diff --git a/.changeset/orange-friends-march.md b/.changeset/orange-friends-march.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d3813063e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/orange-friends-march.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-search': patch
+---
+
+Fixed the `SearchModal` leaving the page in a broken state by not restoring body overflow and aria-hidden attributes when closing.
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx
index 9424599130..6235b5a511 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx
@@ -155,22 +155,6 @@ describe('SearchModal', () => {
     expect(toggleModal).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
-  it('should render SearchModal hiding its content', async () => {
-    const { getByTestId } = await renderInTestApp(
-      <ApiProvider apis={apiRegistry}>
-        <SearchModal open hidden toggleModal={toggleModal} />
-      </ApiProvider>,
-      {
-        mountedRoutes: {
-          '/search': rootRouteRef,
-        },
-      },
-    );
-
-    expect(getByTestId('search-bar-next')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(getByTestId('search-bar-next')).not.toBeVisible();
-  });
-
   it('should focus on its search bar when opened', async () => {
     await renderInTestApp(
       <ApiProvider apis={apiRegistry}>
@@ -252,4 +236,36 @@ describe('SearchModal', () => {
 
     expect(navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?query=term');
   });
+
+  it('should completely unmount the Dialog from DOM when open prop is false', async () => {
+    await renderInTestApp(
+      <ApiProvider apis={apiRegistry}>
+        <SearchModal open={false} hidden={false} toggleModal={toggleModal} />
+      </ApiProvider>,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/search': rootRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    // Dialog should not exist in the DOM at all (unmounted, not just hidden)
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('dialog')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('should completely unmount the Dialog from DOM when hidden prop is true', async () => {
+    await renderInTestApp(
+      <ApiProvider apis={apiRegistry}>
+        <SearchModal open hidden toggleModal={toggleModal} />
+      </ApiProvider>,
+      {
+        mountedRoutes: {
+          '/search': rootRouteRef,
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    // Dialog should not exist in the DOM at all (unmounted, not just hidden)
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('dialog')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.tsx
index af7e1c6e10..86fa4f1b73 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.tsx
@@ -211,6 +211,8 @@ export const SearchModal = (props: SearchModalProps) => {
 
   const classes = useStyles();
 
+  const isDialogOpen = open && !hidden;
+
   return (
     <Dialog
       classes={{
@@ -221,10 +223,9 @@ export const SearchModal = (props: SearchModalProps) => {
       aria-modal="true"
       fullWidth
       maxWidth="lg"
-      open={open}
-      hidden={hidden}
+      open={isDialogOpen}
     >
-      {open && (
+      {isDialogOpen && (
         <SearchContextProvider inheritParentContextIfAvailable>
           {(children &&
             children({