diff --git a/internal/handlers/scanner.go b/internal/handlers/scanner.go
index bcfdda4..c7031a2 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/scanner.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/scanner.go
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ func SetupRoutes(g *echo.Group, db *database.Queries, connManager *wsync.Connect
 type ScanLibraryRequest struct {
 	FolderPaths []string `json:"folder_paths,omitempty"`
 	LibraryID   string   `json:"library_id,omitempty"`
+	Force       bool     `json:"force,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ScanLibrary handles POST /api/scanner/scan (now runs in background)
@@ -155,6 +156,7 @@ func (h *Handler) ScanLibrary(c echo.Context) error {
 			"folders":    folderPaths,
 			"admin_id":   userUUID.String(),
 			"db":         h.db,
+			"force":      req.Force,
 		},
 		Status:  services.JobStatusPending,
 		Context: h.ctx,
diff --git a/internal/services/media_scanner.go b/internal/services/media_scanner.go
index 1d6bcd0..ba60c0d 100644
--- a/internal/services/media_scanner.go
+++ b/internal/services/media_scanner.go
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ type MediaScanner struct {
 	adminID          pgtype.UUID
 	defaultLibraryID pgtype.UUID
 	libraryTypes     map[string][]string
+	forceRescan      bool
 
 	totalFiles int
 	newItems   int
@@ -104,6 +105,10 @@ func (s *MediaScanner) SetAdminID(adminID pgtype.UUID) {
 	s.adminID = adminID
 }
 
+func (s *MediaScanner) SetForce(force bool) {
+	s.forceRescan = force
+}
+
 func (s *MediaScanner) GetStats() (int, int, int) {
 	return s.totalFiles, s.newItems, s.errors
 }
@@ -356,14 +361,25 @@ func (s *MediaScanner) processMediaFile(ctx context.Context, path string) (bool,
 	existingItem, err := s.getMediaItemByFilePath(ctx, path)
 	if err == nil {
 		fmt.Printf("Media item already exists in database: %s (size: %d vs %d)\n", path, existingItem.FileSize.Int64, info.Size())
-		// Media item exists, check if file has changed (by size)
-		if existingItem.FileSize.Int64 != info.Size() {
-			fmt.Printf("File size changed, updating media item: %s\n", path)
-			_ = s.updateMediaItem(ctx, existingItem.ID, path, info)
+
+		// If force rescan is enabled, always re-process
+		if s.forceRescan {
+			fmt.Printf("Force rescan enabled, re-processing existing media item: %s\n", path)
+			// Force update: delete existing and re-create
+			if err := s.db.DeleteMediaItem(ctx, existingItem.ID); err != nil {
+				fmt.Printf("Warning: failed to delete existing media item: %v\n", err)
+			}
+			// Continue to create new entry below
+		} else {
+			// Normal behavior: check if file has changed (by size)
+			if existingItem.FileSize.Int64 != info.Size() {
+				fmt.Printf("File size changed, updating media item: %s\n", path)
+				_ = s.updateMediaItem(ctx, existingItem.ID, path, info)
+				return false, nil
+			}
+			fmt.Printf("Media item already exists with same size, skipping: %s\n", path)
 			return false, nil
 		}
-		fmt.Printf("Media item already exists with same size, skipping: %s\n", path)
-		return false, nil
 	} else if err != pgx.ErrNoRows {
 		fmt.Printf("Database error checking media item existence: %v\n", err)
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to check if media item exists: %v", err)
diff --git a/internal/services/worker.go b/internal/services/worker.go
index 53e0234..fd0d1da 100644
--- a/internal/services/worker.go
+++ b/internal/services/worker.go
@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ func (w *Worker) processScanJob(job *Job) (interface{}, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("database queries required")
 	}
 
+	force := false
+	if forceVal, ok := job.Params["force"].(bool); ok {
+		force = forceVal
+	}
+
 	scanner := NewMediaScanner(db)
 	scanner.job = job
 
@@ -218,6 +223,7 @@ func (w *Worker) processScanJob(job *Job) (interface{}, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	scanner.SetAdminID(adminUUID)
+	scanner.SetForce(force)
 
 	if err := scanner.ScanFolders(job.Context); err != nil {
 		return nil, err