diff --git a/internal/commands/passwd.go b/internal/commands/passwd.go
index d113a94ab..4861fcbd6 100644
--- a/internal/commands/passwd.go
+++ b/internal/commands/passwd.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func passwdAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	user := entity.Admin
 
-	log.Infof("please enter a new password for %s (at least 6 characters)\n", txt.Quote(user.UserName))
+	log.Infof("please enter a new password for %s (at least 6 characters)\n", txt.Quote(user.Username()))
 
 	newPassword := getPassword("New Password: ")
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func passwdAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	log.Infof("changed password for %s\n", txt.Quote(user.UserName))
+	log.Infof("changed password for %s\n", txt.Quote(user.Username()))
 
 	conf.Shutdown()
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/users.go b/internal/commands/users.go
index 29b9ee5c2..638b0caf7 100644
--- a/internal/commands/users.go
+++ b/internal/commands/users.go
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ func usersListAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		fmt.Printf("%-4s %-16s %-16s %-16s\n", "ID", "LOGIN", "NAME", "EMAIL")
 
 		for _, user := range users {
-			fmt.Printf("%-4d %-16s %-16s %-16s", user.ID, user.UserName, user.FullName, user.PrimaryEmail)
+			fmt.Printf("%-4d %-16s %-16s %-16s", user.ID, user.Username(), user.FullName, user.PrimaryEmail)
 			fmt.Printf("\n")
 		}
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func usersUpdateAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			fmt.Printf("password successfully changed: %v\n", u.UserName)
+			fmt.Printf("password successfully changed: %v\n", u.Username())
 		}
 
 		if ctx.IsSet("fullname") {
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func usersUpdateAction(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		fmt.Printf("user successfully updated: %v\n", u.UserName)
+		fmt.Printf("user successfully updated: %v\n", u.Username())
 
 		return nil
 	})
diff --git a/internal/entity/cell.go b/internal/entity/cell.go
index 30fca69a1..318749e25 100644
--- a/internal/entity/cell.go
+++ b/internal/entity/cell.go
@@ -79,34 +79,41 @@ func (m *Cell) Refresh(api string) (err error) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	place := &Place{}
+	cellTable := Cell{}.TableName()
+	placeTable := Place{}.TableName()
+
+	place := Place{}
 
 	// Find existing place by label.
 	if err := UnscopedDb().Where("place_label = ?", l.Label()).First(&place).Error; err != nil {
 		log.Tracef("places: %s for cell %s", err, m.ID)
-		place = &Place{ID: m.ID}
+		place = Place{ID: m.ID}
 	} else {
 		log.Tracef("places: found matching place %s for cell %s", place.ID, m.ID)
 	}
 
 	// Update place.
-	if res := UnscopedDb().Model(place).Updates(Values{
-		"PlaceLabel":    l.Label(),
-		"PlaceCity":     l.City(),
-		"PlaceDistrict": l.District(),
-		"PlaceState":    l.State(),
-		"PlaceCountry":  l.CountryCode(),
-		"PlaceKeywords": l.KeywordString(),
-	}); res.Error == nil && res.RowsAffected == 1 {
+	if place.ID == "" {
+		// Do nothing.
+	} else if res := UnscopedDb().Table(placeTable).Where("id = ?", place.ID).UpdateColumns(Values{
+		"place_label":    l.Label(),
+		"place_city":     l.City(),
+		"place_district": l.District(),
+		"place_state":    l.State(),
+		"place_country":  l.CountryCode(),
+		"place_keywords": l.KeywordString(),
+	}); res.Error != nil {
+		log.Tracef("places: %s for cell %s", err, m.ID)
+	} else if res.RowsAffected > 0 {
 		// Update cell place id, name, and category.
 		log.Tracef("places: updating place, name, and category for cell %s", m.ID)
-		m.PlaceID = place.ID
-		err = UnscopedDb().Model(m).Updates(Values{"PlaceID": m.PlaceID, "CellName": l.Name(), "CellCategory": l.Category()}).Error
-
+		err = UnscopedDb().Table(cellTable).Where("id = ?", m.ID).
+			UpdateColumns(Values{"cell_name": l.Name(), "cell_category": l.Category(), "place_id": place.ID}).Error
 	} else {
 		// Update cell name and category.
 		log.Tracef("places: updating name and category for cell %s", m.ID)
-		err = UnscopedDb().Model(m).Updates(Values{"CellName": l.Name(), "CellCategory": l.Category()}).Error
+		err = UnscopedDb().Table(cellTable).Where("id = ?", m.ID).
+			UpdateColumns(Values{"cell_name": l.Name(), "cell_category": l.Category()}).Error
 	}
 
 	log.Debugf("places: refreshed cell %s [%s]", txt.Quote(m.ID), time.Since(start))
diff --git a/internal/entity/user.go b/internal/entity/user.go
index e7068bab6..9a7ddb76e 100644
--- a/internal/entity/user.go
+++ b/internal/entity/user.go
@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ func FirstOrCreateUser(m *User) *User {
 
 // FindUserByName returns an existing user or nil if not found.
 func FindUserByName(userName string) *User {
+	userName = txt.NormalizeUsername(userName)
+
 	if userName == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -211,8 +213,8 @@ func (m *User) Deleted() bool {
 
 // String returns an identifier that can be used in logs.
 func (m *User) String() string {
-	if m.UserName != "" {
-		return m.UserName
+	if n := m.Username(); n != "" {
+		return n
 	}
 
 	if m.FullName != "" {
@@ -222,9 +224,14 @@ func (m *User) String() string {
 	return m.UserUID
 }
 
+// Username returns the normalized username.
+func (m *User) Username() string {
+	return txt.NormalizeUsername(m.UserName)
+}
+
 // Registered tests if the user is registered e.g. has a username.
 func (m *User) Registered() bool {
-	return m.UserName != "" && rnd.IsPPID(m.UserUID, 'u')
+	return m.Username() != "" && rnd.IsPPID(m.UserUID, 'u')
 }
 
 // Admin returns true if the user is an admin with user name.
@@ -249,7 +256,7 @@ func (m *User) SetPassword(password string) error {
 	}
 
 	if len(password) < 4 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("new password for %s must be at least 4 characters", txt.Quote(m.UserName))
+		return fmt.Errorf("new password for %s must be at least 4 characters", txt.Quote(m.Username()))
 	}
 
 	pw := NewPassword(m.UserUID, password)
@@ -342,30 +349,37 @@ func (m *User) Role() acl.Role {
 
 // Validate Makes sure username and email are unique and meet requirements. Returns error if any property is invalid
 func (m *User) Validate() error {
-	if m.UserName == "" {
+	if m.Username() == "" {
 		return errors.New("username must not be empty")
 	}
-	if len(m.UserName) < 4 {
+
+	if len(m.Username()) < 4 {
 		return errors.New("username must be at least 4 characters")
 	}
+
 	var err error
 	var resultName = User{}
-	if err = Db().Where("user_name = ? AND id <> ?", m.UserName, m.ID).First(&resultName).Error; err == nil {
+
+	if err = Db().Where("user_name = ? AND id <> ?", m.Username(), m.ID).First(&resultName).Error; err == nil {
 		return errors.New("username already exists")
 	} else if err != gorm.ErrRecordNotFound {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	// stop here if no email is provided
 	if m.PrimaryEmail == "" {
 		return nil
 	}
+
 	// validate email address
 	if a, err := mail.ParseAddress(m.PrimaryEmail); err != nil {
 		return err
 	} else {
 		m.PrimaryEmail = a.Address // make sure email address will be used without name
 	}
+
 	var resultMail = User{}
+
 	if err = Db().Where("primary_email = ? AND id <> ?", m.PrimaryEmail, m.ID).First(&resultMail).Error; err == nil {
 		return errors.New("email already exists")
 	} else if err != gorm.ErrRecordNotFound {
@@ -384,7 +398,7 @@ func CreateWithPassword(uc form.UserCreate) error {
 		RoleAdmin:    true,
 	}
 	if len(uc.Password) < 4 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("new password for %s must be at least 4 characters", txt.Quote(u.UserName))
+		return fmt.Errorf("new password for %s must be at least 4 characters", txt.Quote(u.Username()))
 	}
 	err := u.Validate()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -398,7 +412,7 @@ func CreateWithPassword(uc form.UserCreate) error {
 		if err := tx.Create(&pw).Error; err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		log.Infof("created user %v with uid %v", txt.Quote(u.UserName), txt.Quote(u.UserUID))
+		log.Infof("created user %v with uid %v", txt.Quote(u.Username()), txt.Quote(u.UserUID))
 		return nil
 	})
 }
diff --git a/internal/entity/user_fixtures_test.go b/internal/entity/user_fixtures_test.go
index 954d8089c..5ff5e680e 100644
--- a/internal/entity/user_fixtures_test.go
+++ b/internal/entity/user_fixtures_test.go
@@ -10,11 +10,13 @@ func TestUserMap_Get(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("get existing user", func(t *testing.T) {
 		r := UserFixtures.Get("alice")
 		assert.Equal(t, "alice", r.UserName)
+		assert.Equal(t, "alice", r.Username())
 		assert.IsType(t, User{}, r)
 	})
 	t.Run("get not existing user", func(t *testing.T) {
 		r := UserFixtures.Get("monstera")
 		assert.Equal(t, "", r.UserName)
+		assert.Equal(t, "", r.Username())
 		assert.IsType(t, User{}, r)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/internal/entity/user_test.go b/internal/entity/user_test.go
index e08410b3e..1c0742cec 100644
--- a/internal/entity/user_test.go
+++ b/internal/entity/user_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ func TestFindUserByName(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, 1, m.ID)
 		assert.NotEmpty(t, m.UserUID)
 		assert.Equal(t, "admin", m.UserName)
+		assert.Equal(t, "admin", m.Username())
+		m.UserName = "Admin "
+		assert.Equal(t, "admin", m.Username())
+		assert.Equal(t, "Admin ", m.UserName)
 		assert.Equal(t, "Admin", m.FullName)
 		assert.True(t, m.RoleAdmin)
 		assert.False(t, m.RoleGuest)
@@ -203,7 +207,7 @@ func TestFindUserByUID(t *testing.T) {
 
 		assert.Equal(t, 5, m.ID)
 		assert.Equal(t, "uqxetse3cy5eo9z2", m.UserUID)
-		assert.Equal(t, "alice", m.UserName)
+		assert.Equal(t, "alice", m.Username())
 		assert.Equal(t, "Alice", m.FullName)
 		assert.Equal(t, "alice@example.com", m.PrimaryEmail)
 		assert.True(t, m.RoleAdmin)
@@ -251,17 +255,17 @@ func TestFindUserByUID(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestUser_String(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Run("return UID", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("UID", func(t *testing.T) {
 		p := User{UserUID: "abc123", UserName: "", FullName: ""}
 		assert.Equal(t, "abc123", p.String())
 	})
-	t.Run("return display name", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("DisplayName", func(t *testing.T) {
 		p := User{UserUID: "abc123", UserName: "", FullName: "Test"}
 		assert.Equal(t, "Test", p.String())
 	})
-	t.Run("return user name", func(t *testing.T) {
-		p := User{UserUID: "abc123", UserName: "Super-User", FullName: "Test"}
-		assert.Equal(t, "Super-User", p.String())
+	t.Run("UserName", func(t *testing.T) {
+		p := User{UserUID: "abc123", UserName: "Super-User ", FullName: "Test"}
+		assert.Equal(t, "super-user", p.String())
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/form/user.go b/internal/form/user.go
index b0ce3b869..ddcf5825b 100644
--- a/internal/form/user.go
+++ b/internal/form/user.go
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package form
 
+import "github.com/photoprism/photoprism/pkg/txt"
+
 // UserCreate represents a User with a new password.
 type UserCreate struct {
 	UserName string `json:"username"`
@@ -7,3 +9,8 @@ type UserCreate struct {
 	Email    string `json:"email"`
 	Password string `json:"password"`
 }
+
+// Username returns the normalized username in lowercase and without whitespace padding.
+func (f UserCreate) Username() string {
+	return txt.NormalizeUsername(f.UserName)
+}
diff --git a/internal/photoprism/places.go b/internal/photoprism/places.go
index 5d020977a..fde61db8a 100644
--- a/internal/photoprism/places.go
+++ b/internal/photoprism/places.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func (w *Places) Start() (updated []string, err error) {
 		}
 
 		// Short break.
-		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+		time.Sleep(25 * time.Millisecond)
 	}
 
 	return updated, err
diff --git a/internal/query/users_test.go b/internal/query/users_test.go
index 8f4c71ff7..9e5a5ab30 100644
--- a/internal/query/users_test.go
+++ b/internal/query/users_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ func TestRegisteredUsers(t *testing.T) {
 		users := RegisteredUsers()
 
 		for _, user := range users {
-			t.Logf("user: %v, %s, %s, %s", user.ID, user.UserUID, user.UserName, user.FullName)
+			t.Logf("user: %v, %s, %s, %s", user.ID, user.UserUID, user.Username(), user.FullName)
 		}
 
 		t.Logf("user count: %v", len(users))
diff --git a/pkg/txt/clip.go b/pkg/txt/clip.go
index d172fa502..a838fb931 100644
--- a/pkg/txt/clip.go
+++ b/pkg/txt/clip.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const (
 	Ellipsis        = "…"
 	ClipCountryCode = 2
 	ClipKeyword     = 40
+	ClipUsername    = 64
 	ClipSlug        = 80
 	ClipCategory    = 100
 	ClipPlace       = 128
diff --git a/pkg/txt/normalize.go b/pkg/txt/normalize.go
index 8e95d078e..83a90492f 100644
--- a/pkg/txt/normalize.go
+++ b/pkg/txt/normalize.go
@@ -67,3 +67,8 @@ func NormalizeQuery(s string) string {
 	s = strings.ReplaceAll(s, "%", "*")
 	return strings.Trim(s, "+&|_-=!@$%^(){}\\<>,.;: ")
 }
+
+// NormalizeUsername returns the normalized username (lowercase, whitespace trimmed).
+func NormalizeUsername(s string) string {
+	return strings.ToLower(Clip(s, ClipUsername))
+}