diff --git a/src/components/quicklaunch.jsx b/src/components/quicklaunch.jsx
index 5a63e000..f2089065 100644
--- a/src/components/quicklaunch.jsx
+++ b/src/components/quicklaunch.jsx
@@ -69,16 +69,18 @@ export default function QuickLaunch({ servicesAndBookmarks, searchString, setSea
   }, [close, setSearchString, setCurrentItemIndex, setSearchSuggestions]);
 
   function handleSearchChange(event) {
-    const rawSearchString = event.target.value.toLowerCase();
+    const rawSearchString = event.target.value;
     try {
       if (!/.+[.:].+/g.test(rawSearchString)) throw new Error(); // basic test for probably a url
       let urlString = rawSearchString;
-      if (urlString.indexOf("http") !== 0) urlString = `https://${rawSearchString}`;
+      if (urlString.toLowerCase().indexOf("http") !== 0) urlString = `https://${rawSearchString}`;
       setUrl(new URL(urlString)); // basic validation
+      setSearchString(rawSearchString);
+      return;
     } catch (e) {
       setUrl(null);
     }
-    setSearchString(rawSearchString);
+    setSearchString(rawSearchString.toLowerCase());
   }
 
   function handleSearchKeyDown(event) {