Search should have a better character picker and should allow keyboard input

[frankmb 41]

If click Search I cannot type on my keyboard for what I want the search for.

And the character picker is all horizontal which makes it extremely slow to navigate with direction keys. Haven't game consoles shown how to do this kind of text entry a bit faster with directional inputs and characters on a grid for the past 20+ years?

Edited August 29, 2025 by frankmb

[Luke 42077]

Hi, we’ll take a look at it. Thanks for reporting.

[softworkz 5066]

5 hours ago, frankmb said:

If click Search I cannot type on my keyboard for what I want the search for.

And the character picker is all horizontal which makes it extremely slow to navigate with direction keys. Haven't game consoles shown how to do this kind of text entry a bit faster with directional inputs and characters on a grid for the past 20+ years?

We have a full implementation for this in the WMC UI apps, incl. voice input and Triple-Tap/T9 input (https://wmc.emby.media/).

I can't explain why this hasn't gotten into the Windows app.

[funwithmedia 373]

While I appreciate the movement toward a better character picker, I would also very much like to see hardware keyboard functionality returned to TV Mode (I'm on the newest Emby app for Windows 11). I should likewise note that when you re-enable this please make sure that "backspace" only deletes characters in the search field and doesn't "go back" in the app when on the Search page (which would make it impossible to delete characters via keyboard). I use a remote app (via my phone) that can send hardware keypresses, but the Emby Windows app in TV Mode will not accept keypresses (for Search) from my hardware keyboard, or simulated via my app. This previously worked in Emby Theater.

Seemingly related thread: 

[Mahinepua 81]

Yes I agree keyboard input should be reinstated for tv mode.

[Luke 42077]

Hi, yes this has been added for the next update to the Emby Windows app. Thanks.