diff --git a/backend/app/models/search.py b/backend/app/models/search.py
index 3c9aac6de..012e0657d 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/search.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/search.py
@@ -44,4 +44,5 @@ class ElasticsearchEntry(BaseModel):
     bytes: Optional[int]
     # metadata fields
     metadata: Optional[List[dict]] = []
+    metadata_stringify: Optional[str]
     status: Optional[str]
diff --git a/backend/app/search/config.py b/backend/app/search/config.py
index 99100c125..2a97387f1 100644
--- a/backend/app/search/config.py
+++ b/backend/app/search/config.py
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ class IndexSettings:
             # metadata fields
             "metadata": {
                 "type": "object",
+                "dynamic": True,
             },
+            # metadata fields cast to plain string to enable search
+            "metadata_stringify": {"type": "text"},
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/backend/app/search/index.py b/backend/app/search/index.py
index 60c512e0c..b9482d76a 100644
--- a/backend/app/search/index.py
+++ b/backend/app/search/index.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 from typing import List, Optional, Union
 
 from app.config import settings
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ async def index_dataset(
         downloads=dataset.downloads,
         user_ids=authorized_user_ids,
         metadata=metadata,
+        metadata_stringify=json.dumps(metadata),
         status=dataset_status,
     ).dict()
 
@@ -103,6 +105,7 @@ async def index_file(
         folder_id=str(file.folder_id),
         bytes=file.bytes,
         metadata=metadata,
+        metadata_stringify=json.dumps(metadata),
         status=file.status,
     ).dict()
     if update:
@@ -198,6 +201,7 @@ async def index_thumbnail(
                 folder_id=str(file.folder_id),
                 bytes=thumbnail.bytes,
                 metadata=metadata,
+                metadata_stringify=json.dumps(metadata),
                 downloads=thumbnail.downloads,
             ).dict()
             if update:
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedPublicSearch.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedPublicSearch.tsx
index 85e09eefd..f47fe8f08 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedPublicSearch.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedPublicSearch.tsx
@@ -46,7 +46,13 @@ export function EmbeddedPublicSearch() {
 				showFilter={true}
 				showClear
 				renderNoSuggestion="No suggestions found."
-				dataField={["name", "description"]}
+				dataField={[
+					"name",
+					"description",
+					"metadata_stringify",
+					"creator.keyword",
+				]}
+				fieldWeights={[3, 2, 2, 1]}
 				// placeholder="Search for Dataset"
 				innerClass={{
 					title: "search-title",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedSearch.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedSearch.tsx
index 3119fcd39..2f29decf1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedSearch.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/EmbeddedSearch.tsx
@@ -46,7 +46,13 @@ export function EmbeddedSearch() {
 				showFilter={true}
 				showClear
 				renderNoSuggestion="No suggestions found."
-				dataField={["name", "description", "creator.keyword"]}
+				dataField={[
+					"name",
+					"description",
+					"metadata_stringify",
+					"creator.keyword",
+				]}
+				fieldWeights={[3, 2, 2, 1]}
 				// placeholder="Search for Dataset"
 				innerClass={{
 					title: "search-title",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/PublicSearch.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/PublicSearch.tsx
index deb16fa3b..44011eddc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/PublicSearch.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/PublicSearch.tsx
@@ -95,8 +95,13 @@ export function PublicSearch() {
 										showFilter={true}
 										showClear={true}
 										renderNoSuggestion="No suggestions found."
-										dataField={["name", "description"]}
-										fieldWeights={[3, 2, 1]}
+										dataField={[
+											"name",
+											"description",
+											"metadata_stringify",
+											"creator.keyword",
+										]}
+										fieldWeights={[3, 2, 2, 1]}
 										innerClass={{
 											title: "search-title",
 											input: "search-input",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/Search.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/Search.tsx
index e8773c3ac..27de9183d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/Search.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/Search.tsx
@@ -122,8 +122,13 @@ export function Search() {
 										showFilter={true}
 										showClear={true}
 										renderNoSuggestion="No suggestions found."
-										dataField={["name", "description", "creator.keyword"]}
-										fieldWeights={[3, 2, 1]}
+										dataField={[
+											"name",
+											"description",
+											"metadata_stringify",
+											"creator.keyword",
+										]}
+										fieldWeights={[3, 2, 2, 1]}
 										innerClass={{
 											title: "search-title",
 											input: "search-input",