diff --git a/core/artwork/e2e/album_test.go b/core/artwork/e2e/album_test.go
index 5e61684cc..8e5bb1cf5 100644
--- a/core/artwork/e2e/album_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/e2e/album_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package artworke2e_test
 
 import (
 	"testing/fstest"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/model"
@@ -466,4 +467,19 @@ var _ = Describe("Album artwork resolution", func() {
 			Expect(readArtwork(al.CoverArtID())).To(Equal(imageBytes("cover")))
 		})
 	})
+
+	// https://github.com/navidrome/navidrome/issues/5469
+	It("updates cover art after an image-only quick scan", func() {
+		conf.Server.CoverArtPriority = defaultCoverPriority
+		setLayout(fstest.MapFS{"Artist/Album/01 - Track.mp3": trackFile(1, "Track")})
+		scan()
+		alBefore := firstAlbum()
+
+		fakeFS.Add("Artist/Album/cover.jpg", imageFile("new-cover"), alBefore.UpdatedAt.Add(time.Hour))
+		scanQuick()
+
+		alAfter := firstAlbum()
+		Expect(alAfter.ImportedAt.After(alBefore.ImportedAt)).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(readArtwork(alAfter.CoverArtID())).To(Equal(imageBytes("new-cover")))
+	})
 })
diff --git a/core/artwork/e2e/suite_test.go b/core/artwork/e2e/suite_test.go
index 06cc05b6f..7860100a9 100644
--- a/core/artwork/e2e/suite_test.go
+++ b/core/artwork/e2e/suite_test.go
@@ -98,6 +98,14 @@ func scan() {
 	Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 }
 
+func scanQuick() {
+	GinkgoHelper()
+	s := scanner.New(ctx, ds, artwork.NoopCacheWarmer(), events.NoopBroker(),
+		playlists.NewPlaylists(ds, core.NewImageUploadService()), metrics.NewNoopInstance())
+	_, err := s.ScanAll(ctx, false)
+	Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+}
+
 func firstAlbum() model.Album {
 	GinkgoHelper()
 	albums, err := ds.Album(ctx).GetAll(model.QueryOptions{})
diff --git a/model/artwork_id.go b/model/artwork_id.go
index 1bd146c1f..041d72e12 100644
--- a/model/artwork_id.go
+++ b/model/artwork_id.go
@@ -112,10 +112,14 @@ func ParseDiscArtworkID(id string) (albumID string, discNumber int, err error) {
 }
 
 func artworkIDFromAlbum(al Album) ArtworkID {
+	lastUpdate := al.UpdatedAt
+	if al.ImportedAt.After(lastUpdate) {
+		lastUpdate = al.ImportedAt
+	}
 	return ArtworkID{
 		Kind:       KindAlbumArtwork,
 		ID:         al.ID,
-		LastUpdate: al.UpdatedAt,
+		LastUpdate: lastUpdate,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/scanner/phase_1_folders.go b/scanner/phase_1_folders.go
index 5e898590b..b204bb6ae 100644
--- a/scanner/phase_1_folders.go
+++ b/scanner/phase_1_folders.go
@@ -342,6 +342,9 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) persistChanges(entry *folderEntry) (*folderEntry, error)
 		albumRepo := tx.Album(p.ctx)
 		mfRepo := tx.MediaFile(p.ctx)
 
+		prevFolder, _ := folderRepo.Get(entry.id)
+		imagesChanged := folderImagesChanged(prevFolder, entry)
+
 		// Save folder to DB
 		folder := entry.toFolder()
 		err := folderRepo.Put(folder)
@@ -415,6 +418,13 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) persistChanges(entry *folderEntry) (*folderEntry, error)
 				return err
 			}
 		}
+
+		// #5469: bump ImportedAt when sidecar images change so cover URLs invalidate.
+		if imagesChanged {
+			if err := p.touchAlbumsForFolderImages(mfRepo, albumRepo, entry); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
 		return nil
 	}, "scanner: persist changes")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -431,6 +441,34 @@ func (p *phaseFolders) persistChanges(entry *folderEntry) (*folderEntry, error)
 	return entry, err
 }
 
+func folderImagesChanged(prev *model.Folder, entry *folderEntry) bool {
+	if prev == nil {
+		return len(entry.imageFiles) > 0
+	}
+	newFiles := slices.Collect(maps.Keys(entry.imageFiles))
+	slices.Sort(newFiles)
+	prevFiles := slices.Clone(prev.ImageFiles)
+	slices.Sort(prevFiles)
+	return !slices.Equal(prevFiles, newFiles) || !prev.ImagesUpdatedAt.Equal(entry.imagesUpdatedAt)
+}
+
+func (p *phaseFolders) touchAlbumsForFolderImages(
+	mfRepo model.MediaFileRepository,
+	albumRepo model.AlbumRepository,
+	entry *folderEntry,
+) error {
+	mfs, err := mfRepo.GetAll(model.QueryOptions{
+		Filters: squirrel.And{
+			squirrel.Eq{"folder_id": entry.id},
+			squirrel.Eq{"missing": false},
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return albumRepo.Touch(slice.Unique(slice.Map(mfs, func(mf model.MediaFile) string { return mf.AlbumID }))...)
+}
+
 // persistAlbum persists the given album to the database, and reassigns annotations from the previous album ID
 func (p *phaseFolders) persistAlbum(repo model.AlbumRepository, a *model.Album, idMap map[string]string) error {
 	prevID := idMap[a.ID]
diff --git a/ui/src/subsonic/index.js b/ui/src/subsonic/index.js
index 7d93972e0..a436e3f7d 100644
--- a/ui/src/subsonic/index.js
+++ b/ui/src/subsonic/index.js
@@ -81,8 +81,12 @@ const getAvatarUrl = (username, size) =>
   )
 
 const getCoverArtUrl = (record, size, square) => {
+  const bust = [record?.updatedAt, record?.importedAt]
+    .filter(Boolean)
+    .sort()
+    .at(-1)
   const options = {
-    ...(record.updatedAt && { _: record.updatedAt }),
+    ...(bust && { _: bust }),
     ...(size && { size }),
     ...(square && { square }),
   }