diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/add-project-flow.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/add-project-flow.spec.ts
index 3d5bea938..77ab53f96 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/browser/add-project-flow.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/add-project-flow.spec.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   expectAddProjectPage,
   expectNewWorkspaceForAddedProject,
   openAddProjectFlow,
+  openAddProjectHostSelection,
 } from "../support/helpers/add-project-flow";
 import { gotoAppShell } from "../support/helpers/app";
 import {
@@ -65,12 +66,14 @@ async function expectProjectHasNoWorkspaces(projectId: string): Promise<void> {
 test.describe("Add Project command-center flow", () => {
   test.describe.configure({ timeout: 180_000 });
 
-  test("a single connected host opens directly on method selection", async ({ page }) => {
+  test("method selection has no search field", async ({ page }) => {
     await gotoAppShell(page);
 
     await openAddProjectFlow(page);
 
     await expect(addProjectFlowMethod(page, "directory-search")).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(addProjectFlowInput(page)).toHaveCount(0);
+    await expect(addProjectFlow(page).getByRole("textbox")).toHaveCount(0);
     await expect(page.getByTestId("add-project-flow-page-host")).toHaveCount(0);
   });
 
@@ -146,7 +149,7 @@ test.describe("Add Project command-center flow", () => {
         serverId: SECONDARY_HOST_ID,
         endpoint: `localhost:${secondaryHost.port}`,
       });
-      await openAddProjectFlow(page, "host");
+      await openAddProjectHostSelection(page);
 
       await page.keyboard.press("ArrowDown");
       await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
@@ -155,7 +158,7 @@ test.describe("Add Project command-center flow", () => {
       await expect(addProjectFlow(page)).toContainText(SECONDARY_HOST_LABEL);
     });
 
-    test("Escape and Back restore page input and active selection before closing at the root", async ({
+    test("Escape and Back restore searchable page input before closing at the root", async ({
       page,
     }) => {
       await gotoAppShell(page);
@@ -168,21 +171,20 @@ test.describe("Add Project command-center flow", () => {
         serverId: SECONDARY_HOST_ID,
         endpoint: `localhost:${secondaryHost.port}`,
       });
-      await openAddProjectFlow(page, "host");
+      await openAddProjectHostSelection(page);
 
       await addProjectFlowInput(page).fill("o");
       await page.keyboard.press("ArrowDown");
       await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
       await expectAddProjectPage(page, "method");
 
-      await addProjectFlowInput(page).fill("new");
-      await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
+      await chooseAddProjectMethod(page, "new-directory");
       await expectAddProjectPage(page, "new-directory-parent");
       await page.keyboard.press("Escape");
 
       await expectAddProjectPage(page, "method");
-      await expect(addProjectFlowInput(page)).toHaveValue("new");
-      await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
+      await expect(addProjectFlowInput(page)).toHaveCount(0);
+      await chooseAddProjectMethod(page, "new-directory");
       await expectAddProjectPage(page, "new-directory-parent");
       await addProjectFlowBack(page).click();
 
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@ test.describe("Add Project command-center flow", () => {
           serverId: SECONDARY_HOST_ID,
           endpoint: `localhost:${secondaryHost.port}`,
         });
-        await openAddProjectFlow(page, "host");
+        await openAddProjectHostSelection(page);
         await addProjectFlowHost(page, SECONDARY_HOST_ID).click();
         await expectAddProjectPage(page, "method");
 
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/provider-settings-refresh.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/provider-settings-refresh.spec.ts
index 85a7dabc3..62e8e793b 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/browser/provider-settings-refresh.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/provider-settings-refresh.spec.ts
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ test.describe("provider settings overlay stack", () => {
       await commandCenter.getByText("Add project", { exact: true }).click();
       const addProject = page.getByTestId("add-project-flow");
       await expect(addProject).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
-      await expect(addProject.getByTestId("add-project-flow-input")).toBeFocused();
       await page.keyboard.press("Escape");
       await expect(addProject).not.toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
       await expect(selector).toBeVisible();
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/add-project-flow.ts b/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/add-project-flow.ts
index 18e7a0da8..c7b15df45 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/add-project-flow.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/support/helpers/add-project-flow.ts
@@ -43,13 +43,21 @@ export async function expectAddProjectPage(page: Page, kind: AddProjectFlowPage)
   return currentPage;
 }
 
-export async function openAddProjectFlow(
+async function openAddProjectFlowSurface(
   page: Page,
-  expectedPage: "host" | "method" = "method",
+  expectedPage: "host" | "method",
 ): Promise<void> {
   await page.getByTestId("sidebar-add-project").click();
   await expect(addProjectFlow(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
   await expectAddProjectPage(page, expectedPage);
+}
+
+export async function openAddProjectFlow(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+  await openAddProjectFlowSurface(page, "method");
+}
+
+export async function openAddProjectHostSelection(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+  await openAddProjectFlowSurface(page, "host");
   await expect(addProjectFlowInput(page)).toBeFocused();
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.test.ts b/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.test.ts
index ff496f53c..63014a366 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.test.ts
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ describe("Add Project navigation", () => {
     expect(currentAddProjectPage(state)).toEqual({
       kind: "method",
       hostId: "host-1",
-      query: "",
       activeIndex: 0,
       error: null,
+      isSubmitting: false,
     });
     expect(backAddProjectPage(state)).toBeNull();
   });
diff --git a/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.ts b/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.ts
index 3cfd7691a..0de21d152 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/add-project-flow/model.ts
@@ -17,15 +17,18 @@ export interface GithubRepositoryChoice {
   updatedAt: string | null;
 }
 
-interface SearchPageState {
-  query: string;
+interface PageState {
   activeIndex: number;
   error: string | null;
 }
 
+interface SearchPageState extends PageState {
+  query: string;
+}
+
 export type AddProjectPage =
   | ({ kind: "host" } & SearchPageState)
-  | ({ kind: "method"; hostId: string } & SearchPageState)
+  | ({ kind: "method"; hostId: string; isSubmitting: boolean } & PageState)
   | ({ kind: "directory-search"; hostId: string; isSubmitting: boolean } & SearchPageState)
   | ({ kind: "github-search"; hostId: string } & SearchPageState)
   | ({
@@ -57,12 +60,14 @@ export interface OpenAddProjectFlowInput {
   preferredHostId?: string;
 }
 
-function searchPage<TKind extends AddProjectPage["kind"]>(kind: TKind) {
+type SearchPageKind = Extract<AddProjectPage, { query: string }>["kind"];
+
+function searchPage<TKind extends SearchPageKind>(kind: TKind) {
   return { kind, query: "", activeIndex: 0, error: null } as const;
 }
 
 function methodPage(hostId: string): AddProjectPage {
-  return { ...searchPage("method"), hostId };
+  return { kind: "method", hostId, activeIndex: 0, error: null, isSubmitting: false };
 }
 
 export function openAddProjectFlow(input: OpenAddProjectFlowInput): AddProjectFlowState {
@@ -209,6 +214,7 @@ export function setAddProjectPageInput(
     if (current.kind === "new-directory-name") {
       return { ...current, name: value, activeIndex: 0, error: null };
     }
+    if (current.kind === "method") return current;
     return { ...current, query: value, activeIndex: 0, error: null };
   });
   if (page.kind !== "github-location") return updated;
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/add-project-flow.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/add-project-flow.tsx
index 5bcaab0dc..99fe6c2e9 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/add-project-flow.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/add-project-flow.tsx
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ import {
 import { Shortcut } from "@/components/ui/shortcut";
 import { useKeyboardShortcutsAvailable } from "@/keyboard/availability";
 import { getIsElectronRuntime } from "@/constants/layout";
-import { isWeb } from "@/constants/platform";
+import { isNative, isWeb } from "@/constants/platform";
 import { pickDirectory } from "@/desktop/pick-directory";
 import { useFetchQuery } from "@/data/query";
 import { getOpenProjectFailureReason, registerProjectDescriptor } from "@/hooks/open-project";
@@ -222,12 +222,12 @@ function pageTitle(page: AddProjectPage): string {
   }
 }
 
-function pagePlaceholder(page: AddProjectPage): string {
+type AddProjectInputPage = Exclude<AddProjectPage, { kind: "method" }>;
+
+function pagePlaceholder(page: AddProjectInputPage): string {
   switch (page.kind) {
     case "host":
       return "Search hosts...";
-    case "method":
-      return "Search methods...";
     case "directory-search":
       return "Search directories or enter a path...";
     case "github-search":
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ function pagePlaceholder(page: AddProjectPage): string {
   }
 }
 
-function pageInput(page: AddProjectPage): string {
+function pageInput(page: AddProjectInputPage): string {
   return page.kind === "new-directory-name" ? page.name : page.query;
 }
 
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ export function AddProjectFlow({ request, onClose }: AddProjectFlowProps) {
   const inputRef = useRef<TextInput>(null);
   const submissionInFlightRef = useRef(false);
   const browseInFlightRef = useRef(false);
-  const query = page.kind === "new-directory-name" ? "" : page.query;
+  const query = page.kind === "new-directory-name" || page.kind === "method" ? "" : page.query;
   const [debouncedQuery, setDebouncedQuery] = useState(query);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -599,23 +599,15 @@ export function AddProjectFlow({ request, onClose }: AddProjectFlowProps) {
     }
     if (page.kind === "method") {
       if (!host) return [];
-      const normalized = page.query.trim().toLowerCase();
-      return buildAddProjectMethods(host)
-        .filter(
-          (method) =>
-            !normalized ||
-            method.label.toLowerCase().includes(normalized) ||
-            method.description.toLowerCase().includes(normalized),
-        )
-        .map((method) => ({
-          id: method.id,
-          title: method.label,
-          subtitle: method.description,
-          icon: methodIcon(method.id),
-          disabled: method.disabled,
-          testID: `add-project-flow-method-${method.id}`,
-          select: () => selectMethod(method.id),
-        }));
+      return buildAddProjectMethods(host).map((method) => ({
+        id: method.id,
+        title: method.label,
+        subtitle: method.description,
+        icon: methodIcon(method.id),
+        disabled: method.disabled,
+        testID: `add-project-flow-method-${method.id}`,
+        select: () => selectMethod(method.id),
+      }));
     }
     if (page.kind === "directory-search") {
       return pathOptions.map((option) => {
@@ -863,21 +855,41 @@ export function AddProjectFlow({ request, onClose }: AddProjectFlowProps) {
                 ) : null}
               </View>
             </View>
-            <ThemedTextInput
-              key={page.kind}
-              ref={inputRef}
-              value={pageInput(page)}
-              onChangeText={handleInputChange}
-              onKeyPress={isWeb ? undefined : handleNativeKeyPress}
-              onSubmitEditing={isWeb ? undefined : submitActive}
-              placeholder={pagePlaceholder(page)}
-              style={styles.input}
-              autoCapitalize="none"
-              autoCorrect={false}
-              editable={!isSubmitting}
-              returnKeyType="go"
-              testID="add-project-flow-input"
-            />
+            {page.kind === "method" && isNative ? (
+              // Native hardware-keyboard events need a focused responder even without a visible field.
+              <TextInput
+                key={page.kind}
+                ref={inputRef}
+                onKeyPress={handleNativeKeyPress}
+                onSubmitEditing={submitActive}
+                showSoftInputOnFocus={false}
+                caretHidden
+                contextMenuHidden
+                accessible={false}
+                accessibilityElementsHidden
+                importantForAccessibility="no-hide-descendants"
+                pointerEvents="none"
+                style={styles.keyboardCapture}
+                testID="add-project-flow-keyboard-capture"
+              />
+            ) : null}
+            {page.kind !== "method" ? (
+              <ThemedTextInput
+                key={page.kind}
+                ref={inputRef}
+                value={pageInput(page)}
+                onChangeText={handleInputChange}
+                onKeyPress={isWeb ? undefined : handleNativeKeyPress}
+                onSubmitEditing={isWeb ? undefined : submitActive}
+                placeholder={pagePlaceholder(page)}
+                style={styles.input}
+                autoCapitalize="none"
+                autoCorrect={false}
+                editable={!isSubmitting}
+                returnKeyType="go"
+                testID="add-project-flow-input"
+              />
+            ) : null}
           </View>
           <ScrollView
             style={styles.results}
@@ -1012,6 +1024,12 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     paddingVertical: theme.spacing[1],
     outlineStyle: "none",
   } as object,
+  keyboardCapture: {
+    position: "absolute",
+    width: 1,
+    height: 1,
+    opacity: 0,
+  },
   results: { flexGrow: 0, flexShrink: 1, minHeight: 0 },
   resultsContent: { paddingVertical: theme.spacing[2] },
   row: {