 1
 }
 
+# the count's text is smaller than the description's above it: both have capitals and ascenders, no descenders
+count_text_smaller() {
+  local count description
+  count=$("$ui" ink "1 subscriber") || return 1
+  description=$("$ui" ink "CI seeded channel") || return 1
+  echo "NOTE ink heights: \"1 subscriber\" $count px, \"CI seeded channel\" $description px" | tee -a "$checks"
+  [ "$count" -lt "$description" ]
+}
+
+# the phrases in the chat list pane, left of x 390, one per line, normalised; the right pane can show a banner too
+left_pane_text() {
+  local line
+  "$ui" text | while IFS= read -r line; do
+    if [ "${line%%,*}" -lt 390 ]; then
+      normalise "${line#* }"
+      echo
+    fi
+  done
+}
+
+not_in() {
+  ! grep -qF "$(normalise "$2")" <<< "$1"
+}
+
+is_in() {
+  grep -qF "$(normalise "$2")" <<< "$1"
+}
+
+# Records which of the cards the chat list shows while the typed text only filters it, in shown_cards.
+cards_while_typing() {
+  local layout=$1 screen card
+  screen=$(left_pane_text)
+  shown_cards=()
+  for card in "${cards[@]}"; do
+    if is_in "$screen" "$card"; then
+      shown_cards+=("$card")
+    fi
+  done
+  echo "NOTE $layout: while typing, the chat list shows: ${shown_cards[*]:-none of the cards}" | tee -a "$checks"
+  check "$layout: banner or cards shown while typing" [ ${#shown_cards[@]} -gt 0 ]
+}
+
+cards_hidden() {
+  local what=$1 screen card
+  screen=$(left_pane_text)
+  for card in "${shown_cards[@]}"; do
+    check "$what: \"$card\" hidden" not_in "$screen" "$card"
+  done
+}
+
+# Escape clears the search field
+clear_search_and_check_cards() {
+  local what=$1 screen card
+  "$ui" key Escape
+  "$ui" wait "Search or paste SimpleX link" 10 || true
+  "$ui" shot "$(tr -cd 'a-z-' <<< "${what// /-}")-cleared"
+  screen=$(left_pane_text)
+  for card in "${shown_cards[@]}"; do
+    check "$what: \"$card\" back after clearing the search" is_in "$screen" "$card"
+  done
+}
+
+# Shows more results until both seeded entries are listed: their avatars make each response hold one of them.
+# Sets pages and retries.
+show_all_results() {
+  local layout=$1 missing
+  pages=1
+  retries=0
+  while :; do
+    "$ui" wait "Join" 60 || true
+    missing=""
+    on_screen "#ci_channel" || missing="#ci_channel"
+    on_screen "#ci_group" || missing="#ci_group"
+    "$ui" shot "$layout-page-$pages"
+    [ -n "$missing" ] || break
+    if on_screen "Search failed, tap to retry"; then
+      retries=$((retries + 1))
+      [ "$retries" -le 2 ] || fail "$layout: the search failed $retries times"
+      "$ui" click-text "Search failed, tap to retry"
+    else
+      [ "$pages" -lt 5 ] || fail "$layout: $missing is not in $pages pages of results"
+      "$ui" click-text "Show more" 10 || fail "$layout: $missing is not in the results, and there is no Show more"
+      pages=$((pages + 1))
+      "$ui" wait "$missing" 60 || true
+    fi
+  done
+  echo "NOTE $layout: the results came in $pages pages, after $retries retries" | tee -a "$checks"
+}
+
+check_directory_rows() {
+  local layout=$1
+  check "$layout: the first page held one result, \"Show more\" loaded the other" [ "$pages" -eq 2 ]
+  check "$layout: no more results offered" not_on_screen "Show more"
+  check "$layout: \"Directory\" header above #ci_group" above "Directory" "#ci_group"
+  check "$layout: \"Directory\" header above #ci_channel" above "Directory" "#ci_channel"
+  check "$layout: #ci_group shows its red avatar" "$ui" avatar "#ci_group" red
+  check "$layout: #ci_channel shows its green avatar" "$ui" avatar "#ci_channel" green
+  check "$layout: #ci_group row has \"CI seeded group\"" in_row_of "CI seeded group" "#ci_group"
+  check "$layout: #ci_channel row has \"CI seeded channel\"" in_row_of "CI seeded channel" "#ci_channel"
+  check "$layout: #ci_group row has \"Join group\"" in_row_of "Join group" "#ci_group"
+  check "$layout: #ci_channel row has \"Join channel\"" in_row_of "Join channel" "#ci_channel"
+  check "$layout: member count shown" on_screen "2 members"
+  check "$layout: subscriber count shown" on_screen "1 subscriber"
+}
+
+# Searches the directory for the text in the search field with the "Search in Directory" row.
+search_directory() {
+  local layout=$1 consent=$2
+  "$ui" click-text "Search in Directory"
+  "$ui" wait "Search and don't show again" 10
+  "$ui" shot "$layout-search-consent"
+  "$ui" click-text "$consent"
+  show_all_results "$layout-directory"
+  check_directory_rows "$layout"
+  check "$layout: the count's text is smaller than the description's" count_text_smaller
+  cards_hidden "$layout, directory results"
+  clear_search_and_check_cards "$layout directory search"
+}
+
+# Types a SimpleX name and presses Enter, the desktop's Search key: the local chat that matches, then the Names part
+# with the name's contact, then the Directory part, in the list's order outward from the search field.
+full_search() {
+  local layout=$1 consent=$2
+  "$ui" click-text "Search or paste SimpleX link"
+  "$ui" type "$name_label"
+  "$ui" wait "Connect to $name_label.testing" 15
+  "$ui" shot "$layout-name-typed"
+  "$ui" key Return
+  if [ -n "$consent" ]; then
+    "$ui" wait "Search and don't show again" 10
+    "$ui" click-text "$consent"
+  fi
+  "$ui" wait "ci_contact" 60 || true
+  show_all_results "$layout-full"
+  check_directory_rows "$layout full search"
+  check "$layout full search: \"$local_chat\" listed" on_screen "$local_chat"
+  check "$layout full search: \"Names\" header shown" on_screen "Names"
+  check "$layout full search: ci_contact found by its name" in_row_of "@$name_label.testing" "ci_contact"
+  check "$layout full search: ci_contact row has \"CI seeded contact\"" in_row_of "CI seeded contact" "ci_contact"
+  check "$layout full search: ci_contact shows its blue avatar" "$ui" avatar "ci_contact" blue
+  check "$layout full search: \"Connect to $name_label.testing\" gone once the name is found" not_on_screen "Connect to $name_label.testing"
+  check "$layout full search: \"Names\" header above ci_contact" above "Names" "ci_contact"
+  if [ "$layout" = top ]; then
+    check "$layout full search: local chat, Names, Directory, from the search field down" \
+      in_order "Search in Directory" "$local_chat" "Names" "ci_contact" "Directory" "#ci_channel"
+  else
+    check "$layout full search: local chat, Names, Directory, from the search field up" \
+      in_order "Directory" "#ci_channel" "Names" "ci_contact" "$local_chat" "Search in Directory"
+  fi
+  cards_hidden "$layout, full search results"
+  clear_search_and_check_cards "$layout full search"
+}
+
+# The same full search from the New chat sheet, whose list is reversed too with the toolbar at the bottom.
+new_chat_sheet_search() {
+  local consent=$1
+  # the pencil at the right of the bottom toolbar opens New chat; the chat list behind it has the same search field
+  "$ui" click 363 730
+  "$ui" wait "Create group" 10
+  "$ui" click-text "Search or paste SimpleX link"
+  "$ui" type "$name_label"
+  "$ui" wait "Connect to $name_label.testing" 15
+  "$ui" key Return
+  "$ui" wait "Search and don't show again" 10
+  "$ui" click-text "$consent"
+  "$ui" wait "ci_contact" 60 || true
+  show_all_results new-chat
+  check "New chat: the first page held one result, \"Show more\" loaded the other" [ "$pages" -eq 2 ]
+  check "New chat: no more results offered" not_on_screen "Show more"
+  check "New chat: \"Names\" header above ci_contact" above "Names" "ci_contact"
+  check "New chat: \"Directory\" header above #ci_group" above "Directory" "#ci_group"
+  check "New chat: \"Directory\" header above #ci_channel" above "Directory" "#ci_channel"
+  check "New chat: Names, then Directory, from the search field up" \
+    in_order "Directory" "#ci_channel" "Names" "ci_contact" "Search in Directory"
+  # with the toolbar at the bottom Escape only clears the sheet's search; its back arrow closes it
+  "$ui" key Escape
+  "$ui" wait "Create group" 10
+  "$ui" click 27 730
+  back_to_chat_list || fail "no chat list after the New chat sheet"
+}
+
 # Escape closes one screen at a time, and clears the search field
 back_to_chat_list() {
   for _ in 1 2 3 4 5 6; do
@@ -354,7 +559,7 @@ if [ "$cases" = onboarding ]; then
 fi
 
 create_local_chat
-if [ "$cases" = setup ] || [ "$cases" = backend ]; then
+if [ "$cases" = setup ] || [ "$cases" = backend ] || [ "$cases" = search ]; then
   : "${NAMES_SERVER:?NAMES_SERVER must be the test SMP server address}"
   use_names_server
   if [ "$cases" = setup ]; then
@@ -365,8 +570,31 @@ if [ "$cases" = setup ] || [ "$cases" = backend ]; then
 fi
 
 check_layout bottom
+# typed text that is not a SimpleX link offers the directory
+if [ "$cases" = search ]; then
+  "$ui" click-text "Search or paste SimpleX link"
+  "$ui" type "$search_text"
+  "$ui" wait "$search_text" 15
+  "$ui" wait "Search in Directory" 15
+  "$ui" shot bottom-search-typed
+  cards_while_typing bottom
+  search_directory bottom "Search"
+  full_search bottom "Search"
+  new_chat_sheet_search "Search"
+fi
 use_top_toolbar
 check_layout top
+# the alert was answered with "Search" both times, so it asks again
+if [ "$cases" = search ]; then
+  "$ui" click-text "Search or paste SimpleX link"
+  "$ui" type "$search_text"
+  "$ui" wait "$search_text" 15
+  "$ui" wait "Search in Directory" 15
+  "$ui" shot top-search-typed
+  cards_while_typing top
+  search_directory top "Search and don't show again"
+  full_search top ""
+fi
 
 if grep -q '^FAIL' "$checks"; then
   fail "the smoke test failed checks: $(grep -c '^FAIL' "$checks") of $(grep -cE '^(PASS|FAIL)' "$checks")"