diff --git a/src/modals/DateTimePickerModal.ts b/src/modals/DateTimePickerModal.ts
index 3a45ca5f..f35c198f 100644
--- a/src/modals/DateTimePickerModal.ts
+++ b/src/modals/DateTimePickerModal.ts
@@ -119,7 +119,14 @@ export class DateTimePickerModal extends Modal {
 		this.updateSelectButtonState();
 
 		window.setTimeout(() => {
-			this.dateInput?.focus();
+			// Prefer the natural language input when it is enabled and rendered,
+			// so keyboard users land on the NLP box first (matches user expectation
+			// from Quick Actions). Fall back to the date input otherwise.
+			if (this.canUseNaturalLanguageInput() && this.naturalLanguageInput) {
+				this.naturalLanguageInput.focus();
+			} else {
+				this.dateInput?.focus();
+			}
 		}, 100);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/issues/issue-2046-nlp-input-autofocus.test.ts b/tests/unit/issues/issue-2046-nlp-input-autofocus.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..36d04d46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/issues/issue-2046-nlp-input-autofocus.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import { DateTimePickerModal } from "../../../src/modals/DateTimePickerModal";
+import type TaskNotesPlugin from "../../../src/main";
+
+/**
+ * Regression test for issue #2046:
+ * "Quick Actions for Task Under Cursor 'Set due date' autofocuses incorrectly"
+ *
+ * Expected behavior:
+ *   When the user opens the date/time picker from Quick Actions (or any
+ *   keyboard-driven path) and natural language input is enabled, the
+ *   natural language input should receive initial focus — NOT the date
+ *   input. When NLP is disabled, fall back to the date input.
+ */
+
+function makeNLPEnabledPlugin(): TaskNotesPlugin {
+	return {
+		settings: { enableNaturalLanguageInput: true },
+	} as unknown as TaskNotesPlugin;
+}
+
+describe("Issue #2046: DateTimePickerModal focuses natural language input first when enabled", () => {
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		jest.useFakeTimers();
+	});
+
+	afterEach(() => {
+		jest.useRealTimers();
+	});
+
+	it("focuses the natural language input when NLP is enabled and rendered", () => {
+		const onSelect = jest.fn();
+		const plugin = makeNLPEnabledPlugin();
+
+		const modal = new DateTimePickerModal({} as any, {
+			currentDate: null,
+			onSelect,
+			plugin,
+		});
+
+		modal.open();
+
+		const nlpInput = modal.contentEl.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(
+			"input.date-time-picker-modal__nlp-input"
+		);
+		const dateInput = modal.contentEl.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(
+			'input[type="date"].date-time-picker-modal__date-input'
+		);
+		expect(nlpInput).toBeTruthy();
+		expect(dateInput).toBeTruthy();
+
+		const nlpFocus = jest.spyOn(nlpInput!, "focus");
+		const dateFocus = jest.spyOn(dateInput!, "focus");
+
+		jest.advanceTimersByTime(150);
+
+		expect(nlpFocus).toHaveBeenCalled();
+		expect(dateFocus).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
+
+	it("falls back to the date input when NLP is disabled", () => {
+		const onSelect = jest.fn();
+		const plugin = {
+			settings: { enableNaturalLanguageInput: false },
+		} as unknown as TaskNotesPlugin;
+
+		const modal = new DateTimePickerModal({} as any, {
+			currentDate: null,
+			onSelect,
+			plugin,
+		});
+
+		modal.open();
+
+		const nlpInput = modal.contentEl.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(
+			"input.date-time-picker-modal__nlp-input"
+		);
+		const dateInput = modal.contentEl.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(
+			'input[type="date"].date-time-picker-modal__date-input'
+		);
+		expect(nlpInput).toBeFalsy();
+		expect(dateInput).toBeTruthy();
+
+		const dateFocus = jest.spyOn(dateInput!, "focus");
+
+		jest.advanceTimersByTime(150);
+
+		expect(dateFocus).toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
+
+	it("does not throw if NLP is enabled but the input ref is not assigned", () => {
+		// Defensive: if the render pipeline ever changes and the ref is not
+		// assigned, focus should still fall back to the date input rather than
+		// crashing the modal.
+		const onSelect = jest.fn();
+		const plugin = makeNLPEnabledPlugin();
+
+		const modal = new DateTimePickerModal({} as any, {
+			currentDate: null,
+			onSelect,
+			plugin,
+		});
+
+		modal.open();
+
+		(modal as unknown as { naturalLanguageInput: HTMLInputElement | null }).naturalLanguageInput = null;
+
+		const dateInput = modal.contentEl.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(
+			'input[type="date"].date-time-picker-modal__date-input'
+		);
+		const dateFocus = jest.spyOn(dateInput!, "focus");
+
+		expect(() => jest.advanceTimersByTime(150)).not.toThrow();
+		expect(dateFocus).toHaveBeenCalled();
+	});
+});
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