diff --git a/src/main-entry.ts b/src/main-entry.ts
index 730f151b..98a279da 100644
--- a/src/main-entry.ts
+++ b/src/main-entry.ts
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ if (shouldHandleHelpOnlyAtEntry(process.argv, process.env)) {
 if (shouldHandleLaunchMpvAtEntry(process.argv, process.env)) {
   const sanitizedEnv = sanitizeLaunchMpvEnv(process.env);
   applySanitizedEnv(sanitizedEnv);
-  void app.whenReady().then(() => {
-    const result = launchWindowsMpv(
+  void app.whenReady().then(async () => {
+    const result = await launchWindowsMpv(
       normalizeLaunchMpvTargets(process.argv),
       createWindowsMpvLaunchDeps({
         getEnv: (name) => process.env[name],
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index d60fc1f3..b5a94301 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -367,7 +367,11 @@ import {
   detectWindowsMpvShortcuts,
   resolveWindowsMpvShortcutPaths,
 } from './main/runtime/windows-mpv-shortcuts';
-import { createWindowsMpvLaunchDeps, launchWindowsMpv } from './main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch';
+import {
+  createWindowsMpvLaunchDeps,
+  getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus,
+  launchWindowsMpv,
+} from './main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch';
 import { createWaitForMpvConnectedHandler } from './main/runtime/jellyfin-remote-connection';
 import { createPrepareYoutubePlaybackInMpvHandler } from './main/runtime/youtube-playback-launch';
 import { shouldEnsureTrayOnStartupForInitialArgs } from './main/runtime/startup-tray-policy';
@@ -2216,6 +2220,7 @@ const openFirstRunSetupWindowHandler = createOpenFirstRunSetupWindowHandler({
   }),
   getSetupSnapshot: async () => {
     const snapshot = await firstRunSetupService.getSetupStatus();
+    const mpvExecutablePath = getResolvedConfig().mpv.executablePath;
     return {
       configReady: snapshot.configReady,
       dictionaryCount: snapshot.dictionaryCount,
@@ -2223,7 +2228,8 @@ const openFirstRunSetupWindowHandler = createOpenFirstRunSetupWindowHandler({
       externalYomitanConfigured: snapshot.externalYomitanConfigured,
       pluginStatus: snapshot.pluginStatus,
       pluginInstallPathSummary: snapshot.pluginInstallPathSummary,
-      mpvExecutablePath: getResolvedConfig().mpv.executablePath,
+      mpvExecutablePath,
+      mpvExecutablePathStatus: getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus(mpvExecutablePath),
       windowsMpvShortcuts: snapshot.windowsMpvShortcuts,
       message: firstRunSetupMessage,
     };
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts
index 27e2b208..897b66fa 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml renders macchiato setup actions and disabled finish
     pluginStatus: 'required',
     pluginInstallPathSummary: null,
     mpvExecutablePath: '',
+    mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'blank',
     windowsMpvShortcuts: {
       supported: false,
       startMenuEnabled: true,
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml switches plugin action to reinstall when already in
     pluginStatus: 'installed',
     pluginInstallPathSummary: '/tmp/mpv',
     mpvExecutablePath: 'C:\\Program Files\\mpv\\mpv.exe',
+    mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'configured',
     windowsMpvShortcuts: {
       supported: true,
       startMenuEnabled: true,
@@ -65,6 +67,31 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml switches plugin action to reinstall when already in
   );
 });
 
+test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml marks an invalid configured mpv path as invalid', () => {
+  const html = buildFirstRunSetupHtml({
+    configReady: true,
+    dictionaryCount: 1,
+    canFinish: true,
+    externalYomitanConfigured: false,
+    pluginStatus: 'installed',
+    pluginInstallPathSummary: '/tmp/mpv',
+    mpvExecutablePath: 'C:\\Broken\\mpv.exe',
+    mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'invalid',
+    windowsMpvShortcuts: {
+      supported: true,
+      startMenuEnabled: true,
+      desktopEnabled: true,
+      startMenuInstalled: false,
+      desktopInstalled: false,
+      status: 'optional',
+    },
+    message: null,
+  });
+
+  assert.match(html, />Invalid</);
+  assert.match(html, /Current: C:\\Broken\\mpv\.exe \(invalid; file not found\)/);
+});
+
 test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml explains the config blocker when setup is missing config', () => {
   const html = buildFirstRunSetupHtml({
     configReady: false,
@@ -74,6 +101,7 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml explains the config blocker when setup is missing c
     pluginStatus: 'required',
     pluginInstallPathSummary: null,
     mpvExecutablePath: '',
+    mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'blank',
     windowsMpvShortcuts: {
       supported: false,
       startMenuEnabled: true,
@@ -97,6 +125,7 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml explains external yomitan mode and keeps finish ena
     pluginStatus: 'installed',
     pluginInstallPathSummary: null,
     mpvExecutablePath: '',
+    mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'blank',
     windowsMpvShortcuts: {
       supported: false,
       startMenuEnabled: true,
@@ -208,6 +237,7 @@ test('closing incomplete first-run setup quits app outside background mode', asy
       pluginStatus: 'required',
       pluginInstallPathSummary: null,
       mpvExecutablePath: '',
+      mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'blank',
       windowsMpvShortcuts: {
         supported: false,
         startMenuEnabled: true,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.ts b/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.ts
index c52199cb..08daf671 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export interface FirstRunSetupHtmlModel {
   pluginStatus: 'installed' | 'required' | 'failed';
   pluginInstallPathSummary: string | null;
   mpvExecutablePath: string;
+  mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'blank' | 'configured' | 'invalid';
   windowsMpvShortcuts: {
     supported: boolean;
     startMenuEnabled: boolean;
@@ -94,8 +95,23 @@ export function buildFirstRunSetupHtml(model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel): string {
           ? 'muted'
           : 'warn';
   const mpvExecutablePathLabel =
-    model.mpvExecutablePath.trim().length > 0 ? 'Configured' : 'Blank';
-  const mpvExecutablePathTone = model.mpvExecutablePath.trim().length > 0 ? 'ready' : 'muted';
+    model.mpvExecutablePathStatus === 'configured'
+      ? 'Configured'
+      : model.mpvExecutablePathStatus === 'invalid'
+        ? 'Invalid'
+        : 'Blank';
+  const mpvExecutablePathTone =
+    model.mpvExecutablePathStatus === 'configured'
+      ? 'ready'
+      : model.mpvExecutablePathStatus === 'invalid'
+        ? 'danger'
+        : 'muted';
+  const mpvExecutablePathCurrent =
+    model.mpvExecutablePathStatus === 'blank'
+      ? 'blank (PATH discovery)'
+      : model.mpvExecutablePathStatus === 'invalid'
+        ? `${model.mpvExecutablePath} (invalid; file not found)`
+        : model.mpvExecutablePath;
   const mpvExecutablePathCard = model.windowsMpvShortcuts.supported
     ? `
     <div class="card block">
@@ -103,7 +119,7 @@ export function buildFirstRunSetupHtml(model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel): string {
         <div>
           <strong>mpv executable path</strong>
           <div class="meta">Leave blank to auto-discover mpv.exe from PATH.</div>
-          <div class="meta">Current: ${escapeHtml(model.mpvExecutablePath.trim().length > 0 ? model.mpvExecutablePath : 'blank (PATH discovery)')}</div>
+          <div class="meta">Current: ${escapeHtml(mpvExecutablePathCurrent)}</div>
         </div>
         ${renderStatusBadge(mpvExecutablePathLabel, mpvExecutablePathTone)}
       </div>
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.test.ts
index 54d2e5f6..f6d18cdf 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.test.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ function createDeps(overrides: Partial<WindowsMpvLaunchDeps> = {}): WindowsMpvLa
     getEnv: () => undefined,
     runWhere: () => ({ status: 1, stdout: '' }),
     fileExists: () => false,
-    spawnDetached: () => undefined,
+    spawnDetached: async () => undefined,
     showError: () => undefined,
     ...overrides,
   };
@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@ test('buildWindowsMpvLaunchArgs mirrors a custom input-ipc-server into script op
   );
 });
 
-test('launchWindowsMpv reports missing mpv path', () => {
+test('launchWindowsMpv reports missing mpv path', async () => {
   const errors: string[] = [];
-  const result = launchWindowsMpv(
+  const result = await launchWindowsMpv(
     [],
     createDeps({
       showError: (_title, content) => errors.push(content),
@@ -148,14 +148,14 @@ test('launchWindowsMpv reports missing mpv path', () => {
   assert.match(errors[0] ?? '', /mpv\.executablePath/i);
 });
 
-test('launchWindowsMpv spawns detached mpv with targets', () => {
+test('launchWindowsMpv spawns detached mpv with targets', async () => {
   const calls: string[] = [];
-  const result = launchWindowsMpv(
+  const result = await launchWindowsMpv(
     ['C:\\video.mkv'],
     createDeps({
       getEnv: (name) => (name === 'SUBMINER_MPV_PATH' ? 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe' : undefined),
       fileExists: (candidate) => candidate === 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe',
-      spawnDetached: (command, args) => {
+      spawnDetached: async (command, args) => {
         calls.push(command);
         calls.push(args.join('|'));
       },
@@ -173,14 +173,14 @@ test('launchWindowsMpv spawns detached mpv with targets', () => {
   ]);
 });
 
-test('launchWindowsMpv reports spawn failures with path context', () => {
+test('launchWindowsMpv reports spawn failures with path context', async () => {
   const errors: string[] = [];
-  const result = launchWindowsMpv(
+  const result = await launchWindowsMpv(
     [],
     createDeps({
       getEnv: (name) => (name === 'SUBMINER_MPV_PATH' ? 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe' : undefined),
       fileExists: (candidate) => candidate === 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe',
-      spawnDetached: () => {
+      spawnDetached: async () => {
         throw new Error('spawn failed');
       },
       showError: (_title, content) => errors.push(content),
@@ -192,3 +192,21 @@ test('launchWindowsMpv reports spawn failures with path context', () => {
   assert.match(errors[0] ?? '', /Failed to launch mpv/i);
   assert.match(errors[0] ?? '', /C:\\mpv\\mpv\.exe/i);
 });
+
+test('launchWindowsMpv reports async spawn failures with path context', async () => {
+  const errors: string[] = [];
+  const result = await launchWindowsMpv(
+    [],
+    createDeps({
+      getEnv: (name) => (name === 'SUBMINER_MPV_PATH' ? 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe' : undefined),
+      fileExists: (candidate) => candidate === 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe',
+      spawnDetached: () => Promise.reject(new Error('async spawn failed')),
+      showError: (_title, content) => errors.push(content),
+    }),
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(result.ok, false);
+  assert.equal(result.mpvPath, 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe');
+  assert.match(errors[0] ?? '', /Failed to launch mpv/i);
+  assert.match(errors[0] ?? '', /async spawn failed/i);
+});
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.ts b/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.ts
index 681edc4b..8cdca7ca 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.ts
@@ -5,23 +5,45 @@ export interface WindowsMpvLaunchDeps {
   getEnv: (name: string) => string | undefined;
   runWhere: () => { status: number | null; stdout: string; error?: Error };
   fileExists: (candidate: string) => boolean;
-  spawnDetached: (command: string, args: string[]) => void;
+  spawnDetached: (command: string, args: string[]) => Promise<void>;
   showError: (title: string, content: string) => void;
 }
 
+export type ConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus = 'blank' | 'configured' | 'invalid';
+
 function normalizeCandidate(candidate: string | undefined): string {
   return typeof candidate === 'string' ? candidate.trim() : '';
 }
 
+function defaultWindowsMpvFileExists(candidate: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    return fs.statSync(candidate).isFile();
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+export function getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus(
+  configuredMpvPath = '',
+  fileExists: (candidate: string) => boolean = defaultWindowsMpvFileExists,
+): ConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus {
+  const configPath = normalizeCandidate(configuredMpvPath);
+  if (!configPath) {
+    return 'blank';
+  }
+  return fileExists(configPath) ? 'configured' : 'invalid';
+}
+
 export function resolveWindowsMpvPath(
   deps: WindowsMpvLaunchDeps,
   configuredMpvPath = '',
 ): string {
   const configPath = normalizeCandidate(configuredMpvPath);
-  if (configPath) {
-    if (deps.fileExists(configPath)) {
-      return configPath;
-    }
+  const configuredPathStatus = getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus(configPath, deps.fileExists);
+  if (configuredPathStatus === 'configured') {
+    return configPath;
+  }
+  if (configuredPathStatus === 'invalid') {
     return '';
   }
 
@@ -102,14 +124,14 @@ export function buildWindowsMpvLaunchArgs(
   ];
 }
 
-export function launchWindowsMpv(
+export async function launchWindowsMpv(
   targets: string[],
   deps: WindowsMpvLaunchDeps,
   extraArgs: string[] = [],
   binaryPath?: string,
   pluginEntrypointPath?: string,
   configuredMpvPath?: string,
-): { ok: boolean; mpvPath: string } {
+): Promise<{ ok: boolean; mpvPath: string }> {
   const normalizedConfiguredPath = normalizeCandidate(configuredMpvPath);
   const mpvPath = resolveWindowsMpvPath(deps, normalizedConfiguredPath);
   if (!mpvPath) {
@@ -123,7 +145,7 @@ export function launchWindowsMpv(
   }
 
   try {
-    deps.spawnDetached(
+    await deps.spawnDetached(
       mpvPath,
       buildWindowsMpvLaunchArgs(targets, extraArgs, binaryPath, pluginEntrypointPath),
     );
@@ -155,21 +177,31 @@ export function createWindowsMpvLaunchDeps(options: {
     },
     fileExists:
       options.fileExists ??
-      ((candidate) => {
+      defaultWindowsMpvFileExists,
+    spawnDetached: (command, args) =>
+      new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
         try {
-          return fs.statSync(candidate).isFile();
-        } catch {
-          return false;
+          const child = spawn(command, args, {
+            detached: true,
+            stdio: 'ignore',
+            windowsHide: true,
+          });
+          let settled = false;
+          child.once('error', (error) => {
+            if (settled) return;
+            settled = true;
+            reject(error);
+          });
+          child.once('spawn', () => {
+            if (settled) return;
+            settled = true;
+            child.unref();
+            resolve();
+          });
+        } catch (error) {
+          reject(error);
         }
       }),
-    spawnDetached: (command, args) => {
-      const child = spawn(command, args, {
-        detached: true,
-        stdio: 'ignore',
-        windowsHide: true,
-      });
-      child.unref();
-    },
     showError: options.showError,
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.test.ts
index 5208bfcb..8bcf4178 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.test.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ test('youtube playback runtime resets flow ownership after a successful run', as
     resolveYoutubePlaybackUrl: async () => {
       throw new Error('linux path should not resolve direct playback url');
     },
-    launchWindowsMpv: () => ({ ok: false }),
+    launchWindowsMpv: async () => ({ ok: false }),
     waitForYoutubeMpvConnected: async (timeoutMs) => {
       calls.push(`wait-connected:${timeoutMs}`);
       return true;
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ test('youtube playback runtime resolves the socket path lazily for windows start
       calls.push(`resolve:${url}:${format}`);
       return 'https://example.com/direct';
     },
-    launchWindowsMpv: (_playbackUrl, args) => {
+    launchWindowsMpv: async (_playbackUrl, args) => {
       calls.push(`launch:${args.join(' ')}`);
       return { ok: true, mpvPath: '/usr/bin/mpv' };
     },
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.ts
index 0bf08153..f3000742 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/youtube-playback-runtime.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export type YoutubePlaybackRuntimeDeps = {
   setAppOwnedFlowInFlight: (next: boolean) => void;
   ensureYoutubePlaybackRuntimeReady: () => Promise<void>;
   resolveYoutubePlaybackUrl: (url: string, format: string) => Promise<string>;
-  launchWindowsMpv: (playbackUrl: string, args: string[]) => LaunchResult;
+  launchWindowsMpv: (playbackUrl: string, args: string[]) => Promise<LaunchResult>;
   waitForYoutubeMpvConnected: (timeoutMs: number) => Promise<boolean>;
   prepareYoutubePlaybackInMpv: (request: { url: string }) => Promise<boolean>;
   runYoutubePlaybackFlow: (request: {
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export function createYoutubePlaybackRuntime(deps: YoutubePlaybackRuntimeDeps) {
 
       if (deps.platform === 'win32' && !deps.getMpvConnected()) {
         const socketPath = deps.getSocketPath();
-        const launchResult = deps.launchWindowsMpv(playbackUrl, [
+        const launchResult = await deps.launchWindowsMpv(playbackUrl, [
           '--pause=yes',
           '--ytdl=yes',
           `--ytdl-format=${deps.mpvYtdlFormat}`,