diff --git a/search-app/live-search.js b/search-app/live-search.js
index c41344e..b0fe736 100644
--- a/search-app/live-search.js
+++ b/search-app/live-search.js
@@ -255,11 +255,24 @@
   }
 
   // --- Search ---
-  async function doSearch(query) {
+  async function doSearch(query, opts) {
     if (abortCtrl) abortCtrl.abort();
     abortCtrl = new AbortController();
     currentQuery = query;
 
+    if (opts && opts.forceMap) {
+      currentView = 'map';
+      updateToggleButtons();
+      const gridEl = panel ? panel.querySelector('.ls-grid') : null;
+      const mapWrap = panel ? panel.querySelector('.ls-map-wrap') : null;
+      const bodyEl = panel ? panel.querySelector('.ls-body') : null;
+      if (gridEl && mapWrap && bodyEl) {
+        gridEl.style.display = 'none';
+        mapWrap.style.display = '';
+        bodyEl.style.overflowY = 'hidden';
+      }
+    }
+
     const statusEl = getOrCreatePanel().querySelector('.ls-status');
     const gridEl = getOrCreatePanel().querySelector('.ls-grid');
     gridEl.innerHTML = '';
@@ -625,6 +638,7 @@
 
   // Initial scan
   scanForSearchInputs();
+  hijackLocationSection();
 
   // Watch for dynamically added inputs (SPA navigation)
   const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
@@ -638,9 +652,87 @@
         }
       }
     }
+    // Always re-check for the Place section (modal mounts/unmounts)
+    hijackLocationSection();
   });
   observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true });
 
+  // --- Replace the search filter modal's Place section (Country/State/City
+  // dropdowns) with a single text input that opens the live-search overlay
+  // directly in map view.
+  function hijackLocationSection() {
+    const section = document.getElementById('location-selection');
+    if (!section || section.dataset.lsHijacked === '1') return;
+    section.dataset.lsHijacked = '1';
+
+    // Hide every original child (heading + combobox grid)
+    for (const child of Array.from(section.children)) {
+      child.style.display = 'none';
+    }
+
+    const wrap = document.createElement('div');
+    wrap.className = 'ls-place-hijack';
+    wrap.innerHTML = `
+      <label class="ls-place-label">Location search</label>
+      <div class="ls-place-row">
+        <input type="search" class="ls-place-input"
+               placeholder="Search a place (city, country, landmark)…"
+               autocomplete="off" />
+        <button type="button" class="ls-place-go">Map it</button>
+      </div>
+      <div class="ls-place-hint">Results open on a map — pan and zoom to explore nearby spots.</div>
+    `;
+    section.appendChild(wrap);
+
+    if (!document.getElementById('ls-place-styles')) {
+      const s = document.createElement('style');
+      s.id = 'ls-place-styles';
+      s.textContent = `
+        .ls-place-hijack { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 6px; }
+        .ls-place-label { font-weight: 600; font-size: 14px; }
+        .ls-place-row { display: flex; gap: 8px; }
+        .ls-place-input {
+          flex: 1; padding: 10px 12px; border-radius: 8px;
+          border: 1px solid var(--immich-ui-gray-400, #bbb);
+          background: var(--immich-bg, transparent); color: inherit;
+          font-size: 14px;
+        }
+        .ls-place-input:focus { outline: 2px solid #e94560; outline-offset: 1px; }
+        .ls-place-go {
+          padding: 0 14px; border-radius: 8px; border: 1px solid #e94560;
+          background: #e94560; color: #fff; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer;
+        }
+        .ls-place-go:hover { filter: brightness(1.1); }
+        .ls-place-hint { font-size: 12px; opacity: 0.7; }
+      `;
+      document.head.appendChild(s);
+    }
+
+    const input = wrap.querySelector('.ls-place-input');
+    const btn = wrap.querySelector('.ls-place-go');
+
+    const go = () => {
+      const q = input.value.trim();
+      if (q.length < MIN_CHARS) return;
+      doSearch(q, { forceMap: true });
+    };
+
+    input.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
+      if (e.key === 'Enter') {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        go();
+      }
+    });
+    btn.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      go();
+    });
+
+    // Autofocus once visible
+    setTimeout(() => { try { input.focus(); } catch {} }, 50);
+  }
+
   // Global Escape
   document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
     if (e.key === 'Escape' && panel?.classList.contains('active')) {