diff --git a/src/__tests__/skills-index.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/skills-index.test.tsx
index 2c9202286..260b3bcb4 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/skills-index.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/skills-index.test.tsx
@@ -178,6 +178,56 @@ describe('SkillsIndex', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('switches browse default sorting back to relevance when entering search', async () => {
+    searchMock = { sort: 'downloads' }
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+
+    render(<SkillsIndex />)
+
+    const input = screen.getByPlaceholderText('Filter by name, slug, or summary…')
+    await act(async () => {
+      fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: 'cli-design-framework' } })
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync()
+    })
+
+    expect(navigateMock).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    const lastCall = navigateMock.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0] as {
+      replace?: boolean
+      search: (prev: Record<string, unknown>) => Record<string, unknown>
+    }
+    expect(lastCall.replace).toBe(true)
+    expect(lastCall.search({ sort: 'downloads' })).toEqual({
+      q: 'cli-design-framework',
+      sort: undefined,
+      dir: undefined,
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('preserves explicitly user-set downloads sort when entering search', async () => {
+    searchMock = { sort: 'downloads', dir: 'desc' }
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+
+    render(<SkillsIndex />)
+
+    const input = screen.getByPlaceholderText('Filter by name, slug, or summary…')
+    await act(async () => {
+      fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: 'cli-design-framework' } })
+      await vi.runAllTimersAsync()
+    })
+
+    expect(navigateMock).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    const lastCall = navigateMock.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0] as {
+      replace?: boolean
+      search: (prev: Record<string, unknown>) => Record<string, unknown>
+    }
+    expect(lastCall.replace).toBe(true)
+    expect(lastCall.search({ sort: 'downloads', dir: 'desc' })).toEqual({
+      q: 'cli-design-framework',
+      sort: 'downloads',
+      dir: 'desc',
+    })
+  })
+
   it('loads more results when search pagination is requested', async () => {
     searchMock = { q: 'remind' }
     vi.stubGlobal('IntersectionObserver', undefined)
diff --git a/src/routes/skills/-useSkillsBrowseModel.ts b/src/routes/skills/-useSkillsBrowseModel.ts
index 25a26de02..93c24c1e5 100644
--- a/src/routes/skills/-useSkillsBrowseModel.ts
+++ b/src/routes/skills/-useSkillsBrowseModel.ts
@@ -229,7 +229,22 @@ export function useSkillsBrowseModel({
       const trimmed = next.trim()
       navigateTimer.current = window.setTimeout(() => {
         void navigate({
-          search: (prev) => ({ ...prev, q: trimmed ? next : undefined }),
+          search: (prev) => {
+            const hadQuery = typeof prev.q === 'string' && prev.q.trim().length > 0
+            const enteringSearch = Boolean(trimmed) && !hadQuery
+            const usesImplicitBrowseDefault = prev.sort === 'downloads' && prev.dir === undefined
+
+            return {
+              ...prev,
+              q: trimmed ? next : undefined,
+              ...(enteringSearch && usesImplicitBrowseDefault
+                ? {
+                    sort: undefined,
+                    dir: undefined,
+                  }
+                : null),
+            }
+          },
           replace: true,
         })
       }, 220)