diff --git a/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx b/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx
index 2e0aca80fd9019..a01c424158df58 100644
--- a/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.tsx
@@ -761,6 +761,15 @@ describe('Joy <Autocomplete />', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should open popup when clicked on the root element', () => {
+      const handleOpen = spy();
+      render(<Autocomplete onOpen={handleOpen} options={['one']} />);
+
+      const root = document.querySelector(`.${classes.root}`)!;
+      fireEvent.click(root);
+      expect(handleOpen.callCount).to.equal(1);
+    });
+
     it('does not clear the textbox on Escape', () => {
       const handleChange = spy();
       render(
diff --git a/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.tsx b/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.tsx
index 3dd22737ade04b..4a2610227091ce 100644
--- a/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.tsx
+++ b/packages/mui-joy/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.tsx
@@ -381,6 +381,8 @@ const Autocomplete = React.forwardRef(function Autocomplete(
     unstable_isActiveElementInListbox: defaultIsActiveElementInListbox,
   });
 
+  const { onMouseDown: handleInputMouseDown } = getInputProps();
+  const { onClick: handleRootOnClick } = getRootProps();
   const hasClearIcon = !disableClearable && !disabled && dirty && !readOnly;
   const hasPopupIcon = (!freeSolo || forcePopupIcon === true) && forcePopupIcon !== false;
 
@@ -449,6 +451,16 @@ const Autocomplete = React.forwardRef(function Autocomplete(
     externalForwardedProps: other,
     ownerState,
     getSlotProps: getRootProps,
+    additionalProps: {
+      onClick: (event: React.MouseEvent<HTMLDivElement, MouseEvent>) => {
+        if (handleRootOnClick) {
+          handleRootOnClick(event);
+        }
+        if (event.currentTarget === event.target && handleInputMouseDown) {
+          handleInputMouseDown(event as React.MouseEvent<HTMLInputElement, MouseEvent>);
+        }
+      },
+    },
   });
 
   const [SlotWrapper, wrapperProps] = useSlot('wrapper', {
diff --git a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js
index 539435fe2a190c..a59fee037dcf83 100644
--- a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js
+++ b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.js
@@ -472,6 +472,8 @@ const Autocomplete = React.forwardRef(function Autocomplete(inProps, ref) {
   const hasClearIcon = !disableClearable && !disabled && dirty && !readOnly;
   const hasPopupIcon = (!freeSolo || forcePopupIcon === true) && forcePopupIcon !== false;
 
+  const { onMouseDown: handleInputMouseDown } = getInputProps();
+
   // If you modify this, make sure to keep the `AutocompleteOwnerState` type in sync.
   const ownerState = {
     ...props,
@@ -575,6 +577,11 @@ const Autocomplete = React.forwardRef(function Autocomplete(inProps, ref) {
             ref: setAnchorEl,
             className: classes.inputRoot,
             startAdornment,
+            onClick: (event) => {
+              if (event.target === event.currentTarget) {
+                handleInputMouseDown(event);
+              }
+            },
             ...((hasClearIcon || hasPopupIcon) && {
               endAdornment: (
                 <AutocompleteEndAdornment className={classes.endAdornment} ownerState={ownerState}>
diff --git a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
index 21b3304c95b955..668a7fe5a3f748 100644
--- a/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
+++ b/packages/mui-material/src/Autocomplete/Autocomplete.test.js
@@ -963,6 +963,23 @@ describe('<Autocomplete />', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('should open popup when clicked on the root element', () => {
+      const handleOpen = spy();
+      const ref = React.createRef();
+      render(
+        <Autocomplete
+          onOpen={handleOpen}
+          options={['one']}
+          renderInput={(params) => (
+            <TextField {...params} InputProps={{ ...params.InputProps, ref }} />
+          )}
+        />,
+      );
+
+      fireEvent.click(ref.current);
+      expect(handleOpen.callCount).to.equal(1);
+    });
+
     it('does not clear the textbox on Escape', () => {
       const handleChange = spy();
       render(