diff --git a/src/features/searchHistory/useRecentSearchesSource.ts b/src/features/searchHistory/useRecentSearchesSource.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6ec0de989
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/searchHistory/useRecentSearchesSource.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import {parseHistoryEntry} from '#/screens/Search/searchParams'
+import {
+  type AutocompleteItem,
+  type LocalSource,
+} from '#/components/Autocomplete/types'
+import {useSearchHistory} from './index'
+
+/**
+ * Recent searches as an autocomplete LocalSource: recently searched profiles
+ * first, then recent search terms. Most recent first (storage order).
+ */
+export function useRecentSearchesSource({
+  profilesOnly = false,
+}: {profilesOnly?: boolean} = {}): LocalSource {
+  const {termHistory, profiles} = useSearchHistory()
+
+  const items: AutocompleteItem[] = profiles.map(profile => ({
+    key: profile.did,
+    type: 'profile' as const,
+    value: '@' + profile.handle,
+    profile,
+  }))
+
+  if (!profilesOnly) {
+    for (const entry of termHistory) {
+      /* Filtered searches lose their filters here - selecting the item runs
+       * a plain term search, same as the search fallback row. */
+      const {q} = parseHistoryEntry(entry)
+      if (!q) continue
+      items.push({key: `recent-${q}`, type: 'search' as const, value: q})
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {key: 'recents', items}
+}