diff --git a/python/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.sip.in b/python/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.sip.in
index 3013a2e7322..7c2726356fe 100644
--- a/python/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.sip.in
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ Constructor for QgsLocatorContext.
 
     QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem targetExtentCrs;
 
+    bool usingPrefix;
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/python/plugins/processing/gui/AlgorithmLocatorFilter.py b/python/plugins/processing/gui/AlgorithmLocatorFilter.py
index c87208b09fc..9e872830b77 100644
--- a/python/plugins/processing/gui/AlgorithmLocatorFilter.py
+++ b/python/plugins/processing/gui/AlgorithmLocatorFilter.py
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ class AlgorithmLocatorFilter(QgsLocatorFilter):
             if a.flags() & QgsProcessingAlgorithm.FlagHideFromToolbox:
                 continue
 
-            if QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches(a.displayName(), string) or [t for t in a.tags() if QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches(t, string)]:
+            if QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches(a.displayName(), string) or [t for t in a.tags() if QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches(t, string)] or \
+                    (context.usingPrefix and not string):
                 result = QgsLocatorResult()
                 result.filter = self
                 result.displayString = a.displayName()
diff --git a/src/app/locator/qgsinbuiltlocatorfilters.cpp b/src/app/locator/qgsinbuiltlocatorfilters.cpp
index 16d63d9e313..9eb5865891b 100644
--- a/src/app/locator/qgsinbuiltlocatorfilters.cpp
+++ b/src/app/locator/qgsinbuiltlocatorfilters.cpp
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ QgsLayerTreeLocatorFilter *QgsLayerTreeLocatorFilter::clone() const
   return new QgsLayerTreeLocatorFilter();
 }
 
-void QgsLayerTreeLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &, QgsFeedback * )
+void QgsLayerTreeLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &context, QgsFeedback * )
 {
   QgsLayerTree *tree = QgsProject::instance()->layerTreeRoot();
   const QList<QgsLayerTreeLayer *> layers = tree->findLayers();
   for ( QgsLayerTreeLayer *layer : layers )
   {
-    if ( layer->layer() && stringMatches( layer->layer()->name(), string ) )
+    if ( layer->layer() && ( stringMatches( layer->layer()->name(), string ) || ( context.usingPrefix && string.isEmpty() ) ) )
     {
       QgsLocatorResult result;
       result.displayString = layer->layer()->name();
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ QgsLayoutLocatorFilter *QgsLayoutLocatorFilter::clone() const
   return new QgsLayoutLocatorFilter();
 }
 
-void QgsLayoutLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &, QgsFeedback * )
+void QgsLayoutLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &context, QgsFeedback * )
 {
   const QList< QgsMasterLayoutInterface * > layouts = QgsProject::instance()->layoutManager()->layouts();
   for ( QgsMasterLayoutInterface *layout : layouts )
   {
-    if ( layout && stringMatches( layout->name(), string ) )
+    if ( layout && ( stringMatches( layout->name(), string ) || ( context.usingPrefix && string.isEmpty() ) ) )
     {
       QgsLocatorResult result;
       result.displayString = layout->name();
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ QgsBookmarkLocatorFilter *QgsBookmarkLocatorFilter::clone() const
   return new QgsBookmarkLocatorFilter();
 }
 
-void QgsBookmarkLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &, QgsFeedback *feedback )
+void QgsBookmarkLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &context, QgsFeedback *feedback )
 {
   QMap<QString, QModelIndex> bookmarkMap = QgisApp::instance()->getBookmarkIndexMap();
 
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ void QgsBookmarkLocatorFilter::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLoc
 
     QString name = i.key();
 
-    if ( stringMatches( name, string ) )
+    if ( stringMatches( name, string ) || ( context.usingPrefix && string.isEmpty() ) )
     {
       QModelIndex index = i.value();
       QgsLocatorResult result;
diff --git a/src/core/locator/qgslocator.cpp b/src/core/locator/qgslocator.cpp
index 4da2a7b4eae..b80af76f880 100644
--- a/src/core/locator/qgslocator.cpp
+++ b/src/core/locator/qgslocator.cpp
@@ -82,8 +82,9 @@ void QgsLocator::registerFilter( QgsLocatorFilter *filter )
   filter->setUseWithoutPrefix( byDefault );
 }
 
-void QgsLocator::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &context, QgsFeedback *feedback )
+void QgsLocator::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &c, QgsFeedback *feedback )
 {
+  QgsLocatorContext context( c );
   // ideally this should not be required, as well behaved callers
   // will NOT fire up a new fetchResults call while an existing one is
   // operating/waiting to be canceled...
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ void QgsLocator::fetchResults( const QString &string, const QgsLocatorContext &c
       activeFilters << mPrefixedFilters.value( prefix );
       searchString = searchString.mid( prefix.length() + 1 );
     }
+    context.usingPrefix = !activeFilters.empty();
   }
   if ( activeFilters.isEmpty() )
   {
diff --git a/src/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.h b/src/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.h
index 466aa854e3a..b205ca00f38 100644
--- a/src/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.h
+++ b/src/core/locator/qgslocatorcontext.h
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsLocatorContext
      */
     QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem targetExtentCrs;
 
+    /**
+     * Will be true if search is being conducted using a filter prefix.
+     */
+    bool usingPrefix = false;
+
 };
 
 #endif // QGSLOCATORCONTEXT_H
diff --git a/src/core/locator/qgslocatorfilter.cpp b/src/core/locator/qgslocatorfilter.cpp
index 397c0253880..f57954eaa64 100644
--- a/src/core/locator/qgslocatorfilter.cpp
+++ b/src/core/locator/qgslocatorfilter.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ QgsLocatorFilter::Flags QgsLocatorFilter::flags() const
 
 bool QgsLocatorFilter::stringMatches( const QString &candidate, const QString &search )
 {
-  return candidate.contains( search, Qt::CaseInsensitive );
+  return !search.isEmpty() && candidate.contains( search, Qt::CaseInsensitive );
 }
 
 bool QgsLocatorFilter::enabled() const
diff --git a/tests/src/app/testqgsapplocatorfilters.cpp b/tests/src/app/testqgsapplocatorfilters.cpp
index 88fdae7586d..05580941f59 100644
--- a/tests/src/app/testqgsapplocatorfilters.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/app/testqgsapplocatorfilters.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #include "qgisapp.h"
 #include "qgslocatorfilter.h"
 #include "qgslocator.h"
+#include "qgsprintlayout.h"
+#include "qgslayoutmanager.h"
 #include "locator/qgsinbuiltlocatorfilters.h"
 #include <QSignalSpy>
 #include <QClipboard>
@@ -32,6 +34,8 @@ class TestQgsAppLocatorFilters : public QObject
     void initTestCase();// will be called before the first testfunction is executed.
     void cleanupTestCase();// will be called after the last testfunction was executed.
     void testCalculator();
+    void testLayers();
+    void testLayouts();
 
   private:
     QgisApp *mQgisApp = nullptr;
@@ -70,6 +74,77 @@ void TestQgsAppLocatorFilters::testCalculator()
   // invalid expression
   results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "1+" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
   QVERIFY( results.empty() );
+}
+
+void TestQgsAppLocatorFilters::testLayers()
+{
+  QgsVectorLayer *l1 = new QgsVectorLayer( QStringLiteral( "Point" ), QStringLiteral( "aaaaa" ), QStringLiteral( "memory" ) );
+  QgsVectorLayer *l2 = new QgsVectorLayer( QStringLiteral( "Point" ), QStringLiteral( "abc" ), QStringLiteral( "memory" ) );
+  QgsVectorLayer *l3 = new QgsVectorLayer( QStringLiteral( "Point" ), QStringLiteral( "ccccc" ), QStringLiteral( "memory" ) );
+  QgsProject::instance()->addMapLayers( QList< QgsMapLayer *>() << l1 << l2 << l3 );
+
+  QgsLayerTreeLocatorFilter filter;
+
+  QList< QgsLocatorResult > results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "xxxxx" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 0 );
+
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "aa" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 1 );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 0 ).userData.toString(), l1->id() );
+
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "A" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 2 );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 0 ).userData.toString(), l1->id() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 1 ).userData.toString(), l2->id() );
+
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QString(), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 0 );
+
+  QgsLocatorContext context;
+  context.usingPrefix = true;
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QString(), context );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 3 );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 0 ).userData.toString(), l1->id() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 1 ).userData.toString(), l2->id() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 2 ).userData.toString(), l3->id() );
+}
+
+void TestQgsAppLocatorFilters::testLayouts()
+{
+  QgsPrintLayout *pl1 = new QgsPrintLayout( QgsProject::instance() );
+  pl1->setName( QStringLiteral( "aaaaaa" ) );
+  QgsProject::instance()->layoutManager()->addLayout( pl1 );
+  QgsPrintLayout *pl2 = new QgsPrintLayout( QgsProject::instance() );
+  pl2->setName( QStringLiteral( "abc" ) );
+  QgsProject::instance()->layoutManager()->addLayout( pl2 );
+  QgsPrintLayout *pl3 = new QgsPrintLayout( QgsProject::instance() );
+  pl3->setName( QStringLiteral( "ccccc" ) );
+  QgsProject::instance()->layoutManager()->addLayout( pl3 );
+
+  QgsLayoutLocatorFilter filter;
+
+  QList< QgsLocatorResult > results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "xxxxx" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 0 );
+
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "aa" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 1 );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 0 ).userData.toString(), pl1->name() );
+
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QStringLiteral( "A" ), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 2 );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 0 ).userData.toString(), pl1->name() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 1 ).userData.toString(), pl2->name() );
+
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QString(), QgsLocatorContext() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 0 );
+
+  QgsLocatorContext context;
+  context.usingPrefix = true;
+  results = gatherResults( &filter, QString(), context );
+  QCOMPARE( results.count(), 3 );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 0 ).userData.toString(), pl1->name() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 1 ).userData.toString(), pl2->name() );
+  QCOMPARE( results.at( 2 ).userData.toString(), pl3->name() );
 
 }
 
@@ -82,7 +157,7 @@ QList<QgsLocatorResult> TestQgsAppLocatorFilters::gatherResults( QgsLocatorFilte
   QList< QgsLocatorResult > results;
   for ( int i = 0; i < spy.count(); ++ i )
   {
-    QVariant v = spy.at( i ).at( i );
+    QVariant v = spy.at( i ).at( 0 );
     QgsLocatorResult result = v.value<QgsLocatorResult>();
     results.append( result );
   }
diff --git a/tests/src/python/test_qgslocator.py b/tests/src/python/test_qgslocator.py
index b5aac4c8161..b8d9107d0aa 100644
--- a/tests/src/python/test_qgslocator.py
+++ b/tests/src/python/test_qgslocator.py
@@ -260,6 +260,12 @@ class TestQgsLocator(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(m.data(m.index(2, 0)), 'a1')
         self.assertEqual(m.data(m.index(3, 0)), 'a2')
 
+    def testStringMatches(self):
+        self.assertFalse(QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches('xxx', 'yyyy'))
+        self.assertTrue(QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches('axxxy', 'xxx'))
+        self.assertTrue(QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches('aXXXXy', 'xxx'))
+        self.assertFalse(QgsLocatorFilter.stringMatches('aXXXXy', ''))
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()