diff --git a/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.test.tsx b/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.test.tsx
index 09469f93..65920925 100644
--- a/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.test.tsx
@@ -245,6 +245,12 @@ describe('BreadcrumbBar — action buttons always right-aligned', () => {
     expect(actions).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(actions).toHaveClass('ml-auto')
   })
+
+  it('does not render the unused backlinks or more-actions placeholders', () => {
+    render(<BreadcrumbBar entry={baseEntry} {...defaultProps} />)
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: 'Backlinks are coming soon' })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: 'More note actions are coming soon' })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
 })
 
 describe('BreadcrumbBar — raw editor toggle', () => {
diff --git a/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.tsx b/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.tsx
index 58fe1472..a53732e3 100644
--- a/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.tsx
+++ b/src/components/BreadcrumbBar.tsx
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@ import { TooltipProvider } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import {
   GitBranch,
   Code,
-  CursorText,
   Sparkle,
   SlidersHorizontal,
-  DotsThree,
   Trash,
   Archive,
   ArrowUUpLeft,
@@ -214,14 +212,6 @@ function DiffAction({
   )
 }
 
-function PlaceholderAction({ copy, children }: { copy: ActionTooltipCopy; children: ReactNode }) {
-  return (
-    <IconActionButton copy={copy} style={DISABLED_ICON_STYLE}>
-      {children}
-    </IconActionButton>
-  )
-}
-
 function AIChatAction({ showAIChat, onToggleAIChat }: Pick<BreadcrumbBarProps, 'showAIChat' | 'onToggleAIChat'>) {
   const copy: ActionTooltipCopy = {
     label: showAIChat ? 'Close the AI panel' : 'Open the AI panel',
@@ -481,16 +471,10 @@ function BreadcrumbActions({
         onToggleDiff={onToggleDiff}
       />
       {!forceRawMode && <RawToggleButton rawMode={rawMode} onToggleRaw={onToggleRaw} />}
-      <PlaceholderAction copy={{ label: 'Backlinks are coming soon' }}>
-        <CursorText size={16} className={BREADCRUMB_ICON_CLASS} />
-      </PlaceholderAction>
       <AIChatAction showAIChat={showAIChat} onToggleAIChat={onToggleAIChat} />
       <ArchiveAction archived={entry.archived} onArchive={onArchive} onUnarchive={onUnarchive} />
       <DeleteAction onDelete={onDelete} />
       <InspectorAction inspectorCollapsed={inspectorCollapsed} onToggleInspector={onToggleInspector} />
-      <PlaceholderAction copy={{ label: 'More note actions are coming soon' }}>
-        <DotsThree size={16} className={BREADCRUMB_ICON_CLASS} />
-      </PlaceholderAction>
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/components/NoteList.rendering.test.tsx b/src/components/NoteList.rendering.test.tsx
index 515de246..8677695b 100644
--- a/src/components/NoteList.rendering.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NoteList.rendering.test.tsx
@@ -295,6 +295,35 @@ describe('NoteList rendering', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('keeps the note-list search input full width and shows only an inline spinner while loading', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    try {
+      renderNoteList({
+        entries: [
+          makeEntry({ path: '/vault/a.md', filename: 'a.md', title: 'Alpha Strategy' }),
+          makeEntry({ path: '/vault/b.md', filename: 'b.md', title: 'Beta Note' }),
+        ],
+      })
+
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByTitle('Search notes'))
+      fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText('Search notes...'), { target: { value: 'strategy' } })
+
+      const searchInput = screen.getByPlaceholderText('Search notes...')
+      expect(searchInput).toHaveClass('pr-8')
+      expect(searchInput.parentElement).toHaveClass('relative', 'flex-1')
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('note-list-search-loading')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Searching...')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+
+      act(() => {
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(180)
+      })
+
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId('note-list-search-loading')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('shows backlinks from outgoing links in entity view', () => {
     const entriesWithBacklink = mockEntries.map((entry) =>
       entry.path === mockEntries[2].path ? { ...entry, outgoingLinks: ['Build Laputa App'] } : entry,
diff --git a/src/components/note-list/NoteListHeader.tsx b/src/components/note-list/NoteListHeader.tsx
index 30cc9c3b..f8245911 100644
--- a/src/components/note-list/NoteListHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/components/note-list/NoteListHeader.tsx
@@ -55,23 +55,23 @@ export function NoteListHeader({ title, typeDocument, isEntityView, listSort, li
       </div>
       {searchVisible && (
         <div className="border-b border-border px-3 py-2">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+          <div className="relative flex-1" aria-live="polite">
             <Input
               ref={searchInputRef}
               placeholder="Search notes..."
               value={search}
               onChange={(e) => onSearchChange(e.target.value)}
               onKeyDown={onSearchKeyDown}
-              className="h-8 text-[13px]"
+              className="h-8 pr-8 text-[13px]"
             />
-            <div className="min-w-[92px] text-[12px] text-muted-foreground" aria-live="polite">
-              {isSearching && (
-                <span className="flex items-center gap-1" data-testid="note-list-search-loading">
-                  <Loader2 size={12} className="animate-spin" />
-                  Searching...
-                </span>
-              )}
-            </div>
+            {isSearching && (
+              <span
+                className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-y-0 right-3 flex items-center text-muted-foreground"
+                data-testid="note-list-search-loading"
+              >
+                <Loader2 size={12} className="animate-spin" />
+              </span>
+            )}
           </div>
         </div>
       )}