diff --git a/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx b/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx
index ab2f6d2..f405ed4 100644
--- a/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx
+++ b/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export default function SearchFilterPanel({
   children,
   className,
   variant = 'default',
+  headerActions,
 }) {
   const embedded = variant === 'embedded';
   const ToggleIcon = collapsed ? ChevronUp : ChevronDown;
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ export default function SearchFilterPanel({
             Clear
           </Button>
         )}
+        {headerActions}
       </div>
 
       {!collapsed && (
diff --git a/client/components/tracker/TrackerBucket.jsx b/client/components/tracker/TrackerBucket.jsx
index a73f698..0d62bf2 100644
--- a/client/components/tracker/TrackerBucket.jsx
+++ b/client/components/tracker/TrackerBucket.jsx
@@ -1,17 +1,12 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { LayoutGroup } from 'framer-motion';
-import { ArrowDown, ArrowUp, Settings2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { ArrowDown, ArrowUp } from 'lucide-react';
 import { cn, fmt } from '@/lib/utils';
 import {
   Table, TableHeader, TableBody, TableHead, TableRow, TableCell,
 } from '@/components/ui/table';
-import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
-import {
-  DropdownMenu, DropdownMenuCheckboxItem, DropdownMenuContent, DropdownMenuLabel,
-  DropdownMenuSeparator, DropdownMenuTrigger,
-} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
 import { TRACKER_SORT_ASC, TRACKER_SORT_DEFAULT, moveInArray } from '@/lib/trackerUtils';
-import { TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS, DEFAULT_TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS } from '@/lib/trackerTableColumns';
+import { DEFAULT_TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS } from '@/lib/trackerTableColumns';
 import { TrackerRow as Row } from '@/components/tracker/TrackerRow';
 import { MobileTrackerRow } from '@/components/tracker/MobileTrackerRow';
 
@@ -61,8 +56,6 @@ export function TrackerBucket({
   onSort,
   driftedIds = new Set(),
   visibleColumns = DEFAULT_TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS,
-  onColumnToggle,
-  columnsSaving,
 }) {
   const [draggingId, setDraggingId] = useState(null);
   const [dropTargetId, setDropTargetId] = useState(null);
@@ -185,37 +178,6 @@ export function TrackerBucket({
           {!reorderEnabled && rows.length > 1 && (
             <span className="hidden text-[11px] text-muted-foreground/60 xl:inline">Clear filters to reorder</span>
           )}
-          <DropdownMenu>
-            <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-              <Button
-                type="button"
-                size="sm"
-                variant="outline"
-                className="hidden h-8 gap-1.5 px-2 text-[11px] lg:inline-flex"
-                disabled={columnsSaving}
-              >
-                <Settings2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-                Columns
-              </Button>
-            </DropdownMenuTrigger>
-            <DropdownMenuContent align="end" className="w-56">
-              <DropdownMenuLabel>Visible columns</DropdownMenuLabel>
-              <DropdownMenuSeparator />
-              <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem checked disabled>
-                Bill
-              </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
-              {TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS.map(column => (
-                <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem
-                  key={column.key}
-                  checked={showColumn(column.key)}
-                  onSelect={event => event.preventDefault()}
-                  onCheckedChange={checked => onColumnToggle?.(column.key, checked)}
-                >
-                  {column.label}
-                </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
-              ))}
-            </DropdownMenuContent>
-          </DropdownMenu>
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx b/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx
index 6416299..2cf688e 100644
--- a/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx
+++ b/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useMemo, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, AlertCircle, CheckCircle2, Plus, Search, RefreshCw, Landmark, ArrowUpToLine, ArrowUp, ArrowDown, BellOff, EyeOff } from 'lucide-react';
+import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, AlertCircle, CheckCircle2, Plus, Search, RefreshCw, Landmark, ArrowUpToLine, ArrowUp, ArrowDown, BellOff, Eye, EyeOff, Settings2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { api } from '@/api.js';
 import { useTracker, useDriftReport } from '@/hooks/useQueries';
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ import {
 import {
   Dialog, DialogContent, DialogHeader, DialogTitle, DialogFooter, DialogDescription,
 } from '@/components/ui/dialog';
+import {
+  DropdownMenu, DropdownMenuCheckboxItem, DropdownMenuContent, DropdownMenuLabel,
+  DropdownMenuSeparator, DropdownMenuTrigger,
+} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
 
 import StartingAmountsEditDialog from '@/components/tracker/StartingAmountsEditDialog';
 import OverdueCommandCenter from '@/components/tracker/OverdueCommandCenter';
@@ -30,7 +34,7 @@ import {
   TRACKER_SORT_DEFAULT_DIRS, TRACKER_SORT_LABELS,
   normalizeTrackerSortKey, normalizeTrackerSortDir, sortTrackerRows,
 } from '@/lib/trackerUtils';
-import { parseTrackerTableColumns, trackerTableColumnsToSetting } from '@/lib/trackerTableColumns';
+import { TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS, parseTrackerTableColumns, trackerTableColumnsToSetting } from '@/lib/trackerTableColumns';
 import { FilterChip } from '@/components/tracker/FilterChip';
 import { SummaryCard, TrendCard } from '@/components/tracker/SummaryCards';
 import { PaymentLedgerDialog } from '@/components/tracker/PaymentLedgerDialog';
@@ -118,6 +122,44 @@ function BankProjectionBanner({ bankTracking, onSnooze, onIgnore, busy }) {
   );
 }
 
+function TrackerColumnMenu({ visibleColumns, onColumnToggle, saving }) {
+  const visibleSet = new Set(visibleColumns);
+
+  return (
+    <DropdownMenu>
+      <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+        <Button
+          type="button"
+          size="sm"
+          variant="outline"
+          className="h-8 gap-1.5 px-2.5 text-xs"
+          disabled={saving}
+        >
+          <Settings2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          <span className="hidden sm:inline">Columns</span>
+        </Button>
+      </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+      <DropdownMenuContent align="end" className="w-56">
+        <DropdownMenuLabel>Table columns</DropdownMenuLabel>
+        <DropdownMenuSeparator />
+        <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem checked disabled>
+          Bill
+        </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
+        {TRACKER_TABLE_COLUMNS.map(column => (
+          <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem
+            key={column.key}
+            checked={visibleSet.has(column.key)}
+            onSelect={event => event.preventDefault()}
+            onCheckedChange={checked => onColumnToggle?.(column.key, checked)}
+          >
+            {column.label}
+          </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
+        ))}
+      </DropdownMenuContent>
+    </DropdownMenu>
+  );
+}
+
 // ── Main page ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 function LateAttributionDialog({ attr, remaining, busy, onAccept, onDismiss }) {
   if (!attr) return null;
@@ -391,6 +433,18 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
       tracker_table_columns: trackerTableColumnsToSetting(nextColumns),
     });
   }
+
+  function hideSearchSortPanel() {
+    saveTrackerSettings({
+      tracker_show_search_sort: 'false',
+    }, 'Search & sort hidden.');
+  }
+
+  function showSearchSortPanel() {
+    saveTrackerSettings({
+      tracker_show_search_sort: 'true',
+    });
+  }
   const toggleFilter = (key) => {
     const paramMap = { autopay: 'ap', firstBucket: 'b1', fifteenthBucket: 'b2', unpaid: 'un', overdue: 'ov', debt: 'de' };
     updateParams({ [paramMap[key]]: !filters[key] });
@@ -438,6 +492,8 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
     || filters.debt
     || hasSort
   );
+  const searchResultLabel = `${filteredRows.length} of ${rows.length} shown`;
+  const searchSortLabel = hasSort ? `sorted by ${TRACKER_SORT_LABELS[sortKey]} ${sortDir === TRACKER_SORT_ASC ? 'ascending' : 'descending'}` : null;
   const resetFilters = () => {
     updateParams({ q: null, fc: null, cy: null, ap: null, b1: null, b2: null, un: null, ov: null, de: null, sort: null, dir: null });
   };
@@ -617,9 +673,29 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
           collapsed={searchPanelCollapsed}
           onCollapsedChange={setSearchPanelCollapsed}
           hasFilters={hasFilters}
-          resultLabel={`${filteredRows.length} of ${rows.length} shown`}
-          sortLabel={hasSort ? `sorted by ${TRACKER_SORT_LABELS[sortKey]} ${sortDir === TRACKER_SORT_ASC ? 'ascending' : 'descending'}` : null}
+          resultLabel={searchResultLabel}
+          sortLabel={searchSortLabel}
           onClear={resetFilters}
+          headerActions={(
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <TrackerColumnMenu
+                visibleColumns={visibleTableColumns}
+                onColumnToggle={handleTableColumnToggle}
+                saving={savingTrackerSetting}
+              />
+              <Button
+                type="button"
+                size="sm"
+                variant="ghost"
+                onClick={hideSearchSortPanel}
+                disabled={savingTrackerSetting}
+                className="h-8 gap-1.5 px-2.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+              >
+                <EyeOff className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                <span className="hidden sm:inline">Hide</span>
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+          )}
         >
           <div className="grid gap-3 md:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-[minmax(220px,1fr)_220px_180px_220px_auto] xl:items-center">
             <label className="relative">
@@ -693,6 +769,30 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
           </div>
         </SearchFilterPanel>
       )}
+      {!showSearchSort && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={showSearchSortPanel}
+          disabled={savingTrackerSetting}
+          className="group flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-xl border border-dashed border-border/80 bg-card/55 px-4 py-3 text-left shadow-sm transition-colors hover:border-primary/40 hover:bg-card/85 focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+        >
+          <span className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-3">
+            <span className="flex h-8 w-8 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg border border-primary/15 bg-primary/10 text-primary">
+              <Search className="h-4 w-4" />
+            </span>
+            <span className="min-w-0">
+              <span className="block text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">Show Search & sort</span>
+              <span className="block truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                {[searchResultLabel, hasFilters ? 'filters active' : 'no filters', searchSortLabel].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}
+              </span>
+            </span>
+          </span>
+          <span className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground transition-colors group-hover:bg-accent group-hover:text-foreground">
+            <Eye className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            Restore
+          </span>
+        </button>
+      )}
 
       {/* ── Summary cards (backend already excludes skipped from totals) ── */}
       {showSummaryCards && loading ? (
@@ -865,8 +965,8 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
       )}
       {!isError && (first.length > 0 || second.length > 0) && (
         <div className="space-y-5">
-          {first.length  > 0 && <Bucket label="1st – 14th"  rows={first}  year={year} month={month} refresh={refetch} onEditBill={handleOpenEditBill} loading={loading} reorderEnabled={reorderEnabled} movingBillId={movingBillId} sortKey={sortKey} sortDir={sortDir} onSort={handleSortHeader} onReorderRows={(next) => handleReorderBucket('1st', next)} driftedIds={driftedIds} visibleColumns={visibleTableColumns} onColumnToggle={handleTableColumnToggle} columnsSaving={savingTrackerSetting} />}
-          {second.length > 0 && <Bucket label="15th – 31st" rows={second} year={year} month={month} refresh={refetch} onEditBill={handleOpenEditBill} loading={loading} reorderEnabled={reorderEnabled} movingBillId={movingBillId} sortKey={sortKey} sortDir={sortDir} onSort={handleSortHeader} onReorderRows={(next) => handleReorderBucket('15th', next)} driftedIds={driftedIds} visibleColumns={visibleTableColumns} onColumnToggle={handleTableColumnToggle} columnsSaving={savingTrackerSetting} />}
+          {first.length  > 0 && <Bucket label="1st – 14th"  rows={first}  year={year} month={month} refresh={refetch} onEditBill={handleOpenEditBill} loading={loading} reorderEnabled={reorderEnabled} movingBillId={movingBillId} sortKey={sortKey} sortDir={sortDir} onSort={handleSortHeader} onReorderRows={(next) => handleReorderBucket('1st', next)} driftedIds={driftedIds} visibleColumns={visibleTableColumns} />}
+          {second.length > 0 && <Bucket label="15th – 31st" rows={second} year={year} month={month} refresh={refetch} onEditBill={handleOpenEditBill} loading={loading} reorderEnabled={reorderEnabled} movingBillId={movingBillId} sortKey={sortKey} sortDir={sortDir} onSort={handleSortHeader} onReorderRows={(next) => handleReorderBucket('15th', next)} driftedIds={driftedIds} visibleColumns={visibleTableColumns} />}
         </div>
       )}