Searching with slash alternates between searching and entering insert mode

[Ewan Edwards (jtiee)]

Starting in 2026.x and persisting in 2026.1.1 RC, when I search the content with / and press Return, the search occurs only the first time. The second time, insert mode is entered, and the Return creates a newline at the cursor position.

If I then exit insert mode, search happens with the next / + Return. The next / + Return re-enters insert mode.

This makes navigating content by search matches pretty frustrating.

Is there any configuration change or other workaround for this problem?

[Matt Ellis (citizenmatt)]

It's a bug, unfortunately. There's a ticket for it here: VIM-4200. It's marked as "in progress", so I'd expect it to be fixed soon.