diff --git a/backend/src/db/graphql/posts.js b/backend/src/db/graphql/posts.js
index e758c523e..2669d6f24 100644
--- a/backend/src/db/graphql/posts.js
+++ b/backend/src/db/graphql/posts.js
@@ -71,3 +71,18 @@ export const profilePagePosts = () => {
     }
   `
 }
+
+export const searchPosts = () => {
+  return gql`
+    query ($query: String!, $firstPosts: Int, $postsOffset: Int) {
+      searchPosts(query: $query, firstPosts: $firstPosts, postsOffset: $postsOffset) {
+        postCount
+        posts {
+          id
+          title
+          content
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  `
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/permissionsMiddleware.js b/backend/src/middleware/permissionsMiddleware.js
index 96bffbedb..d77363c29 100644
--- a/backend/src/middleware/permissionsMiddleware.js
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/permissionsMiddleware.js
@@ -299,10 +299,10 @@ export default shield(
   {
     Query: {
       '*': deny,
-      searchResults: isAuthenticated,
-      searchPosts: isAuthenticated,
-      searchUsers: isAuthenticated,
-      searchHashtags: isAuthenticated,
+      searchResults: allow,
+      searchPosts: allow,
+      searchUsers: allow,
+      searchHashtags: allow,
       embed: allow,
       Category: allow,
       Tag: allow,
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/postsInGroups.spec.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/postsInGroups.spec.js
index 5617a13a4..48178ae93 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/postsInGroups.spec.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/postsInGroups.spec.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   postQuery,
   filterPosts,
   profilePagePosts,
+  searchPosts,
 } from '../../db/graphql/posts'
 // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
 import { DESCRIPTION_WITHOUT_HTML_LENGTH_MIN } from '../../constants/groups'
@@ -943,6 +944,192 @@ describe('Posts in Groups', () => {
           })
         })
       })
+
+      describe('searchPosts', () => {
+        describe('without authentication', () => {
+          beforeEach(async () => {
+            authenticatedUser = null
+          })
+
+          it('finds nothing', async () => {
+            const result = await query({
+              query: searchPosts(),
+              variables: {
+                query: 'post',
+                postsOffset: 0,
+                firstPosts: 25,
+              },
+            })
+            expect(result.data.searchPosts.posts).toHaveLength(0)
+            expect(result).toMatchObject({
+              data: {
+                searchPosts: {
+                  postCount: 0,
+                  posts: [],
+                },
+              },
+            })
+          })
+        })
+
+        describe('as new user', () => {
+          beforeEach(async () => {
+            authenticatedUser = newUser
+          })
+
+          it('finds the post of the public group and the post without group', async () => {
+            const result = await query({
+              query: searchPosts(),
+              variables: {
+                query: 'post',
+                postsOffset: 0,
+                firstPosts: 25,
+              },
+            })
+            expect(result.data.searchPosts.posts).toHaveLength(2)
+            expect(result).toMatchObject({
+              data: {
+                searchPosts: {
+                  postCount: 2,
+                  posts: expect.arrayContaining([
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-to-public-group',
+                      title: 'A post to a public group',
+                      content: 'I am posting into a public group as a member of the group',
+                    },
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-without-group',
+                      title: 'A post without a group',
+                      content: 'As a new user, I do not belong to a group yet.',
+                    },
+                  ]),
+                },
+              },
+            })
+          })
+        })
+
+        describe('without membership of group', () => {
+          beforeEach(async () => {
+            authenticatedUser = await anyUser.toJson()
+          })
+
+          it('finds the post of the public group and the post without group', async () => {
+            const result = await query({
+              query: searchPosts(),
+              variables: {
+                query: 'post',
+                postsOffset: 0,
+                firstPosts: 25,
+              },
+            })
+            expect(result.data.searchPosts.posts).toHaveLength(2)
+            expect(result).toMatchObject({
+              data: {
+                searchPosts: {
+                  postCount: 2,
+                  posts: expect.arrayContaining([
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-to-public-group',
+                      title: 'A post to a public group',
+                      content: 'I am posting into a public group as a member of the group',
+                    },
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-without-group',
+                      title: 'A post without a group',
+                      content: 'As a new user, I do not belong to a group yet.',
+                    },
+                  ]),
+                },
+              },
+            })
+          })
+        })
+
+        describe('with pending membership of group', () => {
+          beforeEach(async () => {
+            authenticatedUser = await pendingUser.toJson()
+          })
+
+          it('finds the post of the public group and the post without group', async () => {
+            const result = await query({
+              query: searchPosts(),
+              variables: {
+                query: 'post',
+                postsOffset: 0,
+                firstPosts: 25,
+              },
+            })
+            expect(result.data.searchPosts.posts).toHaveLength(2)
+            expect(result).toMatchObject({
+              data: {
+                searchPosts: {
+                  postCount: 2,
+                  posts: expect.arrayContaining([
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-to-public-group',
+                      title: 'A post to a public group',
+                      content: 'I am posting into a public group as a member of the group',
+                    },
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-without-group',
+                      title: 'A post without a group',
+                      content: 'As a new user, I do not belong to a group yet.',
+                    },
+                  ]),
+                },
+              },
+            })
+          })
+        })
+
+        describe('as member of group', () => {
+          beforeEach(async () => {
+            authenticatedUser = await allGroupsUser.toJson()
+          })
+
+          it('finds all posts', async () => {
+            const result = await query({
+              query: searchPosts(),
+              variables: {
+                query: 'post',
+                postsOffset: 0,
+                firstPosts: 25,
+              },
+            })
+            expect(result.data.searchPosts.posts).toHaveLength(4)
+            expect(result).toMatchObject({
+              data: {
+                searchPosts: {
+                  postCount: 4,
+                  posts: expect.arrayContaining([
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-to-public-group',
+                      title: 'A post to a public group',
+                      content: 'I am posting into a public group as a member of the group',
+                    },
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-without-group',
+                      title: 'A post without a group',
+                      content: 'As a new user, I do not belong to a group yet.',
+                    },
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-to-closed-group',
+                      title: 'A post to a closed group',
+                      content: 'I am posting into a closed group as a member of the group',
+                    },
+                    {
+                      id: 'post-to-hidden-group',
+                      title: 'A post to a hidden group',
+                      content: 'I am posting into a hidden group as a member of the group',
+                    },
+                  ]),
+                },
+              },
+            })
+          })
+        })
+      })
     })
   })
 
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches.js
index aba89fd4c..63279b4bf 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/searches.js
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ export default {
   Query: {
     searchPosts: async (_parent, args, context, _resolveInfo) => {
       const { query, postsOffset, firstPosts } = args
-      const { id: userId } = context.user
+      let userId = null
+      if (context.user) userId = context.user.id
       return {
         postCount: getSearchResults(
           context,
@@ -179,7 +180,8 @@ export default {
     },
     searchResults: async (_parent, args, context, _resolveInfo) => {
       const { query, limit } = args
-      const { id: userId } = context.user
+      let userId = null
+      if (context.user) userId = context.user.id
 
       const searchType = query.replace(/^([!@#]?).*$/, '$1')
       const searchString = query.replace(/^([!@#])/, '')