diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/media/CategoriesMediaFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/media/CategoriesMediaFragment.kt
index 765abd698..0c1d41278 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/media/CategoriesMediaFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/media/CategoriesMediaFragment.kt
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ class CategoriesMediaFragment : PageableMediaFragment() {
         savedInstanceState: Bundle?,
     ) {
         super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState)
-        onQueryUpdated("$CATEGORY_PREFIX${requireArguments().getString("categoryName")!!}")
+        onQueryUpdated("$CATEGORY_PREFIX${requireArguments().getString("categoryName")!!}".trim())
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/parent/ParentCategoriesFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/parent/ParentCategoriesFragment.kt
index c43e1c6bd..7c8153b11 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/parent/ParentCategoriesFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/parent/ParentCategoriesFragment.kt
@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ class ParentCategoriesFragment : PageableCategoryFragment() {
         savedInstanceState: Bundle?,
     ) {
         super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState)
-        onQueryUpdated("$CATEGORY_PREFIX${requireArguments().getString("categoryName")!!}")
+        onQueryUpdated("$CATEGORY_PREFIX${requireArguments().getString("categoryName")!!}".trim())
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/search/SearchCategoryFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/search/SearchCategoryFragment.kt
index 042c9d7c4..4a55f7eb0 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/search/SearchCategoryFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/search/SearchCategoryFragment.kt
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@ class SearchCategoryFragment : PageableCategoryFragment() {
     override val injectedPresenter
         get() = presenter
 
-    override fun getEmptyText(query: String) = getString(R.string.categories_not_found, query)
+    override fun getEmptyText(query: String) = getString(R.string.categories_not_found, query.trim())
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/sub/SubCategoriesFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/sub/SubCategoriesFragment.kt
index 8fbc83039..2105c5fd9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/sub/SubCategoriesFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/explore/categories/sub/SubCategoriesFragment.kt
@@ -20,6 +20,6 @@ class SubCategoriesFragment : PageableCategoryFragment() {
         savedInstanceState: Bundle?,
     ) {
         super.onViewCreated(view, savedInstanceState)
-        onQueryUpdated("$CATEGORY_PREFIX${requireArguments().getString("categoryName")!!}")
+        onQueryUpdated("$CATEGORY_PREFIX${requireArguments().getString("categoryName")!!}".trim())
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/categories/UploadCategoriesFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/categories/UploadCategoriesFragment.java
index 1436ab714..da8419565 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/categories/UploadCategoriesFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/categories/UploadCategoriesFragment.java
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ public class UploadCategoriesFragment extends UploadBaseFragment implements Cate
     }
 
     private void searchForCategory(final String query) {
-        presenter.searchForCategories(query);
+        presenter.searchForCategories(query.strip());
     }
 
     private void initRecyclerView() {
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ public class UploadCategoriesFragment extends UploadBaseFragment implements Cate
         presenter.selectCategories();
         final Editable text = binding.etSearch.getText();
         if (text != null) {
-            presenter.searchForCategories(text.toString());
+            presenter.searchForCategories(text.toString().strip());
         }
     }