diff --git a/components/PlantRegisterTable.tsx b/components/PlantRegisterTable.tsx
index 68c8b05..b0a56f6 100644
--- a/components/PlantRegisterTable.tsx
+++ b/components/PlantRegisterTable.tsx
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ export function PlantRegisterTable({
   const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
   const [typeFilter, setTypeFilter] = useState<string>("All");
   const [siteFilter, setSiteFilter] = useState<string>("All");
-  const [statusFilter, setStatusFilter] = useState<StatusFilter>("all");
+  // Defaults to Active: the register is a working list of machines currently in
+  // the fleet, and retired rows are noise until someone asks for them. Rows with
+  // an unsaved toggle staged stay visible so an edit is never hidden mid-change.
+  const [statusFilter, setStatusFilter] = useState<StatusFilter>("active");
   const [sortKey, setSortKey] = useState<SortKey>("type");
   const [sortDir, setSortDir] = useState<"asc" | "desc">("asc");
   const [editing, setEditing] = useState(false);