diff --git a/lib/l10n/app_en.arb b/lib/l10n/app_en.arb
index 0c75028..24480cb 100644
--- a/lib/l10n/app_en.arb
+++ b/lib/l10n/app_en.arb
@@ -693,6 +693,9 @@
   "tryDifferentSearch": "Try a different search",
   "noSuggestions": "No suggestions",
   "browseCategories": "Browse Categories",
+  "liveSearchSection": "Search",
+  "liveSearch": "Live Search",
+  "liveSearchSubtitle": "Update results as you type instead of showing a dropdown",
   "categoryMadeForYou": "Made For You",
   "categoryNewReleases": "New Releases",
   "categoryTopRated": "Top Rated",
diff --git a/lib/screens/search_screen.dart b/lib/screens/search_screen.dart
index 35b686b..a049895 100644
--- a/lib/screens/search_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/search_screen.dart
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import 'top_rated_screen.dart';
 import 'favorites_screen.dart';
 import 'radio_screen.dart';
 import '../l10n/app_localizations.dart';
+import '../services/player_ui_settings_service.dart';
 
 class SearchScreen extends StatefulWidget {
   const SearchScreen({super.key});
@@ -35,9 +36,24 @@ class _SearchScreenState extends State<SearchScreen> {
   bool _showSuggestions = false;
   String _query = '';
   Timer? _debounceTimer;
+  bool _liveSearch = true;
+
+  @override
+  void initState() {
+    super.initState();
+    _liveSearch = PlayerUiSettingsService().getLiveSearch();
+    PlayerUiSettingsService().liveSearchNotifier.addListener(_onLiveSearchChanged);
+  }
+
+  void _onLiveSearchChanged() {
+    setState(() {
+      _liveSearch = PlayerUiSettingsService().liveSearchNotifier.value;
+    });
+  }
 
   @override
   void dispose() {
+    PlayerUiSettingsService().liveSearchNotifier.removeListener(_onLiveSearchChanged);
     _searchController.dispose();
     _focusNode.dispose();
     _debounceTimer?.cancel();
@@ -93,7 +109,11 @@ class _SearchScreenState extends State<SearchScreen> {
     }
 
     _debounceTimer = Timer(const Duration(milliseconds: 300), () {
-      _loadAutocomplete(value);
+      if (_liveSearch) {
+        _search(value);
+      } else {
+        _loadAutocomplete(value);
+      }
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/screens/settings_display_tab.dart b/lib/screens/settings_display_tab.dart
index 1ba41dc..f006c19 100644
--- a/lib/screens/settings_display_tab.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/settings_display_tab.dart
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class _SettingsDisplayTabState extends State<SettingsDisplayTab> {
   String _artworkShape = 'rounded';
   String _artworkShadow = 'soft';
   String _artworkShadowColor = 'black';
+  bool _liveSearch = true;
 
   bool get _isDesktop {
     if (kIsWeb) return false;
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ class _SettingsDisplayTabState extends State<SettingsDisplayTab> {
       _artworkShape = _playerUiSettings.getArtworkShape();
       _artworkShadow = _playerUiSettings.getArtworkShadow();
       _artworkShadowColor = _playerUiSettings.getArtworkShadowColor();
+      _liveSearch = _playerUiSettings.getLiveSearch();
     });
   }
 
@@ -77,6 +79,13 @@ class _SettingsDisplayTabState extends State<SettingsDisplayTab> {
           ],
         ),
         const SizedBox(height: 24),
+        _buildSection(
+          title: AppLocalizations.of(context)!.liveSearchSection.toUpperCase(),
+          children: [
+            _buildLiveSearchToggle(),
+          ],
+        ),
+        const SizedBox(height: 24),
         _buildSection(
           title: AppLocalizations.of(
             context,
@@ -231,6 +240,48 @@ class _SettingsDisplayTabState extends State<SettingsDisplayTab> {
     );
   }
 
+  Widget _buildLiveSearchToggle() {
+    return ListTile(
+      contentPadding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 16, vertical: 4),
+      leading: Container(
+        width: 32,
+        height: 32,
+        decoration: BoxDecoration(
+          gradient: const LinearGradient(
+            colors: [Color(0xFFFF9500), Color(0xFFFFCC00)],
+          ),
+          borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(8),
+        ),
+        child: const Icon(
+          CupertinoIcons.search,
+          color: Colors.white,
+          size: 18,
+        ),
+      ),
+      title: Text(
+        AppLocalizations.of(context)!.liveSearch,
+        style: const TextStyle(fontSize: 16),
+      ),
+      subtitle: Text(
+        AppLocalizations.of(context)!.liveSearchSubtitle,
+        style: TextStyle(
+          fontSize: 13,
+          color: _isDark
+              ? AppTheme.darkSecondaryText
+              : AppTheme.lightSecondaryText,
+        ),
+      ),
+      trailing: CupertinoSwitch(
+        value: _liveSearch,
+        activeTrackColor: AppTheme.appleMusicRed,
+        onChanged: (value) async {
+          setState(() => _liveSearch = value);
+          await _playerUiSettings.setLiveSearch(value);
+        },
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
   // ── Artwork Style Editor ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   double _artworkPreviewRadius() {
diff --git a/lib/services/player_ui_settings_service.dart b/lib/services/player_ui_settings_service.dart
index 4dfa745..16abd6c 100644
--- a/lib/services/player_ui_settings_service.dart
+++ b/lib/services/player_ui_settings_service.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class PlayerUiSettingsService {
   static const String _keyArtworkShape = 'artwork_shape';
   static const String _keyArtworkShadow = 'artwork_shadow';
   static const String _keyArtworkShadowColor = 'artwork_shadow_color';
+  static const String _keyLiveSearch = 'search_live_search';
 
   static final PlayerUiSettingsService _instance =
       PlayerUiSettingsService._internal();
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ class PlayerUiSettingsService {
   SharedPreferences? _prefs;
 
   final ValueNotifier<bool> showStarRatingsNotifier = ValueNotifier(false);
+  final ValueNotifier<bool> liveSearchNotifier = ValueNotifier(true);
   final ValueNotifier<double> albumArtCornerRadiusNotifier = ValueNotifier(8.0);
 
   /// 'rounded' | 'circle' | 'square'
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ class PlayerUiSettingsService {
     artworkShapeNotifier.value = getArtworkShape();
     artworkShadowNotifier.value = getArtworkShadow();
     artworkShadowColorNotifier.value = getArtworkShadowColor();
+    liveSearchNotifier.value = getLiveSearch();
   }
 
   Future<void> setShowVolumeSlider(bool show) async {
@@ -97,4 +100,14 @@ class PlayerUiSettingsService {
   String getArtworkShadowColor() {
     return _prefs?.getString(_keyArtworkShadowColor) ?? 'black';
   }
+
+  Future<void> setLiveSearch(bool enabled) async {
+    await initialize();
+    await _prefs!.setBool(_keyLiveSearch, enabled);
+    liveSearchNotifier.value = enabled;
+  }
+
+  bool getLiveSearch() {
+    return _prefs?.getBool(_keyLiveSearch) ?? true;
+  }
 }