diff --git a/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__datetime_format.ts b/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__datetime_format.ts
index 926ed635..a47752d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__datetime_format.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ae_utils/ae_utils__datetime_format.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,11 @@ export const iso_datetime_formatter = function iso_datetime_formatter(
     named_format: string = 'datetime_iso_no_seconds', // date_iso, datetime_iso_no_seconds
     // Pass true/false to resolve to the correct 12h or 24h variant automatically.
     // null (default) leaves named_format unchanged — all existing call sites unaffected.
-    use_12h: boolean | null = null
+    use_12h: boolean | null = null,
+    // When true, treats a naive datetime string (no Z / offset) as UTC so dayjs
+    // converts it to local browser time on display. Use for timestamps stored as
+    // UTC in the DB but returned without a timezone indicator.
+    treat_as_utc: boolean = false
 ) {
     // console.log('*** iso_datetime_formatter() ***');
 
@@ -74,6 +78,12 @@ export const iso_datetime_formatter = function iso_datetime_formatter(
         raw_datetime = new Date(); // Get the current datetime if one was not passed.
     }
 
+    // Append 'Z' to naive UTC strings so dayjs converts to local browser time.
+    // Guards against double-appending if the backend ever adds timezone info.
+    if (treat_as_utc && typeof raw_datetime === 'string' && !raw_datetime.match(/Z$|[+-]\d{2}:?\d{2}$/)) {
+        raw_datetime = raw_datetime + 'Z';
+    }
+
     if (use_12h !== null) {
         named_format = use_12h
             ? (TO_12H[named_format] ?? named_format)
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_obj_li.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_obj_li.svelte
index bb7c5608..6a166745 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_obj_li.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_obj_li.svelte
@@ -275,13 +275,13 @@ let visible_badge_obj_li = $derived(
                                             Checked in · {print_count}×
                                             {#if event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime}
                                                 ·
-                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'date_full_no_year')}
-                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'time_12_long')}
+                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'date_full_no_year', null, true)}
+                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'time_12_long', null, true)}
                                             {/if}
                                             {#if event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime && event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime !== event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime}
                                                 · last print:
-                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'date_full_no_year')}
-                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'time_12_long')}
+                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'date_full_no_year', null, true)}
+                                                {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'time_12_long', null, true)}
                                             {/if}
                                         </span>
                                     </div>
@@ -451,11 +451,11 @@ let visible_badge_obj_li = $derived(
                             <span>Printed {print_count}&times;</span>
                             {#if event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime}
                                 <span class="opacity-50">&middot;</span>
-                                <span>{ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'date_full_no_year')} {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'time_12_long')}</span>
+                                <span>{ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'date_full_no_year', null, true)} {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime, 'time_12_long', null, true)}</span>
                             {/if}
                             {#if event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime && event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime !== event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime}
                                 <span class="opacity-50">&middot;</span>
-                                <span>last print: {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'date_full_no_year')} {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'time_12_long')}</span>
+                                <span>last print: {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'date_full_no_year', null, true)} {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime, 'time_12_long', null, true)}</span>
                             {/if}
                         </div>
                     {/if}
@@ -472,14 +472,18 @@ let visible_badge_obj_li = $derived(
                                 <span class="font-bold opacity-50">CR:</span>
                                 {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(
                                     event_badge_obj.created_on,
-                                    'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds'
+                                    'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds',
+                                    null,
+                                    true
                                 )}
                             </span>
                             <span class="flex items-center gap-1">
                                 <span class="font-bold opacity-50">UP:</span>
                                 {ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(
                                     event_badge_obj.updated_on,
-                                    'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds'
+                                    'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds',
+                                    null,
+                                    true
                                 )}
                             </span>
                             <span class="flex items-center gap-1">
@@ -491,7 +495,9 @@ let visible_badge_obj_li = $derived(
                                 {event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime
                                     ? ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(
                                           event_badge_obj.print_first_datetime,
-                                          'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds'
+                                          'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds',
+                                          null,
+                                          true
                                       )
                                     : '—'}
                             </span>
@@ -500,7 +506,9 @@ let visible_badge_obj_li = $derived(
                                 {event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime
                                     ? ae_util.iso_datetime_formatter(
                                           event_badge_obj.print_last_datetime,
-                                          'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds'
+                                          'datetime_iso_12_no_seconds',
+                                          null,
+                                          true
                                       )
                                     : '—'}
                             </span>