diff --git a/VERSION.json b/VERSION.json
index 9be816ca..d400e03c 100644
--- a/VERSION.json
+++ b/VERSION.json
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 {
-  "version": "1.2.3",
-  "last_build": "2026-04-11-1131",
-  "commit": "a5e2f",
+  "version": "1.2.4",
+  "last_build": "2026-04-11-1146",
+  "commit": "b6e3f",
   "changelog": [
+    "v1.2.4: Offline LDAP auth support and UI affordance improvements (Dropdown chevrons, soft password dots)",
     "v1.2.3: System-wide UI consistency (standardized font sizes, removed uppercase)",
     "v1.2.2: UI Readability refactor (Removed uppercase/tracking, increased font sizes)",
     "v1.2.1: Git path persistence, master/dev/vX branching, and UI case-sensitivity fix",
diff --git a/backend/routers/users.py b/backend/routers/users.py
index 78096b4b..11deeb28 100644
--- a/backend/routers/users.py
+++ b/backend/routers/users.py
@@ -152,18 +152,26 @@ def login(form_data: schemas.UserLogin, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
         ldap_role = authenticate_ldap(form_data.username, form_data.password)
         if ldap_role:
             authenticated = True
+            # Cache hash for offline support
+            new_hash = get_password_hash(form_data.password)
+            
             # If user doesn't exist locally, create a stub for role management
             if not user:
-                user = models.User(username=form_data.username, role=ldap_role, origin="ldap")
+                user = models.User(
+                    username=form_data.username, 
+                    role=ldap_role, 
+                    origin="ldap",
+                    hashed_password=new_hash
+                )
                 db.add(user)
                 db.commit()
                 db.refresh(user)
             else:
-                # Update role if it changed in LDAP
-                if user.role != ldap_role:
-                    user.role = ldap_role
-                    db.commit()
-                    db.refresh(user)
+                # Update role if it changed in LDAP and refresh cached hash
+                user.role = ldap_role
+                user.hashed_password = new_hash
+                db.commit()
+                db.refresh(user)
         else:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Invalid username or password, or insufficient permissions")
     
diff --git a/dev_docs/ARCHIVE_LOGS.md b/dev_docs/ARCHIVE_LOGS.md
index aaa1dc37..7c4ef1f0 100644
--- a/dev_docs/ARCHIVE_LOGS.md
+++ b/dev_docs/ARCHIVE_LOGS.md
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-### [2026-04-11 11:30] v1.2.3: System-Wide UI Homogenization
-**Purpose:** Completed UI refactoring for all secondary pages (`Inventory`, `Logs`, `Scanner`, `IdentityCheckOverlay`). Standardized font sizes to `xs`/`sm`, removed legacy `uppercase` styling, and fixed Title Case for buttons. Handed over a fully consistent high-density UI.
+### [2026-04-11 11:45] v1.2.4: Offline Auth & UX Polish
+**Purpose:** Implemented local password hash caching for LDAP users to allow login in no-network environments (basements/subsoils). Refined UI by softening password field dots and adding visual indicators (chevrons) to all dropdowns for better affordance.
 **Modified Files:**
-- `frontend/app/inventory/page.tsx`
-- `frontend/app/logs/page.tsx`
-- `frontend/components/Scanner.tsx`
-- `frontend/components/IdentityCheckOverlay.tsx`
+- `backend/routers/users.py` (LDAP offline cache)
+- `frontend/app/admin/page.tsx` (Password/Dropdown UI)
+- `frontend/app/login/page.tsx` (Password UI)
+- `frontend/app/inventory/page.tsx` (Dropdown UI)
+- `frontend/app/page.tsx` (Dropdown UI)
+- `frontend/components/IdentityCheckOverlay.tsx` (Password UI)
 - `VERSION.json`
-- `dev_docs/ARCHIVE_LOGS.md`
+
+### [2026-04-11 11:30] v1.2.3: System-Wide UI Homogenization
 
 ### [2026-04-11 11:21] v1.2.2: UI Readability & Density Optimization
 
diff --git a/frontend/app/admin/page.tsx b/frontend/app/admin/page.tsx
index e9179ded..893d61f0 100644
--- a/frontend/app/admin/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/admin/page.tsx
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ export default function AdminPage() {
               <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4">
                 <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
                    <div className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-primary" />
-                   <h3 className="text-sm font-black text-white">Local Users (Manual)</h3>
+                   <h3 className="text-sm font-black text-white">Local Users</h3>
                 </div>
               </div>
               <div className="bg-slate-900/40 border border-slate-800/50 rounded-3xl overflow-hidden shadow-xl divide-y divide-slate-800/50">
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ export default function AdminPage() {
                 <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4">
                   <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
                      <div className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-indigo-500" />
-                     <h3 className="text-sm font-black text-white">Enterprise (LDAP) Users</h3>
+                     <h3 className="text-sm font-black text-white">Enterprise Users (LDAP)</h3>
                   </div>
                 </div>
                 <div className="bg-indigo-500/5 border border-indigo-500/10 rounded-3xl overflow-hidden shadow-xl divide-y divide-indigo-500/10">
@@ -603,20 +603,23 @@ export default function AdminPage() {
                     placeholder="••••••••"
                     value={editUserForm.password}
                     onChange={(e) => setEditUserForm({ ...editUserForm, password: e.target.value })}
-                    className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 px-5 text-white outline-none transition-all"
+                    className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 px-5 text-white/50 focus:text-white outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-800"
                   />
                 </div>
 
                 <div className="space-y-2">
                   <label className="text-xs font-black text-slate-500 px-1">Access Role</label>
-                  <select 
-                    value={editUserForm.role}
-                    onChange={(e) => setEditUserForm({ ...editUserForm, role: e.target.value })}
-                    className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 px-5 text-white outline-none transition-all appearance-none"
-                  >
-                    <option value="user">USER (Standard)</option>
-                    <option value="admin">ADMIN (Root Access)</option>
-                  </select>
+                  <div className="relative flex items-center">
+                    <select 
+                      value={editUserForm.role}
+                      onChange={(e) => setEditUserForm({ ...editUserForm, role: e.target.value })}
+                      className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 px-5 text-white outline-none transition-all appearance-none"
+                    >
+                      <option value="user">USER (Standard)</option>
+                      <option value="admin">ADMIN (Root Access)</option>
+                    </select>
+                    <ChevronDown size={20} className="absolute right-5 text-slate-500 pointer-events-none" />
+                  </div>
                 </div>
 
                 <button 
diff --git a/frontend/app/inventory/page.tsx b/frontend/app/inventory/page.tsx
index b1bc57f9..cd5f149a 100644
--- a/frontend/app/inventory/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/inventory/page.tsx
@@ -379,16 +379,19 @@ export default function InventoryPage() {
                   <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
                     <div>
                       <label className="text-xs font-black text-slate-500 ml-1">Category</label>
-                      <select 
-                        value={editedItem.category || ''} 
-                        onChange={e => setEditedItem({...editedItem, category: e.target.value})}
-                        className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 rounded-xl py-3 px-4 text-sm outline-none text-slate-100"
-                      >
-                        <option value="">Select Category</option>
-                        {categoriesList.map(c => (
-                          <option key={c.id} value={c.name}>{c.name}</option>
-                        ))}
-                      </select>
+                      <div className="relative flex items-center">
+                        <select 
+                          value={editedItem.category || ''} 
+                          onChange={e => setEditedItem({...editedItem, category: e.target.value})}
+                          className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 rounded-xl py-3 px-4 text-sm outline-none text-slate-100 appearance-none"
+                        >
+                          <option value="">Select Category</option>
+                          {categoriesList.map(c => (
+                            <option key={c.id} value={c.name}>{c.name}</option>
+                          ))}
+                        </select>
+                        <ChevronDown size={16} className="absolute right-4 text-slate-500 pointer-events-none" />
+                      </div>
                     </div>
                     <div>
                       <label className="text-xs font-black text-slate-500 ml-1">Item Type</label>
diff --git a/frontend/app/login/page.tsx b/frontend/app/login/page.tsx
index ea4b0336..703c14ee 100644
--- a/frontend/app/login/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/login/page.tsx
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
                      ref={enterprisePassRef}
                      type="password"
                      onKeyDown={(e) => e.key === 'Enter' && handleLogin()}
-                     className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
+                     className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white/50 focus:text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
                      placeholder="Enter password"
                    />
                  </div>
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
                     type="password"
                     autoFocus
                     onKeyDown={(e) => e.key === 'Enter' && handleLogin()}
-                    className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
+                    className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white/50 focus:text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
                     placeholder="Enter password"
                   />
                 </div>
diff --git a/frontend/app/page.tsx b/frontend/app/page.tsx
index a5b624ff..49d4e384 100644
--- a/frontend/app/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/app/page.tsx
@@ -568,16 +568,19 @@ export default function Home() {
                   <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
                     <div>
                       <label className="text-xs font-black text-slate-500 ml-1">Category</label>
-                      <select 
-                        value={editedItem.category || ''} 
-                        onChange={e => setEditedItem({...editedItem, category: e.target.value})}
-                        className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 rounded-xl py-3 px-4 text-sm outline-none text-slate-100"
-                      >
-                        <option value="">Select Category</option>
-                        {categories.map(c => (
-                          <option key={c.id} value={c.name}>{c.name}</option>
-                        ))}
-                      </select>
+                      <div className="relative flex items-center">
+                        <select 
+                          value={editedItem.category || ''} 
+                          onChange={e => setEditedItem({...editedItem, category: e.target.value})}
+                          className="w-full bg-slate-950 border border-slate-800 rounded-xl py-3 px-4 text-sm outline-none text-slate-100 appearance-none"
+                        >
+                          <option value="">Select Category</option>
+                          {categories.map(c => (
+                            <option key={c.id} value={c.name}>{c.name}</option>
+                          ))}
+                        </select>
+                        <ChevronDown size={16} className="absolute right-4 text-slate-500 pointer-events-none" />
+                      </div>
                     </div>
                     <div>
                       <label className="text-xs font-black text-slate-500 ml-1">Item Type (e.g. SFP, Patch Cord)</label>
diff --git a/frontend/components/IdentityCheckOverlay.tsx b/frontend/components/IdentityCheckOverlay.tsx
index c0ab7ee7..74191510 100644
--- a/frontend/components/IdentityCheckOverlay.tsx
+++ b/frontend/components/IdentityCheckOverlay.tsx
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ const IdentityCheckOverlay = memo(({ show, users, onAuthenticated }: IdentityChe
                      ref={enterprisePassRef}
                      type="password"
                      onKeyDown={(e) => e.key === 'Enter' && handleLogin()}
-                     className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
+                     className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white/50 focus:text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
                      placeholder="Enter password"
                    />
                  </div>
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ const IdentityCheckOverlay = memo(({ show, users, onAuthenticated }: IdentityChe
                     type="password"
                     autoFocus
                     onKeyDown={(e) => e.key === 'Enter' && handleLogin()}
-                    className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
+                    className="w-full bg-slate-800/50 border border-slate-800 focus:border-primary rounded-2xl py-4 pl-12 pr-4 text-white/50 focus:text-white focus:outline-none transition-all placeholder:text-slate-700 font-mono"
                     placeholder="Enter password"
                   />
                 </div>