diff --git a/consts/consts.go b/consts/consts.go
index f453ac125..7eba445bd 100644
--- a/consts/consts.go
+++ b/consts/consts.go
@@ -166,7 +166,10 @@ var (
 			Name:           "mp3 audio",
 			TargetFormat:   "mp3",
 			DefaultBitRate: 192,
-			Command:        "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -f mp3 -",
+			// 0:v:0? also carries over embedded cover art, when the source has any. Only
+			// mp3 and flac are given this treatment: the opus and adts muxers reject a
+			// video stream outright.
+			Command: "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map 0:v:0? -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -c:v copy -disposition:v attached_pic -f mp3 -",
 		},
 		{
 			Name:           "opus audio",
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@ var (
 			Name:           "flac audio",
 			TargetFormat:   "flac",
 			DefaultBitRate: 0,
-			Command:        "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -v 0 -c:a flac -f flac -",
+			Command:        "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map 0:v:0? -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -v 0 -c:a flac -c:v copy -disposition:v attached_pic -f flac -",
 		},
 	}
 )
diff --git a/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.go b/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.go
index af2dab647..0ff77a77a 100644
--- a/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.go
+++ b/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.go
@@ -441,6 +441,14 @@ var formatOutputMap = map[string]string{
 	"flac": "flac",
 }
 
+// formatKeepsCoverArt lists the target formats whose muxer accepts an attached
+// picture. opus ("Unsupported codec id in stream 1") and adts ("adts muxer does
+// not support any stream of type video") reject one, so artwork is dropped there.
+var formatKeepsCoverArt = map[string]bool{
+	"mp3":  true,
+	"flac": true,
+}
+
 // defaultCommands is used to detect whether a user has customized their transcoding command.
 var defaultCommands = func() map[string]string {
 	m := make(map[string]string, len(consts.DefaultTranscodings))
@@ -468,6 +476,14 @@ func buildDynamicArgs(opts TranscodeOptions) []string {
 	args = append(args, "-i", opts.FilePath)
 	args = append(args, "-map", "0:a:0")
 
+	// Carry over embedded cover art, when the source has any. The trailing "?"
+	// keeps the mapping optional so sources without artwork still transcode.
+	// Only mp3 and flac: the opus muxer rejects the mjpeg stream and adts
+	// refuses any video stream, so mapping it there breaks transcoding outright.
+	if formatKeepsCoverArt[opts.Format] {
+		args = append(args, "-map", "0:v:0?", "-c:v", "copy", "-disposition:v", "attached_pic")
+	}
+
 	// Preserve source tags. -map_metadata 0 copies format-level tags (MP3/FLAC);
 	// -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 copies tags from the first audio stream (OPUS/OGG).
 	// Both are needed because the two source families store tags at different
diff --git a/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg_test.go b/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg_test.go
index 0fa3de111..b8dc653e0 100644
--- a/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg_test.go
+++ b/core/ffmpeg/ffmpeg_test.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 
 	Describe("isDefaultCommand", func() {
 		It("returns true for known default mp3 command", func() {
-			Expect(isDefaultCommand("mp3", "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -f mp3 -")).To(BeTrue())
+			Expect(isDefaultCommand("mp3", "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map 0:v:0? -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -c:v copy -disposition:v attached_pic -f mp3 -")).To(BeTrue())
 		})
 		It("returns true for known default opus command", func() {
 			Expect(isDefaultCommand("opus", "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -c:a libopus -f opus -")).To(BeTrue())
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 			Expect(isDefaultCommand("aac", "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -c:a aac -f adts -")).To(BeTrue())
 		})
 		It("returns true for known default flac command", func() {
-			Expect(isDefaultCommand("flac", "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -v 0 -c:a flac -f flac -")).To(BeTrue())
+			Expect(isDefaultCommand("flac", "ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map 0:v:0? -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -v 0 -c:a flac -c:v copy -disposition:v attached_pic -f flac -")).To(BeTrue())
 		})
 		It("returns false for a custom command", func() {
 			Expect(isDefaultCommand("mp3", "ffmpeg -i %s -b:a %bk -custom-flag -f mp3 -")).To(BeFalse())
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 			Expect(args).To(Equal([]string{
 				"ffmpeg", "-i", "/music/file.flac",
 				"-map", "0:a:0",
+				"-map", "0:v:0?", "-c:v", "copy", "-disposition:v", "attached_pic",
 				"-map_metadata", "0", "-map_metadata", "0:s:a:0",
 				"-c:a", "libmp3lame",
 				"-b:a", "256k",
@@ -134,6 +135,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 			Expect(args).To(Equal([]string{
 				"ffmpeg", "-i", "/music/file.dsf",
 				"-map", "0:a:0",
+				"-map", "0:v:0?", "-c:v", "copy", "-disposition:v", "attached_pic",
 				"-map_metadata", "0", "-map_metadata", "0:s:a:0",
 				"-c:a", "flac",
 				"-ar", "48000",
@@ -161,6 +163,20 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 			}))
 		})
 
+		It("does not map cover art for muxers that reject it", func() {
+			// The opus and adts muxers refuse a video stream outright, so mapping
+			// the attached picture there would break transcoding rather than
+			// preserve artwork.
+			for _, format := range []string{"opus", "aac"} {
+				args := buildDynamicArgs(TranscodeOptions{
+					Format:   format,
+					FilePath: "/music/file.flac",
+					BitRate:  128,
+				})
+				Expect(strings.Join(args, " ")).ToNot(ContainSubstring("0:v:0?"), format)
+			}
+		})
+
 		It("includes offset when specified", func() {
 			args := buildDynamicArgs(TranscodeOptions{
 				Format:   "mp3",
@@ -173,6 +189,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 				"-ss", "30",
 				"-i", "/music/file.mp3",
 				"-map", "0:a:0",
+				"-map", "0:v:0?", "-c:v", "copy", "-disposition:v", "attached_pic",
 				"-map_metadata", "0", "-map_metadata", "0:s:a:0",
 				"-c:a", "libmp3lame",
 				"-b:a", "192k",
@@ -209,6 +226,7 @@ var _ = Describe("ffmpeg", func() {
 			Expect(args).To(Equal([]string{
 				"ffmpeg", "-i", "/music/file.dsf",
 				"-map", "0:a:0",
+				"-map", "0:v:0?", "-c:v", "copy", "-disposition:v", "attached_pic",
 				"-map_metadata", "0", "-map_metadata", "0:s:a:0",
 				"-c:a", "flac",
 				"-sample_fmt", "s32",
diff --git a/db/migrations/20260731004500_keep_cover_art_in_default_transcodings.go b/db/migrations/20260731004500_keep_cover_art_in_default_transcodings.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..25e2f8fd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrations/20260731004500_keep_cover_art_in_default_transcodings.go
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package migrations
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+
+	"github.com/pressly/goose/v3"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	goose.AddMigrationContext(upKeepCoverArtInDefaultTranscodings, downKeepCoverArtInDefaultTranscodings)
+}
+
+// coverArtPairs maps the current default commands (audio stream only) to the new
+// defaults that also carry over embedded cover art. Index 0 = old, index 1 = new.
+//
+// `-map 0:v:0?` picks up the attached picture when the source has one, and the
+// trailing `?` keeps the command working for sources without artwork. `-c:v copy`
+// avoids re-encoding it and `-disposition:v attached_pic` marks it as cover art
+// rather than a video track.
+//
+// Only mp3 and flac are updated: the opus muxer rejects the mjpeg stream
+// ("Unsupported codec id in stream 1") and adts refuses any video stream
+// ("adts muxer does not support any stream of type video"), so adding the
+// mapping there would break transcoding to those formats outright.
+//
+// Only rows still holding the exact unmodified default are updated, so any
+// user-customized command is left untouched.
+var coverArtPairs = [][2]string{
+	{
+		"ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -f mp3 -",
+		"ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map 0:v:0? -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -b:a %bk -v 0 -c:v copy -disposition:v attached_pic -f mp3 -",
+	},
+	{
+		"ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -v 0 -c:a flac -f flac -",
+		"ffmpeg -ss %t -i %s -map 0:a:0 -map 0:v:0? -map_metadata 0 -map_metadata 0:s:a:0 -v 0 -c:a flac -c:v copy -disposition:v attached_pic -f flac -",
+	},
+}
+
+func upKeepCoverArtInDefaultTranscodings(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx) error {
+	for _, p := range coverArtPairs {
+		if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx, `UPDATE transcoding SET command = ? WHERE command = ?`, p[1], p[0]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func downKeepCoverArtInDefaultTranscodings(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx) error {
+	for _, p := range coverArtPairs {
+		if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx, `UPDATE transcoding SET command = ? WHERE command = ?`, p[0], p[1]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}