diff --git a/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/local_source.py b/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/local_source.py
index b1b278545..fb65a0554 100644
--- a/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/local_source.py
+++ b/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/local_source.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from .types import LAUNCHBOX_PLATFORMS_DIR
 class LocalSource:
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         self._cache: dict[str, dict[str, dict[str, str]]] = {}
+        self._mtime: dict[str, int] = {}
 
     async def get_rom(self, fs_name: str, platform_slug: str) -> dict[str, str] | None:
         if not LAUNCHBOX_PLATFORMS_DIR.exists():
@@ -23,7 +24,10 @@ class LocalSource:
         if not xml_path or not xml_path.exists():
             return None
 
-        if platform_slug not in self._cache:
+        if (
+            platform_slug not in self._cache
+            or self._mtime.get(platform_slug) != xml_path.stat().st_mtime_ns
+        ):
             try:
                 indexed_val: dict[str, dict[str, str]] = {}
                 root = ET.parse(str(xml_path.resolve())).getroot()
@@ -50,6 +54,7 @@ class LocalSource:
                 return None
 
             self._cache[platform_slug] = indexed_val
+            self._mtime[platform_slug] = xml_path.stat().st_mtime_ns
 
         indexed_val = self._cache[platform_slug]
 
diff --git a/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/media.py b/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/media.py
index 93b5077df..88f55773d 100644
--- a/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/media.py
+++ b/backend/handler/metadata/launchbox_handler/media.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def _get_cover(req: MediaRequest) -> str | None:
         "Steam Poster",
     )
 
-    # Remote media fallback (only if allowed)
+    # Remote media (overridden by local if available)
     if req.remote_enabled and req.remote_images:
         best_cover: dict | None = None
         for image_type in cover_priority_types:
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ def _get_cover(req: MediaRequest) -> str | None:
 def _get_screenshots(req: MediaRequest) -> list[str]:
     screenshots: list[str] = []
 
-    # Remote media fallback (only if allowed)
+    # Remote media (overridden by local if available)
     if req.remote_enabled and req.remote_images:
         screenshots = [
             f"https://images.launchbox-app.com/{image.get('FileName')}"
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def _get_manuals(req: MediaRequest) -> str | None:
 def _get_images(req: MediaRequest) -> list[LaunchboxImage]:
     images: list[LaunchboxImage] = []
 
-    # Remote media fallback (only if allowed)
+    # Remote media (overridden by local if available)
     if req.remote_enabled and req.remote_images:
         images = [
             LaunchboxImage(