diff --git a/internal/services/media_scanner.go b/internal/services/media_scanner.go
index de60791..6bf8fc9 100644
--- a/internal/services/media_scanner.go
+++ b/internal/services/media_scanner.go
@@ -795,6 +795,39 @@ func (s *MediaScanner) processMediaFile(ctx context.Context, path string) (bool,
 			LibraryID:  libraryID,
 		})
 		if err == nil && existingByHash.ID.Valid {
+			// Same content at a different path. If the old location is gone,
+			// the book was MOVED: repoint the row so history follows it and
+			// the archive pass doesn't cycle it into missing/archived. Only
+			// treat it as a duplicate copy when the old path still exists.
+			oldPathStillExists := false
+			for _, folder := range s.folders {
+				if _, statErr := os.Stat(filepath.Join(folder, existingByHash.FilePath)); statErr == nil {
+					oldPathStillExists = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+
+			if !oldPathStillExists {
+				if err := s.db.MoveMediaItemFilePath(ctx, database.MoveMediaItemFilePathParams{
+					ID:       existingByHash.ID,
+					FilePath: s.getRelativePath(path),
+					FileSize: pgtype.Int8{Int64: info.Size(), Valid: true},
+				}); err != nil {
+					fmt.Printf("Warning: failed to repoint moved media item %s -> %s: %v\n", existingByHash.FilePath, path, err)
+				} else {
+					fmt.Printf("[MOVE] Item content moved: %q -> %s (history preserved)\n", existingByHash.FilePath, path)
+					s.logger.LogDelete(fmt.Sprintf("[MOVE] Repointed item '%s' from %q to %s", existingByHash.Title, existingByHash.FilePath, path))
+				}
+				if s.forceRescan {
+					moved := existingByHash
+					moved.FilePath = s.getRelativePath(path)
+					moved.ArchivedAt = pgtype.Timestamptz{}
+					moved.MissingScanCount = 0
+					_ = s.updateMediaItem(ctx, moved, path)
+				}
+				return false, nil
+			}
+
 			fmt.Printf("Media item with same SHA-256 already exists in library (path %q), skipping duplicate: %s\n",
 				existingByHash.FilePath, path)
 			// Content returned (possibly at a new path): restore archived rows.