diff --git a/server/nativeapi/albums.go b/server/nativeapi/albums.go
index 7608d94cf..d170b6ddd 100644
--- a/server/nativeapi/albums.go
+++ b/server/nativeapi/albums.go
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ package nativeapi
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/deluan/rest"
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
@@ -42,7 +44,13 @@ func (api *Router) uploadAlbumImage() http.HandlerFunc {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		filename, err := api.imgUpload.SetImage(ctx, consts.EntityAlbum, al.ID, al.Name, oldPath, reader, ext)
+		name := al.Name
+		if oldPath == "" && al.UploadedImage != "" {
+			// Current file is shared (post album-ID copy): write under a unique name so
+			// SetImage can't truncate the path the other album still references.
+			name = fmt.Sprintf("%s-%d", al.Name, time.Now().UnixMilli())
+		}
+		filename, err := api.imgUpload.SetImage(ctx, consts.EntityAlbum, al.ID, name, oldPath, reader, ext)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/server/nativeapi/albums_test.go b/server/nativeapi/albums_test.go
index 9fe7ce542..79ffd3a04 100644
--- a/server/nativeapi/albums_test.go
+++ b/server/nativeapi/albums_test.go
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 package nativeapi
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"mime/multipart"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf/configtest"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core"
@@ -51,3 +56,76 @@ var _ = Describe("Album Image Endpoints", func() {
 		Entry("disabled, regular user is forbidden", false, false, http.StatusForbidden),
 	)
 })
+
+// tinyPNG is a valid 1x1 PNG, enough to pass handleImageUpload's image validation.
+var tinyPNG = []byte{
+	0x89, 0x50, 0x4e, 0x47, 0x0d, 0x0a, 0x1a, 0x0a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0d, 0x49, 0x48, 0x44, 0x52,
+	0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x08, 0x02, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x90, 0x77, 0x53,
+	0xde, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0c, 0x49, 0x44, 0x41, 0x54, 0x78, 0x9c, 0x63, 0x60, 0x64, 0x62, 0x06,
+	0x00, 0x00, 0x0e, 0x00, 0x07, 0xd7, 0x6f, 0xe4, 0x78, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x49, 0x45, 0x4e,
+	0x44, 0xae, 0x42, 0x60, 0x82,
+}
+
+type fakeImgUpload struct {
+	entityID, name, oldPath string
+}
+
+func (f *fakeImgUpload) SetImage(_ context.Context, _ string, entityID string, name string, oldPath string, _ io.Reader, _ string) (string, error) {
+	f.entityID, f.name, f.oldPath = entityID, name, oldPath
+	return "stored.png", nil
+}
+
+func (f *fakeImgUpload) RemoveImage(_ context.Context, path string) error {
+	f.oldPath = path
+	return nil
+}
+
+var _ = Describe("uploadAlbumImage shared-file handling", func() {
+	var api *Router
+	var fake *fakeImgUpload
+
+	upload := func(albumID string) {
+		body := &bytes.Buffer{}
+		w := multipart.NewWriter(body)
+		fw, err := w.CreateFormFile("image", "c.png")
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		_, _ = fw.Write(tinyPNG)
+		Expect(w.Close()).To(Succeed())
+
+		rctx := chi.NewRouteContext()
+		rctx.URLParams.Add("id", albumID)
+		ctx := request.WithUser(GinkgoT().Context(), model.User{ID: "u", IsAdmin: true})
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, chi.RouteCtxKey, rctx)
+		req := httptest.NewRequest("POST", "/album/"+albumID+"/image", body).WithContext(ctx)
+		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", w.FormDataContentType())
+
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		api.uploadAlbumImage().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+		Expect(rec.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+	}
+
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		DeferCleanup(configtest.SetupConfig())
+		ds := &tests.MockDataStore{}
+		ds.Album(GinkgoT().Context()).(*tests.MockAlbumRepo).SetData(model.Albums{
+			{ID: "al-1", Name: "Album One", LibraryID: 1, UploadedImage: "shared.jpg"},
+			{ID: "al-2", Name: "Album Two", LibraryID: 1, UploadedImage: "shared.jpg"},
+			{ID: "al-solo", Name: "Album Solo", LibraryID: 1, UploadedImage: "solo.jpg"},
+		})
+		fake = &fakeImgUpload{}
+		api = &Router{ds: ds, imgUpload: fake}
+	})
+
+	It("replaces in place when the file is not shared", func() {
+		upload("al-solo")
+		Expect(fake.oldPath).ToNot(BeEmpty(), "sole reference: old file should be removed")
+		Expect(fake.name).To(Equal("Album Solo"))
+	})
+
+	It("keeps the shared file and writes under a unique name", func() {
+		upload("al-1")
+		Expect(fake.oldPath).To(BeEmpty(), "shared file must not be removed")
+		Expect(fake.name).ToNot(Equal("Album One"), "name must be de-duplicated so the derived filename is unique")
+		Expect(fake.name).To(HavePrefix("Album One-"))
+	})
+})