diff --git a/src/basic_memory/services/entity_service.py b/src/basic_memory/services/entity_service.py
index 794a82a1a..533e8b083 100644
--- a/src/basic_memory/services/entity_service.py
+++ b/src/basic_memory/services/entity_service.py
@@ -1020,8 +1020,10 @@ async def move_entity(
             # 6. Prepare database updates
             updates = {"file_path": destination_path}
 
-            # 7. Update permalink if configured or repair a legacy null permalink.
-            if app_config.update_permalinks_on_move or old_permalink is None:
+            # Non-Markdown files have no permalink; moving them must preserve their bytes.
+            if entity.content_type == "text/markdown" and (
+                app_config.update_permalinks_on_move or old_permalink is None
+            ):
                 # Generate new permalink from destination path
                 new_permalink = await self.resolve_permalink(destination_path)
 
diff --git a/tests/services/test_non_markdown_moves.py b/tests/services/test_non_markdown_moves.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a798dd7d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/services/test_non_markdown_moves.py
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+"""Non-Markdown moves preserve file bytes and never invent note identity."""
+
+from hashlib import sha256
+
+import pytest
+
+from basic_memory import db
+from basic_memory.config import BasicMemoryConfig, ProjectConfig
+from basic_memory.models import Entity, Project
+from basic_memory.services.entity_service import EntityService
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("directory_move", [False, True])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("update_permalinks", [False, True])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("filename", "content_type", "content"),
+    [
+        ("Dockerfile", "text/plain", b"FROM python:3.13\r\n\n"),
+        ("report.pdf", "application/pdf", b"%PDF-1.7\n%\xe2\xe3\xcf\xd3\n\x00\xff\n%%EOF\n"),
+    ],
+)
+async def test_non_markdown_move_preserves_bytes_and_identity(
+    entity_service: EntityService,
+    project_config: ProjectConfig,
+    test_project: Project,
+    filename: str,
+    content_type: str,
+    content: bytes,
+    update_permalinks: bool,
+    directory_move: bool,
+) -> None:
+    source = f"original/{filename}"
+    destination = f"archive/{filename}"
+    source_path = project_config.home / source
+    source_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    source_path.write_bytes(content)
+    async with db.scoped_session(entity_service.session_maker) as session:
+        entity = await entity_service.repository.add(
+            session,
+            Entity(
+                title=filename,
+                note_type="file",
+                content_type=content_type,
+                file_path=source,
+                permalink=None,
+                checksum=sha256(content).hexdigest(),
+            ),
+        )
+    external_id = entity.external_id
+    config = BasicMemoryConfig(update_permalinks_on_move=update_permalinks)
+
+    if directory_move:
+        result = await entity_service.move_directory(
+            "original",
+            "archive",
+            project_config,
+            config,
+            project_external_id=test_project.external_id,
+            read_cache=None,
+        )
+        assert result.failed_moves == 0, result.errors
+        assert result.moved_files == [destination]
+    else:
+        await entity_service.move_entity(source, destination, project_config, config)
+
+    assert not source_path.exists()
+    assert (project_config.home / destination).read_bytes() == content
+    async with db.scoped_session(entity_service.session_maker) as session:
+        moved = await entity_service.repository.get_by_file_path(session, destination)
+        assert moved is not None
+        assert moved.external_id == external_id
+        assert moved.permalink is None
+        assert moved.content_type == content_type
+        assert moved.checksum == sha256(content).hexdigest()
+        assert await entity_service.repository.get_by_file_path(session, source) is None