diff --git a/Web App/web/src/i18n/da.json b/Web App/web/src/i18n/da.json
index 973f175..568b930 100644
--- a/Web App/web/src/i18n/da.json	
+++ b/Web App/web/src/i18n/da.json	
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@
       "connected": "Forbundet",
       "disconnected": "Offline",
       "serialPlaceholder": "Laderens serienummer (f.eks. A5191-XXXXXXXX)",
+      "enterSerial": "Indtast et serienummer i stedet",
+      "pickSerial": "Vælg blandt dine ladere",
       "refresh": "Opdater",
       "status": "Stik",
       "meter": "Energi",
diff --git a/Web App/web/src/i18n/en.json b/Web App/web/src/i18n/en.json
index 439a9a1..24782b6 100644
--- a/Web App/web/src/i18n/en.json	
+++ b/Web App/web/src/i18n/en.json	
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@
       "connected": "Connected",
       "disconnected": "Offline",
       "serialPlaceholder": "Charger serial (e.g. A5191-XXXXXXXX)",
+      "enterSerial": "Enter a serial instead",
+      "pickSerial": "Choose from your chargers",
       "refresh": "Refresh",
       "status": "Connector",
       "meter": "Energy",
diff --git a/Web App/web/src/i18n/pl.json b/Web App/web/src/i18n/pl.json
index 2bc73c1..7007799 100644
--- a/Web App/web/src/i18n/pl.json	
+++ b/Web App/web/src/i18n/pl.json	
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@
       "connected": "Połączono",
       "disconnected": "Offline",
       "serialPlaceholder": "Numer seryjny ładowarki (np. A5191-XXXXXXXX)",
+      "enterSerial": "Wpisz numer seryjny zamiast tego",
+      "pickSerial": "Wybierz ze swoich ładowarek",
       "refresh": "Odśwież",
       "status": "Złącze",
       "meter": "Energia",
diff --git a/Web App/web/src/views/Charging.vue b/Web App/web/src/views/Charging.vue
index 2d83246..d9c535c 100644
--- a/Web App/web/src/views/Charging.vue	
+++ b/Web App/web/src/views/Charging.vue	
@@ -99,6 +99,15 @@ async function loadCtlMode() {
 // a list; without them (account not linked, or the cloud unreachable) the field
 // stays a plain text box so a serial can still be typed in by hand.
 const chargers = ref([]);
+// Typing the serial rather than picking it. A dropdown can only show a serial it
+// has an option for, so a remembered serial the account does not report — a
+// charger imported before the account was linked, one the cloud is quiet about
+// today — would render as a blank field with no way to read or fix it. Falling
+// back to the text box shows the serial that is actually in force.
+const manualSerial = ref(false);
+
+const serialInList = computed(() => chargers.value.some((c) => c.sn === ctlSerial.value.trim()));
+const pickingFromList = computed(() => chargers.value.length > 0 && !manualSerial.value);
 
 async function loadChargers() {
   try {
@@ -111,6 +120,22 @@ async function loadChargers() {
   if (!ctlSerial.value.trim() && chargers.value.length) {
     ctlSerial.value = chargers.value[0].sn;
   }
+  // Decided when the list arrives rather than on every keystroke: recomputing it
+  // as the serial is typed would swap the text box for a dropdown mid-word, the
+  // moment what had been typed happened to match a charger.
+  manualSerial.value = chargers.value.length > 0 && !serialInList.value;
+}
+
+// One control for both directions, so a serial that is not on the account is
+// never a dead end and the list is never the only option.
+function toggleSerialEntry() {
+  manualSerial.value = !manualSerial.value;
+  // Returning to a list that does not hold this serial would blank the dropdown
+  // again, which is the thing being fixed; land on a charger it does hold.
+  if (!manualSerial.value && !serialInList.value && chargers.value.length) {
+    ctlSerial.value = chargers.value[0].sn;
+    refreshCtl();
+  }
 }
 
 function chargerLabel(c) {
@@ -590,7 +615,7 @@ onMounted(async () => {
           </div>
 
           <div class="mt-3 flex gap-2">
-            <select v-if="chargers.length" v-model="ctlSerial" class="dh-input" @change="refreshCtl">
+            <select v-if="pickingFromList" v-model="ctlSerial" class="dh-input" @change="refreshCtl">
               <option v-for="c in chargers" :key="c.sn" :value="c.sn">{{ chargerLabel(c) }}</option>
             </select>
             <input
@@ -599,9 +624,19 @@ onMounted(async () => {
               class="dh-input"
               :placeholder="t('charging.control.serialPlaceholder')"
               autocomplete="off"
+              spellcheck="false"
+              @keyup.enter="refreshCtl"
             />
             <button class="dh-btn dh-btn-ghost shrink-0" @click="refreshCtl">{{ t("charging.control.refresh") }}</button>
           </div>
+          <!-- Only worth offering when there is a list to switch to or from. -->
+          <button
+            v-if="chargers.length"
+            class="mt-1.5 text-[11px] text-muted underline-offset-2 transition-colors hover:text-body hover:underline"
+            @click="toggleSerialEntry"
+          >
+            {{ pickingFromList ? t("charging.control.enterSerial") : t("charging.control.pickSerial") }}
+          </button>
 
           <!-- Modbus mode dials the charger, so it needs the charger's address on
                this network rather than a token installed into the charger. -->