diff --git a/services/frontend/src/components/messages/search-overlay.tsx b/services/frontend/src/components/messages/search-overlay.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..154fa18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/frontend/src/components/messages/search-overlay.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { Search, X } from "lucide-react";
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { messagesApi } from "@/lib/api";
+import type { MessageRecord } from "@/lib/types";
+
+interface SearchOverlayProps {
+  open: boolean;
+  onClose: () => void;
+  onSelect: (id: string) => void;
+}
+
+export function SearchOverlay({ open, onClose, onSelect }: SearchOverlayProps) {
+  const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
+  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
+  const { data: results } = useQuery<MessageRecord[]>({
+    queryKey: ["messages-search", query],
+    queryFn: async () => {
+      const res = await messagesApi.search(query, 20);
+      return res.results;
+    },
+    enabled: query.length >= 2,
+  });
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (open) {
+      setTimeout(() => inputRef.current?.focus(), 100);
+    } else {
+      setQuery("");
+    }
+  }, [open]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleKey = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if ((e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) && e.key === "k") {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        onClose(); // this is called when Cmd+K is pressed globally — toggle
+      }
+      if (e.key === "Escape") onClose();
+    };
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", handleKey);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleKey);
+  }, [onClose]);
+
+  if (!open) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-start justify-center pt-[15vh]">
+      <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/60 backdrop-blur-sm" onClick={onClose} />
+      <div className="relative w-full max-w-lg glass-intense rounded-[var(--radius-card)] overflow-hidden shadow-2xl">
+        {/* Input */}
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 border-b border-glass-border">
+          <Search className="size-4 text-text-secondary/60 shrink-0" />
+          <input
+            ref={inputRef}
+            type="text"
+            value={query}
+            onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
+            placeholder="Search messages..."
+            className="flex-1 bg-transparent text-sm text-text-primary placeholder-text-secondary/40 outline-none"
+          />
+          <button type="button" onClick={onClose} className="size-6 flex items-center justify-center rounded hover:bg-glass-bg">
+            <X className="size-3.5 text-text-secondary/60" />
+          </button>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Results */}
+        <div className="max-h-80 overflow-y-auto p-2 space-y-1">
+          {!results || results.length === 0 ? (
+            <div className="py-8 text-center text-xs text-text-secondary/40">
+              {query.length < 2 ? "Type at least 2 characters" : "No results found"}
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            results.map((msg) => (
+              <button
+                key={msg.id}
+                type="button"
+                onClick={() => { onSelect(msg.id); onClose(); }}
+                className="w-full text-left px-3 py-2 rounded-lg hover:bg-glass-bg transition-colors"
+              >
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
+                  <span className="font-medium text-text-primary">{msg.username}</span>
+                  <span className="text-text-secondary/40">{msg.channel_id?.slice(0, 8)}</span>
+                </div>
+                <p className="text-xs text-text-secondary/80 line-clamp-1 mt-0.5">{msg.content}</p>
+              </button>
+            ))
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}