diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.css b/frontend/dashboard.css
index 1d31196..de37916 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.css
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.css
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ textarea { resize: vertical; min-height: 120px; }
 #cmd-palette.open { display: block; }
 .cmd-palette-header { display:none; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; gap:10px; }
 .cmd-palette-header-actions { display:flex; gap:8px; }
+.search-today-interruption { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; gap:10px; margin:8px 0; padding:8px 10px; border:1px solid #2a496e; border-radius:10px; background:#10213a; }
+.search-today-interruption[hidden] { display:none; }
+.search-today-interruption button { min-height:44px; flex:0 0 auto; }
 .cmd-search-scope { display:grid; grid-template-columns:auto minmax(120px,1fr) auto minmax(120px,1fr); gap:6px 10px; align-items:center; margin:8px 0 0; padding:8px; border:1px solid #1f3a5f; border-radius:8px; }
 .cmd-search-scope legend { padding:0 4px; color:#93a4b8; font-size:12px; }
 .cmd-search-scope label { font-size:12px; color:#cbd5e1; }
diff --git a/frontend/dashboard.js b/frontend/dashboard.js
index 02c4d82..c8c4f0a 100644
--- a/frontend/dashboard.js
+++ b/frontend/dashboard.js
@@ -1839,6 +1839,7 @@
     formatEstimate: formatPlanMinutes,
     getItem: identity => [...todayMyWork, ...activeMyWork].find(item => todayWork.identity(item) === identity),
     onReopen: identity => {
+      taskOverlayHistory.leave();
       selectTodayWork();
       workSession.reopen(todayMyWork.find(item => todayWork.identity(item) === identity));
     },
@@ -5433,9 +5434,9 @@
     if (shareStatus[state.status]) status.textContent = shareStatus[state.status];
     else if (state.status === 'reopening') status.textContent = 'Reopening…';
     else if (state.status === 'claiming') status.textContent = 'Assigning this issue to you…';
-    else if (state.status === 'claimed') status.textContent = 'Assignment confirmed. Opening My Work…';
-    else if (detail.claimable) status.textContent = 'This issue is open and unassigned.';
-    else if (detail.assigned_to_me) status.textContent = 'This item is already in My Work.';
+    else if (state.status === 'claimed') status.textContent = 'Assigned. Opening My Work…';
+    else if (detail.claimable) status.textContent = 'Open and unassigned.';
+    else if (detail.assigned_to_me) status.textContent = 'Already in My Work.';
     else if (detail.reopenable) status.textContent = 'Closed—reopen to resume.';
     else status.textContent = 'Ready.';
   }
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index c1f4450..5445cf2 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -521,6 +521,10 @@
       <button id="close-command-palette" type="button">Close</button>
     </div>
   </div>
+  <aside class="search-today-interruption" data-search-today-interruption role="status" aria-live="polite" hidden>
+    <strong data-search-today-label>Today paused</strong>
+    <button data-return-from-search type="button">Return to Today</button>
+  </aside>
   <input id="cmd-input" type="text" role="combobox" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-controls="cmd-results" aria-expanded="false" placeholder="Search commands, issues, and pull requests..." />
   <fieldset class="cmd-search-scope">
     <legend>Filter search results</legend>
@@ -598,6 +602,10 @@
       </div>
       <button id="close-search-preview" type="button">Back to search</button>
     </div>
+    <aside class="search-today-interruption" data-search-today-interruption role="status" aria-live="polite" hidden>
+      <strong data-search-today-label>Today paused</strong>
+      <button data-return-from-search type="button">Return to Today</button>
+    </aside>
     <nav class="mobile-search-preview-nav" aria-label="Search preview sections">
       <button type="button" data-search-preview-section="overview">Overview</button>
       <button type="button" data-search-preview-section="conversation">Conversation</button>
diff --git a/frontend/today-timer.js b/frontend/today-timer.js
index c04c808..1a40c5d 100644
--- a/frontend/today-timer.js
+++ b/frontend/today-timer.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ function createTodayTimer({ storage, getLogin, now = () => Date.now(), onChange
   };
   const empty = () => ({
     version:1, active_identity:'', entries:{}, away_at:null,
-    pending_interruption:null, attention_interruption:null, capture_interruption:null, timed_break:null,
+    pending_interruption:null, attention_interruption:null, capture_interruption:null, search_interruption:null, timed_break:null,
   });
   const read = () => {
     const ownerKey = key();
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ function createTodayTimer({ storage, getLogin, now = () => Date.now(), onChange
       typeof pending.resume === 'boolean' ?
       { identity:pending.identity, resume:pending.resume } : null;
   };
+  const validSearch = state => {
+    const pending = state.search_interruption;
+    return pending && typeof pending.identity === 'string' && pending.identity &&
+      typeof pending.resume === 'boolean' ?
+      { identity:pending.identity, resume:pending.resume } : null;
+  };
   const validBreak = state => {
     const value = state.timed_break;
     return value && typeof value.identity === 'string' && value.identity &&
@@ -94,6 +100,7 @@ function createTodayTimer({ storage, getLogin, now = () => Date.now(), onChange
       state.away_at = null;
       state.pending_interruption = null;
       state.attention_interruption = null;
+      state.search_interruption = null;
       state.timed_break = null;
       return write(state);
     },
@@ -110,6 +117,7 @@ function createTodayTimer({ storage, getLogin, now = () => Date.now(), onChange
       state.away_at = null;
       state.pending_interruption = null;
       state.attention_interruption = null;
+      state.search_interruption = null;
       state.timed_break = null;
       return write(state);
     },
@@ -161,6 +169,7 @@ function createTodayTimer({ storage, getLogin, now = () => Date.now(), onChange
       state.away_at = null;
       state.pending_interruption = null;
       state.attention_interruption = null;
+      state.search_interruption = null;
       state.timed_break = null;
       return write(state);
     },
@@ -232,6 +241,44 @@ function createTodayTimer({ storage, getLogin, now = () => Date.now(), onChange
       state.away_at = null;
       return write(state) ? { identity:pending.identity, resumed } : null;
     },
+    beginSearch() {
+      const state = read();
+      const existing = validSearch(state);
+      if (existing) return existing;
+      const identity = state.active_identity;
+      const entry = state.entries[identity];
+      if (!identity || !entry?.running) return null;
+      const resume = true;
+      settle(state);
+      state.away_at = null;
+      state.search_interruption = { identity, resume };
+      return write(state) ? { ...state.search_interruption } : null;
+    },
+    searchInterruption() {
+      return validSearch(read());
+    },
+    abandonSearch() {
+      const state = read();
+      const pending = validSearch(state);
+      if (!pending) return null;
+      state.search_interruption = null;
+      state.away_at = null;
+      return write(state) ? { identity:pending.identity, resumed:false } : null;
+    },
+    returnFromSearch() {
+      const state = read();
+      const pending = validSearch(state);
+      const entry = pending && state.entries[pending.identity];
+      if (!pending || !entry) return null;
+      const resumed = pending.resume && state.active_identity === pending.identity;
+      if (resumed && !entry.running) {
+        entry.started_at = now();
+        entry.running = true;
+      }
+      state.search_interruption = null;
+      state.away_at = null;
+      return write(state) ? { identity:pending.identity, resumed } : null;
+    },
     markAway() {
       const state = read();
       const entry = state.entries[state.active_identity];
@@ -317,6 +364,10 @@ function createTodayTimerView({ timer, isActive, queryAll, formatEstimate, getRu
     getItem,
     onReturn:() => render(),
   });
+  const searchView = createTodaySearchInterruption({
+    timer, queryAll, getItemLabel:identity => getItem?.(identity)?.title, onChange:() => render(),
+    onReturn:identity => onReopen?.(identity),
+  });
   queryAll('[data-mobile-today-open]').forEach(button =>
     button.addEventListener('click', () => {
       const identity = timer.snapshot().identity;
@@ -424,6 +475,8 @@ function createTodayTimerView({ timer, isActive, queryAll, formatEstimate, getRu
       else if (!active) timer.stop();
       render();
     },
+    reopen(identity) { onReopen?.(identity); },
+    search(action, ...args) { return searchView[action]?.(...args); },
     finish() { timer.stop(); progress = null; runway = null; render(); },
     update(nextProgress, nextRunway) { progress = nextProgress; runway = nextRunway; render(); },
     reset() { progress = null; runway = null; render(); },
@@ -449,6 +502,7 @@ function createTodayTimerView({ timer, isActive, queryAll, formatEstimate, getRu
     onCapture?.();
   }));
   if (timer.captureInterruption) view.restoreCapture();
+  searchView.restore();
   return view;
 }
 
@@ -501,6 +555,55 @@ function createTodayInterruptionPrompt({ timer, sheet, description, getItemLabel
   };
 }
 
+function createTodaySearchInterruption({ timer, queryAll, getItemLabel, onChange, onReturn }) {
+  const render = (pending = timer.searchInterruption?.()) => {
+    queryAll('[data-search-today-interruption]').forEach(element => { element.hidden = !pending; });
+    queryAll('[data-search-today-label]').forEach(element => {
+      element.textContent = pending ? 'Today paused · ' +
+        String(getItemLabel?.(pending.identity) || 'Current Today item') : '';
+    });
+    onChange?.();
+    return pending;
+  };
+  const view = {
+    open() {
+      const wasRunning = timer.snapshot().running;
+      const pending = timer.beginSearch?.();
+      render(pending || timer.searchInterruption?.());
+      if (wasRunning && !pending) {
+        const status = queryAll('#cmd-search-action-status')[0];
+        if (status) status.textContent = 'Search is open, but Today timing could not be paused on this device.';
+      }
+      return pending;
+    },
+    restore() { return render(); },
+    finish() {
+      const result = timer.returnFromSearch?.();
+      render(null);
+      return result;
+    },
+    transfer() {
+      const result = timer.abandonSearch?.();
+      render(null);
+      return result;
+    },
+  };
+  queryAll('#open-palette').forEach(button => button.addEventListener('click', () => view.open()));
+  queryAll('[data-return-from-search]').forEach(button => button.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    const pending = timer.searchInterruption?.();
+    view.finish();
+    if (pending) onReturn?.(pending.identity);
+  }));
+  if (typeof MutationObserver !== 'undefined') {
+    const overlays = [...queryAll('#cmd-palette'), ...queryAll('#search-preview')];
+    const observer = new MutationObserver(() => {
+      if (overlays.every(element => !element.classList.contains('open'))) view.finish();
+    });
+    overlays.forEach(element => observer.observe(element, {attributes:true, attributeFilter:['class']}));
+  }
+  return view;
+}
+
 function createTodayCaptureInterruption({ timer, banner, label, getItem, getItemLabel, onReturn }) {
   banner ||= typeof document === 'undefined' ? null : document.querySelector('#today-capture-interruption');
   label ||= typeof document === 'undefined' ? null : document.querySelector('#today-capture-interruption-label');
@@ -539,6 +642,7 @@ if (typeof module !== 'undefined' && module.exports) {
   createTodayTimer.createView = createTodayTimerView;
   createTodayTimer.createInterruptionPrompt = createTodayInterruptionPrompt;
   createTodayTimer.createBudgetReplan = createTodayBudgetReplan;
+  createTodayTimer.createSearchInterruption = createTodaySearchInterruption;
   createTodayTimer.createCaptureInterruption = createTodayCaptureInterruption;
   module.exports = createTodayTimer;
 }
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_mobile_today_handoff_release.py b/tests/e2e/test_mobile_today_handoff_release.py
index d97c1e1..ad89655 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_mobile_today_handoff_release.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_mobile_today_handoff_release.py
@@ -120,6 +120,30 @@ def test_release_artifact_plans_hands_off_and_opens_next_mobile_issue(tmp_path:
             assert resumed == {"running": True, "saved": True}
             assert page.evaluate("document.documentElement.scrollWidth <= window.innerWidth")
 
+            page.locator('[data-mobile-task="search"]').click()
+            search_pause = page.locator('#cmd-palette [data-search-today-interruption]')
+            expect(search_pause).to_be_visible()
+            expect(search_pause).to_contain_text("Today paused · Ship mobile capture")
+            return_button = search_pause.locator('[data-return-from-search]')
+            bounds = return_button.bounding_box()
+            assert bounds and bounds["height"] >= 44
+            assert page.evaluate("""() => {
+              const key = Object.keys(localStorage).find(value => value.startsWith('stackchain.today-timer.v1.'));
+              const timer = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(key));
+              return timer.entries[timer.active_identity].running === false &&
+                timer.search_interruption?.identity === timer.active_identity;
+            }""")
+            assert page.evaluate("document.documentElement.scrollWidth <= window.innerWidth")
+            return_button.click()
+            expect(page.locator("#cmd-palette")).not_to_have_class("open")
+            expect(page.locator("#issue-sheet")).to_have_class("issue-sheet open")
+            assert page.evaluate("""() => {
+              const key = Object.keys(localStorage).find(value => value.startsWith('stackchain.today-timer.v1.'));
+              const timer = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(key));
+              return timer.entries[timer.active_identity].running === true && !timer.search_interruption;
+            }""")
+            page.locator("#close-issue-sheet").click()
+
             page.locator("[data-mobile-today-more]").click()
             expect(page.locator("#mobile-today-actions")).to_be_visible()
             blocked = page.locator("[data-mobile-today-blocked]")
diff --git a/tests/test_command_palette.py b/tests/test_command_palette.py
index 63279a7..6cc06ad 100644
--- a/tests/test_command_palette.py
+++ b/tests/test_command_palette.py
@@ -951,6 +951,17 @@ def test_search_preview_offers_assign_and_start_for_eligible_issues():
     assert "grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))" in css
 
 
+def test_mobile_search_pauses_today_and_offers_a_lossless_return():
+    html = dashboard_bundle_text()
+    css = (FRONTEND / "dashboard.css").read_text()
+
+    assert html.count('<aside class="search-today-interruption" data-search-today-interruption') == 2
+    assert html.count('<button data-return-from-search type="button">') == 2
+    assert "taskOverlayHistory.leave();" in html
+    assert ".search-today-interruption" in css
+    assert ".search-today-interruption button { min-height:44px;" in css
+
+
 def test_search_preview_queues_eligible_issue_and_continues_preserved_search():
     html = dashboard_bundle_text()
     css = (FRONTEND / "dashboard.css").read_text()
diff --git a/tests/test_today_timer_handoff.py b/tests/test_today_timer_handoff.py
index a373a9e..0b76df4 100644
--- a/tests/test_today_timer_handoff.py
+++ b/tests/test_today_timer_handoff.py
@@ -173,3 +173,57 @@ process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({opened, shown, finished, closed, transferre
         "transferred": {"identity": "issue:r:1:", "resumed": False},
         "final": {"identity": "issue:r:1:", "elapsed_ms": 0, "running": False},
     }
+
+
+def test_search_leaves_manually_paused_work_alone_and_cannot_restore_replaced_work():
+    script = SOURCE.read_text() + r"""
+const values = new Map();
+const storage = {getItem:key=>values.get(key)||null,setItem:(key,value)=>values.set(key,value)};
+let now = 1000;
+const timer = createTodayTimer({storage, getLogin:()=> 'timmy', now:()=>now});
+timer.adopt('issue:r:1:', 3000, false);
+const pausedSearch = timer.beginSearch();
+timer.activate('issue:r:1:');
+const runningSearch = timer.beginSearch();
+timer.activate('issue:r:2:');
+const replacedReturn = timer.returnFromSearch();
+process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({pausedSearch, runningSearch, replacedReturn, snapshot:timer.snapshot()}));
+"""
+    completed = subprocess.run(["node", "-e", script], capture_output=True, text=True)
+
+    assert completed.returncode == 0, completed.stderr
+    assert json.loads(completed.stdout) == {
+        "pausedSearch": None,
+        "runningSearch": {"identity": "issue:r:1:", "resume": True},
+        "replacedReturn": None,
+        "snapshot": {"identity": "issue:r:2:", "elapsed_ms": 0, "running": True},
+    }
+
+
+def test_search_pauses_running_today_time_and_restores_exactly_once():
+    script = SOURCE.read_text() + r"""
+const values = new Map();
+const storage = {getItem:key=>values.get(key)||null,setItem:(key,value)=>values.set(key,value)};
+let now = 1000;
+const timer = createTodayTimer({storage, getLogin:()=> 'timmy', now:()=>now});
+timer.activate('issue:r:42:');
+now = 6000;
+const interruption = timer.beginSearch();
+now = 26000;
+const paused = timer.snapshot();
+const returned = timer.returnFromSearch();
+now = 28000;
+const restored = timer.snapshot();
+const repeated = timer.returnFromSearch();
+process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify({interruption, paused, returned, restored, repeated}));
+"""
+    completed = subprocess.run(["node", "-e", script], capture_output=True, text=True)
+
+    assert completed.returncode == 0, completed.stderr
+    assert json.loads(completed.stdout) == {
+        "interruption": {"identity": "issue:r:42:", "resume": True},
+        "paused": {"identity": "issue:r:42:", "elapsed_ms": 5000, "running": False},
+        "returned": {"identity": "issue:r:42:", "resumed": True},
+        "restored": {"identity": "issue:r:42:", "elapsed_ms": 7000, "running": True},
+        "repeated": None,
+    }