diff --git a/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCDetail.vue b/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCDetail.vue
index af6986d2..6af38998 100644
--- a/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCDetail.vue
+++ b/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCDetail.vue
@@ -10,11 +10,21 @@
       <div class="header-actions">
         <router-link :to="`/print/asset-label/computer/${$route.params.id}`" class="btn btn-secondary" target="_blank">Print Label</router-link>
         <router-link :to="`/pcs/${$route.params.id}/edit${fromQuery}`" class="btn btn-primary">Edit</router-link>
-        <button @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger">Retire</button>
+        <button v-if="!isRetired" @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger">Retire</button>
+        <!-- A retired record offered Edit and Retire exactly like a live
+             one, and nothing said it was retired. Restoring it was possible
+             through the API and nowhere in the product. -->
+        <button v-if="isRetired" @click="restore" class="btn btn-primary">Restore</button>
         <router-link :to="returnTo" class="btn btn-secondary">{{ returnLabel }}</router-link>
       </div>
     </div>
 
+    <div v-if="computer && computer.isactive === false" class="retired-banner card">
+      <strong>This PC is retired.</strong>
+      It stays out of every list and report, and its history and relationships
+      are intact. Restore puts it back.
+    </div>
+
     <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
 
     <template v-else-if="computer">
@@ -644,6 +654,21 @@ async function confirmRestart() {
 // Retire, not delete: the server deactivates the asset, so the PC
 // leaves every list and report while its history and relationships stay put.
 // Reversible by an admin setting isactive back to true.
+const isRetired = computed(() => computer.value?.isactive === false)
+
+async function restore() {
+  const label = computer.value?.assetnumber || computer.value?.name || 'this PC'
+  try {
+    await computersApi.update(route.params.id, { isactive: true })
+    toast.success(`Restored ${label}`)
+    const response = await computersApi.get(route.params.id)
+    computer.value = response.data.data
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error restoring:', error)
+    toast.error(apiError(error, 'Failed to restore'))
+  }
+}
+
 async function confirmRetire() {
   const label = computer.value?.assetnumber || computer.value?.name || 'this PC'
   if (!confirm(`Retire ${label}?\n\nIt will no longer appear in ShopDB. `
@@ -660,6 +685,10 @@ async function confirmRetire() {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
+.retired-banner {
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--warning);
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
 .portal-link {
   font-size: 0.78rem;
   margin-left: 0.5rem;
diff --git a/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCsList.vue b/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCsList.vue
index 361c2c20..51f2a1f5 100644
--- a/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCsList.vue
+++ b/plugins/computers/frontend/views/PCsList.vue
@@ -15,7 +15,14 @@
         placeholder="Search computers..."
         @input="debouncedSearch"
       />
-    </div>
+          <!-- Retire is a soft delete and the confirm dialog promises the record
+           "can be restored". The API kept that promise (?active=false lists
+           them, PUT isactive restores); nothing in the UI could reach it. -->
+      <label class="checkbox-label">
+        <input type="checkbox" v-model="showRetired" @change="loadComputers" />
+        Show retired
+      </label>
+</div>
 
     <div class="card">
       <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
@@ -106,6 +113,7 @@ function applySuggestion(word) {
   setSearch(word)
   loadComputers()
 }
+const showRetired = ref(false)
 const totalPages = ref(1)
 const perPage = ref(20)
 
@@ -123,6 +131,8 @@ async function loadComputers() {
       perpage: perPage.value
     }
     if (search.value) params.search = search.value
+    // active=false means "include retired", matching the API.
+    if (showRetired.value) params.active = 'false'
 
     const response = await computersApi.list(params)
     computers.value = response.data.data || []
diff --git a/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachineDetail.vue b/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachineDetail.vue
index b7e0867d..65f9f05a 100644
--- a/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachineDetail.vue
+++ b/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachineDetail.vue
@@ -9,14 +9,24 @@
         <router-link :to="`/print/asset-label/machine/${machine?.machine?.machineid}`" class="btn btn-secondary" v-if="machine" target="_blank">
           Print Label
         </router-link>
-        <router-link :to="`/machines/${machine?.machine?.machineid}/edit`" class="btn btn-primary" v-if="machine">
+        <router-link :to="`/machines/${machine?.machine?.machineid}/edit`" class="btn btn-primary" v-if="machine && !isRetired">
           Edit
         </router-link>
-        <button @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger" v-if="machine">Retire</button>
+        <button @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger" v-if="machine && !isRetired">Retire</button>
+        <!-- A retired record offered Edit and Retire exactly like a live one,
+             with nothing on the page saying it was retired. Restoring it was
+             possible through the API and nowhere in the product. -->
+        <button @click="restore" class="btn btn-primary" v-if="machine && isRetired">Restore</button>
         <router-link to="/machines" class="btn btn-secondary">Back to List</router-link>
       </div>
     </div>
 
+    <div v-if="machine && isRetired" class="retired-banner card">
+      <strong>This machine is retired.</strong>
+      It stays out of every list and report, and its history and relationships
+      are intact. Restore puts it back.
+    </div>
+
     <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
 
     <template v-else-if="machine">
@@ -295,7 +305,7 @@ const { heroWarranty, warrantyDate } = useWarrantyBadge(() => machine.value?.ass
 
 // relationships render via the shared AssetRelationships card
 
-onMounted(async () => {
+async function loadMachine() {
   try {
     const response = await machinesApi.get(route.params.id)
     machine.value = response.data.data
@@ -305,7 +315,9 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   } finally {
     loading.value = false
   }
-})
+}
+
+onMounted(loadMachine)
 
 function getStatusClass(status) {
   if (!status) return 'badge-info'
@@ -324,6 +336,20 @@ function formatDate(dateStr) {
 // Retire, not delete: the server deactivates the asset, so the machine
 // leaves every list and report while its history and relationships stay put.
 // Reversible by an admin setting isactive back to true.
+const isRetired = computed(() => machine.value?.isactive === false)
+
+async function restore() {
+  const label = machine.value?.assetnumber || machine.value?.name || 'this machine'
+  try {
+    await machinesApi.update(machine.value?.machine?.machineid, { isactive: true })
+    toast.success(`Restored ${label}`)
+    await loadMachine()
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error restoring machine:', error)
+    toast.error(apiError(error, 'Failed to restore machine'))
+  }
+}
+
 async function confirmRetire() {
   const label = machine.value?.assetnumber || machine.value?.name || 'this machine'
   if (!confirm(`Retire ${label}?\n\nIt will no longer appear in ShopDB. `
@@ -340,6 +366,10 @@ async function confirmRetire() {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
+.retired-banner {
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--warning);
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
 .mono {
   font-family: 'SF Mono', 'Monaco', 'Consolas', monospace;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachinesList.vue b/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachinesList.vue
index 158d45a8..4797e947 100644
--- a/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachinesList.vue
+++ b/plugins/machines/frontend/views/MachinesList.vue
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@
         placeholder="Search machines..."
         @input="debouncedSearch"
       />
+      <!-- Retire is a soft delete and the confirm dialog promises the record
+           "can be restored". The API kept that promise all along (?active=false
+           lists them, PUT isactive restores) but nothing in the UI could reach
+           it, so a retired machine was simply gone. -->
+      <label class="checkbox-label">
+        <input type="checkbox" v-model="showRetired" @change="loadMachines" />
+        Show retired
+      </label>
     </div>
 
     <div class="card">
@@ -41,6 +49,7 @@
                   @click="item.machine?.machineid && $router.push(`/machines/${item.machine.machineid}`)">
                 <td>
                   {{ item.assetnumber }}<template v-if="item.dualpathpartner"> / {{ item.dualpathpartner.assetnumber }}</template>
+                  <span v-if="item.isactive === false" class="badge badge-secondary">retired</span>
                 </td>
                 <td>{{ item.name || '-' }}</td>
                 <td class="mono">{{ item.serialnumber || '-' }}</td>
@@ -122,6 +131,7 @@ function applySuggestion(word) {
   // search page documents. Load directly.
   loadMachines()
 }
+const showRetired = ref(false)
 const totalPages = ref(1)
 const perPage = ref(20)
 
@@ -139,6 +149,8 @@ async function loadMachines() {
       perpage: perPage.value
     }
     if (search.value) params.search = search.value
+    // active=false means "include retired", matching the API.
+    if (showRetired.value) params.active = 'false'
 
     const response = await machinesApi.list(params)
     machines.value = response.data.data || []
diff --git a/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolDetail.vue b/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolDetail.vue
index a8b6fa89..cd0dcd66 100644
--- a/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolDetail.vue
+++ b/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolDetail.vue
@@ -9,11 +9,21 @@
         <router-link :to="`/measuringtools/${tool?.measuringtool?.measuringtoolid}/edit`" class="btn btn-primary" v-if="tool">
           Edit
         </router-link>
-        <button @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger" v-if="tool">Retire</button>
+        <button v-if="tool && !isRetired" @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger">Retire</button>
+        <!-- A retired record offered Edit and Retire exactly like a live
+             one, and nothing said it was retired. Restoring it was possible
+             through the API and nowhere in the product. -->
+        <button v-if="tool && isRetired" @click="restore" class="btn btn-primary">Restore</button>
         <router-link to="/measuringtools" class="btn btn-secondary">Back to List</router-link>
       </div>
     </div>
 
+    <div v-if="tool && tool.isactive === false" class="retired-banner card">
+      <strong>This measuring tool is retired.</strong>
+      It stays out of every list and report, and its history and relationships
+      are intact. Restore puts it back.
+    </div>
+
     <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
 
     <template v-else-if="tool">
@@ -181,7 +191,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue'
+import { ref, computed, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { colorStyle } from '@/utils/colorStyle'
 import { measuringtoolsApi } from '@/api'
@@ -227,6 +237,21 @@ onMounted(async () => {
 // Retire, not delete: the server deactivates the asset, so the measuring tool
 // leaves every list and report while its history and relationships stay put.
 // Reversible by an admin setting isactive back to true.
+const isRetired = computed(() => tool.value?.isactive === false)
+
+async function restore() {
+  const label = tool.value?.assetnumber || tool.value?.name || 'this tool'
+  try {
+    await measuringtoolsApi.update(route.params.id, { isactive: true })
+    toast.success(`Restored ${label}`)
+    const response = await measuringtoolsApi.get(route.params.id)
+    tool.value = response.data.data
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error restoring:', error)
+    toast.error(apiError(error, 'Failed to restore'))
+  }
+}
+
 async function confirmRetire() {
   const label = tool.value?.assetnumber || tool.value?.name || 'this measuring tool'
   if (!confirm(`Retire ${label}?\n\nIt will no longer appear in ShopDB. `
@@ -243,6 +268,10 @@ async function confirmRetire() {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
+.retired-banner {
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--warning);
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
 .mono {
   font-family: 'SF Mono', 'Monaco', 'Consolas', monospace;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolsList.vue b/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolsList.vue
index 856c8fc1..14be7716 100644
--- a/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolsList.vue
+++ b/plugins/measuringtools/frontend/views/MeasuringToolsList.vue
@@ -28,7 +28,14 @@
         <option value="current">Current</option>
         <option value="unknown">Unknown</option>
       </select>
-    </div>
+          <!-- Retire is a soft delete and the confirm dialog promises the record
+           "can be restored". The API kept that promise (?active=false lists
+           them, PUT isactive restores); nothing in the UI could reach it. -->
+      <label class="checkbox-label">
+        <input type="checkbox" v-model="showRetired" @change="loadTools" />
+        Show retired
+      </label>
+</div>
 
     <div class="card">
       <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
@@ -115,6 +122,7 @@ function applySuggestion(word) {
 }
 const typeid = ref('')
 const calibrationstatus = ref('')
+const showRetired = ref(false)
 const totalPages = ref(1)
 const perPage = ref(20)
 
@@ -139,6 +147,8 @@ async function loadTools() {
   try {
     const params = { page: page.value, perpage: perPage.value }
     if (search.value) params.search = search.value
+    // active=false means "include retired", matching the API.
+    if (showRetired.value) params.active = 'false'
     if (typeid.value) params.typeid = typeid.value
     if (calibrationstatus.value) params.calibrationstatus = calibrationstatus.value
 
diff --git a/plugins/network/frontend/views/NetworkDevicesList.vue b/plugins/network/frontend/views/NetworkDevicesList.vue
index efcfd68d..5d0a009d 100644
--- a/plugins/network/frontend/views/NetworkDevicesList.vue
+++ b/plugins/network/frontend/views/NetworkDevicesList.vue
@@ -45,7 +45,14 @@
           {{ loc.locationname }}
         </option>
       </select>
-    </div>
+          <!-- Retire is a soft delete and the confirm dialog promises the record
+           "can be restored". The API kept that promise (?active=false lists
+           them, PUT isactive restores); nothing in the UI could reach it. -->
+      <label class="checkbox-label">
+        <input type="checkbox" v-model="showRetired" @change="loadDevices" />
+        Show retired
+      </label>
+</div>
 
     <div class="card">
       <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
@@ -143,6 +150,7 @@ function applySuggestion(word) {
 const selectedType = ref(null)
 const vendorFilter = ref('')
 const locationFilter = ref('')
+const showRetired = ref(false)
 const totalPages = ref(1)
 const perPage = ref(25)
 const totalCount = ref(0)
@@ -225,6 +233,8 @@ async function loadDevices() {
       perpage: perPage.value
     }
     if (search.value) params.search = search.value
+    // active=false means "include retired", matching the API.
+    if (showRetired.value) params.active = 'false'
     if (selectedType.value) params.typeid = selectedType.value
     if (vendorFilter.value) params.vendorid = vendorFilter.value
     if (locationFilter.value) params.locationid = locationFilter.value
diff --git a/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrinterDetail.vue b/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrinterDetail.vue
index 89979167..796393a5 100644
--- a/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrinterDetail.vue
+++ b/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrinterDetail.vue
@@ -10,11 +10,21 @@
           Print Label
         </router-link>
         <router-link :to="`/printers/${$route.params.id}/edit`" class="btn btn-primary">Edit</router-link>
-        <button @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger">Retire</button>
+        <button v-if="!isRetired" @click="confirmRetire" class="btn btn-danger">Retire</button>
+        <!-- A retired record offered Edit and Retire exactly like a live
+             one, and nothing said it was retired. Restoring it was possible
+             through the API and nowhere in the product. -->
+        <button v-if="isRetired" @click="restore" class="btn btn-primary">Restore</button>
         <router-link to="/printers" class="btn btn-secondary">Back to List</router-link>
       </div>
     </div>
 
+    <div v-if="printer && printer.isactive === false" class="retired-banner card">
+      <strong>This printer is retired.</strong>
+      It stays out of every list and report, and its history and relationships
+      are intact. Restore puts it back.
+    </div>
+
     <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
 
     <template v-else-if="printer">
@@ -306,7 +316,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { ref, onMounted, computed } from 'vue'
+import { ref, computed, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { printersApi } from '@/api'
 import { withBase } from '@/utils/basePath'
@@ -406,6 +416,21 @@ function formatDate(dateStr) {
 // Retire, not delete: the server deactivates the asset, so the printer
 // leaves every list and report while its history and relationships stay put.
 // Reversible by an admin setting isactive back to true.
+const isRetired = computed(() => printer.value?.isactive === false)
+
+async function restore() {
+  const label = printer.value?.assetnumber || printer.value?.name || 'this printer'
+  try {
+    await printersApi.update(route.params.id, { isactive: true })
+    toast.success(`Restored ${label}`)
+    const response = await printersApi.get(route.params.id)
+    printer.value = response.data.data
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error restoring:', error)
+    toast.error(apiError(error, 'Failed to restore'))
+  }
+}
+
 async function confirmRetire() {
   const label = displayTitle.value || 'this printer'
   if (!confirm(`Retire ${label}?\n\nIt will no longer appear in ShopDB. `
@@ -422,6 +447,10 @@ async function confirmRetire() {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
+.retired-banner {
+  border-left: 3px solid var(--warning);
+  margin-bottom: 1rem;
+}
 /* Printer-specific styles - shared styles are in global style.css */
 
 .empty-state {
diff --git a/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrintersList.vue b/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrintersList.vue
index adc92675..8a37c14e 100644
--- a/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrintersList.vue
+++ b/plugins/printers/frontend/views/PrintersList.vue
@@ -25,7 +25,14 @@
           {{ pt.printertype }}
         </option>
       </select>
-    </div>
+          <!-- Retire is a soft delete and the confirm dialog promises the record
+           "can be restored". The API kept that promise (?active=false lists
+           them, PUT isactive restores); nothing in the UI could reach it. -->
+      <label class="checkbox-label">
+        <input type="checkbox" v-model="showRetired" @change="loadPrinters" />
+        Show retired
+      </label>
+</div>
 
     <div class="card">
       <div v-if="loading" class="loading">Loading...</div>
@@ -111,6 +118,7 @@ function applySuggestion(word) {
   // search page documents. Load directly.
   loadPrinters()
 }
+const showRetired = ref(false)
 const totalPages = ref(1)
 const perPage = ref(20)
 
@@ -134,6 +142,8 @@ async function loadPrinters() {
       perpage: perPage.value
     }
     if (search.value) params.search = search.value
+    // active=false means "include retired", matching the API.
+    if (showRetired.value) params.active = 'false'
     if (typeFilter.value) params.typeid = typeFilter.value
 
     const response = await printersApi.list(params)