diff --git a/packages/tree-extension/schema/widget.json b/packages/tree-extension/schema/widget.json
index 53e57c6d51..e62f7c358d 100644
--- a/packages/tree-extension/schema/widget.json
+++ b/packages/tree-extension/schema/widget.json
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
   "jupyter.lab.toolbars": {
     "FileBrowser": [
       { "name": "spacer", "type": "spacer", "rank": 900 },
-      { "name": "fileNameSearcher", "rank": 950, "disabled": true },
       { "name": "new-dropdown", "rank": 1000 },
       { "name": "uploader", "rank": 1010 },
       { "name": "refresh", "command": "filebrowser:refresh", "rank": 1020 }
diff --git a/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts
index 4f61cacdfa..3162f3c5e7 100644
--- a/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -34,9 +34,7 @@ import { ITranslator } from '@jupyterlab/translation';
 
 import {
   caretDownIcon,
-  FilenameSearcher,
   folderIcon,
-  IScore,
   runningIcon,
 } from '@jupyterlab/ui-components';
 
@@ -58,17 +56,14 @@ const FILE_BROWSER_FACTORY = 'FileBrowser';
  */
 const FILE_BROWSER_PLUGIN_ID = '@jupyterlab/filebrowser-extension:browser';
 
-/**
- * The class name added to the filebrowser filterbox node.
- */
-const FILTERBOX_CLASS = 'jp-FileBrowser-filterBox';
-
 /**
  * The namespace for command IDs.
  */
 namespace CommandIDs {
   // The command to activate the filebrowser widget in tree view.
   export const activate = 'filebrowser:activate';
+
+  export const toggleFileFilter = 'filebrowser:toggle-file-filter';
 }
 
 /**
@@ -325,28 +320,6 @@ const notebookTreeWidget: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<INotebookTree> = {
         })
     );
 
-    toolbarRegistry.addFactory(
-      FILE_BROWSER_FACTORY,
-      'fileNameSearcher',
-      (browser: FileBrowser) => {
-        const searcher = FilenameSearcher({
-          updateFilter: (
-            filterFn: (item: string) => Partial<IScore> | null,
-            query?: string
-          ) => {
-            browser.model.setFilter((value) => {
-              return filterFn(value.name.toLowerCase());
-            });
-          },
-          useFuzzyFilter: true,
-          placeholder: trans.__('Filter files by name'),
-          forceRefresh: true,
-        });
-        searcher.addClass(FILTERBOX_CLASS);
-        return searcher;
-      }
-    );
-
     setToolbar(
       browser,
       createToolbarFactory(