Here’s some code that will set the focus to the search field when clicking on the Add Media button or when opening the media modal when setting a featured image. Add this code to your theme’s functions.php or to a plugin to use it.
Note: This is an updated version of my original solution. I think this one is a little more flexible and reliable because it leverages the WP Media API.
/**
* When a wp.media Modal is opened, set the focus to the media toolbar's search field.
*/
add_action( 'admin_footer-post-new.php', 'wpse_media_library_search_focus' );
add_action( 'admin_footer-post.php', 'wpse_media_library_search_focus' );
function wpse_media_library_search_focus() { ?>
<script type="text/javascript">
( function( $ ) {
$( document ).ready( function() {
// Ensure the wp.media object is set, otherwise we can't do anything.
if ( wp.media ) {
// Ensure that the Modal is ready. This approach resolves the
// need for timers which were used in a previous version of my answer
// due to the modal not being ready yet.
wp.media.view.Modal.prototype.on( "ready", function() {
// console.log( "media modal ready" );
// Execute this code when a Modal is opened.
// via https://gist.github.com/soderlind/370720db977f27c20360
wp.media.view.Modal.prototype.on( "open", function() {
// console.log( "media modal open" );
// Select the the .media-modal within the current backbone view,
// find the search input, and set the focus.
// http://stackoverflow.com/a/8934067/3059883
$( ".media-modal", this.el ).find( "#media-search-input" ).focus();
});
// Execute this code when a Modal is closed.
wp.media.view.Modal.prototype.on( "close", function() {
// console.log( "media modal close" );
});
});
}
});
})( jQuery );
</script><?php
}
For posterity’s sake, here is the original version that I posted. I think the version above is much better.
add_action( 'admin_footer-post-new.php', 'wpse_media_library_search_focus_old' );
add_action( 'admin_footer-post.php', 'wpse_media_library_search_focus_old' );
function wpse_media_library_search_focus_old() {
?>
<script type="text/javascript">
(function($) {
$(document).ready( function() {
// Focus the search field for Posts
// http://wordpress-hackers.1065353.n5.nabble.com/JavaScript-events-on-media-popup-td42941.html
$(document.body).on( 'click', '.insert-media', function( event ) {
wp.media.controller.Library.prototype.defaults.contentUserSetting = false;
setTimeout(function(){
$("[id^=__wp-uploader-id]").each( function( index ) {
if ( $(this).css('display') != 'none' ) {
$(this).find("#media-search-input").focus();
}
});
}, 20);
});
// Focus the search field for Post Thumbnails
$( '#set-post-thumbnail').on( 'click', function( event ) {
wp.media.controller.FeaturedImage.prototype.defaults.contentUserSetting = true;
setTimeout(function(){
$("[id^=__wp-uploader-id]").each( function( index ) {
//alert( index + ": " + value );
if ( $(this).css('display') != 'none' ) {
$(this).find("#media-search-input").focus();
}
});
}, 20);
});
});
})(jQuery);
</script><?php
}