diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_search.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_search.svelte
index f5477198..44f1b15c 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_search.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(badges)/badges/ae_comp__badge_search.svelte
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ import {
     QrCode,
     RemoveFormatting,
     Search,
-    StepForward
+    StepForward,
+    TriangleAlert
 } from '@lucide/svelte';
 import { fade, slide } from 'svelte/transition';
 import { ae_loc, ae_api } from '$lib/stores/ae_stores';
@@ -77,6 +78,28 @@ function handle_search_trigger() {
     badges_loc.current.search_version++;
 }
 
+let show_remote_first_confirm = $state(false);
+
+function handle_remote_first_click(e: MouseEvent) {
+    // Always manage state manually so the checkbox never flickers mid-handler.
+    e.preventDefault();
+    const checkbox = e.currentTarget as HTMLInputElement;
+    if (checkbox.checked) {
+        // User wants to enable — show confirmation first.
+        show_remote_first_confirm = true;
+    } else {
+        badges_loc.current.qry__remote_first = false;
+        show_remote_first_confirm = false;
+        handle_search_trigger();
+    }
+}
+
+function confirm_remote_first() {
+    badges_loc.current.qry__remote_first = true;
+    show_remote_first_confirm = false;
+    handle_search_trigger();
+}
+
 function prevent_default<T extends Event>(fn: (event: T) => void) {
     return function (event: T) {
         event.preventDefault();
@@ -346,17 +369,49 @@ function handle_qr_scan_result(event: {
                     {#if $ae_loc.trusted_access}
                     <label
                         transition:fade={{ duration: 150 }}
-                        class="bg-surface-200-800 rounded-token flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-semibold">
+                        title="Remote First: skip the local cache and query the server directly on every search"
+                        class="bg-surface-200-800 rounded-token flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1 text-xs font-semibold"
+                        class:preset-tonal-warning={badges_loc.current.qry__remote_first}>
                         <span>Remote First</span>
                         <input
                             type="checkbox"
-                            bind:checked={badges_loc.current.qry__remote_first}
-                            onchange={handle_search_trigger}
+                            checked={badges_loc.current.qry__remote_first}
+                            onclick={handle_remote_first_click}
+                            title="When enabled, every search queries the server directly instead of using the local cache"
                             class="checkbox checkbox-sm" />
                     </label>
                     {/if}
                 {/if}
             </div>
+
+            {#if show_remote_first_confirm}
+                <div
+                    transition:slide={{ duration: 150 }}
+                    class="flex w-full flex-col gap-2 rounded-md border border-warning-400 dark:border-warning-600 bg-warning-50 dark:bg-warning-900/20 px-3 py-2 text-sm">
+                    <div class="flex items-start gap-2">
+                        <TriangleAlert size="1em" class="mt-0.5 shrink-0 text-warning-600 dark:text-warning-400" />
+                        <p class="text-warning-900 dark:text-warning-100">
+                            <strong>Remote First</strong> skips the local cache and queries the server on every keystroke.
+                            Results will always reflect the latest data but searches may be slower.
+                            Use this only if recent changes aren't showing up in search results.
+                        </p>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="flex justify-end gap-2">
+                        <button
+                            type="button"
+                            onclick={() => (show_remote_first_confirm = false)}
+                            class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-surface border border-surface-300-700">
+                            Cancel
+                        </button>
+                        <button
+                            type="button"
+                            onclick={confirm_remote_first}
+                            class="btn btn-sm preset-filled-warning border border-warning-600">
+                            Enable Remote First
+                        </button>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            {/if}
         </form>
     {:else if $events_sess.badges.show_form__scan}
         <div