diff --git a/src/lib/__tests__/list-back.test.ts b/src/lib/__tests__/list-back.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..529d7ac7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/__tests__/list-back.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { listBackStep } from '../list-back';
+
+describe('listBackStep', () => {
+  it('ends selection mode first', () => {
+    expect(listBackStep({ selecting: true, searching: true })).toBe('clear-selection');
+  });
+
+  it('clears an open search instead of leaving the app', () => {
+    expect(listBackStep({ selecting: false, searching: true })).toBe('clear-search');
+  });
+
+  it('leaves only from a plain list', () => {
+    expect(listBackStep({ selecting: false, searching: false })).toBe('leave');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/list-back.ts b/src/lib/list-back.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cba9ef8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/list-back.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/** What Android back does on a list screen (mail, contacts). */
+export type ListBackStep = 'clear-selection' | 'clear-search' | 'leave';
+
+/**
+ * Back works through the list's own layers first: selection mode ends, then
+ * an open search (and on mail its filters) clears. Only a plain list lets
+ * back `leave`: on the mail root that closes the app, on another tab it goes
+ * back to Mail. A search used to exit the app straight away.
+ */
+export function listBackStep(state: { selecting: boolean; searching: boolean }): ListBackStep {
+  if (state.selecting) return 'clear-selection';
+  if (state.searching) return 'clear-search';
+  return 'leave';
+}
diff --git a/src/screens/EmailListScreen.tsx b/src/screens/EmailListScreen.tsx
index 57cd0c28..ca9d22b2 100644
--- a/src/screens/EmailListScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/EmailListScreen.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import {
 } from '../stores/email-store';
 import { useSettingsStore, type SwipeAction, type SwipeMode } from '../stores/settings-store';
 import { useKeywordsStore, type KeywordDef } from '../stores/keywords-store';
+import { useBackWhileFocused } from '../lib/use-back-while-focused';
+import { listBackStep } from '../lib/list-back';
 import { useLocaleStore } from '../stores/locale-store';
 import { useSearchHistoryStore } from '../stores/search-history-store';
 import { useContactsStore } from '../stores/contacts-store';
@@ -885,6 +887,22 @@ export default function EmailListScreen({
     (filters.keyword ? 1 : 0) +
     (filters.folder && filters.folder !== 'current' ? 1 : 0);
   const hasActiveSearchOrFilter = Boolean(storeSearchQuery) || activeFilterCount > 0;
+
+  // Back first leaves the selection, then the search and filters; only then
+  // does it leave the app (it used to exit with a search still open).
+  const backStep = listBackStep({
+    selecting: selectionMode,
+    searching: hasActiveSearchOrFilter || searchInput.length > 0,
+  });
+  const handleBack = React.useCallback(() => {
+    if (backStep === 'clear-selection') {
+      clearSelection();
+    } else if (backStep === 'clear-search') {
+      setSearchInput('');
+      clearSearchAndFilters();
+    }
+  }, [backStep, clearSelection, clearSearchAndFilters]);
+  useBackWhileFocused(backStep !== 'leave', handleBack);
   const folderScope = effectiveFolderScope(storeSearchQuery, filters);
   // Accounts an "All folders" list could not reach (#1082).
   const unreachedAccounts = spansAccounts({ searchQuery: storeSearchQuery, filters })