diff --git a/changes/259-texthooker-integrated-startup.md b/changes/259-texthooker-integrated-startup.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4765235
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/259-texthooker-integrated-startup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+type: fixed
+area: main
+
+- Keep integrated `--start --texthooker` launches on the full app-ready startup path so the texthooker page and websocket servers start together during normal playback startup.
+- Stop the mpv/plugin auto-start flow from spawning a separate standalone texthooker helper during normal `subminer <video>` launches.
diff --git a/plugin/subminer/process.lua b/plugin/subminer/process.lua
index a51f53b..50f72cf 100644
--- a/plugin/subminer/process.lua
+++ b/plugin/subminer/process.lua
@@ -191,6 +191,14 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 			else
 				table.insert(args, "--hide-visible-overlay")
 			end
+
+			local texthooker_enabled = overrides.texthooker_enabled
+			if texthooker_enabled == nil then
+				texthooker_enabled = opts.texthooker_enabled
+			end
+			if texthooker_enabled then
+				table.insert(args, "--texthooker")
+			end
 		end
 
 		return args
@@ -242,50 +250,10 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 		return overrides
 	end
 
-	local function build_texthooker_args()
-		local args = { state.binary_path, "--texthooker", "--port", tostring(opts.texthooker_port) }
-		local log_level = normalize_log_level(opts.log_level)
-		if log_level ~= "info" then
-			table.insert(args, "--log-level")
-			table.insert(args, log_level)
-		end
-		return args
-	end
-
 	local function ensure_texthooker_running(callback)
-		if not opts.texthooker_enabled then
+		if callback then
 			callback()
-			return
 		end
-
-		if state.texthooker_running then
-			callback()
-			return
-		end
-
-		local args = build_texthooker_args()
-		subminer_log("info", "texthooker", "Starting texthooker process: " .. table.concat(args, " "))
-		state.texthooker_running = true
-
-		mp.command_native_async({
-			name = "subprocess",
-			args = args,
-			playback_only = false,
-			capture_stdout = true,
-			capture_stderr = true,
-		}, function(success, result, error)
-			if not success or (result and result.status ~= 0) then
-				state.texthooker_running = false
-				subminer_log(
-					"warn",
-					"texthooker",
-					"Texthooker process exited unexpectedly: " .. (error or (result and result.stderr) or "unknown error")
-				)
-			end
-		end)
-
-		-- Start overlay immediately; overlay start path retries on readiness failures.
-		callback()
 	end
 
 	local function start_overlay(overrides)
diff --git a/scripts/test-plugin-start-gate.lua b/scripts/test-plugin-start-gate.lua
index 59f95cc..7b20ec2 100644
--- a/scripts/test-plugin-start-gate.lua
+++ b/scripts/test-plugin-start-gate.lua
@@ -664,8 +664,8 @@ do
 	fire_event(recorded, "file-loaded")
 	local start_call = find_start_call(recorded.async_calls)
 	assert_true(start_call ~= nil, "auto-start should issue --start command")
-	local texthooker_call = find_texthooker_call(recorded.async_calls)
-	assert_true(texthooker_call ~= nil, "auto-start should issue texthooker helper command when enabled")
+	assert_true(call_has_arg(start_call, "--texthooker"), "auto-start should include --texthooker on the main --start command when enabled")
+	assert_true(find_control_call(recorded.async_calls, "--texthooker") == nil, "auto-start should not issue a separate texthooker helper command")
 	assert_true(
 		call_has_arg(start_call, "--show-visible-overlay"),
 		"auto-start with visible overlay enabled should include --show-visible-overlay on --start"
@@ -678,10 +678,6 @@ do
 		find_control_call(recorded.async_calls, "--show-visible-overlay") ~= nil,
 		"auto-start with visible overlay enabled should issue a separate --show-visible-overlay command"
 	)
-	assert_true(
-		find_call_index(recorded.async_calls, start_call) < find_call_index(recorded.async_calls, texthooker_call),
-		"auto-start should launch --start before separate --texthooker helper startup"
-	)
 	assert_true(
 		not has_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "pause", true),
 		"auto-start visible overlay should not force pause without explicit pause-until-ready option"
diff --git a/src/cli/args.test.ts b/src/cli/args.test.ts
index 4efb631..5d0094d 100644
--- a/src/cli/args.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/args.test.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   commandNeedsOverlayRuntime,
   hasExplicitCommand,
   isHeadlessInitialCommand,
+  isStandaloneTexthookerCommand,
   parseArgs,
   shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup,
   shouldStartApp,
@@ -79,6 +80,14 @@ test('youtube playback does not use generic overlay-runtime bootstrap classifica
   assert.equal(commandNeedsOverlayStartupPrereqs(args), true);
 });
 
+test('standalone texthooker classification excludes integrated start flow', () => {
+  const standalone = parseArgs(['--texthooker']);
+  const integrated = parseArgs(['--start', '--texthooker']);
+
+  assert.equal(isStandaloneTexthookerCommand(standalone), true);
+  assert.equal(isStandaloneTexthookerCommand(integrated), false);
+});
+
 test('parseArgs handles jellyfin item listing controls', () => {
   const args = parseArgs([
     '--jellyfin-items',
diff --git a/src/cli/args.ts b/src/cli/args.ts
index 75cb3ce..4965164 100644
--- a/src/cli/args.ts
+++ b/src/cli/args.ts
@@ -397,6 +397,54 @@ export function isHeadlessInitialCommand(args: CliArgs): boolean {
   return args.refreshKnownWords;
 }
 
+export function isStandaloneTexthookerCommand(args: CliArgs): boolean {
+  return (
+    args.texthooker &&
+    !args.background &&
+    !args.start &&
+    !Boolean(args.youtubePlay) &&
+    !args.launchMpv &&
+    !args.stop &&
+    !args.toggle &&
+    !args.toggleVisibleOverlay &&
+    !args.settings &&
+    !args.setup &&
+    !args.show &&
+    !args.hide &&
+    !args.showVisibleOverlay &&
+    !args.hideVisibleOverlay &&
+    !args.copySubtitle &&
+    !args.copySubtitleMultiple &&
+    !args.mineSentence &&
+    !args.mineSentenceMultiple &&
+    !args.updateLastCardFromClipboard &&
+    !args.refreshKnownWords &&
+    !args.toggleSecondarySub &&
+    !args.triggerFieldGrouping &&
+    !args.triggerSubsync &&
+    !args.markAudioCard &&
+    !args.openRuntimeOptions &&
+    !args.anilistStatus &&
+    !args.anilistLogout &&
+    !args.anilistSetup &&
+    !args.anilistRetryQueue &&
+    !args.dictionary &&
+    !args.stats &&
+    !args.jellyfin &&
+    !args.jellyfinLogin &&
+    !args.jellyfinLogout &&
+    !args.jellyfinLibraries &&
+    !args.jellyfinItems &&
+    !args.jellyfinSubtitles &&
+    !args.jellyfinPlay &&
+    !args.jellyfinRemoteAnnounce &&
+    !args.jellyfinPreviewAuth &&
+    !args.help &&
+    !args.autoStartOverlay &&
+    !args.generateConfig
+  );
+}
+
 export function shouldStartApp(args: CliArgs): boolean {
   if (args.stop && !args.start) return false;
   if (
diff --git a/src/core/services/app-ready.test.ts b/src/core/services/app-ready.test.ts
index 34a36b8..f72f715 100644
--- a/src/core/services/app-ready.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/services/app-ready.test.ts
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ test('runAppReadyRuntime skips heavy startup when shouldSkipHeavyStartup returns
   assert.ok(calls.indexOf('handleFirstRunSetup') < calls.indexOf('handleInitialArgs'));
 });
 
-test('runAppReadyRuntime uses minimal startup for texthooker-only mode', async () => {
+test('runAppReadyRuntime keeps websocket startup in texthooker-only mode but skips overlay window', async () => {
   const { deps, calls } = makeDeps({
     texthookerOnlyMode: true,
     reloadConfig: () => calls.push('reloadConfig'),
@@ -185,7 +185,16 @@ test('runAppReadyRuntime uses minimal startup for texthooker-only mode', async (
 
   await runAppReadyRuntime(deps);
 
-  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['ensureDefaultConfigBootstrap', 'reloadConfig', 'handleInitialArgs']);
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('reloadConfig'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('createMpvClient'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('startAnnotationWebsocket:6678'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('startTexthooker:5174:ws://127.0.0.1:6678'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('createSubtitleTimingTracker'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('handleFirstRunSetup'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('handleInitialArgs'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('log:Texthooker-only mode enabled; skipping overlay window.'));
+  assert.equal(calls.includes('initializeOverlayRuntime'), false);
+  assert.equal(calls.includes('setVisibleOverlayVisible:true'), false);
 });
 
 test('runAppReadyRuntime skips Jellyfin remote startup when dependency is not wired', async () => {
diff --git a/src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts b/src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts
index 2d4e0aa..4ee8482 100644
--- a/src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ function createDeps(overrides: Partial<CliCommandServiceDeps> = {}) {
   let mpvSocketPath = '/tmp/subminer.sock';
   let texthookerPort = 5174;
   const osd: string[] = [];
+  let texthookerWebsocketUrl: string | undefined;
 
   const deps: CliCommandServiceDeps = {
     getMpvSocketPath: () => mpvSocketPath,
@@ -82,9 +83,10 @@ function createDeps(overrides: Partial<CliCommandServiceDeps> = {}) {
       calls.push(`setTexthookerPort:${port}`);
     },
     getTexthookerPort: () => texthookerPort,
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => texthookerWebsocketUrl,
     shouldOpenTexthookerBrowser: () => true,
-    ensureTexthookerRunning: (port) => {
-      calls.push(`ensureTexthookerRunning:${port}`);
+    ensureTexthookerRunning: (port, websocketUrl) => {
+      calls.push(`ensureTexthookerRunning:${port}:${websocketUrl ?? ''}`);
     },
     openTexthookerInBrowser: (url) => {
       calls.push(`openTexthookerInBrowser:${url}`);
@@ -354,10 +356,20 @@ test('handleCliCommand runs texthooker flow with browser open', () => {
 
   handleCliCommand(args, 'initial', deps);
 
-  assert.ok(calls.includes('ensureTexthookerRunning:5174'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('ensureTexthookerRunning:5174:'));
   assert.ok(calls.includes('openTexthookerInBrowser:http://127.0.0.1:5174'));
 });
 
+test('handleCliCommand forwards resolved websocket url to texthooker startup', () => {
+  const { deps, calls } = createDeps({
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => 'ws://127.0.0.1:6678',
+  });
+
+  handleCliCommand(makeArgs({ texthooker: true }), 'initial', deps);
+
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('ensureTexthookerRunning:5174:ws://127.0.0.1:6678'));
+});
+
 test('handleCliCommand reports async mine errors to OSD', async () => {
   const { deps, calls, osd } = createDeps({
     mineSentenceCard: async () => {
diff --git a/src/core/services/cli-command.ts b/src/core/services/cli-command.ts
index 5bca31c..d97be40 100644
--- a/src/core/services/cli-command.ts
+++ b/src/core/services/cli-command.ts
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ export interface CliCommandServiceDeps {
   isTexthookerRunning: () => boolean;
   setTexthookerPort: (port: number) => void;
   getTexthookerPort: () => number;
+  getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => string | undefined;
   shouldOpenTexthookerBrowser: () => boolean;
-  ensureTexthookerRunning: (port: number) => void;
+  ensureTexthookerRunning: (port: number, websocketUrl?: string) => void;
   openTexthookerInBrowser: (url: string) => void;
   stopApp: () => void;
   isOverlayRuntimeInitialized: () => boolean;
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ interface MpvClientLike {
 
 interface TexthookerServiceLike {
   isRunning: () => boolean;
-  start: (port: number) => void;
+  start: (port: number, websocketUrl?: string) => void;
 }
 
 interface MpvCliRuntime {
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ interface TexthookerCliRuntime {
   service: TexthookerServiceLike;
   getPort: () => number;
   setPort: (port: number) => void;
+  getWebsocketUrl: () => string | undefined;
   shouldOpenBrowser: () => boolean;
   openInBrowser: (url: string) => void;
 }
@@ -194,10 +196,11 @@ export function createCliCommandDepsRuntime(
     isTexthookerRunning: () => options.texthooker.service.isRunning(),
     setTexthookerPort: options.texthooker.setPort,
     getTexthookerPort: options.texthooker.getPort,
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: options.texthooker.getWebsocketUrl,
     shouldOpenTexthookerBrowser: options.texthooker.shouldOpenBrowser,
-    ensureTexthookerRunning: (port) => {
+    ensureTexthookerRunning: (port, websocketUrl) => {
       if (!options.texthooker.service.isRunning()) {
-        options.texthooker.service.start(port);
+        options.texthooker.service.start(port, websocketUrl);
       }
     },
     openTexthookerInBrowser: options.texthooker.openInBrowser,
@@ -473,7 +476,7 @@ export function handleCliCommand(
     );
   } else if (args.texthooker) {
     const texthookerPort = deps.getTexthookerPort();
-    deps.ensureTexthookerRunning(texthookerPort);
+    deps.ensureTexthookerRunning(texthookerPort, deps.getTexthookerWebsocketUrl());
     if (deps.shouldOpenTexthookerBrowser()) {
       deps.openTexthookerInBrowser(`http://127.0.0.1:${texthookerPort}`);
     }
diff --git a/src/core/services/startup.ts b/src/core/services/startup.ts
index 722a064..3b46518 100644
--- a/src/core/services/startup.ts
+++ b/src/core/services/startup.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ interface AppReadyConfigLike {
   };
 }
 
+type TexthookerWebsocketConfigLike = Pick<AppReadyConfigLike, 'annotationWebsocket' | 'websocket'>;
+
+type TexthookerWebsocketDefaults = {
+  defaultWebsocketPort: number;
+  defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: number;
+};
+
 export interface AppReadyRuntimeDeps {
   ensureDefaultConfigBootstrap: () => void;
   loadSubtitlePosition: () => void;
@@ -169,6 +176,29 @@ function getStartupCriticalConfigErrors(config: AppReadyConfigLike): string[] {
   return errors;
 }
 
+export function resolveTexthookerWebsocketUrl(
+  config: TexthookerWebsocketConfigLike,
+  defaults: TexthookerWebsocketDefaults,
+  hasMpvWebsocketPlugin: boolean,
+): string | undefined {
+  const wsConfig = config.websocket || {};
+  const wsEnabled = wsConfig.enabled ?? 'auto';
+  const wsPort = wsConfig.port || defaults.defaultWebsocketPort;
+  const annotationWsConfig = config.annotationWebsocket || {};
+  const annotationWsEnabled = annotationWsConfig.enabled !== false;
+  const annotationWsPort = annotationWsConfig.port || defaults.defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort;
+
+  if (annotationWsEnabled) {
+    return `ws://127.0.0.1:${annotationWsPort}`;
+  }
+
+  if (wsEnabled === true || (wsEnabled === 'auto' && !hasMpvWebsocketPlugin)) {
+    return `ws://127.0.0.1:${wsPort}`;
+  }
+
+  return undefined;
+}
+
 export function shouldAutoInitializeOverlayRuntimeFromConfig(config: RuntimeConfigLike): boolean {
   return config.auto_start_overlay === true;
 }
@@ -201,12 +231,6 @@ export async function runAppReadyRuntime(deps: AppReadyRuntimeDeps): Promise<voi
     return;
   }
 
-  if (deps.texthookerOnlyMode) {
-    deps.reloadConfig();
-    deps.handleInitialArgs();
-    return;
-  }
-
   if (deps.shouldUseMinimalStartup?.()) {
     deps.reloadConfig();
     deps.handleInitialArgs();
@@ -262,7 +286,14 @@ export async function runAppReadyRuntime(deps: AppReadyRuntimeDeps): Promise<voi
   const annotationWsEnabled = annotationWsConfig.enabled !== false;
   const annotationWsPort = annotationWsConfig.port || deps.defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort;
   const texthookerPort = deps.defaultTexthookerPort;
-  let texthookerWebsocketUrl: string | undefined;
+  const texthookerWebsocketUrl = resolveTexthookerWebsocketUrl(
+    config,
+    {
+      defaultWebsocketPort: deps.defaultWebsocketPort,
+      defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: deps.defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort,
+    },
+    deps.hasMpvWebsocketPlugin(),
+  );
 
   if (wsEnabled === true || (wsEnabled === 'auto' && !deps.hasMpvWebsocketPlugin())) {
     deps.startSubtitleWebsocket(wsPort);
@@ -272,9 +303,6 @@ export async function runAppReadyRuntime(deps: AppReadyRuntimeDeps): Promise<voi
 
   if (annotationWsEnabled) {
     deps.startAnnotationWebsocket(annotationWsPort);
-    texthookerWebsocketUrl = `ws://127.0.0.1:${annotationWsPort}`;
-  } else if (wsEnabled === true || (wsEnabled === 'auto' && !deps.hasMpvWebsocketPlugin())) {
-    texthookerWebsocketUrl = `ws://127.0.0.1:${wsPort}`;
   }
 
   if (config.texthooker?.launchAtStartup !== false) {
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 6cc3faf..78ce4b0 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ function getStartupModeFlags(initialArgs: CliArgs | null | undefined): {
 } {
   return {
     shouldUseMinimalStartup: Boolean(
-      initialArgs?.texthooker ||
+      (initialArgs && isStandaloneTexthookerCommand(initialArgs)) ||
         (initialArgs?.stats &&
           (initialArgs.statsCleanup || initialArgs.statsBackground || initialArgs.statsStop)),
     ),
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ import {
   commandNeedsOverlayStartupPrereqs,
   commandNeedsOverlayRuntime,
   isHeadlessInitialCommand,
+  isStandaloneTexthookerCommand,
   parseArgs,
   shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup,
   shouldStartApp,
@@ -4334,6 +4335,9 @@ const { handleCliCommand, handleInitialArgs } = composeCliStartupHandlers({
     setLogLevel: (level) => setLogLevel(level, 'cli'),
     texthookerService,
     getResolvedConfig: () => getResolvedConfig(),
+    defaultWebsocketPort: DEFAULT_CONFIG.websocket.port,
+    defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: DEFAULT_CONFIG.annotationWebsocket.port,
+    hasMpvWebsocketPlugin: () => hasMpvWebsocketPlugin(),
     openExternal: (url: string) => shell.openExternal(url),
     logBrowserOpenError: (url: string, error: unknown) =>
       logger.error(`Failed to open browser for texthooker URL: ${url}`, error),
diff --git a/src/main/cli-runtime.ts b/src/main/cli-runtime.ts
index b0f07a8..608cd47 100644
--- a/src/main/cli-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/cli-runtime.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export interface CliCommandRuntimeServiceContext {
   showOsd: CliCommandRuntimeServiceDepsParams['mpv']['showOsd'];
   getTexthookerPort: () => number;
   setTexthookerPort: (port: number) => void;
+  getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => string | undefined;
   shouldOpenBrowser: () => boolean;
   openInBrowser: (url: string) => void;
   isOverlayInitialized: () => boolean;
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ function createCliCommandDepsFromContext(
       service: context.texthookerService,
       getPort: context.getTexthookerPort,
       setPort: context.setTexthookerPort,
+      getWebsocketUrl: context.getTexthookerWebsocketUrl,
       shouldOpenBrowser: context.shouldOpenBrowser,
       openInBrowser: context.openInBrowser,
     },
diff --git a/src/main/dependencies.ts b/src/main/dependencies.ts
index b9a2a2e..f5113ba 100644
--- a/src/main/dependencies.ts
+++ b/src/main/dependencies.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ export interface CliCommandRuntimeServiceDepsParams {
     service: CliCommandDepsRuntimeOptions['texthooker']['service'];
     getPort: CliCommandDepsRuntimeOptions['texthooker']['getPort'];
     setPort: CliCommandDepsRuntimeOptions['texthooker']['setPort'];
+    getWebsocketUrl: CliCommandDepsRuntimeOptions['texthooker']['getWebsocketUrl'];
     shouldOpenBrowser: CliCommandDepsRuntimeOptions['texthooker']['shouldOpenBrowser'];
     openInBrowser: CliCommandDepsRuntimeOptions['texthooker']['openInBrowser'];
   };
@@ -293,6 +294,7 @@ export function createCliCommandRuntimeServiceDeps(
       service: params.texthooker.service,
       getPort: params.texthooker.getPort,
       setPort: params.texthooker.setPort,
+      getWebsocketUrl: params.texthooker.getWebsocketUrl,
       shouldOpenBrowser: params.texthooker.shouldOpenBrowser,
       openInBrowser: params.texthooker.openInBrowser,
     },
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.test.ts
index fe242d8..057d3d5 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ test('build cli command context deps maps handlers and values', () => {
     texthookerService: { start: () => null, status: () => ({ running: false }) } as never,
     getTexthookerPort: () => 5174,
     setTexthookerPort: (port) => calls.push(`port:${port}`),
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => 'ws://127.0.0.1:6678',
     shouldOpenBrowser: () => true,
     openExternal: async (url) => calls.push(`open:${url}`),
     logBrowserOpenError: (url) => calls.push(`open-error:${url}`),
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ test('build cli command context deps maps handlers and values', () => {
   const deps = buildDeps();
   assert.equal(deps.getSocketPath(), '/tmp/mpv.sock');
   assert.equal(deps.getTexthookerPort(), 5174);
+  assert.equal(deps.getTexthookerWebsocketUrl(), 'ws://127.0.0.1:6678');
   assert.equal(deps.shouldOpenBrowser(), true);
   assert.equal(deps.isOverlayInitialized(), true);
   assert.equal(deps.hasMainWindow(), true);
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.ts
index 1a8b2a9..fcea1e9 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-deps.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export function createBuildCliCommandContextDepsHandler(deps: {
   texthookerService: CliCommandContextFactoryDeps['texthookerService'];
   getTexthookerPort: () => number;
   setTexthookerPort: (port: number) => void;
+  getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => string | undefined;
   shouldOpenBrowser: () => boolean;
   openExternal: (url: string) => Promise<unknown>;
   logBrowserOpenError: (url: string, error: unknown) => void;
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ export function createBuildCliCommandContextDepsHandler(deps: {
     texthookerService: deps.texthookerService,
     getTexthookerPort: deps.getTexthookerPort,
     setTexthookerPort: deps.setTexthookerPort,
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: deps.getTexthookerWebsocketUrl,
     shouldOpenBrowser: deps.shouldOpenBrowser,
     openExternal: deps.openExternal,
     logBrowserOpenError: deps.logBrowserOpenError,
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-factory.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-factory.test.ts
index c7b32da..bf2565c 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-factory.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-factory.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,13 @@ test('cli command context factory composes main deps and context handlers', () =
   const createContext = createCliCommandContextFactory({
     appState,
     texthookerService: { isRunning: () => false, start: () => null },
-    getResolvedConfig: () => ({ texthooker: { openBrowser: true } }),
+    getResolvedConfig: () => ({
+      texthooker: { openBrowser: true },
+      annotationWebsocket: { enabled: true, port: 6678 },
+    }),
+    defaultWebsocketPort: 6677,
+    defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: 6678,
+    hasMpvWebsocketPlugin: () => false,
     openExternal: async () => {},
     logBrowserOpenError: () => {},
     showMpvOsd: (text) => calls.push(`osd:${text}`),
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.test.ts
index ee4a402..51de705 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,13 @@ test('cli command context main deps builder maps state and callbacks', async ()
   const build = createBuildCliCommandContextMainDepsHandler({
     appState,
     texthookerService: { isRunning: () => false, start: () => null },
-    getResolvedConfig: () => ({ texthooker: { openBrowser: true } }),
+    getResolvedConfig: () => ({
+      texthooker: { openBrowser: true },
+      annotationWebsocket: { enabled: true, port: 6678 },
+    }),
+    defaultWebsocketPort: 6677,
+    defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: 6678,
+    hasMpvWebsocketPlugin: () => false,
     openExternal: async (url) => {
       calls.push(`open:${url}`);
     },
@@ -110,6 +116,7 @@ test('cli command context main deps builder maps state and callbacks', async ()
   assert.equal(deps.getTexthookerPort(), 5174);
   deps.setTexthookerPort(5175);
   assert.equal(appState.texthookerPort, 5175);
+  assert.equal(deps.getTexthookerWebsocketUrl(), 'ws://127.0.0.1:6678');
   assert.equal(deps.shouldOpenBrowser(), true);
   deps.showOsd('hello');
   deps.initializeOverlay();
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.ts
index ed39ce5..4c19c32 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { CliArgs } from '../../cli/args';
+import { resolveTexthookerWebsocketUrl } from '../../core/services/startup';
 import type { CliCommandContextFactoryDeps } from './cli-command-context';
 
 type CliCommandContextMainState = {
@@ -12,7 +13,14 @@ export function createBuildCliCommandContextMainDepsHandler(deps: {
   appState: CliCommandContextMainState;
   setLogLevel?: (level: NonNullable<CliArgs['logLevel']>) => void;
   texthookerService: CliCommandContextFactoryDeps['texthookerService'];
-  getResolvedConfig: () => { texthooker?: { openBrowser?: boolean } };
+  getResolvedConfig: () => {
+    texthooker?: { openBrowser?: boolean };
+    websocket?: { enabled?: boolean | 'auto'; port?: number };
+    annotationWebsocket?: { enabled?: boolean; port?: number };
+  };
+  defaultWebsocketPort: number;
+  defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: number;
+  hasMpvWebsocketPlugin: () => boolean;
   openExternal: (url: string) => Promise<unknown>;
   logBrowserOpenError: (url: string, error: unknown) => void;
   showMpvOsd: (text: string) => void;
@@ -68,6 +76,15 @@ export function createBuildCliCommandContextMainDepsHandler(deps: {
     setTexthookerPort: (port: number) => {
       deps.appState.texthookerPort = port;
     },
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () =>
+      resolveTexthookerWebsocketUrl(
+        deps.getResolvedConfig(),
+        {
+          defaultWebsocketPort: deps.defaultWebsocketPort,
+          defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: deps.defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort,
+        },
+        deps.hasMpvWebsocketPlugin(),
+      ),
     shouldOpenBrowser: () => deps.getResolvedConfig().texthooker?.openBrowser !== false,
     openExternal: (url: string) => deps.openExternal(url),
     logBrowserOpenError: (url: string, error: unknown) => deps.logBrowserOpenError(url, error),
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.test.ts
index 2953687..90053a0 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.test.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ function createDeps() {
       texthookerService: {} as never,
       getTexthookerPort: () => 6677,
       setTexthookerPort: () => {},
+      getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => 'ws://127.0.0.1:6678',
       shouldOpenBrowser: () => true,
       openExternal: async () => {},
       logBrowserOpenError: (url: string) => browserErrors.push(url),
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.ts b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.ts
index f159d86..3b652c0 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/cli-command-context.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export type CliCommandContextFactoryDeps = {
   texthookerService: CliCommandRuntimeServiceContextHandlers['texthookerService'];
   getTexthookerPort: () => number;
   setTexthookerPort: (port: number) => void;
+  getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: () => string | undefined;
   shouldOpenBrowser: () => boolean;
   openExternal: (url: string) => Promise<unknown>;
   logBrowserOpenError: (url: string, error: unknown) => void;
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ export function createCliCommandContext(
     texthookerService: deps.texthookerService,
     getTexthookerPort: deps.getTexthookerPort,
     setTexthookerPort: deps.setTexthookerPort,
+    getTexthookerWebsocketUrl: deps.getTexthookerWebsocketUrl,
     shouldOpenBrowser: deps.shouldOpenBrowser,
     openInBrowser: (url: string) => {
       void deps.openExternal(url).catch((error) => {
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/composers/cli-startup-composer.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/composers/cli-startup-composer.test.ts
index 071befc..72e68cb 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/composers/cli-startup-composer.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/composers/cli-startup-composer.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ test('composeCliStartupHandlers returns callable CLI startup handlers', () => {
       setLogLevel: () => {},
       texthookerService: {} as never,
       getResolvedConfig: () => ({}) as never,
+      defaultWebsocketPort: 6677,
+      defaultAnnotationWebsocketPort: 6678,
+      hasMpvWebsocketPlugin: () => false,
       openExternal: async () => {},
       logBrowserOpenError: () => {},
       showMpvOsd: () => {},