diff --git a/app/(tabs)/beneficiaries/[id]/index.tsx b/app/(tabs)/beneficiaries/[id]/index.tsx
index 68184af..2cc0179 100644
--- a/app/(tabs)/beneficiaries/[id]/index.tsx
+++ b/app/(tabs)/beneficiaries/[id]/index.tsx
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ import {
 } from '@/services/BeneficiaryDetailController';
 import { BeneficiaryMenu } from '@/components/ui/BeneficiaryMenu';
 import { ImageLightbox } from '@/components/ImageLightbox';
-import { bustImageCache } from '@/utils/imageUtils';
 import { useDebounce } from '@/hooks/useDebounce';
 
 // WebView Dashboard URL - opens specific deployment directly
@@ -439,7 +438,11 @@ export default function BeneficiaryDetailScreen() {
             disabled={!beneficiary.avatar || beneficiary.avatar.trim() === '' || beneficiary.avatar.includes('placeholder')}
           >
             {beneficiary.avatar && beneficiary.avatar.trim() !== '' && !beneficiary.avatar.includes('placeholder') ? (
-              <Image source={{ uri: bustImageCache(beneficiary.avatar) || undefined }} style={styles.headerAvatarImage} />
+              <Image
+                key={beneficiary.avatar}
+                source={{ uri: beneficiary.avatar }}
+                style={styles.headerAvatarImage}
+              />
             ) : (
               <View style={styles.headerAvatar}>
                 <Text style={styles.headerAvatarText}>
@@ -575,7 +578,11 @@ export default function BeneficiaryDetailScreen() {
                     disabled={isSavingEdit}
                   >
                     {editForm.avatar ? (
-                      <Image source={{ uri: bustImageCache(editForm.avatar) || undefined }} style={styles.avatarPickerImage} />
+                      <Image
+                        key={editForm.avatar}
+                        source={{ uri: editForm.avatar }}
+                        style={styles.avatarPickerImage}
+                      />
                     ) : (
                       <View style={styles.avatarPickerPlaceholder}>
                         <Ionicons name="camera" size={32} color={AppColors.textMuted} />
@@ -674,7 +681,7 @@ export default function BeneficiaryDetailScreen() {
       {/* Avatar Lightbox */}
       <ImageLightbox
         visible={lightboxVisible}
-        imageUri={bustImageCache(beneficiary?.avatar)}
+        imageUri={beneficiary?.avatar || null}
         onClose={() => setLightboxVisible(false)}
       />
     </SafeAreaView>
diff --git a/app/(tabs)/index.tsx b/app/(tabs)/index.tsx
index 40125d9..2305f47 100644
--- a/app/(tabs)/index.tsx
+++ b/app/(tabs)/index.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import {
 } from '@/constants/theme';
 import type { Beneficiary } from '@/types';
 import { isSubscriptionActive } from '@/services/subscription';
-import { bustImageCache } from '@/utils/imageUtils';
 
 // Beneficiary card with equipment status support
 interface BeneficiaryCardProps {
@@ -116,7 +115,11 @@ function BeneficiaryCard({ beneficiary, onPress, onActivate }: BeneficiaryCardPr
       {/* Avatar */}
       <View style={styles.avatarWrapper}>
         {hasValidAvatar ? (
-          <Image source={{ uri: bustImageCache(beneficiary.avatar) || undefined }} style={styles.avatarImage} />
+          <Image
+            key={beneficiary.avatar}
+            source={{ uri: beneficiary.avatar }}
+            style={styles.avatarImage}
+          />
         ) : (
           <View style={[styles.avatar, hasNoSubscription && styles.avatarNoSubscription]}>
             <Text style={[styles.avatarText, hasNoSubscription && styles.avatarTextNoSubscription]}>
diff --git a/jest.setup.js b/jest.setup.js
index 1247efc..4c3abc3 100644
--- a/jest.setup.js
+++ b/jest.setup.js
@@ -61,6 +61,16 @@ jest.mock('expo-image-picker', () => ({
   ),
 }));
 
+jest.mock('expo-image-manipulator', () => ({
+  manipulateAsync: jest.fn((uri, actions, options) =>
+    Promise.resolve({ uri: uri })
+  ),
+  SaveFormat: {
+    JPEG: 'jpeg',
+    PNG: 'png',
+  },
+}));
+
 // Mock AsyncStorage
 jest.mock('@react-native-async-storage/async-storage', () => ({
   getItem: jest.fn(),
diff --git a/services/api.ts b/services/api.ts
index 4969017..cc7f789 100644
--- a/services/api.ts
+++ b/services/api.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import * as SecureStore from 'expo-secure-store';
 import AsyncStorage from '@react-native-async-storage/async-storage';
 import * as wifiPasswordStore from './wifiPasswordStore';
 import 'react-native-get-random-values'; // Polyfill for crypto.getRandomValues
+import { bustImageCache } from '@/utils/imageUtils';
 
 // Callback for handling unauthorized responses (401)
 let onUnauthorizedCallback: (() => void) | null = null;
@@ -733,7 +734,7 @@ class ApiService {
         customName: item.customName || null, // User's custom name for this beneficiary
         displayName: item.displayName || item.customName || item.name || item.email, // Server-provided displayName
         originalName: item.originalName || item.name, // Original name from beneficiaries table
-        avatar: item.avatarUrl || undefined, // Use uploaded avatar from server
+        avatar: bustImageCache(item.avatarUrl) || undefined, // Use uploaded avatar from server with cache-busting
         status: 'offline' as const,
         email: item.email,
         address: typeof item.address === 'string' ? item.address : (item.address?.street ? `${item.address.street}, ${item.address.city}` : undefined),
@@ -779,7 +780,7 @@ class ApiService {
         customName: data.customName || null, // User's custom name for this beneficiary
         displayName: data.displayName || data.customName || data.name || data.email, // Server-provided displayName
         originalName: data.originalName || data.name, // Original name from beneficiaries table
-        avatar: data.avatarUrl || undefined,
+        avatar: bustImageCache(data.avatarUrl) || undefined, // Cache-bust avatar URL
         status: 'offline' as const,
         email: data.email,
         address: typeof data.address === 'string' ? data.address : (data.address?.street ? `${data.address.street}, ${data.address.city}` : undefined),