diff --git a/client/src/components/layouts/global.css b/client/src/components/layouts/global.css
index b9847dbb0e..c6c2259257 100644
--- a/client/src/components/layouts/global.css
+++ b/client/src/components/layouts/global.css
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ th {
   color: var(--secondary-color);
 }
 
-a:hover {
+a:not(.fcc_suggestion_item):hover {
   color: var(--tertiary-color);
   background-color: var(--tertiary-background);
 }
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ a:focus {
 }
 
 .btn:active:hover,
+.btn-primary:hover,
 .btn-primary:active:hover,
 .btn-primary.active:hover,
 .open > .dropdown-toggle.btn-primary:hover,
diff --git a/client/src/components/search/WithInstantSearch.js b/client/src/components/search/WithInstantSearch.js
index 0667fc7068..25211f674a 100644
--- a/client/src/components/search/WithInstantSearch.js
+++ b/client/src/components/search/WithInstantSearch.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-import React, { Component } from 'react';
+import React, { Component, Fragment } from 'react';
 import { Location } from '@reach/router';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import { InstantSearch, Configure } from 'react-instantsearch-dom';
 import qs from 'query-string';
 import { navigate } from 'gatsby';
+import Media from 'react-responsive';
 
 import {
   isSearchDropdownEnabledSelector,
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ class InstantSearchRoot extends Component {
 
   render() {
     const { query } = this.props;
+    const MAX_MOBILE_HEIGHT = 768;
     return (
       <InstantSearch
         apiKey='4318af87aa3ce128708f1153556c6108'
@@ -124,7 +126,18 @@ class InstantSearchRoot extends Component {
         onSearchStateChange={this.onSearchStateChange}
         searchState={{ query }}
       >
-        <Configure hitsPerPage={15} />
+        {this.isSearchPage() ? (
+          <Configure hitsPerPage={15} />
+        ) : (
+          <Fragment>
+            <Media maxHeight={MAX_MOBILE_HEIGHT}>
+              <Configure hitsPerPage={5} />
+            </Media>
+            <Media minHeight={MAX_MOBILE_HEIGHT + 1}>
+              <Configure hitsPerPage={8} />
+            </Media>
+          </Fragment>
+        )}
         {this.props.children}
       </InstantSearch>
     );
diff --git a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchBar.js b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchBar.js
index e3c3ad080f..dc2109e230 100644
--- a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchBar.js
+++ b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchBar.js
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import { bindActionCreators } from 'redux';
 import { createSelector } from 'reselect';
 import { SearchBox } from 'react-instantsearch-dom';
+import { HotKeys, configure } from 'react-hotkeys';
+import { isEqual } from 'lodash';
 
 import {
   isSearchDropdownEnabledSelector,
@@ -17,6 +19,9 @@ import SearchHits from './SearchHits';
 import './searchbar-base.css';
 import './searchbar.css';
 
+// Configure react-hotkeys to work with the searchbar
+configure({ ignoreTags: ['select', 'textarea'] });
+
 const propTypes = {
   isDropdownEnabled: PropTypes.bool,
   isSearchFocused: PropTypes.bool,
@@ -48,19 +53,25 @@ class SearchBar extends Component {
 
     this.searchBarRef = React.createRef();
     this.handleChange = this.handleChange.bind(this);
-    this.handlePageClick = this.handlePageClick.bind(this);
     this.handleSearch = this.handleSearch.bind(this);
+    this.handleMouseEnter = this.handleMouseEnter.bind(this);
+    this.handleMouseLeave = this.handleMouseLeave.bind(this);
+    this.handleFocus = this.handleFocus.bind(this);
+    this.handleHits = this.handleHits.bind(this);
+    this.state = {
+      index: -1,
+      hits: []
+    };
   }
 
   componentDidMount() {
     const searchInput = document.querySelector('.ais-SearchBox-input');
     searchInput.id = 'fcc_instantsearch';
-
-    document.addEventListener('click', this.handlePageClick);
+    document.addEventListener('click', this.handleFocus);
   }
 
   componentWillUnmount() {
-    document.removeEventListener('click', this.handlePageClick);
+    document.removeEventListener('click', this.handleFocus);
   }
 
   handleChange() {
@@ -68,53 +79,136 @@ class SearchBar extends Component {
     if (!isSearchFocused) {
       toggleSearchFocused(true);
     }
+
+    this.setState({
+      index: -1
+    });
   }
 
-  handlePageClick(e) {
+  handleFocus(e) {
     const { toggleSearchFocused } = this.props;
-    const isSearchFocusedClick = this.searchBarRef.current.contains(e.target);
-    return toggleSearchFocused(isSearchFocusedClick);
+    const isSearchFocused = this.searchBarRef.current.contains(e.target);
+    if (!isSearchFocused) {
+      // Reset if user clicks outside of
+      // search bar / closes dropdown
+      this.setState({ index: -1 });
+    }
+    return toggleSearchFocused(isSearchFocused);
   }
 
   handleSearch(e, query) {
     e.preventDefault();
     const { toggleSearchDropdown, updateSearchQuery } = this.props;
-    // disable the search dropdown
+    const { index, hits } = this.state;
+    const selectedHit = hits[index];
+
+    // Disable the search dropdown
     toggleSearchDropdown(false);
-    if (query) {
-      updateSearchQuery(query);
+    if (selectedHit) {
+      // Redirect to hit / footer selected by arrow keys
+      return window.location.assign(selectedHit.url);
+    } else if (!query) {
+      // Set query to value in search bar if enter is pressed
+      query = e.currentTarget.children[0].value;
     }
+    updateSearchQuery(query);
+
     // For Learn search results page
     // return navigate('/search');
 
     // Temporary redirect to News search results page
-    return window.location.assign(
-      `https://freecodecamp.org/news/search/?query=${query}`
-    );
+    // when non-empty search input submitted
+    return query
+      ? window.location.assign(
+          `https://freecodecamp.org/news/search/?query=${encodeURIComponent(
+            query
+          )}`
+        )
+      : false;
   }
 
+  handleMouseEnter(e) {
+    e.persist();
+    const hoveredText = e.currentTarget.innerText;
+
+    this.setState(({ hits }) => {
+      const hitsTitles = hits.map(hit => hit.title);
+      const hoveredIndex = hitsTitles.indexOf(hoveredText);
+
+      return { index: hoveredIndex };
+    });
+  }
+
+  handleMouseLeave() {
+    this.setState({
+      index: -1
+    });
+  }
+
+  handleHits(currHits) {
+    const { hits } = this.state;
+
+    if (!isEqual(hits, currHits)) {
+      this.setState({
+        index: -1,
+        hits: currHits
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  keyMap = {
+    INDEX_UP: ['up'],
+    INDEX_DOWN: ['down']
+  };
+
+  keyHandlers = {
+    INDEX_UP: e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      this.setState(({ index, hits }) => ({
+        index: index === -1 ? hits.length - 1 : index - 1
+      }));
+    },
+    INDEX_DOWN: e => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      this.setState(({ index, hits }) => ({
+        index: index === hits.length - 1 ? -1 : index + 1
+      }));
+    }
+  };
+
   render() {
     const { isDropdownEnabled, isSearchFocused } = this.props;
+    const { index } = this.state;
+
     return (
       <div
         className='fcc_searchBar'
         data-testid='fcc_searchBar'
         ref={this.searchBarRef}
       >
-        <div className='fcc_search_wrapper'>
-          <label className='fcc_sr_only' htmlFor='fcc_instantsearch'>
-            Search
-          </label>
-          <SearchBox
-            onChange={this.handleChange}
-            onSubmit={this.handleSearch}
-            showLoadingIndicator={true}
-            translations={{ placeholder }}
-          />
-          {isDropdownEnabled && isSearchFocused && (
-            <SearchHits handleSubmit={this.handleSearch} />
-          )}
-        </div>
+        <HotKeys handlers={this.keyHandlers} keyMap={this.keyMap}>
+          <div className='fcc_search_wrapper'>
+            <label className='fcc_sr_only' htmlFor='fcc_instantsearch'>
+              Search
+            </label>
+            <SearchBox
+              focusShortcuts={[83, 191]}
+              onChange={this.handleChange}
+              onFocus={this.handleFocus}
+              onSubmit={this.handleSearch}
+              showLoadingIndicator={true}
+              translations={{ placeholder }}
+            />
+            {isDropdownEnabled && isSearchFocused && (
+              <SearchHits
+                handleHits={this.handleHits}
+                handleMouseEnter={this.handleMouseEnter}
+                handleMouseLeave={this.handleMouseLeave}
+                selectedIndex={index}
+              />
+            )}
+          </div>
+        </HotKeys>
       </div>
     );
   }
diff --git a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchHits.js b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchHits.js
index bf7d3f52a4..c5abfbc719 100644
--- a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchHits.js
+++ b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchHits.js
@@ -1,50 +1,89 @@
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { connectStateResults, connectHits } from 'react-instantsearch-dom';
 import isEmpty from 'lodash/isEmpty';
 import Suggestion from './SearchSuggestion';
 
-const CustomHits = connectHits(({ hits, currentRefinement, handleSubmit }) => {
-  const shortenedHits = hits.filter((hit, i) => i < 8);
-  const defaultHit = [
-    {
-      objectID: `default-hit-${currentRefinement}`,
-      query: currentRefinement,
-      _highlightResult: {
-        query: {
-          value: `
+const CustomHits = connectHits(
+  ({
+    hits,
+    searchQuery,
+    handleMouseEnter,
+    handleMouseLeave,
+    selectedIndex,
+    handleHits
+  }) => {
+    const footer = [
+      {
+        objectID: `default-hit-${searchQuery}`,
+        query: searchQuery,
+        url: `https://freecodecamp.org/news/search/?query=${encodeURIComponent(
+          searchQuery
+        )}`,
+        title: `See all results for ${searchQuery}`,
+        _highlightResult: {
+          query: {
+            value: `
             See all results for
             <ais-highlight-0000000000>
-            ${currentRefinement}
+            ${searchQuery}
             </ais-highlight-0000000000>
           `
+          }
         }
       }
-    }
-  ];
-  return (
-    <div className='ais-Hits'>
-      <ul className='ais-Hits-list'>
-        {shortenedHits.concat(defaultHit).map(hit => (
-          <li
-            className='ais-Hits-item'
-            data-fccobjectid={hit.objectID}
-            key={hit.objectID}
-          >
-            <Suggestion handleSubmit={handleSubmit} hit={hit} />
-          </li>
-        ))}
-      </ul>
-    </div>
-  );
-});
+    ];
+    const allHits = hits.slice(0, 8).concat(footer);
+    useEffect(() => {
+      handleHits(allHits);
+    });
 
-const SearchHits = connectStateResults(({ handleSubmit, searchState }) => {
-  return isEmpty(searchState) || !searchState.query ? null : (
-    <CustomHits
-      currentRefinement={searchState.query}
-      handleSubmit={handleSubmit}
-    />
-  );
-});
+    return (
+      <div className='ais-Hits'>
+        <ul className='ais-Hits-list'>
+          {allHits.map((hit, i) => (
+            <li
+              className={
+                i === selectedIndex ? 'ais-Hits-item selected' : 'ais-Hits-item'
+              }
+              data-fccobjectid={hit.objectID}
+              key={hit.objectID}
+            >
+              <Suggestion
+                handleMouseEnter={handleMouseEnter}
+                handleMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
+                hit={hit}
+              />
+            </li>
+          ))}
+        </ul>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+);
+
+const SearchHits = connectStateResults(
+  ({
+    searchState,
+    handleMouseEnter,
+    handleMouseLeave,
+    selectedIndex,
+    handleHits
+  }) => {
+    return isEmpty(searchState) || !searchState.query ? null : (
+      <CustomHits
+        handleHits={handleHits}
+        handleMouseEnter={handleMouseEnter}
+        handleMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
+        searchQuery={searchState.query}
+        selectedIndex={selectedIndex}
+      />
+    );
+  }
+);
+
+CustomHits.propTypes = {
+  handleHits: PropTypes.func.isRequired
+};
 
 export default SearchHits;
diff --git a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchSuggestion.js b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchSuggestion.js
index c6c7e7602a..184200eb10 100644
--- a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchSuggestion.js
+++ b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/SearchSuggestion.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { Highlight } from 'react-instantsearch-dom';
 import { isEmpty } from 'lodash';
 
-const Suggestion = ({ handleSubmit, hit }) => {
+const Suggestion = ({ hit, handleMouseEnter, handleMouseLeave }) => {
   const dropdownFooter = hit.objectID.includes('default-hit-');
   return isEmpty(hit) || isEmpty(hit.objectID) ? null : (
     <a
@@ -12,8 +12,15 @@ const Suggestion = ({ handleSubmit, hit }) => {
           ? 'fcc_suggestion_footer fcc_suggestion_item'
           : 'fcc_suggestion_item'
       }
-      href={hit.url}
-      onClick={e => (dropdownFooter ? handleSubmit(e, hit.query) : '')}
+      href={
+        dropdownFooter
+          ? `https://freecodecamp.org/news/search/?query=${encodeURIComponent(
+              hit.query
+            )}`
+          : hit.url
+      }
+      onMouseEnter={handleMouseEnter}
+      onMouseLeave={handleMouseLeave}
     >
       <span className='hit-name'>
         {dropdownFooter ? (
@@ -27,7 +34,8 @@ const Suggestion = ({ handleSubmit, hit }) => {
 };
 
 Suggestion.propTypes = {
-  handleSubmit: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+  handleMouseEnter: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+  handleMouseLeave: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   hit: PropTypes.object
 };
 
diff --git a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar-base.css b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar-base.css
index 62e881e9a0..4bbbc86a45 100644
--- a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar-base.css
+++ b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar-base.css
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ a[class^='ais-'] {
   -moz-appearance: none;
   appearance: none;
   position: absolute;
-  z-index: 1;
+  z-index: 100;
   width: 20px;
   height: 20px;
   top: 50%;
@@ -628,6 +628,7 @@ a[class^='ais-'] {
 }
 .ais-SearchBox-submit {
   left: 0.3rem;
+  top: 57%;
 }
 .ais-SearchBox-reset {
   right: 0.3rem;
diff --git a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar.css b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar.css
index c9f1be2b62..bd1d76b59b 100644
--- a/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar.css
+++ b/client/src/components/search/searchBar/searchbar.css
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@
   color: var(--gray-00);
 }
 
-.ais-SearchBox-submit,
 .ais-SearchBox-reset {
   display: none;
 }
 
 .ais-SearchBox-input {
-  padding: 1px 10px;
+  padding: 1px 10px 1px 30px;
   font-size: 18px;
   display: inline-block;
   width: calc(100vw - 10px);
+  margin-top: 6px;
 }
 
 .fcc_searchBar .ais-SearchBox-input,
@@ -43,8 +43,64 @@
   left: 5px;
 }
 
-#fcc_instantsearch {
-  margin-top: 6px;
+/* hits */
+.fcc_searchBar .ais-Highlight-highlighted {
+  background-color: transparent;
+  font-style: normal;
+  font-weight: bold;
+}
+
+.ais-Highlight-nonHighlighted {
+  font-weight: 300;
+}
+
+.fcc_hits_wrapper {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+.fcc_suggestion_item {
+  display: block;
+  padding: 8px;
+  color: var(--gray-00) !important;
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+
+.fcc_suggestion_item [class^='ais-'] {
+  font-size: 17px;
+}
+
+.fcc_suggestion_item:hover {
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.fcc_sr_only {
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 1px;
+  height: 1px;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: -1px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
+  border: 0;
+}
+
+.ais-Hits-item {
+  background-color: var(--gray-75);
+}
+
+/* Hit selected with arrow keys or mouse */
+.selected {
+  background-color: var(--blue-dark);
+}
+
+/* Dropdown footer */
+.fcc_suggestion_footer {
+  border-top: 1.5px solid var(--gray-00);
+}
+
+.fcc_suggestion_footer .hit-name .ais-Highlight .ais-Highlight-nonHighlighted {
+  font-weight: bold;
 }
 
 @media (min-width: 380px) {
@@ -66,8 +122,6 @@
 @media (min-width: 700px) {
   .ais-SearchBox-input {
     width: 100%;
-  }
-  #fcc_instantsearch {
     margin-top: 6px;
     max-width: 500px;
   }
@@ -85,78 +139,12 @@
     top: auto;
     right: 15px;
   }
+  .ais-SearchBox-submit {
+    left: 0.85rem;
+  }
 }
 @media (min-width: 1100px) {
   .fcc_searchBar .ais-Hits {
     width: calc(100% - 20px);
   }
 }
-
-/* hits */
-.fcc_searchBar .ais-Highlight-highlighted {
-  background-color: transparent;
-  font-style: normal;
-  font-weight: bold;
-}
-
-.ais-Highlight-nonHighlighted {
-  font-weight: 300;
-}
-
-.fcc_hits_wrapper {
-  display: flex;
-  justify-content: center;
-}
-
-.fcc_suggestion_item {
-  display: block;
-  padding: 8px;
-  color: var(--gray-00);
-  text-decoration: none;
-}
-
-.fcc_suggestion_item [class^='ais-'] {
-  font-size: 17px;
-}
-
-.fcc_suggestion_item:hover {
-  background-color: var(--blue-dark);
-  cursor: pointer;
-}
-
-.fcc_sr_only {
-  position: absolute;
-  width: 1px;
-  height: 1px;
-  padding: 0;
-  margin: -1px;
-  overflow: hidden;
-  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
-  border: 0;
-}
-
-/* Dropdown footer */
-.fcc_suggestion_footer {
-  border-top: 1.5px solid var(--gray-00);
-}
-
-.fcc_suggestion_footer .hit-name .ais-Highlight .ais-Highlight-nonHighlighted {
-  font-weight: bold;
-}
-
-/* Show only the first 5 hits on mobile */
-.ais-Hits-list .ais-Hits-item:nth-child(n + 6) {
-  display: none;
-}
-
-/* Ensure the dropdown footer is always visible */
-.ais-Hits-list .ais-Hits-item:nth-child(9) {
-  display: block;
-}
-
-@media (min-width: 767px) and (min-height: 768px) {
-  /* Show hits 6-8 on desktop and some tablets */
-  .ais-Hits-list .ais-Hits-item:nth-child(n + 6) {
-    display: block;
-  }
-}