diff --git a/src/components/EntityGrid.vue b/src/components/EntityGrid.vue
index a4d5aa55..92c76e81 100644
--- a/src/components/EntityGrid.vue
+++ b/src/components/EntityGrid.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,40 @@
-/** * EntityGrid.vue - Unified entity grid layout component * * Extracted from
-GiftedDialog.vue to provide a reusable grid layout * for displaying people,
-projects, and special entities with selection. * * @author Matthew Raymer */
+/**
+ * EntityGrid.vue - Unified entity grid layout component
+ * 
+ * Extracted from GiftedDialog.vue to provide a reusable grid layout
+ * for displaying people, projects, and special entities with selection.
+ * 
+ * @author Matthew Raymer
+ */
 <template>
+  <!-- Quick Search -->
+  <div
+    id="QuickSearch"
+    class="mb-4 flex items-center text-sm"
+  >
+    <input
+      v-model="searchTerm"
+      type="text"
+      placeholder="Search…"
+      class="block w-full rounded-l border border-r-0 border-slate-400 px-3 py-1.5 placeholder:italic placeholder:text-slate-400 focus:outline-none"
+      @input="handleSearchInput"
+      @keydown.enter="performSearch"
+    />
+    <div 
+      v-show="isSearching"
+      class="border-y border-slate-400 ps-2 py-1.5 text-center text-slate-400"
+    >
+      <font-awesome icon="spinner" class="fa-spin-pulse leading-[1.1]"></font-awesome>
+    </div>
+    <button
+      :disabled="!searchTerm"
+      class="px-2 py-1.5 rounded-r bg-white border border-l-0 border-slate-400 text-slate-400 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+      @click="clearSearch"
+    >
+      <font-awesome :icon="searchTerm ? 'times' : 'magnifying-glass'" class="fa-fw"></font-awesome>
+    </button>
+  </div>
+  
   <ul class="border-t border-slate-300 mb-4 max-h-[60vh] overflow-y-auto">
     <!-- Special entities (You, Unnamed) for people grids -->
     <template v-if="entityType === 'people'">
@@ -101,6 +134,12 @@ export default class EntityGrid extends Vue {
   @Prop({ required: true })
   entityType!: "people" | "projects";
 
+  // Search state
+  searchTerm = "";
+  isSearching = false;
+  searchTimeout: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+  filteredEntities: Contact[] | PlanData[] = [];
+
   /** Array of entities to display */
   @Prop({ required: true })
   entities!: Contact[] | PlanData[];
@@ -184,8 +223,15 @@ export default class EntityGrid extends Vue {
 
   /**
    * Computed entities to display - uses function prop if provided, otherwise defaults
+   * When searching, returns filtered results instead of original logic
    */
   get displayedEntities(): Contact[] | PlanData[] {
+    // If searching, return filtered results
+    if (this.searchTerm.trim()) {
+      return this.filteredEntities;
+    }
+
+    // Original logic when not searching
     if (this.displayEntitiesFunction) {
       return this.displayEntitiesFunction(
         this.entities,
@@ -283,6 +329,74 @@ export default class EntityGrid extends Vue {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Handle search input with debouncing
+   */
+  handleSearchInput(): void {
+    // Show spinner immediately when user types
+    this.isSearching = true;
+    
+    // Clear existing timeout
+    if (this.searchTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(this.searchTimeout);
+    }
+
+    // Set new timeout for 500ms delay
+    this.searchTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
+      this.performSearch();
+    }, 500);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Perform the actual search
+   */
+  async performSearch(): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.searchTerm.trim()) {
+      this.filteredEntities = [];
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.isSearching = true;
+
+    try {
+      // Simulate async search (in case we need to add API calls later)
+      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
+
+      const searchLower = this.searchTerm.toLowerCase().trim();
+      
+      if (this.entityType === "people") {
+        this.filteredEntities = (this.entities as Contact[]).filter((contact: Contact) => {
+          const name = contact.name?.toLowerCase() || "";
+          const did = contact.did.toLowerCase();
+          return name.includes(searchLower) || did.includes(searchLower);
+        });
+      } else {
+        this.filteredEntities = (this.entities as PlanData[]).filter((project: PlanData) => {
+          const name = project.name?.toLowerCase() || "";
+          const handleId = project.handleId.toLowerCase();
+          return name.includes(searchLower) || handleId.includes(searchLower);
+        });
+      }
+    } finally {
+      this.isSearching = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Clear the search
+   */
+  clearSearch(): void {
+    this.searchTerm = "";
+    this.filteredEntities = [];
+    this.isSearching = false;
+    
+    // Clear any pending timeout
+    if (this.searchTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(this.searchTimeout);
+      this.searchTimeout = null;
+    }
+  }
+
   // Emit methods using @Emit decorator
 
   @Emit("entity-selected")
@@ -295,6 +409,15 @@ export default class EntityGrid extends Vue {
   } {
     return data;
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Cleanup timeouts when component is destroyed
+   */
+  beforeUnmount(): void {
+    if (this.searchTimeout) {
+      clearTimeout(this.searchTimeout);
+    }
+  }
 }
 </script>
 
diff --git a/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue b/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue
index e9fa0627..e08e0021 100644
--- a/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue
+++ b/src/components/GiftedDialog.vue
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ export default class GiftedDialog extends Vue {
         apiServer: this.apiServer,
       });
 
-      this.allContacts = await this.$contacts();
+      this.allContacts = await this.$contactsByDateAdded();
 
       this.allMyDids = await retrieveAccountDids();
 
diff --git a/src/utils/PlatformServiceMixin.ts b/src/utils/PlatformServiceMixin.ts
index ad0b249f..cc649373 100644
--- a/src/utils/PlatformServiceMixin.ts
+++ b/src/utils/PlatformServiceMixin.ts
@@ -970,6 +970,20 @@ export const PlatformServiceMixin = {
       return this.$normalizeContacts(rawContacts);
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Load all contacts sorted by when they were added (by ID)
+     * Always fetches fresh data from database for consistency
+     * Handles JSON string/object duality for contactMethods field
+     * @returns Promise<Contact[]> Array of normalized contact objects sorted by addition date (newest first)
+     */
+    async $contactsByDateAdded(): Promise<Contact[]> {
+      const rawContacts = (await this.$query(
+        "SELECT * FROM contacts ORDER BY id DESC",
+      )) as ContactMaybeWithJsonStrings[];
+
+      return this.$normalizeContacts(rawContacts);
+    },
+
     /**
      * Ultra-concise shortcut for getting number of contacts
      * @returns Promise<number> Total number of contacts
@@ -2057,6 +2071,7 @@ declare module "@vue/runtime-core" {
 
     // Specialized shortcuts - contacts cached, settings fresh
     $contacts(): Promise<Contact[]>;
+    $contactsByDateAdded(): Promise<Contact[]>;
     $contactCount(): Promise<number>;
     $settings(defaults?: Settings): Promise<Settings>;
     $accountSettings(did?: string, defaults?: Settings): Promise<Settings>;