diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/e7a2c9f1b3d4_add_last_seen_location_to_objects.py b/backend/alembic/versions/e7a2c9f1b3d4_add_last_seen_location_to_objects.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a4ceeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/e7a2c9f1b3d4_add_last_seen_location_to_objects.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""add last_seen_location to objects
+
+Revision ID: e7a2c9f1b3d4
+Revises: c3bc00a214e0
+Create Date: 2026-07-22 12:00:00.000000
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = 'e7a2c9f1b3d4'
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = 'c3bc00a214e0'
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.add_column('objects', sa.Column('last_seen_location', sa.String(length=255), nullable=True))
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_column('objects', 'last_seen_location')
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/backend/app/models/object.py b/backend/app/models/object.py
index 04ee9d8..c15fd6a 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/object.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/object.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ class InventoryObject(Base):
         DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now(), onupdate=func.now()
     )
     last_seen_at: Mapped[datetime | None] = mapped_column(DateTime(timezone=True), nullable=True)
+    last_seen_location: Mapped[str | None] = mapped_column(String(255), nullable=True)
 
     box: Mapped["Box | None"] = relationship(back_populates="objects")
     photos: Mapped[list["ObjectPhoto"]] = relationship(
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/objects.py b/backend/app/routers/objects.py
index 2b74498..a86531e 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/objects.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/objects.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ async def scan_object(db: DbSession, _: CurrentUser, object_id: uuid.UUID, data:
     obj = await objects_service.get_object(db, object_id)
     if obj is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND, detail="Object not found")
-    obj = await objects_service.mark_object_found(db, obj, data.box_id)
+    obj = await objects_service.mark_object_found(db, obj, data.location)
     return objects_service.build_object_read(obj)
 
 
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/object.py b/backend/app/schemas/object.py
index 16c716a..4446df4 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/object.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/object.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class ObjectUpdate(BaseModel):
 
 
 class ObjectScan(BaseModel):
-    box_id: uuid.UUID | None = None
+    location: str | None = None
 
 
 class ObjectRead(BaseModel):
@@ -51,5 +51,6 @@ class ObjectRead(BaseModel):
     created_at: datetime
     updated_at: datetime
     last_seen_at: datetime | None
+    last_seen_location: str | None
     qr_code_url: str
     photos: list[PhotoRead]
diff --git a/backend/app/services/objects.py b/backend/app/services/objects.py
index 7cba144..2fc4e9e 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/objects.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/objects.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ def build_object_read(obj: InventoryObject) -> ObjectRead:
         created_at=obj.created_at,
         updated_at=obj.updated_at,
         last_seen_at=obj.last_seen_at,
+        last_seen_location=obj.last_seen_location,
         qr_code_url=object_public_url(obj.id),
         photos=[build_photo_read(p) for p in obj.photos],
     )
@@ -64,8 +65,8 @@ async def update_object(db: AsyncSession, obj: InventoryObject, data: ObjectUpda
     return await get_object(db, obj.id)
 
 
-async def mark_object_found(db: AsyncSession, obj: InventoryObject, box_id: uuid.UUID | None) -> InventoryObject:
-    obj.box_id = box_id
+async def mark_object_found(db: AsyncSession, obj: InventoryObject, location: str | None) -> InventoryObject:
+    obj.last_seen_location = location
     obj.last_seen_at = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
     await db.commit()
     return await get_object(db, obj.id)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_objects.py b/backend/tests/test_objects.py
index 13b9b4e..193d803 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_objects.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_objects.py
@@ -47,26 +47,25 @@ async def test_duplicate_inventory_number_conflicts(client: AsyncClient, auth_he
     await client.delete(f"/api/v1/objects/{first.json()['id']}", headers=auth_headers)
 
 
-async def test_scan_marks_object_found_and_moves_it(client: AsyncClient, auth_headers: dict[str, str]) -> None:
+async def test_scan_marks_object_found_with_location(client: AsyncClient, auth_headers: dict[str, str]) -> None:
     inventory_number = f"TEST-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
     create_res = await client.post(
         "/api/v1/objects", headers=auth_headers, json={"inventory_number": inventory_number, "name": "Scan test"}
     )
     object_id = create_res.json()["id"]
     assert create_res.json()["last_seen_at"] is None
-
-    box_res = await client.post("/api/v1/boxes", headers=auth_headers, json={"name": "Audit room"})
-    box_id = box_res.json()["id"]
+    assert create_res.json()["last_seen_location"] is None
 
     scan_res = await client.post(
-        f"/api/v1/objects/{object_id}/scan", headers=auth_headers, json={"box_id": box_id}
+        f"/api/v1/objects/{object_id}/scan", headers=auth_headers, json={"location": "каб. 305"}
     )
     assert scan_res.status_code == 200
-    assert scan_res.json()["box_id"] == box_id
+    assert scan_res.json()["last_seen_location"] == "каб. 305"
     assert scan_res.json()["last_seen_at"] is not None
+    # Scanning only records where it was found; it does not touch the box assignment.
+    assert scan_res.json()["box_id"] is None
 
     await client.delete(f"/api/v1/objects/{object_id}", headers=auth_headers)
-    await client.delete(f"/api/v1/boxes/{box_id}", headers=auth_headers)
 
 
 async def test_object_qrcode(client: AsyncClient, auth_headers: dict[str, str]) -> None:
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/types.ts b/frontend/src/api/types.ts
index 7201065..7c07243 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/types.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/types.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export interface InventoryObject {
   created_at: string
   updated_at: string
   last_seen_at: string | null
+  last_seen_location: string | null
   qr_code_url: string
   photos: Photo[]
 }
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ export interface ObjectInput {
 }
 
 export interface ObjectScanInput {
-  box_id?: string | null
+  location?: string | null
 }
 
 export interface Box {
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useAuditSession.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useAuditSession.ts
index 1e48167..9a82b1b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useAuditSession.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useAuditSession.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useCallback, useState } from 'react'
 
 const SESSION_START_KEY = 'inventory_audit_session_start'
-const LAST_BOX_KEY = 'inventory_audit_last_box_id'
+const LAST_LOCATION_KEY = 'inventory_audit_last_location'
 
 function readSessionStart(): number {
   const raw = sessionStorage.getItem(SESSION_START_KEY)
@@ -12,26 +12,26 @@ function readSessionStart(): number {
 }
 
 /** Tracks the current audit walk: when it started (for the found/not-found split) and the
- *  last room/box picked, so the next scanned object can default to the same location. */
+ *  last location typed in, so the next scanned object can default to the same location. */
 export function useAuditSession() {
   const [sessionStart, setSessionStart] = useState<number>(readSessionStart)
-  const [lastBoxId, setLastBoxIdState] = useState<string | null>(() =>
-    sessionStorage.getItem(LAST_BOX_KEY),
+  const [lastLocation, setLastLocationState] = useState<string | null>(() =>
+    sessionStorage.getItem(LAST_LOCATION_KEY),
   )
 
   const restart = useCallback(() => {
     const now = Date.now()
     sessionStorage.setItem(SESSION_START_KEY, String(now))
-    sessionStorage.removeItem(LAST_BOX_KEY)
+    sessionStorage.removeItem(LAST_LOCATION_KEY)
     setSessionStart(now)
-    setLastBoxIdState(null)
+    setLastLocationState(null)
   }, [])
 
-  const setLastBoxId = useCallback((boxId: string | null) => {
-    if (boxId) sessionStorage.setItem(LAST_BOX_KEY, boxId)
-    else sessionStorage.removeItem(LAST_BOX_KEY)
-    setLastBoxIdState(boxId)
+  const setLastLocation = useCallback((location: string | null) => {
+    if (location) sessionStorage.setItem(LAST_LOCATION_KEY, location)
+    else sessionStorage.removeItem(LAST_LOCATION_KEY)
+    setLastLocationState(location)
   }, [])
 
-  return { sessionStart, restart, lastBoxId, setLastBoxId }
+  return { sessionStart, restart, lastLocation, setLastLocation }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useObjects.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useObjects.ts
index 2004625..8f258f1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useObjects.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useObjects.ts
@@ -51,12 +51,9 @@ export function useDeleteObject() {
 export function useScanObject() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
   return useMutation({
-    mutationFn: ({ id, boxId }: { id: string; boxId: string | null }) =>
-      api.post<InventoryObject>(`/objects/${id}/scan`, { box_id: boxId } satisfies ObjectScanInput),
-    onSuccess: () => {
-      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['objects'] })
-      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['boxes'] })
-    },
+    mutationFn: ({ id, location }: { id: string; location: string | null }) =>
+      api.post<InventoryObject>(`/objects/${id}/scan`, { location } satisfies ObjectScanInput),
+    onSuccess: () => queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['objects'] }),
   })
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/admin/AuditPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/admin/AuditPage.tsx
index 180e3aa..7e04019 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/admin/AuditPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/admin/AuditPage.tsx
@@ -4,20 +4,19 @@ import { Button } from '../../components/Button'
 import { PhotoGallery } from '../../components/PhotoGallery'
 import { QrScanner } from '../../components/QrScanner'
 import { useAuditSession } from '../../hooks/useAuditSession'
-import { useBox, useBoxesList } from '../../hooks/useBoxes'
+import { useBox } from '../../hooks/useBoxes'
 import { useObject, useObjectsList, useScanObject } from '../../hooks/useObjects'
 import { parseScannedTarget, type ScannedTarget } from '../../lib/qrUrl'
 
 const RESCAN_COOLDOWN_MS = 4000
 
 export function AuditPage() {
-  const { sessionStart, restart, lastBoxId, setLastBoxId } = useAuditSession()
+  const { sessionStart, restart, lastLocation, setLastLocation } = useAuditSession()
   const { data: objects } = useObjectsList('')
-  const { data: boxes } = useBoxesList('')
   const scanObject = useScanObject()
 
   const [overlay, setOverlay] = useState<ScannedTarget | null>(null)
-  const [selectedBoxId, setSelectedBoxId] = useState('')
+  const [locationInput, setLocationInput] = useState('')
   const [cameraError, setCameraError] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const cooldownRef = useRef<{ key: string; at: number } | null>(null)
 
@@ -33,10 +32,10 @@ export function AuditPage() {
       const cooldown = cooldownRef.current
       if (cooldown && cooldown.key === key && Date.now() - cooldown.at < RESCAN_COOLDOWN_MS) return
 
-      if (target.type === 'object') setSelectedBoxId(lastBoxId ?? '')
+      if (target.type === 'object') setLocationInput(lastLocation ?? '')
       setOverlay(target)
     },
-    [lastBoxId],
+    [lastLocation],
   )
 
   function closeOverlay() {
@@ -46,9 +45,9 @@ export function AuditPage() {
 
   async function confirmFound() {
     if (!overlay || overlay.type !== 'object') return
-    const boxId = selectedBoxId || null
-    await scanObject.mutateAsync({ id: overlay.id, boxId })
-    setLastBoxId(boxId)
+    const location = locationInput.trim() || null
+    await scanObject.mutateAsync({ id: overlay.id, location })
+    setLastLocation(location)
     closeOverlay()
   }
 
@@ -106,18 +105,14 @@ export function AuditPage() {
 
                   <div className="space-y-1">
                     <label className="text-sm font-medium">Где нашли?</label>
-                    <select
-                      value={selectedBoxId}
-                      onChange={(e) => setSelectedBoxId(e.target.value)}
+                    <input
+                      type="text"
+                      value={locationInput}
+                      onChange={(e) => setLocationInput(e.target.value)}
+                      placeholder="например, каб. 305"
+                      autoFocus
                       className="w-full rounded-md border border-slate-300 px-3 py-2 dark:border-slate-700 dark:bg-slate-950"
-                    >
-                      <option value="">— без ящика —</option>
-                      {boxes?.map((box) => (
-                        <option key={box.id} value={box.id}>
-                          {box.name}
-                        </option>
-                      ))}
-                    </select>
+                    />
                   </div>
 
                   <div className="flex gap-2">
@@ -210,7 +205,9 @@ export function AuditPage() {
               <span>
                 {o.name} <span className="text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400">· {o.inventory_number}</span>
               </span>
-              {o.box && <span className="shrink-0 text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400">{o.box.name}</span>}
+              {o.last_seen_location && (
+                <span className="shrink-0 text-slate-500 dark:text-slate-400">{o.last_seen_location}</span>
+              )}
             </Link>
           ))}
           {foundObjects.length === 0 && (