diff --git a/py/config.py b/py/config.py
index 965e3817..f5bb017e 100644
--- a/py/config.py
+++ b/py/config.py
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ class Config:
         self._path_mappings: Dict[str, str] = {}
         # Normalized preview root directories used to validate preview access
         self._preview_root_paths: Set[Path] = set()
-        # Optional background rescan thread
-        self._rescan_thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
+        # Fingerprint of the symlink layout from the last successful scan
+        self._cached_fingerprint: Optional[Dict[str, object]] = None
         self.loras_roots = self._init_lora_paths()
         self.checkpoints_roots = None
         self.unet_roots = None
@@ -231,32 +231,6 @@ class Config:
         cache_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         return cache_dir / "symlink_map.json"
 
-    def _compute_noise_mtime(self, root: str) -> Optional[int]:
-        """Return the latest mtime of known noisy paths inside ``root``."""
-
-        normalized_root = self._normalize_path(root)
-        noise_paths: List[str] = []
-
-        # The first LoRA root hosts recipes and stats files which routinely
-        # update without changing symlink layout.
-        first_lora_root = self._normalize_path(self.loras_roots[0]) if self.loras_roots else None
-        if first_lora_root and normalized_root == first_lora_root:
-            recipes_dir = os.path.join(root, "recipes")
-            stats_file = os.path.join(root, "lora_manager_stats.json")
-            noise_paths.extend([recipes_dir, stats_file])
-
-        mtimes: List[int] = []
-        for path in noise_paths:
-            try:
-                stat_result = os.stat(path)
-                mtimes.append(getattr(stat_result, "st_mtime_ns", int(stat_result.st_mtime * 1e9)))
-            except OSError:
-                continue
-
-        if not mtimes:
-            return None
-        return max(mtimes)
-
     def _symlink_roots(self) -> List[str]:
         roots: List[str] = []
         roots.extend(self.loras_roots or [])
@@ -267,26 +241,46 @@ class Config:
     def _build_symlink_fingerprint(self) -> Dict[str, object]:
         roots = [self._normalize_path(path) for path in self._symlink_roots() if path]
         unique_roots = sorted(set(roots))
+        # Fingerprint now only contains the root paths to avoid sensitivity to folder content changes.
+        return {"roots": unique_roots}
 
-        stats: Dict[str, Dict[str, int]] = {}
-        for root in unique_roots:
-            try:
-                root_stat = os.stat(root)
-                noise_mtime = self._compute_noise_mtime(root)
-                stats[root] = {
-                    "mtime_ns": getattr(root_stat, "st_mtime_ns", int(root_stat.st_mtime * 1e9)),
-                    "inode": getattr(root_stat, "st_ino", 0),
-                    "noise_mtime_ns": noise_mtime,
-                }
-            except OSError:
-                continue
+    def _initialize_symlink_mappings(self) -> None:
+        start = time.perf_counter()
+        cache_loaded = self._load_persisted_cache_into_mappings()
 
-        return {"roots": unique_roots, "stats": stats}
+        if cache_loaded:
+            logger.info(
+                "Symlink mappings restored from cache in %.2f ms",
+                (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000,
+            )
+            self._rebuild_preview_roots()
 
-    def _load_symlink_cache(self) -> bool:
+            # Only rescan if target roots have changed. 
+            # This is stable across file additions/deletions.
+            current_fingerprint = self._build_symlink_fingerprint()
+            cached_fingerprint = self._cached_fingerprint
+            
+            if cached_fingerprint and current_fingerprint == cached_fingerprint:
+                return
+
+            logger.info("Symlink root paths changed; rescanning symbolic links")
+
+        self.rebuild_symlink_cache()
+        logger.info(
+            "Symlink mappings rebuilt and cached in %.2f ms",
+            (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000,
+        )
+
+    def rebuild_symlink_cache(self) -> None:
+        """Force a fresh scan of all symbolic links and update the persistent cache."""
+        self._scan_symbolic_links()
+        self._save_symlink_cache()
+        self._rebuild_preview_roots()
+
+    def _load_persisted_cache_into_mappings(self) -> bool:
+        """Load the symlink cache and store its fingerprint for comparison."""
         cache_path = self._get_symlink_cache_path()
         if not cache_path.exists():
-            logger.info("Symlink cache not found at %s", cache_path)
             return False
 
         try:
@@ -297,14 +291,15 @@ class Config:
             return False
 
         if not isinstance(payload, dict):
-            logger.info("Symlink cache payload is not a dict: %s", type(payload))
             return False
 
         cached_mappings = payload.get("path_mappings")
         if not isinstance(cached_mappings, Mapping):
-            logger.info("Symlink cache missing path mappings")
             return False
 
+        # Store the cached fingerprint for comparison during initialization
+        self._cached_fingerprint = payload.get("fingerprint")
+
         normalized_mappings: Dict[str, str] = {}
         for target, link in cached_mappings.items():
             if not isinstance(target, str) or not isinstance(link, str):
@@ -329,30 +324,10 @@ class Config:
         except Exception as exc:
             logger.info("Failed to write symlink cache %s: %s", cache_path, exc)
 
-    def _initialize_symlink_mappings(self) -> None:
-        start = time.perf_counter()
-        cache_loaded = self._load_symlink_cache()
-
-        if cache_loaded:
-            logger.info(
-                "Symlink mappings restored from cache in %.2f ms",
-                (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000,
-            )
-            self._rebuild_preview_roots()
-            self._schedule_symlink_rescan()
-            return
-
-        self._scan_symbolic_links()
-        self._save_symlink_cache()
-        self._rebuild_preview_roots()
-        logger.info(
-            "Symlink mappings rebuilt and cached in %.2f ms",
-            (time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000,
-        )
-
     def _scan_symbolic_links(self):
         """Scan all symbolic links in LoRA, Checkpoint, and Embedding root directories"""
         start = time.perf_counter()
+        
         # Reset mappings before rescanning to avoid stale entries
         self._path_mappings.clear()
         self._seed_root_symlink_mappings()
@@ -365,39 +340,11 @@ class Config:
             len(self._path_mappings),
         )
 
-    def _schedule_symlink_rescan(self) -> None:
-        """Trigger a best-effort background rescan to refresh stale caches."""
-
-        if self._rescan_thread and self._rescan_thread.is_alive():
-            return
-
-        def worker():
-            try:
-                self._scan_symbolic_links()
-                self._save_symlink_cache()
-                self._rebuild_preview_roots()
-                logger.debug("Background symlink rescan completed")
-            except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - defensive logging
-                logger.info("Background symlink rescan failed: %s", exc)
-
-        thread = threading.Thread(
-            target=worker,
-            name="lora-manager-symlink-rescan",
-            daemon=True,
-        )
-        self._rescan_thread = thread
-        thread.start()
-
-    def _wait_for_rescan(self, timeout: Optional[float] = None) -> None:
-        """Block until the background rescan completes (testing convenience)."""
-
-        thread = self._rescan_thread
-        if thread:
-            thread.join(timeout=timeout)
-
     def _scan_directory_links(self, root: str, visited_dirs: Set[str]):
         """Iteratively scan directory symlinks to avoid deep recursion."""
         try:
+            # Note: We only use realpath for the initial root if it's not already resolved
+            # to ensure we have a valid entry point.
             root_real = self._normalize_path(os.path.realpath(root))
         except OSError:
             root_real = self._normalize_path(root)
@@ -406,45 +353,57 @@ class Config:
             return
 
         visited_dirs.add(root_real)
-        stack: List[str] = [root]
+        # Stack entries: (display_path, real_resolved_path)
+        stack: List[Tuple[str, str]] = [(root, root_real)]
 
         while stack:
-            current = stack.pop()
+            current_display, current_real = stack.pop()
             try:
-                with os.scandir(current) as it:
+                with os.scandir(current_display) as it:
                     for entry in it:
                         try:
-                            entry_path = entry.path
-                            if self._is_link(entry_path):
-                                target_path = os.path.realpath(entry_path)
+                            # 1. High speed detection using dirent data (is_symlink)
+                            is_link = entry.is_symlink()
+                            
+                            # On Windows, is_symlink handles reparse points
+                            if is_link:
+                                # Only resolve realpath when we actually find a link
+                                target_path = os.path.realpath(entry.path)
                                 if not os.path.isdir(target_path):
                                     continue
 
                                 normalized_target = self._normalize_path(target_path)
-                                # Always record the mapping even if we already visited
-                                # the real directory via another path. This prevents the
-                                # traversal order from dropping valid link->target pairs.
-                                self.add_path_mapping(entry_path, target_path)
+                                self.add_path_mapping(entry.path, target_path)
+                                
                                 if normalized_target in visited_dirs:
                                     continue
+                                    
                                 visited_dirs.add(normalized_target)
-                                stack.append(target_path)
+                                stack.append((target_path, normalized_target))
                                 continue
 
+                            # 2. Process normal directories
                             if not entry.is_dir(follow_symlinks=False):
                                 continue
 
-                            normalized_real = self._normalize_path(os.path.realpath(entry_path))
-                            if normalized_real in visited_dirs:
+                            # For normal directories, we avoid realpath() call by 
+                            # incrementally building the real path relative to current_real.
+                            # This is safe because 'entry' is NOT a symlink.
+                            entry_real = self._normalize_path(os.path.join(current_real, entry.name))
+                            
+                            if entry_real in visited_dirs:
                                 continue
-                            visited_dirs.add(normalized_real)
-                            stack.append(entry_path)
+                            
+                            visited_dirs.add(entry_real)
+                            stack.append((entry.path, entry_real))
                         except Exception as inner_exc:
                             logger.debug(
                                 "Error processing directory entry %s: %s", entry.path, inner_exc
                             )
             except Exception as e:
-                logger.error(f"Error scanning links in {current}: {e}")
+                logger.error(f"Error scanning links in {current_display}: {e}")
+
+
 
     def add_path_mapping(self, link_path: str, target_path: str):
         """Add a symbolic link path mapping
@@ -537,7 +496,11 @@ class Config:
         normalized_path = os.path.normpath(path).replace(os.sep, '/')
         # Check if the path is contained in any mapped target path
         for target_path, link_path in self._path_mappings.items():
-            if normalized_path.startswith(target_path):
+            # Match whole path components to avoid prefix collisions (e.g., /a/b vs /a/bc)
+            if normalized_path == target_path:
+                return link_path
+            
+            if normalized_path.startswith(target_path + '/'):
                 # If the path starts with the target path, replace with link path
                 mapped_path = normalized_path.replace(target_path, link_path, 1)
                 return mapped_path
@@ -547,10 +510,14 @@ class Config:
         """Map a symbolic link path back to the actual path"""
         normalized_link = os.path.normpath(link_path).replace(os.sep, '/')
         # Check if the path is contained in any mapped target path
-        for target_path, link_path in self._path_mappings.items():
-            if normalized_link.startswith(link_path):
+        for target_path, link_path_mapped in self._path_mappings.items():
+            # Match whole path components
+            if normalized_link == link_path_mapped:
+                return target_path
+
+            if normalized_link.startswith(link_path_mapped + '/'):
                 # If the path starts with the link path, replace with actual path
-                mapped_path = normalized_link.replace(link_path, target_path, 1)
+                mapped_path = normalized_link.replace(link_path_mapped, target_path, 1)
                 return mapped_path
         return link_path
 
diff --git a/py/services/model_scanner.py b/py/services/model_scanner.py
index 8fa76e2a..40015516 100644
--- a/py/services/model_scanner.py
+++ b/py/services/model_scanner.py
@@ -654,6 +654,11 @@ class ModelScanner:
         self._is_initializing = True  # Set flag
         try:
             start_time = time.time()
+            
+            # Manually trigger a symlink rescan during a full rebuild.
+            # This ensures that any new symlink mappings are correctly picked up.
+            config.rebuild_symlink_cache()
+
             # Determine the page type based on model type
             # Scan for new data
             scan_result = await self._gather_model_data()
diff --git a/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py b/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
index 5ba9820b..c32dacb1 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_symlink_cache.py
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ def test_symlink_scan_skips_file_links(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path
 
 def test_symlink_cache_reuses_previous_scan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
     loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_schedule_symlink_rescan", lambda self: None)
 
     target_dir = loras_dir / "target"
     target_dir.mkdir()
@@ -87,7 +86,6 @@ def test_symlink_cache_reuses_previous_scan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp
 
 def test_symlink_cache_survives_noise_mtime(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
     loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_schedule_symlink_rescan", lambda self: None)
 
     target_dir = loras_dir / "target"
     target_dir.mkdir()
@@ -114,7 +112,7 @@ def test_symlink_cache_survives_noise_mtime(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp
     assert second_cfg.map_path_to_link(str(target_dir)) == _normalize(str(dir_link))
 
 
-def test_background_rescan_refreshes_cache(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+def test_manual_rescan_refreshes_cache(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
     loras_dir, _ = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
 
     target_dir = loras_dir / "target"
@@ -135,12 +133,11 @@ def test_background_rescan_refreshes_cache(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_
 
     second_cfg = config_module.Config()
 
-    # Cache may still point at the old real path immediately after load
-    initial_mapping = second_cfg.map_path_to_link(str(new_target))
-    assert initial_mapping in {str(new_target), _normalize(str(dir_link))}
+    # Cache still point at the old real path immediately after load
+    assert second_cfg.map_path_to_link(str(new_target)) == _normalize(str(new_target))
 
-    # Background rescan should refresh the mapping to the new target and update the cache file
-    second_cfg._wait_for_rescan(timeout=2.0)
+    # Manual rescan should refresh the mapping to the new target
+    second_cfg.rebuild_symlink_cache()
     new_real = _normalize(os.path.realpath(new_target))
     assert second_cfg._path_mappings.get(new_real) == _normalize(str(dir_link))
     assert second_cfg.map_path_to_link(str(new_target)) == _normalize(str(dir_link))
@@ -170,7 +167,6 @@ def test_symlink_roots_are_preserved(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
     monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.folder_paths, "get_folder_paths", fake_get_folder_paths)
     monkeypatch.setattr(config_module, "standalone_mode", True)
     monkeypatch.setattr(config_module, "get_settings_dir", lambda create=True: str(settings_dir))
-    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_schedule_symlink_rescan", lambda self: None)
 
     cfg = config_module.Config()
 
diff --git a/tests/config/test_symlink_fingerprint.py b/tests/config/test_symlink_fingerprint.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c69761d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/config/test_symlink_fingerprint.py
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+import os
+import pytest
+from py import config as config_module
+
+def _setup_paths(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    settings_dir = tmp_path / "settings"
+    loras_dir = tmp_path / "loras"
+    loras_dir.mkdir()
+    checkpoint_dir = tmp_path / "checkpoints"
+    checkpoint_dir.mkdir()
+    embedding_dir = tmp_path / "embeddings"
+    embedding_dir.mkdir()
+
+    def fake_get_folder_paths(kind: str):
+        mapping = {
+            "loras": [str(loras_dir)],
+            "checkpoints": [str(checkpoint_dir)],
+            "unet": [],
+            "embeddings": [str(embedding_dir)],
+        }
+        return mapping.get(kind, [])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.folder_paths, "get_folder_paths", fake_get_folder_paths)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module, "standalone_mode", True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module, "get_settings_dir", lambda create=True: str(settings_dir))
+
+    return loras_dir, settings_dir
+
+def test_fingerprint_match_skips_rescan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+    
+    # Track calls to _scan_symbolic_links
+    scan_calls = 0
+    original_scan = config_module.Config._scan_symbolic_links
+    
+    def wrapped_scan(self):
+        nonlocal scan_calls
+        scan_calls += 1
+        return original_scan(self)
+    
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_scan_symbolic_links", wrapped_scan)
+    
+    # 1. First initialization: should scan and cache
+    cfg1 = config_module.Config()
+    assert scan_calls == 1
+    
+    # 2. Second initialization: should load from cache and skip rescan because fingerprint matches
+    cfg2 = config_module.Config()
+    # scan_calls should still be 1 because it loaded from cache and skipped the rescan
+    assert scan_calls == 1
+
+def test_mtime_change_does_not_trigger_rescan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+    
+    # Track calls to _scan_symbolic_links
+    scan_calls = 0
+    original_scan = config_module.Config._scan_symbolic_links
+    
+    def wrapped_scan(self):
+        nonlocal scan_calls
+        scan_calls += 1
+        return original_scan(self)
+    
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_scan_symbolic_links", wrapped_scan)
+    
+    # 1. First initialization: should scan and cache
+    cfg1 = config_module.Config()
+    assert scan_calls == 1
+    
+    # 2. Modify a root directory (change mtime) - this should NOT trigger a rescan anymore
+    os.utime(loras_dir, (os.path.getatime(loras_dir), os.path.getmtime(loras_dir) + 100))
+    
+    # 3. Third initialization: should load from cache and skip rescan despite mtime change
+    cfg3 = config_module.Config()
+    assert scan_calls == 1
+
+def test_root_path_change_triggers_rescan(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+    
+    # Track calls to _scan_symbolic_links
+    scan_calls = 0
+    original_scan = config_module.Config._scan_symbolic_links
+    
+    def wrapped_scan(self):
+        nonlocal scan_calls
+        scan_calls += 1
+        return original_scan(self)
+    
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_scan_symbolic_links", wrapped_scan)
+    
+    # 1. First initialization
+    config_module.Config()
+    assert scan_calls == 1
+    
+    # 2. Change root paths
+    new_lora_dir = tmp_path / "new_loras"
+    new_lora_dir.mkdir()
+    
+    def fake_get_folder_paths_modified(kind: str):
+        if kind == "loras":
+            return [str(loras_dir), str(new_lora_dir)]
+        return []
+    
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.folder_paths, "get_folder_paths", fake_get_folder_paths_modified)
+    
+    # 3. Initialization with different roots should trigger rescan
+    config_module.Config()
+    assert scan_calls == 2
+
+def test_manual_rebuild_symlink_cache(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path):
+    loras_dir, settings_dir = _setup_paths(monkeypatch, tmp_path)
+    
+    scan_calls = 0
+    original_scan = config_module.Config._scan_symbolic_links
+    
+    def wrapped_scan(self):
+        nonlocal scan_calls
+        scan_calls += 1
+        return original_scan(self)
+    
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config_module.Config, "_scan_symbolic_links", wrapped_scan)
+    
+    cfg = config_module.Config()
+    assert scan_calls == 1
+    
+    # Manual trigger
+    cfg.rebuild_symlink_cache()
+    assert scan_calls == 2