fix(jellyfin): respect Windows mpv configuration when casting (#267)

.github/workflows/quality-gate.yml

@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Verify Windows launcher bootstrap
         run: bun test src/main/runtime/windows-launcher-bootstrap.test.ts
 
+      - name: Verify native mpv process launch
+        run: bun test src/main/runtime/mpv-process.test.ts
+
       - name: Verify POSIX launcher bootstrap
         run: bun test src/main/runtime/posix-launcher-bootstrap.test.ts
 

changes/jellyfin-configured-mpv-docs.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: docs
+area: jellyfin
+
+- Clarify that Windows mpv playback and Jellyfin casting can use a configured executable path instead of PATH.

changes/jellyfin-configured-mpv.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: fixed
+area: jellyfin
+
+- Honor the configured mpv executable when Jellyfin starts playback, allowing casting when mpv is installed outside PATH, and detect portable plugins beside the selected executable.

docs-site/installation.md

@@ -120,10 +120,10 @@ pip install ffsubsync
 
 Windows 10 or later. No compositor tools or window helpers are needed - native window tracking is built in.
 
-You need **mpv** (required) and **ffmpeg** (strongly recommended, for card audio and screenshots), and both must be on your `PATH`.
+You need **mpv** (required) and **ffmpeg** (strongly recommended, for card audio and screenshots). Put mpv on `PATH` or set `mpv.executablePath` during setup. ffmpeg must be on `PATH`.
 
 ::: tip What is PATH?
-`PATH` is the list of folders Windows searches when a program asks to run another program by name. SubMiner runs `mpv` and `ffmpeg` by name, so if their folders are not on `PATH`, SubMiner cannot find them even though they are installed. The routes below mostly handle `PATH` for you; the manual route explains how to add a folder yourself.
+`PATH` is the list of folders Windows searches when a program asks to run another program by name. SubMiner uses it to find ffmpeg and, unless an executable path is configured, mpv. The routes below mostly handle `PATH` for you; the manual route explains how to add a folder yourself.
 :::
 
 You can install these with a package manager or by hand. Coverage differs, so pick based on what you need:

docs-site/jellyfin-integration.md

@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ From then on, pause / resume / seek / stop and audio or subtitle track changes y
 ## What happens during playback
 
 - **mpv launches automatically.** If mpv isn't already running when you cast, SubMiner starts it with SubMiner defaults and the bundled mpv plugin, so keybindings work right away.
+- **Windows respects your mpv settings.** Casting checks `mpv.executablePath`, then `SUBMINER_MPV_PATH`, then `PATH`. An invalid configured path prevents automatic startup.
 - **The overlay is managed by SubMiner,** so your configured `subtitleStyle` controls how subtitles look. Use the [overlay-toggle shortcut](/shortcuts) to hide it for a session.
 - **Resume works.** If Jellyfin has a saved position for the item, SubMiner seeks there on load.
 - **Titles and credentials stay separate.** AniList, character dictionaries, Anki source fields, and Discord presence use media titles, never authenticated stream URLs. If a usable title is unavailable, lookups are skipped and source fields show an unknown-media label. Stats identifies Jellyfin videos by server and item ID without the stream URL or API key.

docs/architecture/domains.md

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Read when: you need to find the owner module for a behavior or test surface
   `src/config/resolve/anki-connect/`
 - Overlay/window state: `src/core/services/overlay-*`, `src/main/overlay-*.ts`
 - MPV runtime and protocol: `src/core/services/mpv*.ts`
+  Windows executable lookup and detached process creation are shared in `src/main/runtime/mpv-process.ts`. The Windows launcher and Jellyfin handlers retain their own playback and connection workflows.
 - Subtitle/token pipeline: `src/core/services/subtitle-*.ts`, `src/core/services/tokenizer*`, `src/core/services/tokenizer/`, `src/subsync/`
 - Anki workflow: `src/anki-integration/`, `src/core/services/anki-jimaku*.ts`
 - Immersion tracking: `src/core/services/immersion-tracker/`

src/main.ts

@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ protocol.registerSchemesAsPrivileged([
 ]);
 
 import * as fs from 'fs';
-import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import { MecabTokenizer } from './mecab-tokenizer';
@@ -122,11 +121,6 @@ import {
 import { printHelp } from './cli/help';
 import { IPC_CHANNELS, type OverlayHostedModal } from './shared/ipc/contracts';
 import { buildMpvLoggingArgs } from './shared/mpv-logging-args';
-import {
-  MPV_X11_BACKEND_ARGS,
-  applyX11EnvOverrides,
-  shouldForceX11WaylandSession,
-} from './shared/mpv-x11-backend';
 import { AnkiConnectClient } from './anki-connect';
 import {
   getStartupModeFlags,
@@ -393,6 +387,7 @@ import {
   getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus,
   launchWindowsMpv,
 } from './main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch';
+import { resolveMpvExecutablePath, spawnMpvProcess } from './main/runtime/mpv-process';
 import { createWaitForMpvConnectedHandler } from './main/runtime/jellyfin-remote-connection';
 import {
   DEFAULT_JELLYFIN_CLIENT_NAME,
@@ -677,22 +672,6 @@ const MPV_JELLYFIN_DEFAULT_ARGS = [
   '--slang=ja,jp,jpn,japanese,en,eng,english,enus,en-us',
 ] as const;
 
-/**
- * Spawn a SubMiner-managed mpv (Jellyfin/YouTube) detached. On unsupported Wayland
- * sessions it is pinned to XWayland — Wayland-hint env stripped and an X11 GPU context
- * appended — so the XWayland overlay can stay above it, matching the `subminer` launcher.
- */
-function spawnManagedMpvProcess(args: string[]): ReturnType<typeof spawn> {
-  if (!shouldForceX11WaylandSession(process.env)) {
-    return spawn('mpv', args, { detached: true, stdio: 'ignore' });
-  }
-  return spawn('mpv', [...args, ...MPV_X11_BACKEND_ARGS], {
-    detached: true,
-    stdio: 'ignore',
-    env: applyX11EnvOverrides({ ...process.env }),
-  });
-}
-
 let activeJellyfinRemotePlayback: ActiveJellyfinRemotePlaybackState | null = null;
 let jellyfinRemoteLastProgressAtMs = 0;
 let jellyfinMpvAutoLaunchInFlight: Promise<boolean> | null = null;
@@ -3179,18 +3158,20 @@ const {
     sleep: (delayMs) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, delayMs)),
   },
   launchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackMainDeps: {
+    getMpvExecutablePath: () =>
+      resolveMpvExecutablePath(configService.getConfig().mpv.executablePath),
     getSocketPath: () => appState.mpvSocketPath,
     getLaunchMode: () => configService.getConfig().mpv.launchMode,
     platform: process.platform,
     execPath: process.execPath,
     getRuntimePluginEntrypoint: () => resolveBundledMpvRuntimePluginEntrypoint(),
-    getInstalledPluginDetection: () =>
+    getInstalledPluginDetection: (mpvExecutablePath) =>
       detectInstalledMpvPlugin({
         platform: process.platform,
         homeDir: os.homedir(),
         xdgConfigHome: process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME,
         appDataDir: app.getPath('appData'),
-        mpvExecutablePath: configService.getConfig().mpv.executablePath,
+        mpvExecutablePath,
       }),
     getPluginRuntimeConfig: () => getMpvPluginRuntimeConfig(),
     getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => (isLogFileEnabled('mpv') ? DEFAULT_MPV_LOG_PATH : ''),
@@ -3198,7 +3179,7 @@ const {
     removeSocketPath: (socketPath) => {
       fs.rmSync(socketPath, { force: true });
     },
-    spawnMpv: (args) => spawnManagedMpvProcess(args),
+    spawnMpv: spawnMpvProcess,
     logWarn: (message, error) => logger.warn(message, error),
     logInfo: (message) => logger.info(message),
   },

src/main/runtime/composers/jellyfin-runtime-composer.test.ts

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ test('composeJellyfinRuntimeHandlers returns callable jellyfin runtime handlers'
       sleep: async () => {},
     },
     launchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackMainDeps: {
+      getMpvExecutablePath: () => 'mpv',
       getSocketPath: () => '/tmp/test-mpv.sock',
       getLaunchMode: () => 'normal',
       platform: 'linux',

src/main/runtime/jellyfin-playback-launch.ts

@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ export function createPlayJellyfinItemInMpvHandler(deps: {
     const mpvClient = deps.getMpvClient();
     if (!connected || !mpvClient) {
       throw new Error(
-        'MPV not connected and auto-launch failed. Ensure mpv is installed and available in PATH.',
+        'MPV not connected and auto-launch failed. Check mpv.executablePath or ensure mpv is available in PATH.',
       );
     }
 

src/main/runtime/jellyfin-remote-connection-main-deps.test.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ test('launch mpv for jellyfin main deps builder maps callbacks', () => {
     },
   };
   const deps = createBuildLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackMainDepsHandler({
+    getMpvExecutablePath: () => '/usr/local/bin/mpv',
     getSocketPath: () => '/tmp/mpv.sock',
     getLaunchMode: () => 'fullscreen',
     platform: 'darwin',
@@ -47,8 +48,8 @@ test('launch mpv for jellyfin main deps builder maps callbacks', () => {
     getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => '/tmp/mpv.log',
     defaultMpvArgs: ['--no-config'],
     removeSocketPath: (socketPath) => calls.push(`rm:${socketPath}`),
-    spawnMpv: (args) => {
+    spawnMpv: (executablePath, args) => {
-      calls.push(`spawn:${args.join(' ')}`);
+      calls.push(`spawn:${executablePath} ${args.join(' ')}`);
       return proc;
     },
     logWarn: (message) => calls.push(`warn:${message}`),
@@ -60,14 +61,20 @@ test('launch mpv for jellyfin main deps builder maps callbacks', () => {
   assert.equal(deps.platform, 'darwin');
   assert.equal(deps.execPath, '/tmp/subminer');
   assert.equal(deps.getRuntimePluginEntrypoint?.(), '/tmp/plugin/subminer/main.lua');
-  assert.equal(deps.getInstalledPluginDetection?.().installed, false);
+  assert.equal(deps.getMpvExecutablePath(), '/usr/local/bin/mpv');
+  assert.equal(deps.getInstalledPluginDetection?.('/usr/local/bin/mpv').installed, false);
   assert.equal(deps.getDefaultMpvLogPath(), '/tmp/mpv.log');
   assert.deepEqual(deps.defaultMpvArgs, ['--no-config']);
   deps.removeSocketPath('/tmp/mpv.sock');
-  deps.spawnMpv(['--idle=yes']);
+  deps.spawnMpv('/usr/local/bin/mpv', ['--idle=yes']);
   deps.logInfo('launched');
   deps.logWarn('bad', null);
-  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['rm:/tmp/mpv.sock', 'spawn:--idle=yes', 'info:launched', 'warn:bad']);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, [
+    'rm:/tmp/mpv.sock',
+    'spawn:/usr/local/bin/mpv --idle=yes',
+    'info:launched',
+    'warn:bad',
+  ]);
 });
 
 test('ensure mpv connected for jellyfin main deps builder maps callbacks', async () => {

src/main/runtime/jellyfin-remote-connection-main-deps.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export function createBuildLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackMainDepsHandler(
   deps: LaunchMpvForJellyfinDeps,
 ) {
   return (): LaunchMpvForJellyfinDeps => ({
+    getMpvExecutablePath: () => deps.getMpvExecutablePath(),
     getSocketPath: () => deps.getSocketPath(),
     getLaunchMode: () => deps.getLaunchMode(),
     platform: deps.platform,
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ export function createBuildLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackMainDepsHandler(
     getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => deps.getDefaultMpvLogPath(),
     defaultMpvArgs: deps.defaultMpvArgs,
     removeSocketPath: (socketPath: string) => deps.removeSocketPath(socketPath),
-    spawnMpv: (args: string[]) => deps.spawnMpv(args),
+    spawnMpv: (executablePath, args) => deps.spawnMpv(executablePath, args),
     logWarn: (message: string, error: unknown) => deps.logWarn(message, error),
     logInfo: (message: string) => deps.logInfo(message),
   });

src/main/runtime/jellyfin-remote-connection.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import test from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { detectInstalledMpvPlugin } from './first-run-setup-plugin';
+import { resolveWindowsMpvPath } from './mpv-process';
 import {
   createEnsureMpvConnectedForJellyfinPlaybackHandler,
   createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler,
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler builds expected mpv args', (
   const spawnedArgs: string[][] = [];
   const logs: string[] = [];
   const launch = createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler({
+    getMpvExecutablePath: () => 'mpv',
     getSocketPath: () => '/tmp/subminer.sock',
     getLaunchMode: () => 'maximized',
     platform: 'darwin',
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler builds expected mpv args', (
     getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => ' /tmp/mp.log ',
     defaultMpvArgs: ['--sid=auto'],
     removeSocketPath: () => {},
-    spawnMpv: (args) => {
+    spawnMpv: (_executable, args) => {
       spawnedArgs.push(args);
       return {
         on: () => {},
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler builds expected mpv args', (
 test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler forwards runtime plugin config', () => {
   const spawnedArgs: string[][] = [];
   const launch = createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler({
+    getMpvExecutablePath: () => 'mpv',
     getSocketPath: () => '/tmp/subminer.sock',
     getLaunchMode: () => 'normal',
     platform: 'linux',
@@ -84,7 +88,7 @@ test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler forwards runtime plugin conf
     getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => '/tmp/mp.log',
     defaultMpvArgs: ['--sid=auto'],
     removeSocketPath: () => {},
-    spawnMpv: (args) => {
+    spawnMpv: (_executable, args) => {
       spawnedArgs.push(args);
       return {
         on: () => {},
@@ -108,41 +112,53 @@ test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler forwards runtime plugin conf
   assert.doesNotMatch(scriptOpts ?? '', /subminer-aniskip_button_key=/);
 });
 
-test('createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler skips bundled script when installed plugin exists', () => {
+test('Jellyfin detects portable plugins beside the executable selected for launch', () => {
-  const spawnedArgs: string[][] = [];
+  const mpvPath = 'C:\\portable player\\mpv.exe';
+  const pluginPath = 'C:\\portable player\\portable_config\\scripts\\subminer\\main.lua';
+  for (const source of ['environment', 'PATH']) {
+    let resolutions = 0;
+    const spawned: Array<{ executable: string; args: string[] }> = [];
     const launch = createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler({
-    getSocketPath: () => '/tmp/subminer.sock',
+      getMpvExecutablePath: () => {
+        resolutions += 1;
+        return resolveWindowsMpvPath({
+          getEnv: () => (source === 'environment' ? mpvPath : undefined),
+          runWhere: () => ({ status: 0, stdout: mpvPath }),
+          fileExists: (candidate) => candidate === mpvPath,
+        });
+      },
+      getSocketPath: () => '\\\\.\\pipe\\subminer-test',
       getLaunchMode: () => 'normal',
-    platform: 'linux',
+      platform: 'win32',
-    execPath: '/opt/SubMiner/SubMiner.AppImage',
+      execPath: 'C:\\SubMiner\\SubMiner.exe',
-    getRuntimePluginEntrypoint: () => '/opt/SubMiner/plugin/subminer/main.lua',
+      getRuntimePluginEntrypoint: () => 'C:\\SubMiner\\plugin\\subminer\\main.lua',
-    getInstalledPluginDetection: () => ({
+      getInstalledPluginDetection: (mpvExecutablePath) =>
-      installed: true,
+        detectInstalledMpvPlugin({
-      path: '/home/tester/.config/mpv/scripts/subminer/main.lua',
+          platform: 'win32',
-      version: '0.1.0',
+          homeDir: 'C:\\Users\\test',
-      source: 'default-config',
+          mpvExecutablePath,
-      message: null,
+          existsSync: (candidate) => candidate === pluginPath,
         }),
-    getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => '/tmp/mp.log',
+      getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => '',
-    defaultMpvArgs: ['--sid=auto'],
+      defaultMpvArgs: [],
       removeSocketPath: () => {},
-    spawnMpv: (args) => {
+      spawnMpv: (executable, args) => {
-      spawnedArgs.push(args);
+        spawned.push({ executable, args });
-      return {
+        return { on: () => {}, unref: () => {} };
-        on: () => {},
-        unref: () => {},
-      };
       },
       logWarn: () => {},
       logInfo: () => {},
     });
 
     launch();
+    assert.equal(resolutions, 1, source);
+    assert.equal(spawned.length, 1);
+    assert.equal(spawned[0]!.executable, mpvPath);
     assert.equal(
-    spawnedArgs[0]?.some((arg) => arg.startsWith('--script=/opt/SubMiner/plugin/subminer')),
+      spawned[0]!.args.some((arg) => arg.startsWith('--script=')),
       false,
     );
-  assert.ok(spawnedArgs[0]?.some((arg) => arg.startsWith('--script-opts=')));
+  }
 });
 
 test('createEnsureMpvConnectedForJellyfinPlaybackHandler auto-launches once', async () => {

src/main/runtime/jellyfin-remote-connection.ts

@@ -41,23 +41,25 @@ export function createWaitForMpvConnectedHandler(deps: WaitForMpvConnectedDeps)
 }
 
 export type LaunchMpvForJellyfinDeps = {
+  getMpvExecutablePath: () => string;
   getSocketPath: () => string;
   getLaunchMode: () => MpvLaunchMode;
   platform: NodeJS.Platform;
   execPath: string;
   getRuntimePluginEntrypoint?: () => string | null | undefined;
-  getInstalledPluginDetection?: () => InstalledMpvPluginDetection;
+  getInstalledPluginDetection?: (mpvExecutablePath: string) => InstalledMpvPluginDetection;
   getPluginRuntimeConfig?: () => SubminerPluginRuntimeScriptOptConfig;
   getDefaultMpvLogPath: () => string;
   defaultMpvArgs: readonly string[];
   removeSocketPath: (socketPath: string) => void;
-  spawnMpv: (args: string[]) => SpawnedProcessLike;
+  spawnMpv: (executablePath: string, args: string[]) => SpawnedProcessLike;
   logWarn: (message: string, error: unknown) => void;
   logInfo: (message: string) => void;
 };
 
 export function createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler(deps: LaunchMpvForJellyfinDeps) {
   return (): void => {
+    const executablePath = deps.getMpvExecutablePath();
     const socketPath = deps.getSocketPath();
     if (deps.platform !== 'win32') {
       try {
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ export function createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler(deps: LaunchMpvFor
         )
       : [`subminer-binary_path=${deps.execPath}`, `subminer-socket_path=${socketPath}`];
     const scriptOpts = `--script-opts=${scriptOptParts.join(',')}`;
-    const installedPlugin = deps.getInstalledPluginDetection?.();
+    const installedPlugin = deps.getInstalledPluginDetection?.(executablePath);
     const runtimePluginEntrypoint = installedPlugin?.installed
       ? ''
       : (deps.getRuntimePluginEntrypoint?.()?.trim() ?? '');
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ export function createLaunchMpvIdleForJellyfinPlaybackHandler(deps: LaunchMpvFor
       ...(defaultMpvLogPath ? [`--log-file=${defaultMpvLogPath}`] : []),
       `--input-ipc-server=${socketPath}`,
     ];
-    const proc = deps.spawnMpv(mpvArgs);
+    const proc = deps.spawnMpv(executablePath, mpvArgs);
     proc.on('error', (error) => {
       deps.logWarn('Failed to launch mpv for Jellyfin remote playback', error);
     });

src/main/runtime/mpv-process.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { once } from 'node:events';
+import test from 'node:test';
+import { resolveMpvExecutablePath, spawnMpvProcess } from './mpv-process';
+
+const testWindows = process.platform === 'win32' ? test : test.skip;
+
+test('mpv process launcher forwards arguments and environment to the child', async () => {
+  const child = spawnMpvProcess(
+    process.execPath,
+    ['-e', 'process.exit(Number(process.env.SUBMINER_TEST_EXIT))'],
+    { ...process.env, DISPLAY: '', SUBMINER_TEST_EXIT: '17' },
+  );
+  try {
+    const [code] = await once(child, 'exit');
+    assert.equal(code, 17);
+  } finally {
+    if (child.exitCode === null) child.kill();
+  }
+});
+
+testWindows('managed Windows playback launches the configured executable', async () => {
+  const executable = resolveMpvExecutablePath(`  ${process.execPath}  `);
+  const child = spawnMpvProcess(executable, ['-e', 'process.exit(17)']);
+  try {
+    assert.equal(child.spawnfile, process.execPath);
+    const [code] = await once(child, 'exit');
+    assert.equal(code, 17);
+  } finally {
+    if (child.exitCode === null) child.kill();
+  }
+});
+
+testWindows('managed Windows playback rejects an invalid configured executable', () => {
+  assert.throws(
+    () => resolveMpvExecutablePath(`${process.execPath}/missing-mpv.exe`),
+    /Could not find mpv.exe/,
+  );
+});

src/main/runtime/mpv-process.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import { spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
+import {
+  MPV_X11_BACKEND_ARGS,
+  applyX11EnvOverrides,
+  shouldForceX11WaylandSession,
+} from '../../shared/mpv-x11-backend';
+
+export interface WindowsMpvPathDeps {
+  getEnv: (name: string) => string | undefined;
+  runWhere: () => { status: number | null; stdout: string; error?: Error };
+  fileExists: (candidate: string) => boolean;
+}
+
+export type ConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus = 'blank' | 'configured' | 'invalid';
+
+function fileExists(candidate: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    return fs.statSync(candidate).isFile();
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+export function getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus(
+  configuredMpvPath = '',
+  exists: (candidate: string) => boolean = fileExists,
+): ConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus {
+  const configPath = configuredMpvPath.trim();
+  if (!configPath) {
+    return 'blank';
+  }
+  return exists(configPath) ? 'configured' : 'invalid';
+}
+
+export function createWindowsMpvPathDeps(
+  overrides: Partial<WindowsMpvPathDeps> = {},
+): WindowsMpvPathDeps {
+  return {
+    getEnv: overrides.getEnv ?? ((name) => process.env[name]),
+    fileExists: overrides.fileExists ?? fileExists,
+    runWhere:
+      overrides.runWhere ??
+      (() => {
+        const result = spawnSync('where.exe', ['mpv.exe'], {
+          encoding: 'utf8',
+          windowsHide: true,
+        });
+        return {
+          status: result.status,
+          stdout: result.stdout ?? '',
+          error: result.error ?? undefined,
+        };
+      }),
+  };
+}
+
+export function resolveWindowsMpvPath(deps: WindowsMpvPathDeps, configuredMpvPath = ''): string {
+  const configPath = configuredMpvPath.trim();
+  const configuredPathStatus = getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus(configPath, deps.fileExists);
+  if (configuredPathStatus === 'configured') {
+    return configPath;
+  }
+  if (configuredPathStatus === 'invalid') {
+    return '';
+  }
+
+  const envPath = deps.getEnv('SUBMINER_MPV_PATH')?.trim();
+  if (envPath && deps.fileExists(envPath)) {
+    return envPath;
+  }
+
+  const whereResult = deps.runWhere();
+  if (whereResult.status === 0) {
+    const firstPath = whereResult.stdout
+      .split(/\r?\n/)
+      .map((line) => line.trim())
+      .find((line) => line.length > 0 && deps.fileExists(line));
+    if (firstPath) {
+      return firstPath;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return '';
+}
+
+export function spawnMpvProcess(
+  executablePath: string,
+  args: string[],
+  env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env,
+): ReturnType<typeof spawn> {
+  const forceX11 = shouldForceX11WaylandSession(env);
+  return spawn(executablePath, forceX11 ? [...args, ...MPV_X11_BACKEND_ARGS] : args, {
+    detached: true,
+    stdio: 'ignore',
+    windowsHide: true,
+    env: forceX11 ? applyX11EnvOverrides({ ...env }) : env,
+  });
+}
+
+export function resolveMpvExecutablePath(configuredMpvPath = ''): string {
+  const executablePath =
+    process.platform === 'win32'
+      ? resolveWindowsMpvPath(createWindowsMpvPathDeps(), configuredMpvPath)
+      : 'mpv';
+  if (!executablePath) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Could not find mpv.exe. Check mpv.executablePath, SUBMINER_MPV_PATH, or PATH.',
+    );
+  }
+  return executablePath;
+}

src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.test.ts

@@ -29,12 +29,12 @@ test('resolveWindowsMpvPath prefers SUBMINER_MPV_PATH', () => {
   assert.equal(resolved, 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe');
 });
 
-test('resolveWindowsMpvPath prefers configured executable path before PATH', () => {
+test('resolveWindowsMpvPath prefers configured executable path before environment and PATH', () => {
   const resolved = resolveWindowsMpvPath(
     createDeps({
-      getEnv: () => undefined,
+      getEnv: () => 'C:\\other\\mpv.exe',
       runWhere: () => ({ status: 0, stdout: 'C:\\tools\\mpv.exe\r\n' }),
-      fileExists: (candidate) => candidate === 'C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe',
+      fileExists: (candidate) => ['C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe', 'C:\\other\\mpv.exe'].includes(candidate),
     }),
     '  C:\\mpv\\mpv.exe  ',
   );
@@ -53,6 +53,16 @@ test('resolveWindowsMpvPath falls back to where.exe output', () => {
   assert.equal(resolved, 'C:\\tools\\mpv.exe');
 });
 
+test('resolveWindowsMpvPath ignores an invalid environment override but keeps config authoritative', () => {
+  const deps = createDeps({
+    getEnv: () => 'C:\\missing\\mpv.exe',
+    runWhere: () => ({ status: 0, stdout: 'C:\\tools\\mpv.exe\r\n' }),
+    fileExists: (candidate) => candidate === 'C:\\tools\\mpv.exe',
+  });
+  assert.equal(resolveWindowsMpvPath(deps), 'C:\\tools\\mpv.exe');
+  assert.equal(resolveWindowsMpvPath(deps, 'C:\\missing\\mpv.exe'), '');
+});
+
 test('buildWindowsMpvLaunchArgs uses explicit SubMiner defaults and targets', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(
     buildWindowsMpvLaunchArgs(

src/main/runtime/windows-mpv-launch.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import fs from 'node:fs';
-import { spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import { isLogFileEnabled } from '../../shared/log-files';
 import { canConnectSocket } from '../../shared/socket-probe';
 import { buildMpvLaunchModeArgs } from '../../shared/mpv-launch-mode';
@@ -8,11 +6,19 @@ import { buildSubminerPluginRuntimeScriptOptParts } from '../../shared/subminer-
 import type { MpvLaunchMode } from '../../types/config';
 import type { SubminerPluginRuntimeScriptOptConfig } from '../../shared/subminer-plugin-script-opts';
 import type { InstalledMpvPluginDetection } from './first-run-setup-plugin';
+import {
+  createWindowsMpvPathDeps,
+  resolveWindowsMpvPath,
+  spawnMpvProcess,
+  type WindowsMpvPathDeps,
+} from './mpv-process';
+export {
+  getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus,
+  resolveWindowsMpvPath,
+  type ConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus,
+} from './mpv-process';
 
-export interface WindowsMpvLaunchDeps {
+export interface WindowsMpvLaunchDeps extends WindowsMpvPathDeps {
-  getEnv: (name: string) => string | undefined;
-  runWhere: () => { status: number | null; stdout: string; error?: Error };
-  fileExists: (candidate: string) => boolean;
   spawnDetached: (command: string, args: string[], env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv) => Promise<void>;
   isAppControlServerAvailable?: () => Promise<boolean>;
   sendAppControlCommand?: (
@@ -23,8 +29,6 @@ export interface WindowsMpvLaunchDeps {
   logInfo?: (message: string) => void;
 }
 
-export type ConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus = 'blank' | 'configured' | 'invalid';
-
 export interface WindowsMpvRuntimePluginPolicy {
   detectInstalledMpvPlugin?: (mpvPath: string) => InstalledMpvPluginDetection;
   notifyInstalledPluginDetected?: (detection: InstalledMpvPluginDetection) => void;
@@ -38,54 +42,6 @@ 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);
-  const configuredPathStatus = getConfiguredWindowsMpvPathStatus(configPath, deps.fileExists);
-  if (configuredPathStatus === 'configured') {
-    return configPath;
-  }
-  if (configuredPathStatus === 'invalid') {
-    return '';
-  }
-
-  const envPath = normalizeCandidate(deps.getEnv('SUBMINER_MPV_PATH'));
-  if (envPath && deps.fileExists(envPath)) {
-    return envPath;
-  }
-
-  const whereResult = deps.runWhere();
-  if (whereResult.status === 0) {
-    const firstPath = whereResult.stdout
-      .split(/\r?\n/)
-      .map((line) => line.trim())
-      .find((line) => line.length > 0 && deps.fileExists(line));
-    if (firstPath) {
-      return firstPath;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return '';
-}
-
 const DEFAULT_WINDOWS_MPV_SOCKET = '\\\\.\\pipe\\subminer-socket';
 const RUNNING_APP_ATTACH_SOCKET_WAIT_MS = 10000;
 
@@ -332,19 +288,7 @@ export function createWindowsMpvLaunchDeps(options: {
   logInfo?: (message: string) => void;
 }): WindowsMpvLaunchDeps {
   return {
-    getEnv: options.getEnv ?? ((name) => process.env[name]),
+    ...createWindowsMpvPathDeps(options),
-    runWhere: () => {
-      const result = spawnSync('where.exe', ['mpv.exe'], {
-        encoding: 'utf8',
-        windowsHide: true,
-      });
-      return {
-        status: result.status,
-        stdout: result.stdout ?? '',
-        error: result.error ?? undefined,
-      };
-    },
-    fileExists: options.fileExists ?? defaultWindowsMpvFileExists,
     isAppControlServerAvailable: options.isAppControlServerAvailable,
     sendAppControlCommand: options.sendAppControlCommand,
     waitForSocketReady,
@@ -352,12 +296,11 @@ export function createWindowsMpvLaunchDeps(options: {
     spawnDetached: (command, args, env) =>
       new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
         try {
-          const child = spawn(command, args, {
+          const child = spawnMpvProcess(
-            detached: true,
+            command,
-            stdio: 'ignore',
+            args,
-            windowsHide: true,
+            env ? { ...process.env, ...env } : process.env,
-            env: env ? { ...process.env, ...env } : process.env,
+          );
-          });
           let settled = false;
           child.once('error', (error) => {
             if (settled) return;