diff --git a/src/tools/SearchTools.schema.test.ts b/src/tools/SearchTools.schema.test.ts
index a708152f..d19d7a7f 100644
--- a/src/tools/SearchTools.schema.test.ts
+++ b/src/tools/SearchTools.schema.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,14 @@ describe("SearchTools Schema Validation", () => {
         })
         .optional()
         .describe("Time range for search"),
+      returnAll: z
+        .preprocess((val) => {
+          if (typeof val === "string") {
+            return val.toLowerCase() === "true";
+          }
+          return val;
+        }, z.boolean().optional())
+        .describe("Return all matching notes"),
     });
 
     test("validates correct input structure", () => {
@@ -100,6 +108,69 @@ describe("SearchTools Schema Validation", () => {
       const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(invalidInput);
       expect(result.success).toBe(false);
     });
+
+    test("accepts boolean returnAll: true", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find all notes", salientTerms: ["notes"], returnAll: true };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBe(true);
+      }
+    });
+
+    test("accepts boolean returnAll: false", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find notes", salientTerms: ["notes"], returnAll: false };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBe(false);
+      }
+    });
+
+    test("coerces string 'True' to boolean true", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find all notes", salientTerms: ["notes"], returnAll: "True" };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBe(true);
+      }
+    });
+
+    test("coerces string 'true' to boolean true", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find all notes", salientTerms: ["notes"], returnAll: "true" };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBe(true);
+      }
+    });
+
+    test("coerces string 'FALSE' to boolean false", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find notes", salientTerms: ["notes"], returnAll: "FALSE" };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBe(false);
+      }
+    });
+
+    test("coerces string 'False' to boolean false", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find notes", salientTerms: ["notes"], returnAll: "False" };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBe(false);
+      }
+    });
+
+    test("accepts omitted returnAll (optional)", () => {
+      const input = { query: "find notes", salientTerms: ["notes"] };
+      const result = localSearchSchema.safeParse(input);
+      expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+      if (result.success) {
+        expect(result.data.returnAll).toBeUndefined();
+      }
+    });
   });
 
   describe("webSearchTool schema", () => {
diff --git a/src/tools/SearchTools.ts b/src/tools/SearchTools.ts
index 94094ed4..c2d18666 100644
--- a/src/tools/SearchTools.ts
+++ b/src/tools/SearchTools.ts
@@ -77,8 +77,12 @@ const localSearchSchema = z.object({
     .optional()
     .describe("Optional time range filter. Use epoch milliseconds from getTimeRangeMs result."),
   returnAll: z
-    .boolean()
-    .optional()
+    .preprocess((val) => {
+      if (typeof val === "string") {
+        return val.toLowerCase() === "true";
+      }
+      return val;
+    }, z.boolean().optional())
     .describe(
       "Set to true when the user wants ALL matching notes, not just the best few. " +
         "Use for requests like 'find all my X', 'list every Y', 'show me all my Z', " +