diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f4899705..0af4e3dd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -55,6 +55,21 @@ The folder must follow a structure defined by Kodi, as detailed [here](https://k
 The canonical artist name used by _LMS_ is the one specified in the `artist.nfo` file; If an `artist.nfo` exists but does not provide a name, the name of the containing folder is used.
 If no artist info file is provided, _LMS_ will pick the artist name found on the latest release.
 
+## Excluding files from scan
+Place a `.lmsignore` file at the root of a media library to exclude files or directories from scanning.
+
+The file uses a gitignore-inspired reduced syntax:
+* `*.jpg`: ignore all `.jpg` files at any depth
+* `/Unsorted/`: ignore the top-level `Unsorted/` directory only
+* `extras/`: ignore any `extras/` directory at any depth
+* `!cover.jpg`: re-include a file previously matched by a broader rule
+* `?`: matches any single character except `/`
+* `[abc]`: character class
+
+Lines starting with `#` are comments. An empty file has no effect.
+
+__Note__: only one `.lmsignore` file per library root is supported; files placed in subdirectories are ignored.
+
 ### Filtering
 It is possible to apply global filters on your collection using `genre`, `mood`, `grouping`, `language`, `codec`, and by music library. More tags, including custom ones, can be added in the database administration settings.
 
diff --git a/src/libs/core/impl/Path.cpp b/src/libs/core/impl/Path.cpp
index 886cc3dc..71732293 100644
--- a/src/libs/core/impl/Path.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/core/impl/Path.cpp
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
-#include <cassert>
-#include <unistd.h>
 
 #include "core/String.hpp"
 
@@ -35,22 +33,13 @@ namespace lms::core::pathUtils
         return (std::find(std::cbegin(supportedExtensions), std::cend(supportedExtensions), extension) != std::cend(supportedExtensions));
     }
 
-    bool isPathInRootPath(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::path& rootPathArg, const std::filesystem::path* excludeDirFileName)
+    bool isPathInRootPath(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::path& rootPathArg)
     {
         std::filesystem::path curPath{ path };
         std::filesystem::path rootPath{ rootPathArg.has_filename() ? rootPathArg : rootPathArg.parent_path() };
 
         while (true)
         {
-            if (excludeDirFileName && !excludeDirFileName->empty())
-            {
-                assert(!excludeDirFileName->has_parent_path());
-
-                std::error_code ec;
-                if (std::filesystem::exists(curPath / *excludeDirFileName, ec))
-                    return false;
-            }
-
             if (curPath == rootPath)
                 return true;
 
diff --git a/src/libs/core/include/core/Path.hpp b/src/libs/core/include/core/Path.hpp
index e748cb36..e46f4926 100644
--- a/src/libs/core/include/core/Path.hpp
+++ b/src/libs/core/include/core/Path.hpp
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ namespace lms::core::pathUtils
     // Check if file's extension is one of provided extensions
     bool hasFileAnyExtension(const std::filesystem::path& file, std::span<const std::filesystem::path> extensions);
 
-    // Check if a path is within a directory (excludeDirFileName is a relative can be used to exclude a whole directory and its subdirectory, must not have parent_path)
-    // Caller responsibility to call with normalized paths
-    bool isPathInRootPath(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::path& rootPath, const std::filesystem::path* excludeDirFileName = {});
+    // Check if a path is within a directory. Caller responsibility to call with normalized paths.
+    bool isPathInRootPath(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::path& rootPath);
 
     std::filesystem::path getLongestCommonPath(const std::filesystem::path& path1, const std::filesystem::path& path2);
 
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libs/services/scanner/CMakeLists.txt
index fe5a8bd0..1abea10a 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ add_library(lmsscanner STATIC
 	impl/steps/ScanStepScanFiles.cpp
 	impl/steps/ScanStepUpdateLibraryFields.cpp
 	impl/FileScanners.cpp
+	impl/IgnoreRules.cpp
 	impl/ScannerService.cpp
 	impl/ScannerServiceTraceLogger.cpp
 	impl/ScannerStats.cpp
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/IgnoreRules.cpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/IgnoreRules.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b0d7d9d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/IgnoreRules.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2025 Emeric Poupon
+ *
+ * This file is part of LMS.
+ *
+ * LMS is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * LMS is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with LMS.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "IgnoreRules.hpp"
+
+#include <fnmatch.h>
+
+#include <fstream>
+
+namespace lms::scanner
+{
+    IgnoreRules::IgnoreRules(std::string_view content)
+    {
+        std::string_view remaining{ content };
+        while (!remaining.empty())
+        {
+            const std::string_view::size_type newlinePos{ remaining.find('\n') };
+            std::string_view line{ remaining.substr(0, newlinePos) };
+            remaining = (newlinePos != std::string_view::npos) ? remaining.substr(newlinePos + 1) : std::string_view{};
+
+            if (!line.empty() && line.back() == '\r')
+                line.remove_suffix(1);
+
+            if (line.empty() || line.front() == '#')
+                continue;
+
+            Rule rule{};
+
+            if (line.front() == '!')
+            {
+                rule.negate = true;
+                line.remove_prefix(1);
+            }
+
+            if (!line.empty() && line.back() == '/')
+            {
+                rule.dirOnly = true;
+                line.remove_suffix(1);
+            }
+
+            // A leading / anchors the pattern to the root.
+            bool anchored{};
+            if (!line.empty() && line.front() == '/')
+            {
+                anchored = true;
+                line.remove_prefix(1);
+            }
+
+            if (line.empty())
+                continue;
+
+            rule.pattern = std::string{ line };
+            rule.mode = (anchored || rule.pattern.find('/') != std::string::npos) ? MatchMode::FullPath : MatchMode::BasenameOnly;
+
+            _rules.push_back(std::move(rule));
+        }
+    }
+
+    bool IgnoreRules::isEmpty() const
+    {
+        return _rules.empty();
+    }
+
+    bool IgnoreRules::isIgnored(const std::filesystem::path& relativePath, IsDirectory isDir) const
+    {
+        if (_rules.empty())
+            return false;
+
+        bool ignored{};
+        for (const Rule& rule : _rules)
+        {
+            if (rule.dirOnly && !isDir.value())
+                continue;
+
+            bool matched{};
+            switch (rule.mode)
+            {
+            case MatchMode::BasenameOnly:
+                {
+                    const std::filesystem::path basename{ relativePath.filename() };
+                    matched = (::fnmatch(rule.pattern.c_str(), basename.c_str(), 0) == 0);
+                }
+                break;
+            case MatchMode::FullPath:
+                matched = (::fnmatch(rule.pattern.c_str(), relativePath.c_str(), FNM_PATHNAME) == 0);
+                break;
+            }
+
+            if (matched)
+                ignored = !rule.negate;
+        }
+
+        return ignored;
+    }
+
+    IgnoreRules loadIgnoreRules(const std::filesystem::path& path)
+    {
+        std::ifstream file{ path };
+        if (!file.is_open())
+            return IgnoreRules{ {} };
+
+        return IgnoreRules{ std::string{ std::istreambuf_iterator<char>{ file }, std::istreambuf_iterator<char>{} } };
+    }
+} // namespace lms::scanner
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/IgnoreRules.hpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/IgnoreRules.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1cef472a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/IgnoreRules.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2025 Emeric Poupon
+ *
+ * This file is part of LMS.
+ *
+ * LMS is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * LMS is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with LMS.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "core/TaggedType.hpp"
+
+namespace lms::scanner
+{
+    // Parsed representation of a .lmsignore file. See README.md for supported syntax.
+    class IgnoreRules
+    {
+    public:
+        explicit IgnoreRules(std::string_view content);
+
+        bool isEmpty() const;
+
+        using IsDirectory = core::TaggedBool<struct IsDirectoryTag>;
+        bool isIgnored(const std::filesystem::path& relativePath, IsDirectory isDir) const;
+
+    private:
+        enum class MatchMode
+        {
+            BasenameOnly, // no '/' in pattern: matched against basename only
+            FullPath,     // has '/': matched against full relative path
+        };
+
+        struct Rule
+        {
+            bool negate;
+            bool dirOnly;
+            MatchMode mode;
+            std::string pattern;
+
+            bool operator==(const Rule&) const = default;
+        };
+
+        std::vector<Rule> _rules;
+
+    public:
+        bool operator==(const IgnoreRules&) const = default;
+    };
+
+    // returns an empty IgnoreRules if the file does not exist or cannot be opened.
+    IgnoreRules loadIgnoreRules(const std::filesystem::path& path);
+} // namespace lms::scanner
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/MediaLibraryInfo.hpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/MediaLibraryInfo.hpp
index 116aa748..01af4247 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/MediaLibraryInfo.hpp
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/MediaLibraryInfo.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 
 #include "database/objects/MediaLibraryId.hpp"
 
+#include "IgnoreRules.hpp"
+
 namespace lms::scanner
 {
     struct MediaLibraryInfo
@@ -30,7 +32,8 @@ namespace lms::scanner
         db::MediaLibraryId id;
         std::filesystem::path rootDirectory;
         bool firstScan{};
+        IgnoreRules ignoreRules{ {} };
 
-        auto operator<=>(const MediaLibraryInfo& other) const = default;
+        bool operator==(const MediaLibraryInfo&) const = default;
     };
 } // namespace lms::scanner
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerService.cpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerService.cpp
index ba513cc0..d608336f 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerService.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerService.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ namespace lms::scanner
                 info.firstScan = mediaLibrary->isEmpty();
                 info.id = mediaLibrary->getId();
                 info.rootDirectory = mediaLibrary->getPath().lexically_normal();
+                info.ignoreRules = loadIgnoreRules(info.rootDirectory / ".lmsignore");
 
                 settings->mediaLibraries.push_back(info);
             });
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerSettings.hpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerSettings.hpp
index 562dedd7..f7fbab40 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerSettings.hpp
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/ScannerSettings.hpp
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@
 
 namespace lms::scanner
 {
-    static inline const std::filesystem::path excludeDirFileName{ ".lmsignore" };
-
     struct ScannerSettings
     {
         std::size_t audioScanVersion{};
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/scanners/audiofile/AudioFileScanOperation.cpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/scanners/audiofile/AudioFileScanOperation.cpp
index 8aabf041..14a8827b 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/scanners/audiofile/AudioFileScanOperation.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/scanners/audiofile/AudioFileScanOperation.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 
 #include "services/scanner/ScanErrors.hpp"
 
+#include "IgnoreRules.hpp"
 #include "ScannerSettings.hpp"
 #include "helpers/ArtistHelpers.hpp"
 #include "scanners/IFileScanOperation.hpp"
@@ -645,15 +646,17 @@ namespace lms::scanner
                     if (track && track->getId() == otherTrack->getId())
                         continue;
 
-                    // Skip if duplicate files no longer in media root: as it will be removed later, we will end up with no file
-                    auto& mediaLibraries{ getScannerSettings().mediaLibraries };
-                    if (std::none_of(std::cbegin(mediaLibraries), std::cend(mediaLibraries),
-                                     [&](const MediaLibraryInfo& libraryInfo) {
-                                         return core::pathUtils::isPathInRootPath(getFilePath(), libraryInfo.rootDirectory, &excludeDirFileName);
-                                     }))
-                    {
+                    // If the other file is no longer in an active library it will be removed later:
+                    // do not treat the current file as a duplicate, otherwise no file will remain for this MBID
+                    const std::filesystem::path otherFilePath{ otherTrack->getAbsoluteFilePath() };
+                    const auto isInActiveLibrary{ [&](const MediaLibraryInfo& libraryInfo) {
+                        if (!core::pathUtils::isPathInRootPath(otherFilePath, libraryInfo.rootDirectory))
+                            return false;
+                        return libraryInfo.ignoreRules.isEmpty() || !libraryInfo.ignoreRules.isIgnored(std::filesystem::relative(otherFilePath, libraryInfo.rootDirectory), IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false });
+                    } };
+                    const auto& mediaLibraries{ getScannerSettings().mediaLibraries };
+                    if (!std::any_of(std::cbegin(mediaLibraries), std::cend(mediaLibraries), isInActiveLibrary))
                         continue;
-                    }
 
                     LMS_LOG(DBUPDATER, DEBUG, "Skipped " << getFilePath() << ": same MBID already found in " << otherTrack->getAbsoluteFilePath());
                     // As this MBID already exists, just remove what we just scanned
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepCheckForRemovedFiles.cpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepCheckForRemovedFiles.cpp
index df2e93dd..1984ed67 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepCheckForRemovedFiles.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepCheckForRemovedFiles.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "database/objects/TrackLyrics.hpp"
 
 #include "FileScanners.hpp"
+#include "IgnoreRules.hpp"
 #include "JobQueue.hpp"
 #include "ScanContext.hpp"
 #include "ScannerSettings.hpp"
@@ -103,10 +104,12 @@ namespace lms::scanner
                     return false;
                 }
 
-                if (std::none_of(std::cbegin(_settings.mediaLibraries), std::cend(_settings.mediaLibraries),
-                                 [&](const MediaLibraryInfo& libraryInfo) {
-                                     return core::pathUtils::isPathInRootPath(p, libraryInfo.rootDirectory, &excludeDirFileName);
-                                 }))
+                const auto isInActiveLibrary{ [&](const MediaLibraryInfo& lib) {
+                    if (!core::pathUtils::isPathInRootPath(p, lib.rootDirectory))
+                        return false;
+                    return lib.ignoreRules.isEmpty() || !lib.ignoreRules.isIgnored(std::filesystem::relative(p, lib.rootDirectory), IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false });
+                } };
+                if (std::none_of(std::cbegin(_settings.mediaLibraries), std::cend(_settings.mediaLibraries), isInActiveLibrary))
                 {
                     LMS_LOG(DBUPDATER, DEBUG, "Removing " << p << ": out of media directory");
                     return false;
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepScanFiles.cpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepScanFiles.cpp
index 7d1c690f..e011f643 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepScanFiles.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/impl/steps/ScanStepScanFiles.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "scanners/IFileScanner.hpp"
 
 #include "FileScanners.hpp"
+#include "IgnoreRules.hpp"
 #include "JobQueue.hpp"
 #include "ScanContext.hpp"
 
@@ -41,7 +42,9 @@ namespace lms::scanner
     namespace
     {
         using ExploreFileCallback = std::function<bool(std::error_code, const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::directory_entry*)>;
-        bool exploreFilesRecursive(const std::filesystem::path& directory, ExploreFileCallback cb, const std::filesystem::path* excludeDirFileName)
+        using ShouldIgnoreCallback = std::function<bool(const std::filesystem::path& absPath, IgnoreRules::IsDirectory)>;
+
+        bool exploreFilesRecursive(const std::filesystem::path& directory, const ExploreFileCallback& cb, const ShouldIgnoreCallback& shouldIgnore)
         {
             std::error_code ec;
             std::filesystem::directory_iterator itPath{ directory, std::filesystem::directory_options::follow_directory_symlink, ec };
@@ -52,16 +55,6 @@ namespace lms::scanner
                 return true; // try to continue exploring anyway
             }
 
-            if (excludeDirFileName && !excludeDirFileName->empty())
-            {
-                const std::filesystem::path excludePath{ directory / *excludeDirFileName };
-                if (std::filesystem::exists(excludePath, ec))
-                {
-                    LMS_LOG(DBUPDATER, DEBUG, "Found " << excludePath << ": skipping directory");
-                    return true;
-                }
-            }
-
             std::filesystem::directory_iterator itEnd;
             while (itPath != itEnd)
             {
@@ -74,12 +67,25 @@ namespace lms::scanner
                 {
                     continueExploring = cb(ec, path, nullptr);
                 }
-                else
+                else if (entry.is_regular_file())
                 {
-                    if (entry.is_regular_file())
-                        continueExploring = cb(ec, path, &entry);
-                    else if (entry.is_directory())
-                        continueExploring = exploreFilesRecursive(path, cb, excludeDirFileName);
+                    if (shouldIgnore(path, IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }))
+                    {
+                        LMS_LOG(DBUPDATER, DEBUG, "Ignoring file " << path << " (matched .lmsignore rule)");
+                        itPath.increment(ec);
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    continueExploring = cb(ec, path, &entry);
+                }
+                else if (entry.is_directory())
+                {
+                    if (shouldIgnore(path, IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }))
+                    {
+                        LMS_LOG(DBUPDATER, DEBUG, "Ignoring directory " << path << " (matched .lmsignore rule)");
+                        itPath.increment(ec);
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    continueExploring = exploreFilesRecursive(path, cb, shouldIgnore);
                 }
 
                 if (!continueExploring)
@@ -208,7 +214,8 @@ namespace lms::scanner
             std::vector<std::filesystem::directory_entry> filesToScan;
 
             exploreFilesRecursive(
-                mediaLibrary.rootDirectory, [&](std::error_code ec, const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::directory_entry* fileEntry) {
+                mediaLibrary.rootDirectory,
+                [&](std::error_code ec, const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::filesystem::directory_entry* fileEntry) {
                     LMS_SCOPED_TRACE_DETAILED("Scanner", "OnExploreFile");
 
                     assert((ec && !fileEntry) || (!ec && fileEntry));
@@ -234,7 +241,9 @@ namespace lms::scanner
 
                     return true;
                 },
-                &excludeDirFileName);
+                [&](const std::filesystem::path& path, IgnoreRules::IsDirectory isDir) {
+                    return !mediaLibrary.ignoreRules.isEmpty() && mediaLibrary.ignoreRules.isIgnored(std::filesystem::relative(path, mediaLibrary.rootDirectory), isDir);
+                });
 
             if (!filesToScan.empty())
                 queue.push(std::make_unique<FileScanJob>(getFileScanners(), mediaLibrary, context.scanOptions.fullScan, filesToScan));
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/test/CMakeLists.txt b/src/libs/services/scanner/test/CMakeLists.txt
index bcc6ebc3..b603b4ab 100644
--- a/src/libs/services/scanner/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ include(GoogleTest)
 add_executable(test-scanner
 	ArtistInfo.cpp
 	AudioFileUtils.cpp
+	IgnoreFilter.cpp
 	Lyrics.cpp
 	PlayList.cpp
 	ScannerStats.cpp
diff --git a/src/libs/services/scanner/test/IgnoreFilter.cpp b/src/libs/services/scanner/test/IgnoreFilter.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a245f421
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libs/services/scanner/test/IgnoreFilter.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2025 Emeric Poupon
+ *
+ * This file is part of LMS.
+ *
+ * LMS is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * LMS is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with LMS.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+#include "IgnoreRules.hpp"
+
+namespace lms::scanner::tests
+{
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, EmptyContent)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isEmpty());
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("track.flac", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, CommentsAndBlanksOnly)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "# this is a comment\n\n# another comment\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isEmpty());
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_MatchesAtRoot)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "*.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("track.flac", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_MatchesInSubdir)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "*.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/miles/track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("jazz/miles/track.flac", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_QuestionMark)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "?.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("a.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("ab.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_ExactName)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "Thumbs.db\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("Thumbs.db", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("thumbs.db", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false })); // case-sensitive
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_MultipleWildcards)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "cover*.*\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("cover.jpg", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("cover_front.jpg", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("cover.png", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("notcover.jpg", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("coverjpg", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false })); // no dot
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_WildcardInDirName)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "covers*/\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("covers_2024", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/covers_hq", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true })); // unanchored — matches at any depth
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("notcovers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("covers_2024", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false })); // dirOnly
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, FullPath_WildcardInPathComponent)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "jazz/*/liner.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/miles/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/coltrane/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("jazz/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));        // no intermediate component
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("jazz/miles/davis/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false })); // * doesn't cross /
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("rock/miles/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Basename_MatchesDirectoryToo)
+    {
+        // patterns without trailing / apply to both files and directories
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "*.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, DirOnly_IgnoresDirectory)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "covers/\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false })); // not a dir
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, DirOnly_AnchoredOnlyMatchesRoot)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "/untagged/\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("untagged", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));       // root level — match
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("jazz/untagged", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true })); // nested — no match
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("untagged", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));     // file, not dir — no match
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, DirOnly_UnanchoredMatchesAnyDepth)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "covers/\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));       // root — match
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));  // nested — also match
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("a/b/c/covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true })); // deep — also match
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));     // file, not dir — no match
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, FullPath_ExactDir)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "jazz/covers\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("jazz/covers/foo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true })); // never reached in practice: scanner prunes jazz/covers/ first
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("foo/jazz/covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true })); // never reached in practice: scanner prunes jazz/covers/ first
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("rock/covers", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ true }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, FullPath_GlobInDir)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "jazz/*.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("jazz/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("rock/liner.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Negation_ReIncludesAfterBroadMatch)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "*.nfo\n!important.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("important.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, Negation_NoEffectIfNoPriorMatch)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "!track.nfo\n" };
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, LastRuleWins)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "*.flac\n!keep.flac\n*.flac\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("keep.flac", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+
+    TEST(IgnoreRules, WindowsLineEndings)
+    {
+        const IgnoreRules f{ "*.nfo\r\n*.jpg\r\n" };
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("track.nfo", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(f.isIgnored("cover.jpg", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+        EXPECT_FALSE(f.isIgnored("track.flac", IgnoreRules::IsDirectory{ false }));
+    }
+} // namespace lms::scanner::tests