diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/ShearedSearchTextBox.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/ShearedSearchTextBox.cs
index a6954fafb1..fb0a66cb8d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/ShearedSearchTextBox.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/ShearedSearchTextBox.cs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Shapes;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.UserInterface;
+using osu.Framework.Localisation;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Game.Overlays;
 using osu.Game.Overlays.Mods;
@@ -37,6 +38,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface
             set => textBox.HoldFocus = value;
         }
 
+        public LocalisableString PlaceholderText
+        {
+            get => textBox.PlaceholderText;
+            set => textBox.PlaceholderText = value;
+        }
+
         public new bool HasFocus => textBox.HasFocus;
 
         public void TakeFocus() => textBox.TakeFocus();
diff --git a/osu.Game/Localisation/ModSelectOverlayStrings.cs b/osu.Game/Localisation/ModSelectOverlayStrings.cs
index f11c52ee20..05dcf138d7 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Localisation/ModSelectOverlayStrings.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Localisation/ModSelectOverlayStrings.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
+// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
 // See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
 
 using osu.Framework.Localisation;
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Localisation
         /// </summary>
         public static LocalisableString UseCurrentMods => new TranslatableString(getKey(@"use_current_mods"), @"Use current mods");
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// "tab to search..."
+        /// </summary>
+        public static LocalisableString TabToSearch => new TranslatableString(getKey(@"tab_to_search"), @"tab to search...");
+
         private static string getKey(string key) => $@"{prefix}:{key}";
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectOverlay.cs
index 23e278e378..2f39758982 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectOverlay.cs
@@ -303,6 +303,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Mods
             });
         }
 
+        protected override void Update()
+        {
+            base.Update();
+
+            SearchTextBox.PlaceholderText = SearchTextBox.HasFocus ? Resources.Localisation.Web.CommonStrings.InputSearch : ModSelectOverlayStrings.TabToSearch;
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Select all visible mods in all columns.
         /// </summary>