diff --git a/tests/test_issue_837_find_add_preserves_playlist.py b/tests/test_issue_837_find_add_preserves_playlist.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8ee5a2d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_issue_837_find_add_preserves_playlist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+"""#837 — manual Find & Add must NOT recreate the Jellyfin/Emby playlist.
+
+Reporter (carlosjfcasero, Emby/Jellyfin): automations + auto-sync respect the
+'append' sync mode and preserve the playlist's description/image, but manually
+matching a missing track ("Find & add") recreated the whole playlist and wiped
+them. Root cause: the add-track endpoint's Jellyfin branch called
+`update_playlist(full list)` (delete + recreate) instead of the in-place
+`append_to_playlist`. These pin that the endpoint now appends in place.
+
+(Emby routes through the 'jellyfin' branch — no separate emby branch exists.)
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import tempfile
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+import pytest
+
+_TMP = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='soulsync-testdb-837-')
+os.environ['DATABASE_PATH'] = os.path.join(_TMP, 'i837.db')
+os.environ['SOULSYNC_TEST_DB_READY'] = '1'
+
+web_server = pytest.importorskip('web_server')
+
+_GUID = 'aaaaaaaa-bbbb-cccc-dddd-000000000001'
+
+
+class _FakeJellyfin:
+    def __init__(self, existing=None):
+        self.existing = existing or []
+        self.append_calls = []
+        self.update_calls = []
+
+    def get_playlist_tracks(self, pid):
+        return [SimpleNamespace(ratingKey=str(r)) for r in self.existing]
+
+    def append_to_playlist(self, name, tracks):
+        self.append_calls.append((name, [getattr(t, 'id', None) for t in tracks]))
+        return True
+
+    def update_playlist(self, name, tracks):  # the destructive recreate path
+        self.update_calls.append((name, tracks))
+        return True
+
+
+class _FakeEngine:
+    def __init__(self, jf):
+        self._jf = jf
+
+    def client(self, name):
+        return self._jf if name == 'jellyfin' else None
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client():
+    return web_server.app.test_client()
+
+
+def _wire(monkeypatch, jf):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(web_server, 'media_server_engine', _FakeEngine(jf))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(web_server.config_manager, 'get_active_media_server', lambda: 'jellyfin')
+    # the durable source->server match write touches the DB; not under test here
+    monkeypatch.setattr(web_server, '_persist_find_and_add_match', lambda *a, **k: None)
+
+
+def test_find_and_add_appends_in_place_not_recreate(client, monkeypatch):
+    jf = _FakeJellyfin(existing=[])  # the missing track isn't on the server yet
+    _wire(monkeypatch, jf)
+
+    resp = client.post('/api/server/playlist/PL1/add-track',
+                       json={'track_id': _GUID, 'playlist_name': 'Disney'})
+    body = resp.get_json()
+
+    assert body['success'] and body['message'] == 'Track added'
+    assert len(jf.append_calls) == 1, 'should append in place'
+    assert jf.update_calls == [], 'must NOT recreate the playlist (#837)'
+    # append_to_playlist reads `.id` off the track — the endpoint must set it
+    assert jf.append_calls[0][1] == [_GUID]
+
+
+def test_find_and_add_link_to_existing_track_touches_nothing(client, monkeypatch):
+    # Matching a source to a track already in the playlist is a LINK, not an add.
+    jf = _FakeJellyfin(existing=[_GUID])
+    _wire(monkeypatch, jf)
+
+    resp = client.post('/api/server/playlist/PL1/add-track',
+                       json={'track_id': _GUID, 'playlist_name': 'Disney',
+                             'source_track_id': 'spotify-xyz'})
+    body = resp.get_json()
+
+    assert body['success'] and body['message'] == 'Track linked'
+    assert jf.append_calls == [] and jf.update_calls == []
diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index 54c47f33..f95f2380 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -19056,14 +19056,24 @@ def server_playlist_add_track(playlist_id):
 
         elif active_server == 'jellyfin' and media_server_engine.client('jellyfin'):
             from core.sync.playlist_edit import plan_playlist_add
-            current_tracks = media_server_engine.client('jellyfin').get_playlist_tracks(playlist_id) or []
+            jf = media_server_engine.client('jellyfin')
+            current_tracks = jf.get_playlist_tracks(playlist_id) or []
             track_ids = [str(t.ratingKey) for t in current_tracks]
             # Matching an unmatched source to a track already in the playlist
             # is a LINK, not a second copy — don't duplicate it (#768).
             plan = plan_playlist_add(track_ids, track_id, is_link=bool(source_track_id), position=position)
             if plan['should_insert']:
-                new_track_objs = [type('T', (), {'ratingKey': tid, 'title': ''})() for tid in plan['new_ids']]
-                media_server_engine.client('jellyfin').update_playlist(playlist_name, new_track_objs)
+                # #837: append the ONE found track IN PLACE. The old path called
+                # update_playlist(full track list), which on Jellyfin/Emby deletes
+                # and recreates the playlist — wiping its description + cover image.
+                # append_to_playlist adds in place (dedupe-safe), the same
+                # non-destructive op the 'append' sync mode already uses. It reads
+                # `.id` (not ratingKey) off each track, so set both.
+                new_track_obj = type('T', (), {
+                    'id': str(track_id), 'ratingKey': str(track_id),
+                    'title': server_track_title or '',
+                })()
+                jf.append_to_playlist(playlist_name, [new_track_obj])
             _persist_find_and_add_match(source_track_id, active_server, track_id, server_track_title, source_title, source_artist, source_provider)
             return jsonify({"success": True, "message": "Track linked" if not plan['should_insert'] else "Track added"})