diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java
index 5ee20b8f4..48a513dec 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ public class StartConversationActivity extends XmppActivity implements XmppConne
 		@Override
 		public boolean onMenuItemActionExpand(MenuItem item) {
 			mSearchEditText.post(() -> {
+				updateSearchViewHint();
 				mSearchEditText.requestFocus();
 				if (oneShotKeyboardSuppress.compareAndSet(true, false)) {
 					return;
@@ -543,6 +544,17 @@ public class StartConversationActivity extends XmppActivity implements XmppConne
 		super.invalidateOptionsMenu();
 	}
 
+	private void updateSearchViewHint() {
+		if (binding == null || mSearchEditText == null) {
+			return;
+		}
+		if (binding.startConversationViewPager.getCurrentItem() == 0) {
+			mSearchEditText.setHint(R.string.search_contacts);
+		} else {
+			mSearchEditText.setHint(R.string.search_groups);
+		}
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
 		getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.start_conversation, menu);
@@ -564,6 +576,7 @@ public class StartConversationActivity extends XmppActivity implements XmppConne
 			mSearchEditText.append(initialSearchValue);
 			filter(initialSearchValue);
 		}
+		updateSearchViewHint();
 		return super.onCreateOptionsMenu(menu);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/main/res/layout/actionview_search.xml b/src/main/res/layout/actionview_search.xml
index 2c35438c7..9cee924e0 100644
--- a/src/main/res/layout/actionview_search.xml
+++ b/src/main/res/layout/actionview_search.xml
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
                 android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                 android:addStatesFromChildren="true"
                 android:focusable="true"
-                android:gravity="center"
-                android:paddingLeft="5dp"
-                android:paddingRight="5dp">
+                android:gravity="center">
 
     <EditText
         android:id="@+id/search_field"
@@ -14,7 +12,6 @@
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
         android:focusable="true"
-        android:hint="@string/search_for_contacts_or_groups"
         android:imeOptions="actionSearch"
         android:inputType="textEmailAddress|textNoSuggestions"/>
 
diff --git a/src/main/res/layout/activity_search.xml b/src/main/res/layout/activity_search.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b234ad7be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/res/layout/activity_search.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+  ~ Copyright (c) 2018, Daniel Gultsch All rights reserved.
+  ~
+  ~ Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+  ~ are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+  ~
+  ~ 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+  ~ list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+  ~
+  ~ 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+  ~ this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
+  ~ other materials provided with the distribution.
+  ~
+  ~ 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its contributors
+  ~ may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+  ~ specific prior written permission.
+  ~
+  ~ THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+  ~ ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+  ~ WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+  ~ DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
+  ~ ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+  ~ (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+  ~ LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
+  ~ ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+  ~ (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+  ~ SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+  -->
+
+<layout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
+
+    <LinearLayout
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:orientation="vertical">
+
+        <include
+            android:id="@+id/toolbar"
+            layout="@layout/toolbar"/>
+
+
+        <ListView
+            android:id="@+id/search_results"
+            android:layout_width="match_parent"
+            android:layout_height="match_parent"
+            android:background="?attr/color_background_secondary"
+            android:divider="@android:color/transparent"
+            android:dividerHeight="0dp"/>
+    </LinearLayout>
+</layout>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 35e1c5440..a0338a4f0 100644
--- a/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -426,7 +426,8 @@
     <string name="none">None</string>
     <string name="recently_used">Most recently used</string>
     <string name="choose_quick_action">Choose quick action</string>
-    <string name="search_for_contacts_or_groups">Search for contacts or groups</string>
+    <string name="search_contacts">Search contacts</string>
+    <string name="search_groups">Search group chats</string>
     <string name="send_private_message">Send private message</string>
     <string name="user_has_left_conference">%1$s has left the group chat!</string>
     <string name="username">Username</string>
diff --git a/src/main/res/values/styles.xml b/src/main/res/values/styles.xml
index e236a2943..3a163b9a8 100644
--- a/src/main/res/values/styles.xml
+++ b/src/main/res/values/styles.xml
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
     <style name="Widget.Conversations.SearchView" parent="Widget.Conversations.EditText">
         <item name="android:textColor">@color/white</item>
         <item name="android:textColorHint">@color/white70</item>
+        <item name="android:background">@android:color/transparent</item>
+        <item name="android:textSize">18sp</item>
     </style>
 
     <style name="Widget.Conversations.CheckBox" parent="Widget.AppCompat.CompoundButton.CheckBox">