thread launcher config dir through app control and overlay calls

- startOverlay and isRunningAppControlServerAvailable accept explicit configDir to avoid re-resolving from env mid-flight
- emit connection-change on reconnect when previously connected
- handle errored client sockets in app control server with logWarn and destroy

README.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 # SubMiner
 
-Integrates Yomitan with mpv - look up words, mine to Anki, and track your immersion without leaving the player.
+Integrates Yomitan and mpv - on-screen lookups, mine to Anki, and track immersion without leaving the player
 
 [Installation](#quick-start) · [Requirements](#requirements) · [Usage](https://docs.subminer.moe/usage) · [Documentation](https://docs.subminer.moe)
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Integrates Yomitan with mpv - look up words, mine to Anki, and track your immers
 
 ### Dictionary Lookups
 
-Yomitan runs inside the overlay. Trigger a lookup on any word for full dictionary popups — definitions, pitch accent, frequency data — without ever leaving mpv.
+Hover over any word and trigger a lookup to get the full Yomitan popup - definitions, pitch accent, and frequency data - without ever leaving mpv.
 
 <div align="center">
   <img src="docs-site/public/screenshots/yomitan-lookup.png" width="800" alt="Yomitan dictionary popup over annotated subtitles in mpv">
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Create an Anki card with the sentence, audio clip, screenshot, and machine trans
 
 ### Reading Annotations
 
-Real-time subtitle annotations with frequency highlighting, JLPT tags, N+1 targeting, and a character name dictionary. Known words fade back; new words stand out. Grammar-only tokens render as plain text so you focus on what matters.
+Real-time subtitle annotations with frequency highlighting, JLPT tags, N+1 targeting, and a character name dictionary. Grammar-only tokens and particles render as plain text so you focus on what matters.
 
 <div align="center">
   <img src="docs-site/public/screenshots/annotations.png" width="800" alt="Annotated subtitles with frequency coloring, JLPT underlines, and N+1 targets">
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Real-time subtitle annotations with frequency highlighting, JLPT tags, N+1 targe
 
 ### Immersion Dashboard
 
-Local stats dashboard — watch time, anime library, vocabulary growth, mining throughput, session history, and trends. All stored locally, no third-party tracking.
+Local stats dashboard tracking watch time, vocabulary growth, mining throughput, session history, and trends. All stored locally, no third-party tracking.
 
 <div align="center">
   <img src="docs-site/public/screenshots/stats-overview.png" width="800" alt="Stats dashboard showing watch time, cards mined, streaks, and tracking data">
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ Browse sibling episode files and the active mpv queue in one overlay modal. Open
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <td><b>alass / ffsubsync</b></td>
-    <td>Automatic subtitle retiming — requires <code>alass</code> or <code>ffsubsync</code> on your <code>PATH</code> (optional; subtitle syncing is disabled without them)</td>
+    <td>Manual subtitle retiming — requires <code>alass</code> or <code>ffsubsync</code> on your <code>PATH</code> (optional; subtitle syncing is disabled without them)</td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <td><b>WebSocket</b></td>
-    <td>Annotated subtitle feed for external clients (texthooker pages, custom tools)</td>
+    <td>Plain subtitle feed plus a dedicated annotated feed for texthooker pages and custom tools</td>
   </tr>
 </table>
 
@@ -110,13 +110,14 @@ Browse sibling episode files and the active mpv queue in one overlay modal. Open
 
 ## Requirements
 
-Only **mpv** is required. Everything else is optional but enhances the experience.
+Only **mpv** and Anki+AnkiConnect are required. Everything else is optional but enhances the experience.
 
 | Dependency           | Status      | What it does                             |
-| -------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
+| -------------------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------- |
 | mpv                  | Required    | The video player SubMiner overlays on    |
+| Anki + AnkiConnect   | Required    | Card creation from the Yomitan popup     |
 | ffmpeg               | Recommended | Audio clips & screenshots for Anki cards |
-| MeCab + mecab-ipadic | Recommended | More precise N+1, JLPT, and frequency annotations |
+| MeCab + mecab-ipadic | Recommended | More precise annotations and filtering   |
 | yt-dlp               | Optional    | YouTube playback                         |
 | fzf / rofi           | Optional    | Video picker in the launcher             |
 | alass / ffsubsync    | Optional    | Subtitle sync                            |
@@ -196,25 +197,24 @@ See the [build-from-source guide](https://docs.subminer.moe/installation#from-so
 Run SubMiner and the first-run setup wizard will guide you through importing Yomitan dictionaries and optionally installing the `subminer` command-line launcher.
 
 ```bash
-# Linux (AUR)
+# Linux
 subminer app --setup
 
 # macOS — open SubMiner.app, or:
 subminer app --setup
 ```
 
-On **Windows**, just run `SubMiner.exe` — setup opens automatically on first launch.
+On **Windows**, just run `SubMiner.exe` and the setup will open automatically on first launch.
 
-### 3. Play
+### 3. Mine
 
 ```bash
-subminer video.mkv          # play video with overlay
-subminer stats              # open immersion dashboard
-subminer config             # open configuration window
-subminer --config           # open configuration window via flag
+subminer video.mkv          # launch mpv with SubMiner
+subminer /path/to/dir       # pick a file with fzf
+subminer -R /path/to/dir    # pick a file with rofi (Linux only)
 ```
 
-On **Windows**, use the **SubMiner mpv** shortcut created during setup — double-click it or drag a video file onto it.
+On **Windows**, use the **SubMiner mpv** shortcut created during setup. Double-click it or drag a video file onto it.
 
 ## Documentation
 

app-updater.js

@@ -1,193 +0,0 @@
-"use strict";
-var __importDefault = (this && this.__importDefault) || function (mod) {
-    return (mod && mod.__esModule) ? mod : { "default": mod };
-};
-Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
-exports.resolveMacAppBundlePath = resolveMacAppBundlePath;
-exports.isMacApplicationsFolderBundle = isMacApplicationsFolderBundle;
-exports.isKnownLinuxPackageManagedAppImage = isKnownLinuxPackageManagedAppImage;
-exports.isNativeUpdaterSupported = isNativeUpdaterSupported;
-exports.configureAutoUpdater = configureAutoUpdater;
-exports.createElectronAppUpdater = createElectronAppUpdater;
-const node_fs_1 = require("node:fs");
-const node_child_process_1 = require("node:child_process");
-const node_os_1 = __importDefault(require("node:os"));
-const node_path_1 = __importDefault(require("node:path"));
-const node_util_1 = require("node:util");
-const electron_updater_1 = require("electron-updater");
-const release_assets_1 = require("./release-assets");
-const updaterErrorListeners = new WeakMap();
-const execFileAsync = (0, node_util_1.promisify)(node_child_process_1.execFile);
-function resolveMacAppBundlePath(execPath) {
-    const marker = '.app/Contents/MacOS/';
-    const markerIndex = execPath.indexOf(marker);
-    if (markerIndex < 0)
-        return null;
-    return execPath.slice(0, markerIndex + '.app'.length);
-}
-async function readMacCodeSignature(appBundlePath) {
-    try {
-        const result = await execFileAsync('/usr/bin/codesign', ['-dv', '--verbose=4', appBundlePath], {
-            encoding: 'utf8',
-        });
-        return `${result.stdout ?? ''}\n${result.stderr ?? ''}`;
-    }
-    catch {
-        return null;
-    }
-}
-function realpathOrOriginal(filePath) {
-    try {
-        return (0, node_fs_1.realpathSync)(filePath);
-    }
-    catch {
-        return filePath;
-    }
-}
-function isSameOrInsideDirectory(parentPath, candidatePath) {
-    const relative = node_path_1.default.relative(parentPath, candidatePath);
-    return (relative === '' ||
-        (relative.length > 0 && !relative.startsWith('..') && !node_path_1.default.isAbsolute(relative)));
-}
-function isMacApplicationsFolderBundle(appBundlePath, homeDir = node_os_1.default.homedir()) {
-    const resolvedBundlePath = node_path_1.default.resolve(appBundlePath);
-    return (isSameOrInsideDirectory('/Applications', resolvedBundlePath) ||
-        isSameOrInsideDirectory(node_path_1.default.join(homeDir, 'Applications'), resolvedBundlePath));
-}
-function isKnownLinuxPackageManagedAppImage(appImagePath) {
-    return realpathOrOriginal(appImagePath) === '/opt/SubMiner/SubMiner.AppImage';
-}
-async function isNativeUpdaterSupported(options) {
-    if (!options.isPackaged) {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native updater because this build is not packaged.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    if (options.platform === 'linux') {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native Linux updater because Linux tray checks use GitHub release assets.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    if (options.platform !== 'darwin') {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native updater because this platform uses GitHub metadata checks.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    const appBundlePath = resolveMacAppBundlePath(options.execPath);
-    if (!appBundlePath) {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native macOS updater because the app bundle path could not be resolved.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    if (!isMacApplicationsFolderBundle(appBundlePath, options.homeDir)) {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native macOS updater because the app is not installed in an Applications folder.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    const signature = await (options.readCodeSignature ?? readMacCodeSignature)(appBundlePath);
-    if (!signature) {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native macOS updater because the app code signature could not be read.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    if (/Signature=adhoc\b/.test(signature) || /TeamIdentifier=not set\b/.test(signature)) {
-        options.log?.('Skipping native macOS updater because this build is ad-hoc signed.');
-        return false;
-    }
-    return true;
-}
-function configureAutoUpdater(updater, log = () => { }, channel = 'stable') {
-    updater.autoDownload = false;
-    // On macOS this avoids invoking Squirrel until the explicit restart/install step.
-    updater.autoInstallOnAppQuit = false;
-    updater.allowPrerelease = channel === 'prerelease';
-    updater.allowDowngrade = false;
-    updater.logger = {
-        info: () => { },
-        debug: () => { },
-        warn: (message) => log(message),
-        error: (message) => log(message),
-    };
-    const previousErrorListener = updaterErrorListeners.get(updater);
-    if (previousErrorListener) {
-        if (updater.off) {
-            updater.off('error', previousErrorListener);
-        }
-        else {
-            updater.removeListener?.('error', previousErrorListener);
-        }
-    }
-    if (updater.on) {
-        const errorListener = (error) => {
-            const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-            log(`Updater error event: ${message}`);
-        };
-        updater.on('error', errorListener);
-        updaterErrorListeners.set(updater, errorListener);
-    }
-    return updater;
-}
-function createElectronAppUpdater(options) {
-    const getChannel = options.getChannel ?? (() => 'stable');
-    const updater = configureAutoUpdater(options.updater ?? electron_updater_1.autoUpdater, options.log, getChannel());
-    if (options.configureHttpExecutor) {
-        // electron-updater has no public executor hook; keep the macOS cURL override localized.
-        updater.httpExecutor = options.configureHttpExecutor();
-    }
-    if (options.disableDifferentialDownload !== undefined) {
-        updater.disableDifferentialDownload = options.disableDifferentialDownload;
-    }
-    let nativeUpdaterSupported = null;
-    async function getNativeUpdaterSupported() {
-        if (!options.isNativeUpdaterSupported)
-            return true;
-        if (nativeUpdaterSupported === null) {
-            nativeUpdaterSupported = Promise.resolve(options.isNativeUpdaterSupported());
-        }
-        return nativeUpdaterSupported;
-    }
-    return {
-        async checkForUpdates(channel) {
-            if (!options.isPackaged) {
-                return {
-                    available: false,
-                    version: options.currentVersion,
-                    canUpdate: false,
-                };
-            }
-            if (!(await getNativeUpdaterSupported())) {
-                options.log('Skipping native app update check because native updater is unsupported.');
-                return {
-                    available: false,
-                    version: options.currentVersion,
-                    canUpdate: false,
-                };
-            }
-            configureAutoUpdater(updater, options.log, channel ?? getChannel());
-            const result = await updater.checkForUpdates();
-            const version = result?.updateInfo?.version ?? options.currentVersion;
-            return {
-                available: (0, release_assets_1.compareSemverLike)(version, options.currentVersion) > 0,
-                version,
-                canUpdate: true,
-            };
-        },
-        async downloadUpdate() {
-            if (!options.isPackaged) {
-                options.log('Skipping app update download because this build is not packaged.');
-                return;
-            }
-            if (!(await getNativeUpdaterSupported())) {
-                options.log('Skipping app update download because native updater is unsupported.');
-                return;
-            }
-            await updater.downloadUpdate();
-        },
-        async quitAndInstall() {
-            if (!options.isPackaged) {
-                options.log('Skipping app update install because this build is not packaged.');
-                return;
-            }
-            if (!(await getNativeUpdaterSupported())) {
-                options.log('Skipping app update install because native updater is unsupported.');
-                return;
-            }
-            updater.quitAndInstall(false, true);
-        },
-    };
-}
-//# sourceMappingURL=app-updater.js.map

changes/background-launcher-reuse.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 type: fixed
 area: launcher
 
-- Reused an already-running background SubMiner app for launcher-opened videos, preserving warmups and keeping the tray app alive after playback closes.
+- Reused an already-running background SubMiner app for launcher-opened videos, closed launcher-owned tray apps after playback ends, and reapplied preferred subtitles for warm launches.

changes/config-load-preserves-user-files.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: fixed
+area: config
+
+- Preserved user config files during legacy config compatibility handling.

changes/config-settings-controls.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 type: changed
 area: config
 
-- Reorganized the Configuration window into clearer Appearance, Behavior, Anki, input, and integration sections with learned keybinding controls and AnkiConnect-backed deck, field, and note-type pickers.
+- Reorganized the Settings window into clearer Appearance, Behavior, Anki, input, and integration sections with learned keybinding controls and AnkiConnect-backed deck, field, and note-type pickers.

changes/config-settings-search.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 type: fixed
 area: config
 
-- Fixed Configuration window search so it searches across all categories, narrows on multi-word terms, hides settings owned by richer editors, and no longer shows the Open File button.
+- Fixed Settings window search so it searches across all categories, narrows on multi-word terms, hides settings owned by richer editors, and no longer shows the Open File button.

changes/config-settings-window.md

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 type: added
 area: config
 
-- Added a dedicated Configuration window with launcher entry points via `subminer --config` and `subminer config`.
-- Fixed the Configuration window preload so launcher-opened windows can initialize even when Electron sandboxing is active.
-- Kept config-window startup lightweight by skipping AniList token refresh and automatic update polling.
-- Marked safe live config options in the Configuration window and expanded hot reload for stats keys, logging level, Jimaku, Subsync, YouTube language defaults, Anki media/sentence/misc field mappings, sentence card model, and selected Anki annotation/runtime options.
-- Hid AI and translation fields from the Configuration window while keeping them supported in config files.
+- Added a dedicated Settings window with launcher entry points via `subminer --settings` and `subminer settings`.
+- Fixed the Settings window preload so launcher-opened windows can initialize even when Electron sandboxing is active.
+- Kept settings-window startup lightweight by skipping AniList token refresh and automatic update polling.
+- Marked safe live config options in the Settings window and expanded hot reload for stats keys, logging level, Jimaku, Subsync, YouTube language defaults, Anki media/sentence/misc field mappings, sentence card model, and selected Anki annotation/runtime options.
+- Hid AI and translation fields from the Settings window while keeping them supported in config files.

changes/default-opt-in-warmup-name-highlighting.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: changed
+area: config
+
+- Defaulted Jellyfin remote-session startup warmup and character-name subtitle highlighting to off.

changes/fix-background-attach-autoplay-gate.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+type: fixed
+area: launcher
+
+- Kept launcher-opened videos paused when attaching to an already-running background app until subtitle priming and tokenization readiness complete.
+- Moved mpv plugin subtitle auto-selection to pre-load so launch-time subtitle choices are not reset after the video opens.

changes/fix-known-words-decks-row-overflow.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: changed
+area: config
+
+- Reorganized each known-words deck row in the Settings window into a card with the deck name on its own header line so longer deck names stay readable instead of being truncated.

changes/fix-launcher-electron-menu-diagnostic.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 type: fixed
 area: launcher
 
-- Suppressed Electron macOS menu diagnostics from `subminer config` launcher output.
+- Suppressed Electron macOS menu diagnostics from `subminer settings` launcher output.

changes/hide-setup-runtime-plugin.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: changed
+area: setup
+
+- Setup: Removed the bundled mpv runtime plugin readiness card; legacy mpv plugin removal still appears when needed.

changes/linux-tray-appimage-update.md

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+type: changed
+area: updater
+
+- Linux tray "Check for Updates" now installs the new AppImage automatically via `electron-updater`, matching the macOS and Windows tray flow, instead of stopping at a "manual update required" dialog. AppImages managed by a system package (AUR `/opt/SubMiner/SubMiner.AppImage`) and non-AppImage launches (no `APPIMAGE` env) still fall back to the GitHub-asset flow.
+- Routed `electron-updater` HTTP through `/usr/bin/curl` on Linux and disabled differential downloads, matching the macOS path, so background update checks stay off Electron's network service.

changes/macos-config-window-exit.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: fixed
+area: launcher
+
+- macOS `subminer settings` launches now exit cleanly after the settings window is closed, returning control to the terminal without requiring Ctrl+C.

changes/macos-update-dialog-activation.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: fixed
+area: updater
+
+- macOS update dialogs triggered by `subminer -u` now reliably appear in the foreground. SubMiner now shows the dock icon and activates itself via `osascript` (LaunchServices) before opening the modal alert; `app.focus({ steal: true })` alone was unreliable when SubMiner was reached through single-instance forwarding from the CLI-spawned child, leaving the dialog stranded behind other apps with a bouncing dock icon.

changes/macos-updater-curl-fetch.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: fixed
+area: updater
+
+- Routed macOS supplemental GitHub release lookups through `/usr/bin/curl` instead of Electron `net.fetch`, eliminating the last Electron-networking path from background update checks and avoiding the network-service crashes seen in earlier prereleases.

changes/plain-websocket-annotations.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: fixed
+area: websocket
+
+- WebSocket: Kept the regular subtitle websocket plain-text only; annotation spans and token metadata now stay on the annotation websocket.

changes/rename-config-window-to-settings.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+type: changed
+area: launcher
+breaking: true
+
+- Renamed the SubMiner Configuration window to the Settings window across the UI, tray menu, docs, and CLI verbiage.
+- Replaced the `--config` flag and `subminer config` (no action) entry points with `--settings` and `subminer settings`. The `subminer config` subcommand now only accepts `path` or `show`.
+- Removed the `--settings` alias that previously opened the bundled Yomitan settings popup. Use `--yomitan` to open Yomitan settings.

changes/settings-modal-layout.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: changed
+area: config
+
+- Settings: reorganized playback, shortcut, WebSocket, tracking, Jellyfin, character dictionary, and Discord presence controls in the settings modal.

changes/setup-subminer-settings-button.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: added
+area: setup
+
+- Setup: Added an Open SubMiner Settings button to first-run setup and moved Finish setup to the right-side action slot.

changes/subsync-manual-only.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+type: changed
+area: subtitles
+
+- Subsync now always opens the manual picker and the `subsync.defaultMode` config/settings option has been removed.

changes/subtitle-css-live-settings.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 type: fixed
 area: config
 
-- Fixed live Configuration window saves so primary and secondary subtitle CSS declarations apply immediately to open video overlays.
+- Fixed live Settings window saves so primary and secondary subtitle CSS declarations apply immediately to open video overlays.

config.example.jsonc

@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
     "mecab": true, // Warm up MeCab tokenizer at startup. Values: true | false
     "yomitanExtension": true, // Warm up Yomitan extension at startup. Values: true | false
     "subtitleDictionaries": true, // Warm up subtitle dictionaries at startup. Values: true | false
-    "jellyfinRemoteSession": true // Warm up Jellyfin remote session at startup. Values: true | false
+    "jellyfinRemoteSession": false // Warm up Jellyfin remote session at startup. Values: true | false
   }, // Background warmup controls for MeCab, Yomitan, dictionaries, and Jellyfin session.
 
   // ==========================================
@@ -336,12 +336,11 @@
   }, // Dual subtitle track options.
 
   // ==========================================
-  // Auto Subtitle Sync
+  // Subtitle Sync
   // Subsync engine and executable paths.
   // Hot-reload: subsync changes apply to the next subtitle sync run.
   // ==========================================
   "subsync": {
-    "defaultMode": "auto", // Subsync default mode. Values: auto | manual
     "alass_path": "", // Optional absolute path to the alass binary used by subsync. Leave empty to auto-discover from PATH.
     "ffsubsync_path": "", // Optional absolute path to the ffsubsync binary used by subsync. Leave empty to auto-discover from PATH.
     "ffmpeg_path": "", // Optional absolute path to the ffmpeg binary used by subsync. Leave empty to auto-discover from PATH.
@@ -384,7 +383,7 @@
     "preserveLineBreaks": false, // Preserve line breaks in visible overlay subtitle rendering. When false, line breaks are flattened to spaces for a single-line flow. Values: true | false
     "autoPauseVideoOnHover": true, // Automatically pause mpv playback while hovering subtitle text, then resume on leave. Values: true | false
     "autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup": true, // Automatically pause mpv playback while Yomitan popup is open, then resume when popup closes. Values: true | false
-    "nameMatchEnabled": true, // Enable subtitle token coloring for matches from the SubMiner character dictionary. Values: true | false
+    "nameMatchEnabled": false, // Enable subtitle token coloring for matches from the SubMiner character dictionary. Values: true | false
     "nameMatchColor": "#f5bde6", // Hex color used when a subtitle token matches an entry from the SubMiner character dictionary.
     "nPlusOneColor": "#c6a0f6", // Color used for the single N+1 target token subtitle highlight.
     "knownWordColor": "#a6da95", // Color used for known-word subtitle highlights.
@@ -439,7 +438,7 @@
     "autoOpen": false, // Automatically open the subtitle sidebar once during overlay startup. Values: true | false
     "layout": "overlay", // Render the subtitle sidebar as a floating overlay or reserve space inside mpv. Values: overlay | embedded
     "toggleKey": "Backslash", // KeyboardEvent.code used to toggle the subtitle sidebar open and closed.
-    "pauseVideoOnHover": false, // Pause mpv while hovering the subtitle sidebar, then resume on leave. Values: true | false
+    "pauseVideoOnHover": true, // Pause mpv while hovering the subtitle sidebar, then resume on leave. Values: true | false
     "autoScroll": true, // Auto-scroll the active subtitle cue into view while playback advances. Values: true | false
     "css": {
       "font-family": "Hiragino Sans, M PLUS 1, Source Han Sans JP, Noto Sans CJK JP", // Font family setting.

docs-site/character-dictionary.md

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ Name matching runs inside Yomitan's scanning pipeline during subtitle tokenizati
 1. Yomitan receives subtitle text and scans for dictionary matches.
 2. Entries from "SubMiner Character Dictionary" are checked with exact primary-source matching — the token must match the entry's `originalText` with `isPrimary: true` and `matchType: 'exact'`.
 3. Matched tokens are flagged `isNameMatch: true` and forwarded to the renderer.
-4. The renderer applies the name-match highlight color (default: `#f5bde6`).
+4. If `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled` is enabled, the renderer applies the name-match highlight color (default: `#f5bde6`).
 
 Name matches are visually distinct from [N+1 targeting, frequency highlighting, and JLPT tags](/subtitle-annotations) so you can tell at a glance whether a highlighted word is a character name or a vocabulary target.
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ Name matches are visually distinct from [N+1 targeting, frequency highlighting,
 
 | Option                           | Default   | Description                        |
 | -------------------------------- | --------- | ---------------------------------- |
-| `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled` | `true`    | Toggle character-name highlighting |
+| `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled` | `false`   | Toggle character-name highlighting |
 | `subtitleStyle.nameMatchColor`   | `#f5bde6` | Highlight color for matched names  |
 
 ## Dictionary Entries
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ merged.zip
 | `anilist.characterDictionary.collapsibleSections.description`          | `false`   | Start Description section expanded                              |
 | `anilist.characterDictionary.collapsibleSections.characterInformation` | `false`   | Start Character Information section expanded                    |
 | `anilist.characterDictionary.collapsibleSections.voicedBy`             | `false`   | Start Voiced By section expanded                                |
-| `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled`                                       | `true`    | Toggle character-name highlighting in subtitles                 |
+| `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled`                                       | `false`   | Toggle character-name highlighting in subtitles                 |
 | `subtitleStyle.nameMatchColor`                                         | `#f5bde6` | Highlight color for character-name matches                      |
 
 ## Reference Implementation

docs-site/configuration.md

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Then customize as needed using the sections below.
 
 ## Settings
 
-SubMiner includes a dedicated **Settings** window accessible from the tray menu, the app `--config` flag, or launcher commands such as `subminer --config` and `subminer config`. It is the primary way to configure SubMiner — all changes are written directly to `config.jsonc`, so manual file editing is not required for most users.
+SubMiner includes a dedicated **Settings** window accessible from the tray menu, the app `--settings` flag, or launcher commands such as `subminer --settings` and `subminer settings`. It is the primary way to configure SubMiner — all changes are written directly to `config.jsonc`, so manual file editing is not required for most users.
 
 The Settings window groups options by workflow instead of mirroring the raw config-file shape:
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ The configuration file includes several main sections:
 **External Integrations**
 
 - [**Jimaku**](#jimaku) - Jimaku API configuration and defaults
-- [**Auto Subtitle Sync**](#auto-subtitle-sync) - Sync current subtitle with `alass`/`ffsubsync`
+- [**Subtitle Sync**](#subtitle-sync) - Sync current subtitle with `alass`/`ffsubsync`
 - [**AniList**](#anilist) - Optional post-watch progress updates
 - [**Yomitan**](#yomitan) - Reuse an external read-only Yomitan profile via `yomitan.externalProfilePath`
 - [**Jellyfin**](#jellyfin) - Optional Jellyfin auth, library listing, and playback launch
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ Control which startup warmups run in the background versus deferring to first re
     "mecab": true,
     "yomitanExtension": true,
     "subtitleDictionaries": true,
-    "jellyfinRemoteSession": true
+    "jellyfinRemoteSession": false
   }
 }
 ```
@@ -271,11 +271,11 @@ Control which startup warmups run in the background versus deferring to first re
 | `subtitleDictionaries`  | `true`, `false` | Warm up JLPT + frequency dictionaries at startup                                                  |
 | `jellyfinRemoteSession` | `true`, `false` | Warm up Jellyfin remote session at startup (still requires Jellyfin remote auto-connect settings) |
 
-Defaults warm everything (`true` for all toggles, `lowPowerMode: false`). Setting a warmup toggle to `false` defers that work until first usage.
+Defaults warm local tokenizer/dictionary work (`true` for `mecab`, `yomitanExtension`, and `subtitleDictionaries`) with `lowPowerMode: false`; Jellyfin remote session warmup is opt-in (`false` by default). Setting a warmup toggle to `false` defers that work until first usage.
 
 ### WebSocket Server
 
-The overlay includes a built-in WebSocket server that broadcasts subtitle text to connected clients (such as texthooker-ui) for external processing.
+The overlay includes a built-in WebSocket server that broadcasts plain subtitle text to connected clients for external processing.
 
 For endpoint details, payload examples, and client patterns, see [WebSocket / Texthooker API & Integration](/websocket-texthooker-api).
 
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ See `config.example.jsonc` for detailed configuration options.
 | `autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup`     | boolean     | Pause playback while the Yomitan popup is open, then resume when the popup closes (`true` by default).                     |
 | `hoverTokenColor`                  | string      | Hex color used for hovered subtitle token highlight in mpv (default: catppuccin mauve)                                     |
 | `hoverTokenBackgroundColor`        | string      | CSS color used for hovered subtitle token background highlight (default: `"transparent"`); `hoverBackground` is accepted as an alias |
-| `nameMatchEnabled`                 | boolean     | Enable subtitle token coloring for matches from the SubMiner character dictionary (`true` by default)                      |
+| `nameMatchEnabled`                 | boolean     | Enable subtitle token coloring for matches from the SubMiner character dictionary (`false` by default)                     |
 | `nameMatchColor`                   | string      | Hex color used for subtitle tokens matched from the SubMiner character dictionary (default: `#f5bde6`)                     |
 | `knownWordColor`                   | string      | Hex color used for known-word subtitle highlights (default: `#a6da95`)                                                     |
 | `nPlusOneColor`                    | string      | Hex color used for the single N+1 target subtitle highlight (default: `#c6a0f6`)                                           |
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ Configure the parsed-subtitle sidebar modal.
     "autoOpen": false,
     "layout": "overlay",
     "toggleKey": "Backslash",
-    "pauseVideoOnHover": false,
+    "pauseVideoOnHover": true,
     "autoScroll": true,
     "fontFamily": "\"M PLUS 1\", \"Noto Sans CJK JP\", sans-serif",
     "fontSize": 16
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ Configure the parsed-subtitle sidebar modal.
 | `autoOpen`                  | boolean   | Open sidebar automatically on overlay startup (`false` by default)                                      |
 | `layout`                    | string    | `"overlay"` floats over mpv; `"embedded"` reserves right-side player space to mimic browser-like layout |
 | `toggleKey`                 | string    | `KeyboardEvent.code` used to open/close the sidebar (default: `"Backslash"`)                            |
-| `pauseVideoOnHover`         | boolean   | Pause playback while hovering the sidebar cue list                                                      |
+| `pauseVideoOnHover`         | boolean   | Pause playback while hovering the sidebar cue list (`true` by default)                                  |
 | `autoScroll`                | boolean   | Keep the active cue in view while playback advances                                                     |
 | `maxWidth`                  | number    | Maximum sidebar width in CSS pixels (default: `420`)                                                    |
 | `opacity`                   | number    | Sidebar opacity between `0` and `1` (default: `0.95`)                                                   |
@@ -1111,17 +1111,16 @@ Jimaku is rate limited; if you hit a limit, SubMiner will surface the retry dela
 
 Set `openBrowser` to `false` to only print the URL without opening a browser.
 
-### Auto Subtitle Sync
+### Subtitle Sync
 
-Sync the active subtitle track using `alass` (preferred) or `ffsubsync`. Both are **optional external tools** that must be installed separately and available on your `PATH` (or configured via the path options below). Subtitle syncing is silently skipped if neither is found.
+Sync the active subtitle track from the overlay picker using `alass` or `ffsubsync`. Both are **optional external tools** that must be installed separately and available on your `PATH` (or configured via the path options below).
 
 - [`alass`](https://github.com/kaegi/alass) — fast, audio-independent sync using a secondary subtitle as reference
-- [`ffsubsync`](https://github.com/smacke/ffsubsync) — audio-based sync using the video file as reference (fallback)
+- [`ffsubsync`](https://github.com/smacke/ffsubsync) — audio-based sync using the video file as reference
 
 ```json
 {
   "subsync": {
-    "defaultMode": "auto",
     "alass_path": "",
     "ffsubsync_path": "",
     "ffmpeg_path": "",
@@ -1132,7 +1131,6 @@ Sync the active subtitle track using `alass` (preferred) or `ffsubsync`. Both ar
 
 | Option           | Values               | Description                                                                                                               |
 | ---------------- | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `defaultMode`    | `"auto"`, `"manual"` | `auto`: try `alass` against secondary subtitle, then fallback to `ffsubsync`; `manual`: open overlay picker               |
 | `alass_path`     | string path          | Path to `alass` executable. Empty or `null` resolves from `PATH`. `alass` must be installed separately.                   |
 | `ffsubsync_path` | string path          | Path to `ffsubsync` executable. Empty or `null` resolves from `PATH`. `ffsubsync` must be installed separately.           |
 | `ffmpeg_path`    | string path          | Path to `ffmpeg` (used for internal subtitle extraction). Empty or `null` falls back to `/usr/bin/ffmpeg`.                |

docs-site/demos.md

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Mine vocabulary cards from Yomitan or directly from subtitle lines. SubMiner aut
 
 ## Subtitle Download & Sync
 
-Search and download subtitles from Jimaku, then automatically synchronize them with alass or ffsubsync — all from within SubMiner.
+Search and download subtitles from Jimaku, then retime them with alass or ffsubsync — all from within SubMiner.
 
 <!-- <video controls playsinline preload="metadata" :poster="withBase(`/assets/demos/subtitle-sync-poster.jpg?v=${v}`)">
   <source :src="withBase(`/assets/demos/subtitle-sync.webm?v=${v}`)" type="video/webm" />

docs-site/index.md

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ features:
       src: /assets/subtitle-download.svg
       alt: Subtitle download icon
     title: Subtitle Download & Sync
-    details: Search and pull subtitles from Jimaku, then auto-sync timing with alass or ffsubsync — all from the overlay.
+    details: Search and pull subtitles from Jimaku, then retime subtitles with alass or ffsubsync — all from the overlay.
     link: /jimaku-integration
     linkText: Jimaku integration
   - icon:

docs-site/installation.md

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Only **mpv** is strictly required to run SubMiner. Everything else enhances the
 | ffmpegthumbnailer    | Optional    | Video thumbnail generation for the picker.                                                                       |
 | guessit              | Optional    | Better AniSkip title/season/episode parsing.                                                                     |
 | alass                | Optional    | Subtitle sync engine (preferred). Disabled without alass or ffsubsync.                                           |
-| ffsubsync            | Optional    | Subtitle sync engine (fallback). Disabled without alass or ffsubsync.                                            |
+| ffsubsync            | Optional    | Audio-based subtitle sync engine. Disabled without alass or ffsubsync.                                           |
 | fuse2                | Linux only  | Required to run the AppImage.                                                                                    |
 
 ### Linux
@@ -300,9 +300,9 @@ subminer --update
 
 SubMiner verifies AppImage, launcher, and rofi theme downloads against `SHA256SUMS.txt`. If the binary is in a protected path, SubMiner shows the exact command to run rather than elevating itself.
 
-On Linux, `subminer -u` performs the AppImage update from the launcher process directly.
+The tray "Check for Updates" entry installs the new app automatically on Linux, macOS, and Windows. On Linux it replaces the running `.AppImage` in place via `electron-updater`; AppImages managed by a system package (for example the AUR `/opt/SubMiner/SubMiner.AppImage`) are skipped so the package manager stays in charge.
 
-On macOS, tray update checks can also update the app automatically through Electron's built-in updater.
+`subminer -u` also performs the AppImage update directly from the launcher process, which is useful when SubMiner is not currently running.
 
 ## How It All Fits Together
 

docs-site/launcher-script.md

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ subminer stats -b                       # start background stats daemon
 | `subminer stats -b`                        | Start or reuse background stats daemon (non-blocking)              |
 | `subminer stats cleanup`                   | Backfill vocabulary metadata and prune stale rows                  |
 | `subminer doctor`                          | Dependency + config + socket diagnostics                           |
+| `subminer settings`                        | Open the SubMiner settings window                                  |
 | `subminer config path`                     | Print active config file path                                      |
 | `subminer config show`                     | Print active config contents                                       |
 | `subminer mpv status`                      | Check mpv socket readiness                                         |

docs-site/public/config.example.jsonc

@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
     "mecab": true, // Warm up MeCab tokenizer at startup. Values: true | false
     "yomitanExtension": true, // Warm up Yomitan extension at startup. Values: true | false
     "subtitleDictionaries": true, // Warm up subtitle dictionaries at startup. Values: true | false
-    "jellyfinRemoteSession": true // Warm up Jellyfin remote session at startup. Values: true | false
+    "jellyfinRemoteSession": false // Warm up Jellyfin remote session at startup. Values: true | false
   }, // Background warmup controls for MeCab, Yomitan, dictionaries, and Jellyfin session.
 
   // ==========================================
@@ -336,12 +336,11 @@
   }, // Dual subtitle track options.
 
   // ==========================================
-  // Auto Subtitle Sync
+  // Subtitle Sync
   // Subsync engine and executable paths.
   // Hot-reload: subsync changes apply to the next subtitle sync run.
   // ==========================================
   "subsync": {
-    "defaultMode": "auto", // Subsync default mode. Values: auto | manual
     "alass_path": "", // Optional absolute path to the alass binary used by subsync. Leave empty to auto-discover from PATH.
     "ffsubsync_path": "", // Optional absolute path to the ffsubsync binary used by subsync. Leave empty to auto-discover from PATH.
     "ffmpeg_path": "", // Optional absolute path to the ffmpeg binary used by subsync. Leave empty to auto-discover from PATH.
@@ -384,7 +383,7 @@
     "preserveLineBreaks": false, // Preserve line breaks in visible overlay subtitle rendering. When false, line breaks are flattened to spaces for a single-line flow. Values: true | false
     "autoPauseVideoOnHover": true, // Automatically pause mpv playback while hovering subtitle text, then resume on leave. Values: true | false
     "autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup": true, // Automatically pause mpv playback while Yomitan popup is open, then resume when popup closes. Values: true | false
-    "nameMatchEnabled": true, // Enable subtitle token coloring for matches from the SubMiner character dictionary. Values: true | false
+    "nameMatchEnabled": false, // Enable subtitle token coloring for matches from the SubMiner character dictionary. Values: true | false
     "nameMatchColor": "#f5bde6", // Hex color used when a subtitle token matches an entry from the SubMiner character dictionary.
     "nPlusOneColor": "#c6a0f6", // Color used for the single N+1 target token subtitle highlight.
     "knownWordColor": "#a6da95", // Color used for known-word subtitle highlights.
@@ -439,7 +438,7 @@
     "autoOpen": false, // Automatically open the subtitle sidebar once during overlay startup. Values: true | false
     "layout": "overlay", // Render the subtitle sidebar as a floating overlay or reserve space inside mpv. Values: overlay | embedded
     "toggleKey": "Backslash", // KeyboardEvent.code used to toggle the subtitle sidebar open and closed.
-    "pauseVideoOnHover": false, // Pause mpv while hovering the subtitle sidebar, then resume on leave. Values: true | false
+    "pauseVideoOnHover": true, // Pause mpv while hovering the subtitle sidebar, then resume on leave. Values: true | false
     "autoScroll": true, // Auto-scroll the active subtitle cue into view while playback advances. Values: true | false
     "css": {
       "font-family": "Hiragino Sans, M PLUS 1, Source Han Sans JP, Noto Sans CJK JP", // Font family setting.

docs-site/subtitle-annotations.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Character-name matches are built from the active merged SubMiner character dicti
 
 | Option                           | Default   | Description                              |
 | -------------------------------- | --------- | ---------------------------------------- |
-| `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled` | `true`    | Enable character-name token highlighting |
+| `subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled` | `false`   | Enable character-name token highlighting |
 | `subtitleStyle.nameMatchColor`   | `#f5bde6` | Color used for character-name matches    |
 
 For full details on dictionary generation, name variant expansion, auto-sync lifecycle, and configuration, see the dedicated [Character Dictionary](/character-dictionary) page.

docs-site/subtitle-sidebar.md

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Enable and configure the sidebar under `subtitleSidebar` in your config file:
     "autoOpen": false,
     "layout": "overlay",
     "toggleKey": "Backslash",
-    "pauseVideoOnHover": false,
+    "pauseVideoOnHover": true,
     "autoScroll": true,
     "fontFamily": "\"M PLUS 1\", \"Noto Sans CJK JP\", sans-serif",
     "fontSize": 16
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Enable and configure the sidebar under `subtitleSidebar` in your config file:
 | `autoOpen`                  | boolean | `false`      | Open the sidebar automatically on overlay startup                                                  |
 | `layout`                    | string  | `"overlay"`  | `"overlay"` floats over mpv; `"embedded"` reserves right-side player space                        |
 | `toggleKey`                 | string  | `"Backslash"` | `KeyboardEvent.code` for the toggle shortcut                                                      |
-| `pauseVideoOnHover`         | boolean | `false`      | Pause playback while hovering the cue list                                                         |
+| `pauseVideoOnHover`         | boolean | `true`       | Pause playback while hovering the cue list                                                         |
 | `autoScroll`                | boolean | `true`       | Keep the active cue in view during playback                                                        |
 | `maxWidth`                  | number  | `420`        | Maximum sidebar width in CSS pixels                                                                |
 | `opacity`                   | number  | `0.95`       | Sidebar opacity between `0` and `1`                                                                |

docs-site/troubleshooting.md

@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ If you installed from the AppImage and see this error, the package may be incomp
 **Yomitan lookup popup does not appear when hovering words or triggering lookup**
 
 - Verify Yomitan loaded successfully — check the terminal output for "Loaded Yomitan extension".
-- Yomitan requires dictionaries to be installed. Open Yomitan settings (`Alt+Shift+Y` or `SubMiner.AppImage --settings`) and confirm at least one dictionary is imported.
+- Yomitan requires dictionaries to be installed. Open Yomitan settings (`Alt+Shift+Y` or `SubMiner.AppImage --yomitan`) and confirm at least one dictionary is imported.
 - If `yomitan.externalProfilePath` is set, import/check dictionaries in the external app/profile instead. SubMiner treats that profile as read-only and does not open its own Yomitan settings window.
 - If the overlay shows subtitles but hover lookup never resolves on tokens, the tokenizer may have failed. See the MeCab section below.
 
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ Install ffsubsync or configure the path:
 
 **"Subtitle synchronization failed"**
 
-SubMiner tries alass first, then falls back to ffsubsync. If both fail:
+If subtitle sync fails:
 
 - Ensure the reference subtitle track exists in the video (alass requires a source track).
 - Check that `ffmpeg` is available (used to extract the internal subtitle track).

docs-site/usage.md

@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ SubMiner.AppImage --toggle-primary-subtitle-bar       # Toggle primary subtitle
 SubMiner.AppImage --start --dev                         # Enable app/dev mode only
 SubMiner.AppImage --start --debug                       # Alias for --dev
 SubMiner.AppImage --start --log-level debug             # Force verbose logging without app/dev mode
-SubMiner.AppImage --settings              # Open Yomitan settings
+SubMiner.AppImage --yomitan               # Open Yomitan settings
+SubMiner.AppImage --settings              # Open SubMiner settings window
 SubMiner.AppImage --jellyfin              # Open Jellyfin setup window
 SubMiner.AppImage --jellyfin-login --jellyfin-server http://127.0.0.1:8096 --jellyfin-username me --jellyfin-password 'secret'
 SubMiner.AppImage --jellyfin-logout       # Clear stored Jellyfin token/session data
@@ -184,7 +185,8 @@ This flow requires `mpv.exe` to be discoverable. Leave `mpv.executablePath` blan
 
 - `subminer jellyfin` / `subminer jf`: Jellyfin-focused workflow aliases.
 - `subminer doctor`: health checks for core dependencies and runtime paths.
-- `subminer config`: config helpers (`path`, `show`).
+- `subminer settings`: open the SubMiner settings window (also `subminer --settings`).
+- `subminer config`: config file helpers (`path`, `show`).
 - `subminer mpv`: mpv helpers (`status`, `socket`, `idle`).
 - `subminer dictionary <path>`: generates a Yomitan-importable character dictionary ZIP from a file/directory target.
 - Use `subminer dictionary --candidates <path>` and `subminer dictionary --select <id> <path>` to correct AniList character-dictionary matches for a whole series.
@@ -264,7 +266,7 @@ secondary-sub-visibility=no
 
 SubMiner includes a bundled Yomitan extension for overlay word lookup. This bundled extension is separate from any Yomitan browser extension you may have installed.
 
-For SubMiner overlay lookups to work, open Yomitan settings (`subminer app --settings` or `SubMiner.AppImage --settings`) and import at least one dictionary in the bundled Yomitan instance.
+For SubMiner overlay lookups to work, open Yomitan settings (`subminer app --yomitan` or `SubMiner.AppImage --yomitan`) and import at least one dictionary in the bundled Yomitan instance.
 
 If you also use Yomitan in a browser, configure that browser profile separately; it does not inherit dictionaries or settings from the bundled instance.
 

docs-site/websocket-texthooker-api.md

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ If you use the [mpv plugin](/mpv-plugin), it can also start a texthooker-only he
 
 ### 1. Subtitle WebSocket
 
-Use the basic subtitle websocket when you only need the current subtitle line and a ready-to-render HTML sentence string.
+Use the basic subtitle websocket when you only need the current subtitle line as plain text.
 
 - **Default URL:** `ws://127.0.0.1:6677`
 - **Transport:** local WebSocket server bound to `127.0.0.1`
@@ -64,6 +64,36 @@ When a client connects, SubMiner immediately sends the latest subtitle payload i
 
 #### Message shape
 
+```json
+{
+  "version": 1,
+  "text": "無事",
+  "sentence": "無事",
+  "tokens": []
+}
+```
+
+#### Field reference
+
+| Field | Type | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `version` | number | Current websocket payload version. Today this is `1`. |
+| `text` | string | Raw subtitle text. |
+| `sentence` | string | Plain subtitle text with line breaks represented as `<br>`. No annotation spans or attributes. |
+| `tokens` | array | Always empty on the basic subtitle websocket. |
+
+### 2. Annotation WebSocket
+
+Use the annotation websocket for custom clients that want the same structured token payload the bundled texthooker UI consumes.
+
+- **Default URL:** `ws://127.0.0.1:6678`
+- **Payload shape:** JSON payload with `text`, rendered `sentence` HTML, and token metadata
+- **Primary difference:** this stream is intended to stay on even when the basic websocket auto-disables because `mpv_websocket` is installed
+
+In practice, if you are building a new client, prefer `annotationWebsocket` unless you specifically need compatibility with an existing `websocket` consumer.
+
+#### Message shape
+
 ```json
 {
   "version": 1,
@@ -91,16 +121,7 @@ When a client connects, SubMiner immediately sends the latest subtitle payload i
 }
 ```
 
-#### Field reference
-
-| Field | Type | Notes |
-| --- | --- | --- |
-| `version` | number | Current websocket payload version. Today this is `1`. |
-| `text` | string | Raw subtitle text. |
-| `sentence` | string | HTML string with `<span>` wrappers and `data-*` attributes for client rendering. |
-| `tokens` | array | Token metadata; empty when the subtitle is not tokenized yet. |
-
-Each token may include:
+Each annotation token may include:
 
 | Token field | Type | Notes |
 | --- | --- | --- |
@@ -119,16 +140,6 @@ Each token may include:
 | `frequencyRankLabel` | string or `null` | Preformatted rank label for UIs |
 | `jlptLevelLabel` | string or `null` | Preformatted JLPT label for UIs |
 
-### 2. Annotation WebSocket
-
-Use the annotation websocket for custom clients that want the same structured token payload the bundled texthooker UI consumes.
-
-- **Default URL:** `ws://127.0.0.1:6678`
-- **Payload shape:** same JSON contract as the basic subtitle websocket
-- **Primary difference:** this stream is intended to stay on even when the basic websocket auto-disables because `mpv_websocket` is installed
-
-In practice, if you are building a new client, prefer `annotationWebsocket` unless you specifically need compatibility with an existing `websocket` consumer.
-
 ### 3. HTML markup conventions
 
 The `sentence` field is pre-rendered HTML generated by SubMiner. Depending on token state, it can include classes such as:

launcher/commands/app-command.ts

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ export function runAppPassthroughCommand(context: LauncherCommandContext): boole
   if (!appPath) {
     return false;
   }
-  if (args.configSettings) {
-    runAppCommandWithInherit(appPath, ['--config']);
+  if (args.settings) {
+    runAppCommandWithInherit(appPath, ['--settings']);
     return true;
   }
   if (!args.appPassthrough) {

launcher/commands/playback-command.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import test from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events';
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import os from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
 import type { LauncherCommandContext } from './context.js';
 import { runPlaybackCommandWithDeps } from './playback-command.js';
 import { state } from '../mpv.js';
@@ -53,7 +56,7 @@ function createContext(): LauncherCommandContext {
       doctor: false,
       doctorRefreshKnownWords: false,
       version: false,
-      configSettings: false,
+      settings: false,
       configPath: false,
       configShow: false,
       mpvIdle: false,
@@ -151,6 +154,7 @@ test('plugin auto-start playback leaves app lifetime to managed-playback owner',
     ...context.args,
     target: '/tmp/movie.mkv',
     targetKind: 'file',
+    useTexthooker: true,
   };
   context.pluginRuntimeConfig = {
     socketPath: '/tmp/subminer.sock',
@@ -206,3 +210,172 @@ test('plugin auto-start playback leaves app lifetime to managed-playback owner',
     state.overlayManagedByLauncher = false;
   }
 });
+
+test('plugin auto-start playback attaches a warm background app through the launcher', async () => {
+  const context = createContext();
+  context.args = {
+    ...context.args,
+    target: '/tmp/movie.mkv',
+    targetKind: 'file',
+    useTexthooker: true,
+  };
+  context.pluginRuntimeConfig = {
+    socketPath: '/tmp/subminer.sock',
+    binaryPath: '',
+    backend: 'auto',
+    autoStart: true,
+    autoStartVisibleOverlay: true,
+    autoStartPauseUntilReady: true,
+    texthookerEnabled: true,
+    aniskipEnabled: true,
+    aniskipButtonKey: 'TAB',
+  };
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  const receivedStartMpvOptions: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
+
+  await runPlaybackCommandWithDeps(context, {
+    ensurePlaybackSetupReady: async () => {},
+    chooseTarget: async () => ({ target: context.args.target, kind: 'file' }),
+    checkDependencies: () => {},
+    registerCleanup: () => {},
+    startMpv: async (
+      _target,
+      _targetKind,
+      _args,
+      _socketPath,
+      _appPath,
+      _preloadedSubtitles,
+      options,
+    ) => {
+      calls.push('startMpv');
+      if (options) {
+        receivedStartMpvOptions.push(options as Record<string, unknown>);
+      }
+    },
+    waitForUnixSocketReady: async () => true,
+    startOverlay: async (_appPath, _args, _socketPath, extraAppArgs = []) => {
+      calls.push(`startOverlay:${extraAppArgs.join(' ')}`);
+    },
+    launchAppCommandDetached: () => {},
+    log: () => {},
+    cleanupPlaybackSession: async () => {},
+    getMpvProc: () => null,
+    isAppControlServerAvailable: async () => true,
+  } as Parameters<typeof runPlaybackCommandWithDeps>[1] & {
+    isAppControlServerAvailable: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  });
+
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['startMpv', 'startOverlay:--show-visible-overlay --texthooker']);
+  assert.equal(receivedStartMpvOptions[0]?.startPaused, true);
+  assert.equal(
+    (receivedStartMpvOptions[0]?.runtimePluginConfig as { autoStart?: boolean } | undefined)
+      ?.autoStart,
+    false,
+  );
+});
+
+test('plugin auto-start attach mode reuses launcher-resolved config dir for app control', async () => {
+  const context = createContext();
+  const originalXdgConfigHome = process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME;
+  const xdgConfigHome = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'subminer-test-xdg-'));
+  const expectedConfigDir = path.join(xdgConfigHome, 'SubMiner');
+  fs.mkdirSync(expectedConfigDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(expectedConfigDir, 'config.jsonc'), '{}');
+  context.args = {
+    ...context.args,
+    target: '/tmp/movie.mkv',
+    targetKind: 'file',
+    useTexthooker: true,
+  };
+  context.pluginRuntimeConfig = {
+    socketPath: '/tmp/subminer.sock',
+    binaryPath: '',
+    backend: 'auto',
+    autoStart: true,
+    autoStartVisibleOverlay: true,
+    autoStartPauseUntilReady: true,
+    texthookerEnabled: true,
+    aniskipEnabled: true,
+    aniskipButtonKey: 'TAB',
+  };
+  let availabilityConfigDir: string | undefined;
+  let overlayConfigDir: string | undefined;
+
+  try {
+    process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME = xdgConfigHome;
+
+    await runPlaybackCommandWithDeps(context, {
+      ensurePlaybackSetupReady: async () => {},
+      chooseTarget: async () => ({ target: context.args.target, kind: 'file' }),
+      checkDependencies: () => {},
+      registerCleanup: () => {},
+      startMpv: async () => {},
+      waitForUnixSocketReady: async () => true,
+      startOverlay: async (_appPath, _args, _socketPath, _extraAppArgs = [], configDir) => {
+        overlayConfigDir = configDir;
+      },
+      launchAppCommandDetached: () => {},
+      log: () => {},
+      cleanupPlaybackSession: async () => {},
+      getMpvProc: () => null,
+      isAppControlServerAvailable: async (_logLevel, configDir) => {
+        availabilityConfigDir = configDir;
+        return true;
+      },
+    });
+
+    assert.equal(availabilityConfigDir, expectedConfigDir);
+    assert.equal(overlayConfigDir, expectedConfigDir);
+  } finally {
+    if (originalXdgConfigHome === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME;
+    } else {
+      process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME = originalXdgConfigHome;
+    }
+    fs.rmSync(xdgConfigHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
+test('plugin auto-start attach mode omits texthooker flag when CLI texthooker is disabled', async () => {
+  const context = createContext();
+  context.args = {
+    ...context.args,
+    target: '/tmp/movie.mkv',
+    targetKind: 'file',
+  };
+  context.pluginRuntimeConfig = {
+    socketPath: '/tmp/subminer.sock',
+    binaryPath: '',
+    backend: 'auto',
+    autoStart: true,
+    autoStartVisibleOverlay: true,
+    autoStartPauseUntilReady: true,
+    texthookerEnabled: true,
+    aniskipEnabled: true,
+    aniskipButtonKey: 'TAB',
+  };
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+
+  await runPlaybackCommandWithDeps(context, {
+    ensurePlaybackSetupReady: async () => {},
+    chooseTarget: async () => ({ target: context.args.target, kind: 'file' }),
+    checkDependencies: () => {},
+    registerCleanup: () => {},
+    startMpv: async () => {
+      calls.push('startMpv');
+    },
+    waitForUnixSocketReady: async () => true,
+    startOverlay: async (_appPath, _args, _socketPath, extraAppArgs = []) => {
+      calls.push(`startOverlay:${extraAppArgs.join(' ')}`);
+    },
+    launchAppCommandDetached: () => {},
+    log: () => {},
+    cleanupPlaybackSession: async () => {},
+    getMpvProc: () => null,
+    isAppControlServerAvailable: async () => true,
+  } as Parameters<typeof runPlaybackCommandWithDeps>[1] & {
+    isAppControlServerAvailable: () => Promise<boolean>;
+  });
+
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['startMpv', 'startOverlay:--show-visible-overlay']);
+});

launcher/commands/playback-command.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   cleanupPlaybackSession,
   launchAppCommandDetached,
   resolveLauncherRuntimePluginPath,
+  isRunningAppControlServerAvailable,
   startMpv,
   startOverlay,
   state,
@@ -29,6 +30,13 @@ import { hasLauncherExternalYomitanProfileConfig } from '../config.js';
 const SETUP_WAIT_TIMEOUT_MS = 10 * 60 * 1000;
 const SETUP_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 500;
 
+function getLauncherConfigDir(): string {
+  return getDefaultConfigDir({
+    xdgConfigHome: process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME,
+    homeDir: os.homedir(),
+  });
+}
+
 function checkDependencies(args: Args): void {
   const missing: string[] = [];
 
@@ -99,10 +107,7 @@ async function ensurePlaybackSetupReady(context: LauncherCommandContext): Promis
   const { args, appPath } = context;
   if (!appPath) return;
 
-  const configDir = getDefaultConfigDir({
-    xdgConfigHome: process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME,
-    homeDir: os.homedir(),
-  });
+  const configDir = getLauncherConfigDir();
   const statePath = getSetupStatePath(configDir);
   const ready = await ensureLauncherSetupReady({
     readSetupState: () => readSetupState(statePath),
@@ -146,6 +151,7 @@ export async function runPlaybackCommand(context: LauncherCommandContext): Promi
     waitForUnixSocketReady,
     startOverlay,
     launchAppCommandDetached,
+    isAppControlServerAvailable: isRunningAppControlServerAvailable,
     log,
     cleanupPlaybackSession,
     getMpvProc: () => state.mpvProc,
@@ -164,6 +170,7 @@ type PlaybackCommandDeps = {
   waitForUnixSocketReady: typeof waitForUnixSocketReady;
   startOverlay: typeof startOverlay;
   launchAppCommandDetached: typeof launchAppCommandDetached;
+  isAppControlServerAvailable?: (logLevel: Args['logLevel'], configDir: string) => Promise<boolean>;
   log: typeof log;
   cleanupPlaybackSession: typeof cleanupPlaybackSession;
   getMpvProc: () => typeof state.mpvProc;
@@ -208,11 +215,23 @@ export async function runPlaybackCommandWithDeps(
   const isYoutubeUrl = selectedTarget.kind === 'url' && isYoutubeTarget(selectedTarget.target);
   const isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow = isYoutubeUrl;
   const youtubeMode = args.youtubeMode ?? 'download';
+  const configDir = getLauncherConfigDir();
 
   if (isYoutubeUrl) {
     deps.log('info', args.logLevel, 'YouTube subtitle flow: app-owned picker after mpv bootstrap');
   }
 
+  const pluginAutoStartEnabled = pluginRuntimeConfig.autoStart;
+  const shouldLauncherAttachRunningApp =
+    pluginAutoStartEnabled &&
+    !args.startOverlay &&
+    !args.autoStartOverlay &&
+    !isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow &&
+    ((await deps.isAppControlServerAvailable?.(args.logLevel, configDir)) ?? false);
+  const effectivePluginRuntimeConfig = shouldLauncherAttachRunningApp
+    ? { ...pluginRuntimeConfig, autoStart: false }
+    : pluginRuntimeConfig;
+
   const shouldPauseUntilOverlayReady =
     pluginRuntimeConfig.autoStart &&
     pluginRuntimeConfig.autoStartVisibleOverlay &&
@@ -238,16 +257,19 @@ export async function runPlaybackCommandWithDeps(
       disableYoutubeSubtitleAutoLoad: isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow,
       runtimePluginPath: resolveLauncherRuntimePluginPath({ appPath, scriptPath }),
       runtimePluginConfig: {
-        ...pluginRuntimeConfig,
+        ...effectivePluginRuntimeConfig,
         backend: args.backend,
-        texthookerEnabled: args.useTexthooker && pluginRuntimeConfig.texthookerEnabled,
+        texthookerEnabled: args.useTexthooker && effectivePluginRuntimeConfig.texthookerEnabled,
       },
     },
   );
 
   const ready = await deps.waitForUnixSocketReady(mpvSocketPath, 10000);
-  const pluginAutoStartEnabled = pluginRuntimeConfig.autoStart;
-  const shouldStartOverlay = args.startOverlay || args.autoStartOverlay || isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow;
+  const shouldStartOverlay =
+    args.startOverlay ||
+    args.autoStartOverlay ||
+    isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow ||
+    shouldLauncherAttachRunningApp;
   if (shouldStartOverlay) {
     if (ready) {
       deps.log('info', args.logLevel, 'MPV IPC socket ready, starting SubMiner overlay');
@@ -258,14 +280,19 @@ export async function runPlaybackCommandWithDeps(
         'MPV IPC socket not ready after timeout, starting SubMiner overlay anyway',
       );
     }
-    await deps.startOverlay(
-      appPath,
-      args,
-      mpvSocketPath,
-      isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow
+    const extraAppArgs = isAppOwnedYoutubeFlow
       ? ['--youtube-play', selectedTarget.target, '--youtube-mode', youtubeMode]
-        : [],
-    );
+      : shouldLauncherAttachRunningApp
+        ? [
+            pluginRuntimeConfig.autoStartVisibleOverlay
+              ? '--show-visible-overlay'
+              : '--hide-visible-overlay',
+            ...(args.useTexthooker && effectivePluginRuntimeConfig.texthookerEnabled
+              ? ['--texthooker']
+              : []),
+          ]
+        : [];
+    await deps.startOverlay(appPath, args, mpvSocketPath, extraAppArgs, configDir);
   } else if (pluginAutoStartEnabled) {
     if (ready) {
       deps.log('info', args.logLevel, 'MPV IPC socket ready, relying on mpv plugin auto-start');

launcher/config/args-normalizer.test.ts

@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ test('applyInvocationsToArgs maps config and jellyfin invocation state', () => {
       action: 'show',
       logLevel: 'warn',
     },
+    settingsInvocation: null,
     mpvInvocation: null,
     appInvocation: null,
     dictionaryTriggered: false,
@@ -159,13 +160,14 @@ test('applyInvocationsToArgs maps config and jellyfin invocation state', () => {
   assert.equal(parsed.logLevel, 'warn');
 });
 
-test('applyInvocationsToArgs maps bare config invocation to settings window', () => {
+test('applyInvocationsToArgs maps settings invocation to settings window', () => {
   const parsed = createDefaultArgs({});
 
   applyInvocationsToArgs(parsed, {
     jellyfinInvocation: null,
-    configInvocation: {
-      action: undefined,
+    configInvocation: null,
+    settingsInvocation: {
+      logLevel: undefined,
     },
     mpvInvocation: null,
     appInvocation: null,
@@ -190,16 +192,54 @@ test('applyInvocationsToArgs maps bare config invocation to settings window', ()
     texthookerOpenBrowser: false,
   });
 
-  assert.equal(parsed.configSettings, true);
+  assert.equal(parsed.settings, true);
   assert.equal(parsed.configPath, false);
 });
 
+test('applyInvocationsToArgs fails when config invocation has no action', () => {
+  const parsed = createDefaultArgs({});
+
+  const error = withProcessExitIntercept(() => {
+    applyInvocationsToArgs(parsed, {
+      jellyfinInvocation: null,
+      configInvocation: {
+        action: undefined,
+      },
+      settingsInvocation: null,
+      mpvInvocation: null,
+      appInvocation: null,
+      dictionaryTriggered: false,
+      dictionaryTarget: null,
+      dictionaryLogLevel: null,
+      dictionaryCandidates: false,
+      dictionarySelect: false,
+      dictionaryAnilistId: null,
+      statsTriggered: false,
+      statsBackground: false,
+      statsStop: false,
+      statsCleanup: false,
+      statsCleanupVocab: false,
+      statsCleanupLifetime: false,
+      statsLogLevel: null,
+      doctorTriggered: false,
+      doctorLogLevel: null,
+      doctorRefreshKnownWords: false,
+      texthookerTriggered: false,
+      texthookerLogLevel: null,
+      texthookerOpenBrowser: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(error.code, 1);
+});
+
 test('applyInvocationsToArgs maps texthooker browser-open request', () => {
   const parsed = createDefaultArgs({});
 
   applyInvocationsToArgs(parsed, {
     jellyfinInvocation: null,
     configInvocation: null,
+    settingsInvocation: null,
     mpvInvocation: null,
     appInvocation: null,
     dictionaryTriggered: false,

launcher/config/args-normalizer.ts

@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ export function createDefaultArgs(
     doctorRefreshKnownWords: false,
     version: false,
     update: false,
-    configSettings: false,
+    settings: false,
     configPath: false,
     configShow: false,
     mpvIdle: false,
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ export function applyRootOptionsToArgs(
   if (options.rofi === true) parsed.useRofi = true;
   if (options.update === true) parsed.update = true;
   if (options.version === true) parsed.version = true;
-  if (options.config === true) parsed.configSettings = true;
+  if (options.settings === true) parsed.settings = true;
   if (options.startOverlay === true) parsed.autoStartOverlay = true;
   if (options.texthooker === false) parsed.useTexthooker = false;
   if (typeof options.args === 'string') parsed.mpvArgs = options.args;
@@ -311,10 +311,19 @@ export function applyInvocationsToArgs(parsed: Args, invocations: CliInvocations
       parsed.logLevel = parseLogLevel(invocations.configInvocation.logLevel);
     }
     const action = (invocations.configInvocation.action || '').toLowerCase();
-    if (!action) parsed.configSettings = true;
-    else if (action === 'path') parsed.configPath = true;
+    if (action === 'path') parsed.configPath = true;
     else if (action === 'show') parsed.configShow = true;
-    else fail(`Unknown config action: ${invocations.configInvocation.action}`);
+    else
+      fail(
+        `Unknown config action: ${invocations.configInvocation.action || '(none)'}. Expected path or show.`,
+      );
+  }
+
+  if (invocations.settingsInvocation) {
+    if (invocations.settingsInvocation.logLevel) {
+      parsed.logLevel = parseLogLevel(invocations.settingsInvocation.logLevel);
+    }
+    parsed.settings = true;
   }
 
   if (invocations.mpvInvocation) {

launcher/config/cli-parser-builder.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export interface CommandActionInvocation {
 export interface CliInvocations {
   jellyfinInvocation: JellyfinInvocation | null;
   configInvocation: CommandActionInvocation | null;
+  settingsInvocation: CommandActionInvocation | null;
   mpvInvocation: CommandActionInvocation | null;
   appInvocation: { appArgs: string[] } | null;
   dictionaryTriggered: boolean;
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ function applyRootOptions(program: Command): void {
     .option('--start', 'Explicitly start overlay')
     .option('--log-level <level>', 'Log level')
     .option('-v, --version', 'Show SubMiner version')
-    .option('--config', 'Open configuration window')
+    .option('--settings', 'Open settings window')
     .option('-u, --update', 'Check for updates')
     .option('-R, --rofi', 'Use rofi picker')
     .option('-S, --start-overlay', 'Auto-start overlay')
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ function getTopLevelCommand(argv: string[]): { name: string; index: number } | n
     'jf',
     'doctor',
     'config',
+    'settings',
     'mpv',
     'dictionary',
     'dict',
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ export function parseCliPrograms(
 } {
   let jellyfinInvocation: JellyfinInvocation | null = null;
   let configInvocation: CommandActionInvocation | null = null;
+  let settingsInvocation: CommandActionInvocation | null = null;
   let mpvInvocation: CommandActionInvocation | null = null;
   let appInvocation: { appArgs: string[] } | null = null;
   let dictionaryTriggered = false;
@@ -293,7 +296,7 @@ export function parseCliPrograms(
 
   commandProgram
     .command('config')
-    .description('Config helpers')
+    .description('Config file helpers (path|show)')
     .argument('[action]', 'path|show')
     .option('--log-level <level>', 'Log level')
     .action((action: string | undefined, options: Record<string, unknown>) => {
@@ -303,6 +306,16 @@ export function parseCliPrograms(
       };
     });
 
+  commandProgram
+    .command('settings')
+    .description('Open SubMiner settings window')
+    .option('--log-level <level>', 'Log level')
+    .action((options: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+      settingsInvocation = {
+        logLevel: typeof options.logLevel === 'string' ? options.logLevel : undefined,
+      };
+    });
+
   commandProgram
     .command('mpv')
     .description('MPV helpers')
@@ -356,6 +369,7 @@ export function parseCliPrograms(
     invocations: {
       jellyfinInvocation,
       configInvocation,
+      settingsInvocation,
       mpvInvocation,
       appInvocation,
       dictionaryTriggered,

launcher/main.test.ts

@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ test('doctor refresh-known-words forwards app refresh command without requiring
   });
 });
 
-test('launcher config option forwards app configuration window command', () => {
+test('launcher settings option forwards app settings window command', () => {
   withTempDir((root) => {
     const homeDir = path.join(root, 'home');
     const xdgConfigHome = path.join(root, 'xdg');
@@ -249,14 +249,14 @@ test('launcher config option forwards app configuration window command', () => {
       SUBMINER_APPIMAGE_PATH: appPath,
       SUBMINER_TEST_CAPTURE: capturePath,
     };
-    const result = runLauncher(['--config'], env);
+    const result = runLauncher(['--settings'], env);
 
     assert.equal(result.status, 0);
-    assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(capturePath, 'utf8'), '--config\n');
+    assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(capturePath, 'utf8'), '--settings\n');
   });
 });
 
-test('launcher config command forwards app configuration window command', () => {
+test('launcher settings command forwards app settings window command', () => {
   withTempDir((root) => {
     const homeDir = path.join(root, 'home');
     const xdgConfigHome = path.join(root, 'xdg');
@@ -273,14 +273,14 @@ test('launcher config command forwards app configuration window command', () =>
       SUBMINER_APPIMAGE_PATH: appPath,
       SUBMINER_TEST_CAPTURE: capturePath,
     };
-    const result = runLauncher(['config'], env);
+    const result = runLauncher(['settings'], env);
 
     assert.equal(result.status, 0);
-    assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(capturePath, 'utf8'), '--config\n');
+    assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(capturePath, 'utf8'), '--settings\n');
   });
 });
 
-test('launcher config command suppresses known Electron macOS menu diagnostics', () => {
+test('launcher settings command suppresses known Electron macOS menu diagnostics', () => {
   withTempDir((root) => {
     const homeDir = path.join(root, 'home');
     const xdgConfigHome = path.join(root, 'xdg');
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ test('launcher config command suppresses known Electron macOS menu diagnostics',
       ...makeTestEnv(homeDir, xdgConfigHome),
       SUBMINER_APPIMAGE_PATH: appPath,
     };
-    const result = runLauncher(['config'], env);
+    const result = runLauncher(['settings'], env);
 
     assert.equal(result.status, 0);
     assert.equal(result.stderr, 'real stderr line\n');

launcher/mpv.test.ts

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import os from 'node:os';
 import net from 'node:net';
 import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events';
 import type { Args } from './types';
+import { getAppControlSocketPath } from '../src/shared/app-control';
 import {
   buildConfiguredMpvDefaultArgs,
   buildMpvBackendArgs,
@@ -569,7 +570,7 @@ function makeArgs(overrides: Partial<Args> = {}): Args {
     doctor: false,
     doctorRefreshKnownWords: false,
     version: false,
-    configSettings: false,
+    settings: false,
     configPath: false,
     configShow: false,
     mpvIdle: false,
@@ -655,6 +656,48 @@ test('startOverlay captures app stdout and stderr into app log', async () => {
   }
 });
 
+test('startOverlay starts launcher-owned playback in background managed mode', async () => {
+  const { dir, socketPath } = createTempSocketPath();
+  const appPath = path.join(dir, 'fake-subminer.sh');
+  const appInvocationsPath = path.join(dir, 'app-invocations.log');
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    appPath,
+    [
+      '#!/bin/sh',
+      `printf '%s\\n' "$@" >> ${JSON.stringify(appInvocationsPath)}`,
+      'if [ "$1" = "--app-ping" ]; then exit 1; fi',
+      'exit 0',
+      '',
+    ].join('\n'),
+  );
+  fs.chmodSync(appPath, 0o755);
+  fs.writeFileSync(socketPath, '');
+  const originalCreateConnection = net.createConnection;
+  try {
+    net.createConnection = (() => {
+      const socket = new EventEmitter() as net.Socket;
+      socket.destroy = (() => socket) as net.Socket['destroy'];
+      socket.setTimeout = (() => socket) as net.Socket['setTimeout'];
+      setTimeout(() => socket.emit('connect'), 10);
+      return socket;
+    }) as typeof net.createConnection;
+
+    await startOverlay(appPath, makeArgs(), socketPath);
+
+    const invocationText = fs.readFileSync(appInvocationsPath, 'utf8');
+    assert.match(invocationText, /--background/);
+    assert.match(invocationText, /--managed-playback/);
+    assert.equal(state.overlayManagedByLauncher, true);
+    assert.equal(state.appPath, appPath);
+  } finally {
+    net.createConnection = originalCreateConnection;
+    state.overlayProc = null;
+    state.overlayManagedByLauncher = false;
+    state.appPath = '';
+    fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
 test('startOverlay borrows an already-running background app instead of owning its lifecycle', async () => {
   const { dir, socketPath } = createTempSocketPath();
   const appPath = path.join(dir, 'fake-subminer.sh');
@@ -686,6 +729,7 @@ test('startOverlay borrows an already-running background app instead of owning i
     const invocationText = fs.readFileSync(appInvocationsPath, 'utf8');
     assert.match(invocationText, /--app-ping/);
     assert.match(invocationText, /--start/);
+    assert.doesNotMatch(invocationText, /--background/);
     assert.equal(state.overlayManagedByLauncher, false);
     assert.equal(state.appPath, '');
   } finally {
@@ -697,6 +741,226 @@ test('startOverlay borrows an already-running background app instead of owning i
   }
 });
 
+test('startOverlay attaches through the running app control socket without spawning another app command', async () => {
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+  const { dir, socketPath } = createTempSocketPath();
+  const controlSocketPath = path.join(dir, 'control.sock');
+  const appPath = path.join(dir, 'fake-subminer.sh');
+  const appInvocationsPath = path.join(dir, 'app-invocations.log');
+  const receivedControlArgv: string[][] = [];
+  const originalControlSocket = process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    appPath,
+    [
+      '#!/bin/sh',
+      `printf '%s\\n' "$@" >> ${JSON.stringify(appInvocationsPath)}`,
+      'if [ "$1" = "--app-ping" ]; then exit 0; fi',
+      'exit 0',
+      '',
+    ].join('\n'),
+  );
+  fs.chmodSync(appPath, 0o755);
+
+  const mpvServer = net.createServer((socket) => socket.end());
+  const controlServer = net.createServer((socket) => {
+    let buffer = '';
+    socket.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      buffer += chunk.toString('utf8');
+      const newlineMatch = buffer.match(/\r?\n/);
+      if (!newlineMatch || newlineMatch.index === undefined) return;
+      const line = buffer.slice(0, newlineMatch.index).trim();
+      buffer = buffer.slice(newlineMatch.index + newlineMatch[0].length);
+      if (!line) return;
+      const payload = JSON.parse(line) as { argv?: unknown };
+      if (Array.isArray(payload.argv)) {
+        receivedControlArgv.push(
+          payload.argv.filter((value): value is string => typeof value === 'string'),
+        );
+      }
+      socket.end(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }) + '\n');
+    });
+  });
+
+  try {
+    process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET = controlSocketPath;
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      mpvServer.once('error', reject);
+      mpvServer.listen(socketPath, resolve);
+    });
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      controlServer.once('error', reject);
+      controlServer.listen(controlSocketPath, resolve);
+    });
+
+    await startOverlay(appPath, makeArgs(), socketPath);
+
+    const invocationText = fs.existsSync(appInvocationsPath)
+      ? fs.readFileSync(appInvocationsPath, 'utf8')
+      : '';
+    assert.equal(invocationText, '');
+    assert.equal(receivedControlArgv.length, 1);
+    assert.deepEqual(receivedControlArgv[0]?.slice(0, 7), [
+      '--start',
+      '--managed-playback',
+      '--backend',
+      'x11',
+      '--socket',
+      socketPath,
+      '--log-level',
+    ]);
+    assert.equal(state.overlayManagedByLauncher, false);
+    assert.equal(state.appPath, '');
+  } finally {
+    if (originalControlSocket === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+    } else {
+      process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET = originalControlSocket;
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => mpvServer.close(() => resolve()));
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => controlServer.close(() => resolve()));
+    state.overlayProc = null;
+    state.overlayManagedByLauncher = false;
+    state.appPath = '';
+    fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
+test('startOverlay uses caller config dir for app control socket discovery', async () => {
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+  const { dir, socketPath } = createTempSocketPath();
+  const configDir = path.join(dir, 'launcher-config');
+  const controlSocketPath = getAppControlSocketPath({ configDir, platform: 'linux' });
+  const appPath = path.join(dir, 'fake-subminer.sh');
+  const appInvocationsPath = path.join(dir, 'app-invocations.log');
+  const receivedControlArgv: string[][] = [];
+  const originalControlSocket = process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    appPath,
+    [
+      '#!/bin/sh',
+      `printf '%s\\n' "$@" >> ${JSON.stringify(appInvocationsPath)}`,
+      'if [ "$1" = "--app-ping" ]; then exit 0; fi',
+      'exit 0',
+      '',
+    ].join('\n'),
+  );
+  fs.chmodSync(appPath, 0o755);
+
+  const mpvServer = net.createServer((socket) => socket.end());
+  const controlServer = net.createServer((socket) => {
+    let buffer = '';
+    socket.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      buffer += chunk.toString('utf8');
+      const newlineIndex = buffer.indexOf('\n');
+      if (newlineIndex < 0) return;
+      const payload = JSON.parse(buffer.slice(0, newlineIndex)) as { argv?: unknown };
+      if (Array.isArray(payload.argv)) {
+        receivedControlArgv.push(
+          payload.argv.filter((value): value is string => typeof value === 'string'),
+        );
+      }
+      socket.end(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }) + '\n');
+    });
+  });
+
+  try {
+    delete process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      mpvServer.once('error', reject);
+      mpvServer.listen(socketPath, resolve);
+    });
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      controlServer.once('error', reject);
+      controlServer.listen(controlSocketPath, resolve);
+    });
+
+    await startOverlay(appPath, makeArgs(), socketPath, [], configDir);
+
+    const invocationText = fs.existsSync(appInvocationsPath)
+      ? fs.readFileSync(appInvocationsPath, 'utf8')
+      : '';
+    assert.equal(invocationText, '');
+    assert.equal(receivedControlArgv.length, 1);
+    assert.deepEqual(receivedControlArgv[0]?.slice(0, 6), [
+      '--start',
+      '--managed-playback',
+      '--backend',
+      'x11',
+      '--socket',
+      socketPath,
+    ]);
+  } finally {
+    if (originalControlSocket === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+    } else {
+      process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET = originalControlSocket;
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => mpvServer.close(() => resolve()));
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => controlServer.close(() => resolve()));
+    state.overlayProc = null;
+    state.overlayManagedByLauncher = false;
+    state.appPath = '';
+    fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
+test('startOverlay falls back to legacy app startup when control command fails', async () => {
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+  const { dir, socketPath } = createTempSocketPath();
+  const controlSocketPath = path.join(dir, 'control.sock');
+  const appPath = path.join(dir, 'fake-subminer.sh');
+  const appInvocationsPath = path.join(dir, 'app-invocations.log');
+  const originalControlSocket = process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    appPath,
+    [
+      '#!/bin/sh',
+      `printf '%s\\n' "$@" >> ${JSON.stringify(appInvocationsPath)}`,
+      'if [ "$1" = "--app-ping" ]; then exit 0; fi',
+      'exit 0',
+      '',
+    ].join('\n'),
+  );
+  fs.chmodSync(appPath, 0o755);
+
+  const controlServer = net.createServer((socket) => {
+    socket.on('data', () => {
+      socket.end(JSON.stringify({ ok: false, error: 'boom' }) + '\n');
+    });
+  });
+
+  try {
+    process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET = controlSocketPath;
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      controlServer.once('error', reject);
+      controlServer.listen(controlSocketPath, resolve);
+    });
+
+    await startOverlay(appPath, makeArgs(), socketPath);
+
+    const invocationText = fs.readFileSync(appInvocationsPath, 'utf8');
+    assert.match(invocationText, /--app-ping/);
+    assert.match(invocationText, /--start/);
+  } finally {
+    if (originalControlSocket === undefined) {
+      delete process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET;
+    } else {
+      process.env.SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET = originalControlSocket;
+    }
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => controlServer.close(() => resolve()));
+    state.overlayProc = null;
+    state.overlayManagedByLauncher = false;
+    state.appPath = '';
+    fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
 test('startOverlay keeps lifecycle ownership for its already-managed app', async () => {
   const { dir, socketPath } = createTempSocketPath();
   const appPath = path.join(dir, 'fake-subminer.sh');

launcher/mpv.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ import os from 'node:os';
 import net from 'node:net';
 import { spawn, spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import { buildMpvLaunchModeArgs } from '../src/shared/mpv-launch-mode.js';
+import {
+  isAppControlServerAvailable as checkAppControlServerAvailable,
+  sendAppControlCommand,
+} from '../src/shared/app-control-client.js';
+import { getDefaultConfigDir } from '../src/shared/setup-state.js';
 import {
   detectInstalledMpvPlugin,
   type InstalledMpvPluginDetection,
@@ -1001,22 +1006,73 @@ export async function startOverlay(
   args: Args,
   socketPath: string,
   extraAppArgs: string[] = [],
+  configDir: string = getLauncherConfigDir(),
 ): Promise<void> {
   const backend = detectBackend(args.backend);
   log('info', args.logLevel, `Starting SubMiner overlay (backend: ${backend})...`);
-  const appAlreadyRunning = isAppAlreadyRunning(appPath, args.logLevel);
+  const alreadyManagedByLauncher = state.overlayManagedByLauncher && state.appPath === appPath;
 
-  const overlayArgs = ['--start', '--backend', backend, '--socket', socketPath, ...extraAppArgs];
+  const overlayArgs = [
+    '--start',
+    '--managed-playback',
+    '--backend',
+    backend,
+    '--socket',
+    socketPath,
+    ...extraAppArgs,
+  ];
   if (args.logLevel !== 'info') overlayArgs.push('--log-level', args.logLevel);
   if (args.useTexthooker) overlayArgs.push('--texthooker');
 
-  const target = resolveAppSpawnTarget(appPath, overlayArgs);
+  const controlResult = await sendAppControlCommand(overlayArgs, {
+    configDir,
+  });
+  if (controlResult.ok) {
+    log('debug', args.logLevel, 'Attached to running SubMiner app via control socket');
+    if (alreadyManagedByLauncher) {
+      markOverlayManagedByLauncher(appPath);
+    } else {
+      clearOverlayManagedByLauncher();
+      state.overlayProc = null;
+    }
+
+    const socketReady = await waitForUnixSocketReady(
+      socketPath,
+      OVERLAY_START_SOCKET_READY_TIMEOUT_MS,
+    );
+    if (!socketReady) {
+      log(
+        'debug',
+        args.logLevel,
+        'Overlay start continuing before mpv socket readiness was confirmed',
+      );
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+  if (controlResult.unavailable !== true) {
+    log(
+      'warn',
+      args.logLevel,
+      `Running SubMiner app control command failed: ${controlResult.error ?? 'unknown error'}`,
+    );
+    if (!alreadyManagedByLauncher) {
+      clearOverlayManagedByLauncher();
+      state.overlayProc = null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const appAlreadyRunning = isAppAlreadyRunning(appPath, args.logLevel);
+  const borrowingExistingApp = appAlreadyRunning && !alreadyManagedByLauncher;
+  const spawnOverlayArgs = [...overlayArgs];
+  if (!borrowingExistingApp) spawnOverlayArgs.unshift('--background');
+
+  const target = resolveAppSpawnTarget(appPath, spawnOverlayArgs);
   state.overlayProc = spawn(target.command, target.args, {
     stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'pipe'],
     env: buildAppEnv(process.env, target.env),
   });
   attachAppProcessLogging(state.overlayProc);
-  if (appAlreadyRunning && !(state.overlayManagedByLauncher && state.appPath === appPath)) {
+  if (borrowingExistingApp) {
     log(
       'debug',
       args.logLevel,
@@ -1045,6 +1101,26 @@ export async function startOverlay(
   }
 }
 
+function getLauncherConfigDir(): string {
+  return getDefaultConfigDir({
+    xdgConfigHome: process.env.XDG_CONFIG_HOME,
+    homeDir: os.homedir(),
+  });
+}
+
+export async function isRunningAppControlServerAvailable(
+  logLevel: LogLevel,
+  configDir: string = getLauncherConfigDir(),
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  const available = await checkAppControlServerAvailable({
+    configDir,
+  });
+  if (available) {
+    log('debug', logLevel, 'Running SubMiner app control socket detected');
+  }
+  return available;
+}
+
 export function markOverlayManagedByLauncher(appPath?: string): void {
   if (appPath) {
     state.appPath = appPath;

launcher/parse-args.test.ts

@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ test('parseArgs captures mpv args string', () => {
   assert.equal(parsed.mpvArgs, '--pause=yes --title="movie night"');
 });
 
-test('parseArgs maps root config window option', () => {
-  const parsed = parseArgs(['--config'], 'subminer', {});
+test('parseArgs maps root settings window option', () => {
+  const parsed = parseArgs(['--settings'], 'subminer', {});
 
-  assert.equal(parsed.configSettings, true);
+  assert.equal(parsed.settings, true);
 });
 
 test('parseArgs maps root update flags without conflicting with jellyfin username', () => {
@@ -107,10 +107,10 @@ test('parseArgs maps config show action', () => {
   assert.equal(parsed.configPath, false);
 });
 
-test('parseArgs maps bare config command to settings window', () => {
-  const parsed = parseArgs(['config'], 'subminer', {});
+test('parseArgs maps settings command to settings window', () => {
+  const parsed = parseArgs(['settings'], 'subminer', {});
 
-  assert.equal(parsed.configSettings, true);
+  assert.equal(parsed.settings, true);
   assert.equal(parsed.configPath, false);
   assert.equal(parsed.configShow, false);
 });
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ test('parseArgs maps config path action to config path output', () => {
   const parsed = parseArgs(['config', 'path'], 'subminer', {});
 
   assert.equal(parsed.configPath, true);
-  assert.equal(parsed.configSettings, false);
+  assert.equal(parsed.settings, false);
 });
 
 test('parseArgs rejects removed config open and launch actions', () => {
@@ -134,6 +134,14 @@ test('parseArgs rejects removed config open and launch actions', () => {
   assert.equal(exit.code, 1);
 });
 
+test('parseArgs requires an explicit action for the config subcommand', () => {
+  const exit = withProcessExitIntercept(() => {
+    parseArgs(['config'], 'subminer', {});
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(exit.code, 1);
+});
+
 test('parseArgs maps mpv idle action', () => {
   const parsed = parseArgs(['mpv', 'idle'], 'subminer', {});
 

launcher/smoke.e2e.test.ts

@@ -238,6 +238,94 @@ async function waitForJsonLines(
   }
 }
 
+async function waitForFile(filePath: string, timeoutMs = 1500): Promise<void> {
+  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs;
+  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+    if (fs.existsSync(filePath)) return;
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+  }
+  throw new Error(`Timed out waiting for file ${filePath} after ${timeoutMs}ms`);
+}
+
+async function startFakeControlServer(
+  smokeCase: SmokeCase,
+): Promise<{ socketPath: string; logPath: string; stop: () => Promise<void> }> {
+  const socketPath = path.join(smokeCase.socketDir, 'app-control.sock');
+  const logPath = path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-control.log');
+  const readyPath = path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-control.ready');
+  const scriptPath = path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-control-server.js');
+
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    scriptPath,
+    `const fs = require('node:fs');
+const net = require('node:net');
+const path = require('node:path');
+
+const socketPath = ${JSON.stringify(socketPath)};
+const logPath = ${JSON.stringify(logPath)};
+const readyPath = ${JSON.stringify(readyPath)};
+try { fs.rmSync(socketPath, { force: true }); } catch {}
+fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(socketPath), { recursive: true });
+
+const server = net.createServer((socket) => {
+  let buffer = '';
+  socket.on('data', (chunk) => {
+    buffer += chunk.toString('utf8');
+    let handledLine = false;
+    while (true) {
+      const newlineMatch = buffer.match(/\\r?\\n/);
+      if (!newlineMatch || newlineMatch.index === undefined) break;
+      const line = buffer.slice(0, newlineMatch.index).trim();
+      buffer = buffer.slice(newlineMatch.index + newlineMatch[0].length);
+      if (!line) continue;
+      fs.appendFileSync(logPath, line + '\\n');
+      handledLine = true;
+    }
+    if (handledLine) {
+      socket.end(JSON.stringify({ ok: true }) + '\\n');
+    }
+  });
+});
+
+server.listen(socketPath, () => {
+  fs.writeFileSync(readyPath, 'ready');
+});
+
+const shutdown = () => {
+  server.close(() => {
+    try { fs.rmSync(socketPath, { force: true }); } catch {}
+    process.exit(0);
+  });
+};
+process.on('SIGTERM', shutdown);
+process.on('SIGINT', shutdown);
+setInterval(() => {}, 1000);
+`,
+  );
+
+  const proc = spawn(process.execPath, [scriptPath], { stdio: 'ignore' });
+  await waitForFile(readyPath);
+
+  return {
+    socketPath,
+    logPath,
+    stop: async () => {
+      if (proc.exitCode !== null || proc.signalCode !== null) return;
+      proc.kill('SIGTERM');
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+          proc.kill('SIGKILL');
+          resolve();
+        }, 1000);
+        proc.once('close', () => {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          resolve();
+        });
+      });
+    },
+  };
+}
+
 test('launcher smoke fixture seeds completed setup state', () => {
   const smokeCase = createSmokeCase('setup-state');
   try {
@@ -295,7 +383,7 @@ test('launcher mpv status returns ready when socket is connectable', async () =>
 });
 
 test(
-  'launcher start-overlay run forwards socket/backend and keeps background app alive after mpv exits',
+  'launcher start-overlay run forwards socket/backend and stops owned background app after mpv exits',
   { timeout: LONG_SMOKE_TEST_TIMEOUT_MS },
   async () => {
     await withSmokeCase('overlay-start-stop', async (smokeCase) => {
@@ -330,7 +418,9 @@ test(
 
       const appStartArgs = appStartEntries[0]?.argv;
       assert.equal(Array.isArray(appStartArgs), true);
+      assert.equal((appStartArgs as string[]).includes('--background'), true);
       assert.equal((appStartArgs as string[]).includes('--start'), true);
+      assert.equal((appStartArgs as string[]).includes('--managed-playback'), true);
       assert.equal((appStartArgs as string[]).includes('--backend'), true);
       assert.equal((appStartArgs as string[]).includes('x11'), true);
       assert.equal((appStartArgs as string[]).includes('--socket'), true);
@@ -351,14 +441,17 @@ test(
 );
 
 test(
-  'launcher start-overlay borrows a running background app and does not stop it after mpv exits',
+  'launcher start-overlay attaches to a running background app without spawning another app command',
   { timeout: LONG_SMOKE_TEST_TIMEOUT_MS },
   async () => {
     await withSmokeCase('overlay-borrow-background', async (smokeCase) => {
+      const controlServer = await startFakeControlServer(smokeCase);
       const env = {
         ...makeTestEnv(smokeCase),
         SUBMINER_FAKE_APP_RUNNING: '1',
+        SUBMINER_APP_CONTROL_SOCKET: controlServer.socketPath,
       };
+      try {
         const result = runLauncher(
           smokeCase,
           ['--backend', 'x11', '--start-overlay', smokeCase.videoPath],
@@ -369,11 +462,12 @@ test(
         const appLogPath = path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-app.log');
         const appStartPath = path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-app-start.log');
         const appStopPath = path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-app-stop.log');
-      await waitForJsonLines(appStartPath, 1);
+        await waitForJsonLines(controlServer.logPath, 1);
 
         const appEntries = readJsonLines(appLogPath);
         const appStartEntries = readJsonLines(appStartPath);
         const appStopEntries = readJsonLines(appStopPath);
+        const controlEntries = readJsonLines(controlServer.logPath);
         const mpvEntries = readJsonLines(path.join(smokeCase.artifactsDir, 'fake-mpv.log'));
         const mpvError = mpvEntries.find(
           (entry): entry is { error: string } => typeof entry.error === 'string',
@@ -382,13 +476,18 @@ test(
           typeof mpvError === 'string' && /eperm|operation not permitted/i.test(mpvError);
 
         assert.equal(result.status, unixSocketDenied ? 3 : 0);
-      assert.ok(
-        appEntries.some(
-          (entry) => Array.isArray(entry.argv) && (entry.argv as string[]).includes('--app-ping'),
-        ),
-      );
-      assert.equal(appStartEntries.length, 1);
+        assert.equal(appEntries.length, 0);
+        assert.equal(appStartEntries.length, 0);
         assert.equal(appStopEntries.length, 0);
+        assert.equal(controlEntries.length, 1);
+        const controlArgs = controlEntries[0]?.argv;
+        assert.equal(Array.isArray(controlArgs), true);
+        assert.equal((controlArgs as string[]).includes('--background'), false);
+        assert.equal((controlArgs as string[]).includes('--start'), true);
+        assert.equal((controlArgs as string[]).includes('--managed-playback'), true);
+      } finally {
+        await controlServer.stop();
+      }
     });
   },
 );

launcher/types.ts

@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ export interface Args {
   doctorRefreshKnownWords: boolean;
   version: boolean;
   update?: boolean;
-  configSettings: boolean;
+  settings: boolean;
   configPath: boolean;
   configShow: boolean;
   mpvIdle: boolean;

package.json

@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@
     "test:plugin:src": "lua scripts/test-plugin-lua-compat.lua && lua scripts/test-plugin-start-gate.lua && lua scripts/test-plugin-session-bindings.lua && lua scripts/test-plugin-binary-windows.lua",
     "test:launcher:smoke:src": "bun test launcher/smoke.e2e.test.ts",
     "test:launcher:src": "bun test launcher/config.test.ts launcher/config-domain-parsers.test.ts launcher/config/cli-parser-builder.test.ts launcher/config/args-normalizer.test.ts launcher/mpv.test.ts launcher/picker.test.ts launcher/parse-args.test.ts launcher/main.test.ts launcher/commands/command-modules.test.ts launcher/commands/update-command.test.ts launcher/smoke.e2e.test.ts && bun run test:plugin:src",
-    "test:core:src": "bun test src/preload-settings.test.ts src/settings/settings-anki-controls.test.ts src/settings/settings-model.test.ts src/settings/settings-field-layout.test.ts src/cli/args.test.ts src/cli/help.test.ts src/shared/setup-state.test.ts src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts src/core/services/ipc.test.ts src/core/services/anki-jimaku-ipc.test.ts src/core/services/field-grouping-overlay.test.ts src/core/services/numeric-shortcut-session.test.ts src/core/services/secondary-subtitle.test.ts src/core/services/mpv-render-metrics.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-content-measurement.test.ts src/core/services/mpv-control.test.ts src/core/services/mpv.test.ts src/core/services/runtime-options-ipc.test.ts src/core/services/runtime-config.test.ts src/core/services/yomitan-extension-paths.test.ts src/core/services/yomitan-extension-loader.test.ts src/core/services/yomitan-settings.test.ts src/core/services/config-hot-reload.test.ts src/core/services/discord-presence.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer/annotation-stage.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer/parser-selection-stage.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer/parser-enrichment-stage.test.ts src/core/services/subsync.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-bridge.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-shortcut-handler.test.ts src/core/services/stats-window.test.ts src/core/services/__tests__/stats-server.test.ts src/main/runtime/stats-server-routing.test.ts src/core/services/mining.test.ts src/core/services/anki-jimaku.test.ts src/core/services/jimaku-download-path.test.ts src/core/services/jellyfin.test.ts src/core/services/jellyfin-remote.test.ts src/core/services/immersion-tracker-service.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-runtime-init.test.ts src/core/services/app-ready.test.ts src/core/services/startup-bootstrap.test.ts src/core/services/subtitle-processing-controller.test.ts src/main/runtime/current-subtitle-snapshot.test.ts src/main/runtime/autoplay-tokenization-warm-release.test.ts src/main/runtime/autoplay-subtitle-primer.test.ts src/core/services/anilist/anilist-update-queue.test.ts src/core/services/anilist/rate-limiter.test.ts src/core/services/jlpt-token-filter.test.ts src/core/services/subtitle-position.test.ts src/core/utils/shortcut-config.test.ts src/main/runtime/startup-mode-flags.test.ts src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-plugin.test.ts src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-service.test.ts src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts src/main/runtime/command-line-launcher.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-runtime.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-main-actions.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-main-deps.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-runtime-handlers.test.ts src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.test.ts src/main/runtime/app-ready-main-deps.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/appimage-updater.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/fetch-adapter.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/release-metadata-policy.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/update-dialogs.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/support-assets.test.ts src/renderer/error-recovery.test.ts src/renderer/subtitle-render.test.ts src/renderer/handlers/mouse.test.ts src/renderer/handlers/keyboard.test.ts src/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.ts src/subsync/utils.test.ts src/main/anilist-url-guard.test.ts src/window-trackers/hyprland-tracker.test.ts src/window-trackers/x11-tracker.test.ts src/window-trackers/windows-helper.test.ts src/window-trackers/windows-tracker.test.ts launcher/config.test.ts launcher/config-domain-parsers.test.ts launcher/config/cli-parser-builder.test.ts launcher/config/args-normalizer.test.ts launcher/parse-args.test.ts launcher/main.test.ts launcher/commands/command-modules.test.ts launcher/commands/update-command.test.ts launcher/setup-gate.test.ts stats/src/lib/api-client.test.ts stats/src/hooks/useExcludedWords.test.ts",
-    "test:core:dist": "bun test dist/preload-settings.test.js dist/settings/settings-anki-controls.test.js dist/settings/settings-model.test.js dist/settings/settings-field-layout.test.js dist/cli/args.test.js dist/cli/help.test.js dist/core/services/cli-command.test.js dist/core/services/ipc.test.js dist/core/services/anki-jimaku-ipc.test.js dist/core/services/field-grouping-overlay.test.js dist/core/services/numeric-shortcut-session.test.js dist/core/services/secondary-subtitle.test.js dist/core/services/mpv-render-metrics.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-content-measurement.test.js dist/core/services/mpv-control.test.js dist/core/services/mpv.test.js dist/core/services/runtime-options-ipc.test.js dist/core/services/runtime-config.test.js dist/core/services/yomitan-extension-paths.test.js dist/core/services/config-hot-reload.test.js dist/core/services/discord-presence.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer/annotation-stage.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer/parser-selection-stage.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer/parser-enrichment-stage.test.js dist/core/services/subsync.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-bridge.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-manager.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-shortcut-handler.test.js dist/core/services/mining.test.js dist/core/services/anki-jimaku.test.js dist/core/services/jimaku-download-path.test.js dist/core/services/jellyfin.test.js dist/core/services/jellyfin-remote.test.js dist/core/services/immersion-tracker-service.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-runtime-init.test.js dist/core/services/app-ready.test.js dist/core/services/startup-bootstrap.test.js dist/core/services/subtitle-processing-controller.test.js dist/main/runtime/current-subtitle-snapshot.test.js dist/main/runtime/autoplay-tokenization-warm-release.test.js dist/main/runtime/autoplay-subtitle-primer.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/anilist-token-store.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/anilist-update-queue.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/rate-limiter.test.js dist/core/services/jlpt-token-filter.test.js dist/core/services/subtitle-position.test.js dist/renderer/error-recovery.test.js dist/renderer/subtitle-render.test.js dist/renderer/handlers/mouse.test.js dist/renderer/handlers/keyboard.test.js dist/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.js dist/subsync/utils.test.js dist/main/anilist-url-guard.test.js dist/window-trackers/hyprland-tracker.test.js dist/window-trackers/x11-tracker.test.js dist/window-trackers/windows-helper.test.js dist/window-trackers/windows-tracker.test.js",
+    "test:core:src": "bun test src/preload-settings.test.ts src/settings/settings-anki-controls.test.ts src/settings/settings-model.test.ts src/settings/settings-field-layout.test.ts src/cli/args.test.ts src/cli/help.test.ts src/shared/setup-state.test.ts src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts src/core/services/ipc.test.ts src/core/services/anki-jimaku-ipc.test.ts src/core/services/field-grouping-overlay.test.ts src/core/services/numeric-shortcut-session.test.ts src/core/services/secondary-subtitle.test.ts src/core/services/mpv-render-metrics.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-content-measurement.test.ts src/core/services/mpv-control.test.ts src/core/services/mpv.test.ts src/core/services/runtime-options-ipc.test.ts src/core/services/runtime-config.test.ts src/core/services/yomitan-extension-paths.test.ts src/core/services/yomitan-extension-loader.test.ts src/core/services/yomitan-settings.test.ts src/core/services/config-hot-reload.test.ts src/core/services/discord-presence.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer/annotation-stage.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer/parser-selection-stage.test.ts src/core/services/tokenizer/parser-enrichment-stage.test.ts src/core/services/subsync.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-bridge.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-shortcut-handler.test.ts src/core/services/stats-window.test.ts src/core/services/__tests__/stats-server.test.ts src/main/runtime/stats-server-routing.test.ts src/core/services/mining.test.ts src/core/services/anki-jimaku.test.ts src/core/services/jimaku-download-path.test.ts src/core/services/jellyfin.test.ts src/core/services/jellyfin-remote.test.ts src/core/services/immersion-tracker-service.test.ts src/core/services/overlay-runtime-init.test.ts src/core/services/app-ready.test.ts src/core/services/startup-bootstrap.test.ts src/core/services/subtitle-processing-controller.test.ts src/main/runtime/current-subtitle-snapshot.test.ts src/main/runtime/autoplay-tokenization-warm-release.test.ts src/main/runtime/autoplay-subtitle-primer.test.ts src/core/services/anilist/anilist-update-queue.test.ts src/core/services/anilist/rate-limiter.test.ts src/core/services/jlpt-token-filter.test.ts src/core/services/subtitle-position.test.ts src/core/utils/shortcut-config.test.ts src/main/runtime/startup-mode-flags.test.ts src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-plugin.test.ts src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-service.test.ts src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts src/main/runtime/command-line-launcher.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-runtime.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-main-actions.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-main-deps.test.ts src/main/runtime/tray-runtime-handlers.test.ts src/main/runtime/cli-command-context-main-deps.test.ts src/main/runtime/app-ready-main-deps.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/appimage-updater.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/fetch-adapter.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/release-metadata-policy.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/update-dialogs.test.ts src/main/runtime/update/support-assets.test.ts src/renderer/error-recovery.test.ts src/renderer/subtitle-render.test.ts src/renderer/subtitle-render-word-class.test.ts src/renderer/handlers/mouse.test.ts src/renderer/handlers/keyboard.test.ts src/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.ts src/subsync/utils.test.ts src/main/anilist-url-guard.test.ts src/window-trackers/hyprland-tracker.test.ts src/window-trackers/x11-tracker.test.ts src/window-trackers/windows-helper.test.ts src/window-trackers/windows-tracker.test.ts launcher/config.test.ts launcher/config-domain-parsers.test.ts launcher/config/cli-parser-builder.test.ts launcher/config/args-normalizer.test.ts launcher/parse-args.test.ts launcher/main.test.ts launcher/commands/command-modules.test.ts launcher/commands/update-command.test.ts launcher/setup-gate.test.ts stats/src/lib/api-client.test.ts stats/src/hooks/useExcludedWords.test.ts",
+    "test:core:dist": "bun test dist/preload-settings.test.js dist/settings/settings-anki-controls.test.js dist/settings/settings-model.test.js dist/settings/settings-field-layout.test.js dist/cli/args.test.js dist/cli/help.test.js dist/core/services/cli-command.test.js dist/core/services/ipc.test.js dist/core/services/anki-jimaku-ipc.test.js dist/core/services/field-grouping-overlay.test.js dist/core/services/numeric-shortcut-session.test.js dist/core/services/secondary-subtitle.test.js dist/core/services/mpv-render-metrics.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-content-measurement.test.js dist/core/services/mpv-control.test.js dist/core/services/mpv.test.js dist/core/services/runtime-options-ipc.test.js dist/core/services/runtime-config.test.js dist/core/services/yomitan-extension-paths.test.js dist/core/services/config-hot-reload.test.js dist/core/services/discord-presence.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer/annotation-stage.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer/parser-selection-stage.test.js dist/core/services/tokenizer/parser-enrichment-stage.test.js dist/core/services/subsync.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-bridge.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-manager.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-shortcut-handler.test.js dist/core/services/mining.test.js dist/core/services/anki-jimaku.test.js dist/core/services/jimaku-download-path.test.js dist/core/services/jellyfin.test.js dist/core/services/jellyfin-remote.test.js dist/core/services/immersion-tracker-service.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-runtime-init.test.js dist/core/services/app-ready.test.js dist/core/services/startup-bootstrap.test.js dist/core/services/subtitle-processing-controller.test.js dist/main/runtime/current-subtitle-snapshot.test.js dist/main/runtime/autoplay-tokenization-warm-release.test.js dist/main/runtime/autoplay-subtitle-primer.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/anilist-token-store.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/anilist-update-queue.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/rate-limiter.test.js dist/core/services/jlpt-token-filter.test.js dist/core/services/subtitle-position.test.js dist/renderer/error-recovery.test.js dist/renderer/subtitle-render.test.js dist/renderer/subtitle-render-word-class.test.js dist/renderer/handlers/mouse.test.js dist/renderer/handlers/keyboard.test.js dist/renderer/modals/jimaku.test.js dist/subsync/utils.test.js dist/main/anilist-url-guard.test.js dist/window-trackers/hyprland-tracker.test.js dist/window-trackers/x11-tracker.test.js dist/window-trackers/windows-helper.test.js dist/window-trackers/windows-tracker.test.js",
     "test:core:smoke:dist": "bun test dist/cli/help.test.js dist/core/services/runtime-config.test.js dist/core/services/ipc.test.js dist/core/services/overlay-manager.test.js dist/core/services/anilist/anilist-token-store.test.js dist/core/services/startup-bootstrap.test.js dist/renderer/error-recovery.test.js dist/main/anilist-url-guard.test.js dist/window-trackers/x11-tracker.test.js",
     "test:smoke:dist": "bun run test:config:smoke:dist && bun run test:core:smoke:dist",
     "test:subtitle:src": "bun test src/core/services/subsync.test.ts src/subsync/utils.test.ts",

plugin/subminer/lifecycle.lua

@@ -60,17 +60,31 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 		return state.auto_start_retry_generation
 	end
 
-	local function rearm_managed_subtitle_defaults()
+	local function has_matching_subminer_socket()
 		if not process.has_matching_mpv_ipc_socket(opts.socket_path) then
 			return false
 		end
+		return true
+	end
 
+	local function rearm_managed_subtitle_load_defaults()
+		if not has_matching_subminer_socket() then
+			return false
+		end
 		mp.set_property_native("sub-auto", "fuzzy")
 		mp.set_property_native("sid", "auto")
 		mp.set_property_native("secondary-sid", "auto")
 		return true
 	end
 
+	local function refresh_managed_subtitle_autoloading()
+		if not has_matching_subminer_socket() then
+			return false
+		end
+		mp.set_property_native("sub-auto", "fuzzy")
+		return true
+	end
+
 	local function start_overlay_when_socket_ready(generation, media_identity, same_media_loaded, attempt)
 		if generation ~= state.auto_start_retry_generation then
 			return
@@ -83,7 +97,7 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 			return
 		end
 
-		local has_matching_socket = rearm_managed_subtitle_defaults()
+		local has_matching_socket = refresh_managed_subtitle_autoloading()
 		if not has_matching_socket then
 			if attempt < AUTO_START_SOCKET_RETRY_MAX_ATTEMPTS then
 				mp.add_timeout(AUTO_START_SOCKET_RETRY_DELAY_SECONDS, function()
@@ -109,6 +123,13 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 		schedule_aniskip_fetch("overlay-start", 0.8)
 	end
 
+	local function on_start_file()
+		if state.pending_reload_media_identity ~= nil then
+			return
+		end
+		rearm_managed_subtitle_load_defaults()
+	end
+
 	local function on_file_loaded()
 		local media_identity = resolve_media_identity()
 		local retry_generation = next_auto_start_retry_generation()
@@ -151,7 +172,7 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 			return
 		end
 
-		rearm_managed_subtitle_defaults()
+		refresh_managed_subtitle_autoloading()
 		schedule_aniskip_fetch("file-loaded", 0)
 	end
 
@@ -165,6 +186,7 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 	end
 
 	local function register_lifecycle_hooks()
+		mp.register_event("start-file", on_start_file)
 		mp.register_event("file-loaded", on_file_loaded)
 		mp.register_event("shutdown", on_shutdown)
 		mp.register_event("file-loaded", function()

plugin/subminer/process.lua

@@ -207,6 +207,9 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 		end
 
 		if action == "start" then
+			if overrides.background ~= false then
+				table.insert(args, "--background")
+			end
 			table.insert(args, "--managed-playback")
 
 			local backend = resolve_backend(overrides.backend)
@@ -504,10 +507,13 @@ function M.create(ctx)
 			end)
 		end
 
+		environment.is_subminer_app_running_async(function(app_running)
+			overrides.background = not app_running
 			launch_overlay_with_retry(1)
 			if texthooker_enabled then
 				ensure_texthooker_running(function() end)
 			end
+		end, { force_refresh = true })
 	end
 
 	local function start_overlay_from_script_message(...)

scripts/test-plugin-start-gate.lua

@@ -757,17 +757,17 @@ do
 	assert_true(call ~= nil, "AppImage start should issue an async subprocess")
 	assert_true(#call.args == 1 and call.args[1] == appimage_path, "AppImage subprocess should not receive raw CLI flags")
 	assert_true(env_has(call, "PATH=/usr/bin"), "AppImage subprocess should preserve existing environment")
-	assert_true(env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARGC=7"), "AppImage subprocess should transport app arg count")
+	assert_true(env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARGC=8"), "AppImage subprocess should transport app arg count")
 	assert_true(env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_0=--start"), "AppImage subprocess should transport --start")
 	assert_true(
-		env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_1=--managed-playback"),
-		"AppImage subprocess should transport --managed-playback"
+		env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_1=--background"),
+		"AppImage subprocess should transport --background"
 	)
 	assert_true(
-		not env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_1=--background"),
-		"AppImage subprocess should not transport --background for video-owned playback"
+		env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_2=--managed-playback"),
+		"AppImage subprocess should transport --managed-playback"
 	)
-	assert_true(env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_6=--hide-visible-overlay"), "AppImage subprocess should transport visibility flag")
+	assert_true(env_has(call, "SUBMINER_APP_ARG_7=--hide-visible-overlay"), "AppImage subprocess should transport visibility flag")
 	assert_true(env_has_prefix(call, "SUBMINER_APP_LOG="), "AppImage subprocess should include app log env")
 	assert_true(env_has_prefix(call, "SUBMINER_MPV_LOG="), "AppImage subprocess should include mpv log env")
 	assert_true(
@@ -1095,18 +1095,54 @@ do
 		},
 	})
 	assert_true(recorded ~= nil, "plugin failed to load for subtitle rearm scenario: " .. tostring(err))
-	fire_event(recorded, "file-loaded")
+	fire_event(recorded, "start-file")
 	assert_true(
 		has_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "sub-auto", "fuzzy"),
-		"managed file-loaded should rearm sub-auto for idle mpv sessions"
+		"managed start-file should rearm sub-auto before mpv loads tracks"
 	)
 	assert_true(
 		has_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "sid", "auto"),
-		"managed file-loaded should rearm primary subtitle selection for idle mpv sessions"
+		"managed start-file should rearm primary subtitle selection before mpv loads tracks"
 	)
 	assert_true(
 		has_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "secondary-sid", "auto"),
-		"managed file-loaded should rearm secondary subtitle selection for idle mpv sessions"
+		"managed start-file should rearm secondary subtitle selection before mpv loads tracks"
+	)
+	fire_event(recorded, "file-loaded")
+	assert_true(
+		count_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "sid", "auto") == 1,
+		"managed file-loaded should not reset primary subtitle selection after mpv loads tracks"
+	)
+	assert_true(
+		count_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "secondary-sid", "auto") == 1,
+		"managed file-loaded should not reset secondary subtitle selection after mpv loads tracks"
+	)
+end
+
+do
+	local recorded, err = run_plugin_scenario({
+		process_list = "",
+		option_overrides = {
+			binary_path = binary_path,
+			auto_start = "no",
+			socket_path = "/tmp/subminer-socket",
+		},
+		input_ipc_server = "/tmp/subminer-socket",
+		media_title = "Random Movie",
+		files = {
+			[binary_path] = true,
+		},
+	})
+	assert_true(recorded ~= nil, "plugin failed to load for attached subtitle rearm scenario: " .. tostring(err))
+	fire_event(recorded, "start-file")
+	fire_event(recorded, "file-loaded")
+	assert_true(
+		count_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "sid", "auto") == 1,
+		"attached background app path should select primary subtitle before load only"
+	)
+	assert_true(
+		count_property_set(recorded.property_sets, "secondary-sid", "auto") == 1,
+		"attached background app path should select secondary subtitle before load only"
 	)
 end
 
@@ -1274,12 +1310,12 @@ do
 	local start_call = find_start_call(recorded.async_calls)
 	assert_true(start_call ~= nil, "auto-start should issue --start command")
 	assert_true(
-		not call_has_arg(start_call, "--background"),
-		"auto-start should not mark video-owned playback as background/tray mode"
+		call_has_arg(start_call, "--background"),
+		"auto-start should launch SubMiner in background/tray mode"
 	)
 	assert_true(
 		call_has_arg(start_call, "--managed-playback"),
-		"auto-start should mark SubMiner as launcher-managed playback"
+		"auto-start should mark SubMiner as managed playback"
 	)
 	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")
@@ -1596,7 +1632,7 @@ do
 			[binary_path] = true,
 		},
 	})
-	assert_true(recorded ~= nil, "plugin failed to load for shutdown-preserve-background scenario: " .. tostring(err))
+	assert_true(recorded ~= nil, "plugin failed to load for shutdown-managed-background scenario: " .. tostring(err))
 	fire_event(recorded, "file-loaded")
 	fire_event(recorded, "end-file", { reason = "quit" })
 	assert_true(
@@ -1606,7 +1642,7 @@ do
 	fire_event(recorded, "shutdown")
 	assert_true(
 		find_control_call(recorded.async_calls, "--stop") == nil,
-		"mpv shutdown should not stop the background SubMiner process"
+		"mpv shutdown should leave managed-playback ownership to the app process"
 	)
 	assert_true(
 		find_control_call(recorded.async_calls, "--hide-visible-overlay") == nil,
@@ -1614,6 +1650,41 @@ do
 	)
 end
 
+do
+	local recorded, err = run_plugin_scenario({
+		process_list = "/opt/SubMiner/subminer --background\n",
+		option_overrides = {
+			binary_path = binary_path,
+			auto_start = "yes",
+			auto_start_visible_overlay = "yes",
+			socket_path = "/tmp/subminer-socket",
+		},
+		input_ipc_server = "/tmp/subminer-socket",
+		media_title = "Random Movie",
+		files = {
+			[binary_path] = true,
+		},
+	})
+	assert_true(recorded ~= nil, "plugin failed to load for shutdown-borrowed-background scenario: " .. tostring(err))
+	fire_event(recorded, "file-loaded")
+	local start_call = find_start_call(recorded.async_calls)
+	assert_true(start_call ~= nil, "auto-start should attach playback to the existing app")
+	assert_true(
+		not call_has_arg(start_call, "--background"),
+		"borrowed app auto-start should not use the background launch wrapper"
+	)
+	assert_true(
+		call_has_arg(start_call, "--managed-playback"),
+		"borrowed app auto-start should still attach managed playback to the existing app"
+	)
+	fire_event(recorded, "end-file", { reason = "quit" })
+	fire_event(recorded, "shutdown")
+	assert_true(
+		find_control_call(recorded.async_calls, "--stop") == nil,
+		"mpv shutdown should leave a pre-existing background SubMiner process running"
+	)
+end
+
 do
 	local recorded, err = run_plugin_scenario({
 		process_list = "",
@@ -1633,6 +1704,14 @@ 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")
+	assert_true(
+		call_has_arg(start_call, "--background"),
+		"auto-start should launch SubMiner in background mode"
+	)
+	assert_true(
+		call_has_arg(start_call, "--managed-playback"),
+		"auto-start should mark SubMiner as managed playback"
+	)
 	assert_true(
 		call_has_arg(start_call, "--hide-visible-overlay"),
 		"auto-start with visible overlay disabled should include --hide-visible-overlay on --start"

src/cli/args.test.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
   isHeadlessInitialCommand,
   isStandaloneTexthookerCommand,
   parseArgs,
-  shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup,
+  shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup,
   shouldStartApp,
 } from './args';
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ test('parseArgs captures update command and internal launcher paths', () => {
   assert.equal(hasExplicitCommand(args), true);
   assert.equal(shouldStartApp(args), true);
   assert.equal(commandNeedsOverlayRuntime(args), false);
-  assert.equal(shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup(args), false);
+  assert.equal(shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup(args), false);
 });
 
 test('parseArgs captures launch-mpv targets and keeps it out of app startup', () => {
@@ -208,35 +208,33 @@ test('hasExplicitCommand and shouldStartApp preserve command intent', () => {
   assert.equal(shouldStartApp(update), true);
   assert.equal(isHeadlessInitialCommand(update), true);
 
+  const yomitan = parseArgs(['--yomitan']);
+  assert.equal(yomitan.yomitan, true);
+  assert.equal(hasExplicitCommand(yomitan), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldStartApp(yomitan), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup(yomitan), true);
+
   const settings = parseArgs(['--settings']);
   assert.equal(settings.settings, true);
   assert.equal(hasExplicitCommand(settings), true);
   assert.equal(shouldStartApp(settings), true);
-  assert.equal(shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup(settings), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup(settings), false);
+  assert.equal(commandNeedsOverlayRuntime(settings), false);
+  assert.equal(commandNeedsOverlayStartupPrereqs(settings), false);
 
-  const configSettings = parseArgs(['--config']);
-  assert.equal(configSettings.configSettings, true);
-  assert.equal(hasExplicitCommand(configSettings), true);
-  assert.equal(shouldStartApp(configSettings), true);
-  assert.equal(shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup(configSettings), false);
-  assert.equal(commandNeedsOverlayRuntime(configSettings), false);
-  assert.equal(commandNeedsOverlayStartupPrereqs(configSettings), false);
+  const yomitanWithOverlay = parseArgs(['--yomitan', '--toggle-visible-overlay']);
+  assert.equal(yomitanWithOverlay.yomitan, true);
+  assert.equal(yomitanWithOverlay.toggleVisibleOverlay, true);
+  assert.equal(shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup(yomitanWithOverlay), false);
 
-  const settingsWithOverlay = parseArgs(['--settings', '--toggle-visible-overlay']);
-  assert.equal(settingsWithOverlay.settings, true);
-  assert.equal(settingsWithOverlay.toggleVisibleOverlay, true);
-  assert.equal(shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup(settingsWithOverlay), false);
-
-  const yomitanAlias = parseArgs(['--yomitan']);
-  assert.equal(yomitanAlias.settings, true);
-  assert.equal(hasExplicitCommand(yomitanAlias), true);
-  assert.equal(shouldStartApp(yomitanAlias), true);
+  const settingsDoesNotEnableYomitan = parseArgs(['--settings']);
+  assert.equal(settingsDoesNotEnableYomitan.yomitan, false);
 
   const help = parseArgs(['--help']);
   assert.equal(help.help, true);
   assert.equal(hasExplicitCommand(help), true);
   assert.equal(shouldStartApp(help), false);
-  assert.equal(shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup(help), false);
+  assert.equal(shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup(help), false);
 
   const appPing = parseArgs(['--app-ping']);
   assert.equal(appPing.appPing, true);

src/cli/args.ts

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ export interface CliArgs {
   toggle: boolean;
   toggleVisibleOverlay: boolean;
   togglePrimarySubtitleBar: boolean;
+  yomitan: boolean;
   settings: boolean;
-  configSettings: boolean;
   setup: boolean;
   show: boolean;
   hide: boolean;
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ export function parseArgs(argv: string[]): CliArgs {
     toggle: false,
     toggleVisibleOverlay: false,
     togglePrimarySubtitleBar: false,
+    yomitan: false,
     settings: false,
-    configSettings: false,
     setup: false,
     show: false,
     hide: false,
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ export function parseArgs(argv: string[]): CliArgs {
     else if (arg === '--toggle') args.toggle = true;
     else if (arg === '--toggle-visible-overlay') args.toggleVisibleOverlay = true;
     else if (arg === '--toggle-primary-subtitle-bar') args.togglePrimarySubtitleBar = true;
-    else if (arg === '--settings' || arg === '--yomitan') args.settings = true;
-    else if (arg === '--config') args.configSettings = true;
+    else if (arg === '--yomitan') args.yomitan = true;
+    else if (arg === '--settings') args.settings = true;
     else if (arg === '--setup') args.setup = true;
     else if (arg === '--show') args.show = true;
     else if (arg === '--hide') args.hide = true;
@@ -494,8 +494,8 @@ export function hasExplicitCommand(args: CliArgs): boolean {
     args.toggle ||
     args.toggleVisibleOverlay ||
     args.togglePrimarySubtitleBar ||
+    args.yomitan ||
     args.settings ||
-    args.configSettings ||
     args.setup ||
     args.show ||
     args.hide ||
@@ -569,8 +569,8 @@ export function isStandaloneTexthookerCommand(args: CliArgs): boolean {
     !args.toggle &&
     !args.toggleVisibleOverlay &&
     !args.togglePrimarySubtitleBar &&
+    !args.yomitan &&
     !args.settings &&
-    !args.configSettings &&
     !args.setup &&
     !args.show &&
     !args.hide &&
@@ -639,8 +639,8 @@ export function shouldStartApp(args: CliArgs): boolean {
     args.toggle ||
     args.toggleVisibleOverlay ||
     args.togglePrimarySubtitleBar ||
+    args.yomitan ||
     args.settings ||
-    args.configSettings ||
     args.setup ||
     args.copySubtitle ||
     args.copySubtitleMultiple ||
@@ -687,16 +687,16 @@ export function shouldStartApp(args: CliArgs): boolean {
   return false;
 }
 
-export function shouldRunSettingsOnlyStartup(args: CliArgs): boolean {
+export function shouldRunYomitanOnlyStartup(args: CliArgs): boolean {
   return (
-    args.settings &&
+    args.yomitan &&
     !args.background &&
     !args.start &&
     !args.stop &&
     !args.toggle &&
     !args.toggleVisibleOverlay &&
     !args.togglePrimarySubtitleBar &&
-    !args.configSettings &&
+    !args.settings &&
     !args.show &&
     !args.hide &&
     !args.setup &&

src/cli/help.test.ts

@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ test('printHelp includes configured texthooker port', () => {
   assert.match(output, /--open-browser\s+Open texthooker in your default browser/);
   assert.doesNotMatch(output, /--refresh-known-words/);
   assert.match(output, /--setup\s+Open first-run setup window/);
-  assert.match(output, /--config\s+Open configuration window/);
+  assert.match(output, /--settings\s+Open SubMiner settings window/);
+  assert.match(output, /--yomitan\s+Open Yomitan settings window/);
   assert.match(output, /--mark-watched\s+Mark current video watched and advance playlist/);
   assert.match(output, /--anilist-status/);
   assert.match(output, /--anilist-retry-queue/);

src/cli/help.ts

@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ ${B}Overlay${R}
   --toggle-primary-subtitle-bar  Toggle primary subtitle bar
   --show-visible-overlay         Show subtitle overlay
   --hide-visible-overlay         Hide subtitle overlay
-  --settings                     Open Yomitan settings window
-  --config                       Open configuration window
+  --yomitan                      Open Yomitan settings window
+  --settings                     Open SubMiner settings window
   --setup                        Open first-run setup window
   --auto-start-overlay           Auto-hide mpv subs, show overlay on connect
 

src/config/anki-connect-nplusone-migration.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ const LEGACY_N_PLUS_ONE_PATH_MAP = {
   nPlusOne: 'subtitleStyle.nPlusOneColor',
 } as const;
 
+const hexColorPattern = /^#(?:[0-9a-fA-F]{3}|[0-9a-fA-F]{4}|[0-9a-fA-F]{6}|[0-9a-fA-F]{8})$/;
+
 function propertyKey(propertyNode: JsoncNode): string | undefined {
   return propertyNode.children?.[0]?.value;
 }
@@ -82,6 +84,12 @@ function normalizeLegacyDecks(value: unknown): unknown {
   return normalized;
 }
 
+function asLegacyColor(value: unknown): string | undefined {
+  if (typeof value !== 'string') return undefined;
+  const text = value.trim();
+  return hexColorPattern.test(text) ? text : undefined;
+}
+
 function buildLegacyNPlusOneMigrationOperations(root: JsoncNode | undefined): {
   operations: ConfigSettingsPatchOperation[];
   hasLegacy: boolean;
@@ -90,9 +98,9 @@ function buildLegacyNPlusOneMigrationOperations(root: JsoncNode | undefined): {
   const ankiConnect = propertyValue(findLastProperty(root, 'ankiConnect'));
   const nPlusOneProperties = findProperties(ankiConnect, 'nPlusOne');
   const nPlusOneObjects = nPlusOneProperties.map(propertyValue).filter(Boolean) as JsoncNode[];
-  if (nPlusOneObjects.length === 0) {
-    return { operations, hasLegacy: false };
-  }
+  const knownWords = propertyValue(findLastProperty(ankiConnect, 'knownWords'));
+  const knownWordsColorNode = propertyValue(findLastProperty(knownWords, 'color'));
+  const knownWordsColor = knownWordsColorNode ? getNodeValue(knownWordsColorNode) : undefined;
 
   const canonicalNPlusOneValues = new Map<string, unknown>();
   const legacyValues = new Map<keyof typeof LEGACY_N_PLUS_ONE_PATH_MAP, unknown>();
@@ -144,6 +152,22 @@ function buildLegacyNPlusOneMigrationOperations(root: JsoncNode | undefined): {
     });
   }
 
+  const legacyKnownWordsColor = asLegacyColor(knownWordsColor);
+  if (legacyKnownWordsColor !== undefined) {
+    hasLegacy = true;
+    if (!hasPath(root, 'subtitleStyle.knownWordColor')) {
+      operations.push({
+        op: 'set',
+        path: 'subtitleStyle.knownWordColor',
+        value: legacyKnownWordsColor,
+      });
+    }
+    operations.push({
+      op: 'reset',
+      path: 'ankiConnect.knownWords.color',
+    });
+  }
+
   return { operations, hasLegacy };
 }
 

src/config/config.test.ts

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ test('loads defaults when config is missing', () => {
   assert.equal(config.startupWarmups.mecab, true);
   assert.equal(config.startupWarmups.yomitanExtension, true);
   assert.equal(config.startupWarmups.subtitleDictionaries, true);
-  assert.equal(config.startupWarmups.jellyfinRemoteSession, true);
+  assert.equal(config.startupWarmups.jellyfinRemoteSession, false);
   assert.equal(config.shortcuts.markAudioCard, 'CommandOrControl+Shift+A');
   assert.equal(config.shortcuts.openCharacterDictionary, 'CommandOrControl+Alt+A');
   assert.equal(config.shortcuts.toggleSubtitleSidebar, 'Backslash');
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ test('loads defaults when config is missing', () => {
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.autoPauseVideoOnHover, true);
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup, true);
   assert.equal(config.subtitleSidebar.enabled, true);
+  assert.equal(config.subtitleSidebar.pauseVideoOnHover, true);
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.hoverTokenColor, '#f4dbd6');
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.hoverTokenBackgroundColor, 'transparent');
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.fontFamily, DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_FONT_FAMILY);
@@ -222,12 +223,10 @@ test('throws actionable startup parse error for malformed config at construction
   );
 });
 
-test('migrates legacy subtitle appearance options into css declaration objects on load', () => {
+test('resolves legacy subtitle appearance options without rewriting config on load', () => {
   const dir = makeTempDir();
   const configPath = path.join(dir, 'config.jsonc');
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    configPath,
-    `{
+  const originalContent = `{
       "subtitleStyle": {
         "fontSize": 42,
         "fontColor": "#ffffff",
@@ -251,63 +250,29 @@ test('migrates legacy subtitle appearance options into css declaration objects o
           "font-size": "19px"
         }
       }
-    }`,
-    'utf-8',
-  );
+    }`;
+  fs.writeFileSync(configPath, originalContent, 'utf-8');
 
   const service = new ConfigService(dir);
-  const parsed = parseConfigContent(configPath, fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8')) as {
-    subtitleStyle: {
-      fontSize?: unknown;
-      fontColor?: unknown;
-      hoverTokenColor?: unknown;
-      hoverTokenBackgroundColor?: unknown;
-      css?: Record<string, string>;
-      secondary?: {
-        fontSize?: unknown;
-        fontColor?: unknown;
-        css?: Record<string, string>;
-      };
-    };
-    subtitleSidebar: {
-      fontFamily?: unknown;
-      fontSize?: unknown;
-      textColor?: unknown;
-      timestampColor?: unknown;
-      css?: Record<string, string>;
-    };
-  };
+  assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8'), originalContent);
 
-  assert.deepEqual(parsed.subtitleStyle.css, {
+  assert.deepEqual(service.getConfig().subtitleStyle.css, {
     color: '#ffffff',
     'font-size': '44px',
     '--subtitle-hover-token-color': '#abcdef',
     '--subtitle-hover-token-background-color': 'transparent',
     'text-wrap': 'balance',
   });
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleStyle, 'fontSize'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleStyle, 'fontColor'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleStyle, 'hoverTokenColor'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleStyle, 'hoverTokenBackgroundColor'), false);
-  assert.deepEqual(parsed.subtitleStyle.secondary?.css, {
+  assert.deepEqual(service.getConfig().subtitleStyle.secondary.css, {
     color: '#bbbbbb',
     'font-size': '28px',
   });
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleStyle.secondary ?? {}, 'fontSize'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleStyle.secondary ?? {}, 'fontColor'), false);
-  assert.deepEqual(parsed.subtitleSidebar.css, {
+  assert.deepEqual(service.getConfig().subtitleSidebar.css, {
     'font-family': 'M PLUS 1, sans-serif',
     color: '#dddddd',
     'font-size': '19px',
     '--subtitle-sidebar-timestamp-color': '#aaaaaa',
   });
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleSidebar, 'fontFamily'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleSidebar, 'fontSize'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleSidebar, 'textColor'), false);
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.subtitleSidebar, 'timestampColor'), false);
-  assert.equal(service.getConfig().subtitleStyle.css['font-size'], '44px');
-  assert.equal(service.getConfig().subtitleStyle.secondary.css['font-size'], '28px');
-  assert.equal(service.getConfig().subtitleSidebar.css['font-size'], '19px');
 });
 
 test('parses subtitleStyle.preserveLineBreaks and warns on invalid values', () => {
@@ -2067,12 +2032,10 @@ test('ignores invalid legacy ankiConnect n+1 color value after migration attempt
   assert.ok(warnings.some((warning) => warning.path === 'ankiConnect.knownWords.color'));
 });
 
-test('migrates legacy ankiConnect n+1 color value to subtitleStyle', () => {
+test('resolves legacy ankiConnect n+1 color value without rewriting config', () => {
   const dir = makeTempDir();
   const configPath = path.join(dir, 'config.jsonc');
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    configPath,
-    `{
+  const originalContent = `{
       "ankiConnect": {
         "nPlusOne": {
           "nPlusOne": "#c6a0f6"
@@ -2081,22 +2044,15 @@ test('migrates legacy ankiConnect n+1 color value to subtitleStyle', () => {
           "color": "#a6da95"
         }
       }
-    }`,
-    'utf-8',
-  );
+    }`;
+  fs.writeFileSync(configPath, originalContent, 'utf-8');
 
   const service = new ConfigService(dir);
   const config = service.getConfig();
 
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.nPlusOneColor, '#c6a0f6');
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.knownWordColor, '#a6da95');
-
-  const parsed = parseConfigContent(configPath, fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8')) as {
-    ankiConnect: { nPlusOne?: Record<string, unknown> };
-    subtitleStyle: { nPlusOneColor?: string; knownWordColor?: string };
-  };
-  assert.equal(parsed.subtitleStyle.nPlusOneColor, '#c6a0f6');
-  assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(parsed.ankiConnect.nPlusOne ?? {}, 'nPlusOne'), false);
+  assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8'), originalContent);
 });
 
 test('legacy migration failures are logged and rethrown', () => {
@@ -2109,12 +2065,10 @@ test('legacy migration failures are logged and rethrown', () => {
   assert.match(catchBlock, /throw error;/);
 });
 
-test('migrates legacy ankiConnect nPlusOne known-word settings to knownWords', () => {
+test('resolves legacy ankiConnect nPlusOne known-word settings without rewriting config', () => {
   const dir = makeTempDir();
   const configPath = path.join(dir, 'config.jsonc');
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    configPath,
-    `{
+  const originalContent = `{
       "ankiConnect": {
         "nPlusOne": {
           "highlightEnabled": true,
@@ -2124,20 +2078,12 @@ test('migrates legacy ankiConnect nPlusOne known-word settings to knownWords', (
           "knownWord": "#a6da95"
         }
       }
-    }`,
-    'utf-8',
-  );
+    }`;
+  fs.writeFileSync(configPath, originalContent, 'utf-8');
 
   const service = new ConfigService(dir);
   const config = service.getConfig();
   const warnings = service.getWarnings();
-  const parsed = parseConfigContent(configPath, fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8')) as {
-    ankiConnect: {
-      knownWords: Record<string, unknown>;
-      nPlusOne?: Record<string, unknown>;
-    };
-    subtitleStyle: { knownWordColor?: string };
-  };
 
   assert.equal(config.ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled, true);
   assert.equal(config.ankiConnect.nPlusOne.enabled, true);
@@ -2148,28 +2094,14 @@ test('migrates legacy ankiConnect nPlusOne known-word settings to knownWords', (
     'Kaishi 1.5k': ['Expression', 'Word', 'Reading', 'Word Reading'],
   });
   assert.equal(config.subtitleStyle.knownWordColor, '#a6da95');
-  assert.equal(parsed.ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled, true);
-  assert.equal(parsed.ankiConnect.knownWords.refreshMinutes, 90);
-  assert.equal(parsed.ankiConnect.knownWords.matchMode, 'surface');
-  assert.deepEqual(parsed.ankiConnect.knownWords.decks, {
-    Mining: ['Expression', 'Word', 'Reading', 'Word Reading'],
-    'Kaishi 1.5k': ['Expression', 'Word', 'Reading', 'Word Reading'],
-  });
-  assert.equal(parsed.subtitleStyle.knownWordColor, '#a6da95');
-  assert.ok(
-    ['highlightEnabled', 'refreshMinutes', 'matchMode', 'decks', 'knownWord'].every(
-      (key) => !Object.hasOwn(parsed.ankiConnect.nPlusOne ?? {}, key),
-    ),
-  );
+  assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8'), originalContent);
   assert.ok(warnings.every((warning) => !warning.path.startsWith('ankiConnect.nPlusOne.')));
 });
 
-test('migrates duplicate ankiConnect nPlusOne objects to the modal path', () => {
+test('resolves duplicate ankiConnect nPlusOne objects without rewriting config', () => {
   const dir = makeTempDir();
   const configPath = path.join(dir, 'config.jsonc');
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    configPath,
-    `{
+  const originalContent = `{
       "ankiConnect": {
         "nPlusOne": {
           "enabled": true,
@@ -2182,19 +2114,14 @@ test('migrates duplicate ankiConnect nPlusOne objects to the modal path', () =>
           "minSentenceWords": "3"
         }
       }
-    }`,
-    'utf-8',
-  );
+    }`;
+  fs.writeFileSync(configPath, originalContent, 'utf-8');
 
   const service = new ConfigService(dir);
   const config = service.getConfig();
-  const parsed = parseConfigContent(configPath, fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8')) as {
-    ankiConnect: { nPlusOne: Record<string, unknown> };
-  };
 
   assert.equal(config.ankiConnect.nPlusOne.enabled, true);
-  assert.equal(parsed.ankiConnect.nPlusOne.enabled, true);
-  assert.equal(parsed.ankiConnect.nPlusOne.minSentenceWords, '3');
+  assert.equal(fs.readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8'), originalContent);
 });
 
 test('supports legacy ankiConnect.behavior N+1 settings as fallback', () => {

src/config/definitions/defaults-core.ts

@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ export const CORE_DEFAULT_CONFIG: Pick<
     primarySubLanguages: ['ja', 'jpn'],
   },
   subsync: {
-    defaultMode: 'auto',
     alass_path: '',
     ffsubsync_path: '',
     ffmpeg_path: '',
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ export const CORE_DEFAULT_CONFIG: Pick<
     mecab: true,
     yomitanExtension: true,
     subtitleDictionaries: true,
-    jellyfinRemoteSession: true,
+    jellyfinRemoteSession: false,
   },
   updates: {
     enabled: true,

src/config/definitions/defaults-subtitle.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export const SUBTITLE_DEFAULT_CONFIG: Pick<ResolvedConfig, 'subtitleStyle' | 'su
     autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup: true,
     hoverTokenColor: '#f4dbd6',
     hoverTokenBackgroundColor: 'transparent',
-    nameMatchEnabled: true,
+    nameMatchEnabled: false,
     nameMatchColor: '#f5bde6',
     fontFamily: 'Hiragino Sans, M PLUS 1, Source Han Sans JP, Noto Sans CJK JP',
     fontSize: 35,
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export const SUBTITLE_DEFAULT_CONFIG: Pick<ResolvedConfig, 'subtitleStyle' | 'su
     autoOpen: false,
     layout: 'overlay',
     toggleKey: 'Backslash',
-    pauseVideoOnHover: false,
+    pauseVideoOnHover: true,
     autoScroll: true,
     css: {},
     maxWidth: 420,

src/config/definitions/options-core.ts

@@ -388,13 +388,6 @@ export function buildCoreConfigOptionRegistry(
       defaultValue: defaultConfig.annotationWebsocket.port,
       description: 'Annotated subtitle websocket server port.',
     },
-    {
-      path: 'subsync.defaultMode',
-      kind: 'enum',
-      enumValues: ['auto', 'manual'],
-      defaultValue: defaultConfig.subsync.defaultMode,
-      description: 'Subsync default mode.',
-    },
     {
       path: 'subsync.replace',
       kind: 'boolean',

src/config/definitions/template-sections.ts

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ const CORE_TEMPLATE_SECTIONS: ConfigTemplateSection[] = [
     key: 'secondarySub',
   },
   {
-    title: 'Auto Subtitle Sync',
+    title: 'Subtitle Sync',
     description: ['Subsync engine and executable paths.'],
     notes: ['Hot-reload: subsync changes apply to the next subtitle sync run.'],
     key: 'subsync',

src/config/resolve/core-domains.ts

@@ -273,13 +273,6 @@ export function applyCoreDomainConfig(context: ResolveContext): void {
   }
 
   if (isObject(src.subsync)) {
-    const mode = src.subsync.defaultMode;
-    if (mode === 'auto' || mode === 'manual') {
-      resolved.subsync.defaultMode = mode;
-    } else if (mode !== undefined) {
-      warn('subsync.defaultMode', mode, resolved.subsync.defaultMode, 'Expected auto or manual.');
-    }
-
     const alass = asString(src.subsync.alass_path);
     if (alass !== undefined) resolved.subsync.alass_path = alass;
     const ffsubsync = asString(src.subsync.ffsubsync_path);

src/config/resolve/subtitle-style.test.ts

@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ test('subtitleStyle nameMatchEnabled falls back on invalid value', () => {
 
   applySubtitleDomainConfig(context);
 
-  assert.equal(context.resolved.subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled, true);
+  assert.equal(context.resolved.subtitleStyle.nameMatchEnabled, false);
   assert.ok(
     warnings.some(
       (warning) =>

src/config/service.ts

@@ -149,7 +149,6 @@ export class ConfigService {
       if (!migrated) {
         return rawConfig;
       }
-      fs.writeFileSync(configPath, content, 'utf-8');
       return rawConfig;
     } catch (error) {
       console.error(`[ConfigService] legacy config migration failed for ${configPath}:`, error);

src/config/settings/registry.test.ts

@@ -19,17 +19,85 @@ test('settings registry splits viewing into appearance and behavior categories',
   assert.equal(field('subtitlePosition.yPercent').label, 'Subtitle Position');
   assert.equal(field('subtitleStyle.frequencyDictionary.mode').label, 'Frequency Mode');
   assert.equal(field('auto_start_overlay').category, 'behavior');
-  assert.equal(field('auto_start_overlay').section, 'Visible Overlay Auto-Start');
+  assert.equal(field('auto_start_overlay').section, 'Playback Behavior');
   assert.equal(field('youtube.primarySubLanguages').category, 'behavior');
   assert.equal(field('youtube.primarySubLanguages').section, 'YouTube Playback Settings');
   assert.equal(field('mpv.launchMode').category, 'behavior');
-  assert.equal(field('mpv.launchMode').section, 'MPV Launcher');
+  assert.equal(field('mpv.launchMode').section, 'mpv Playback');
   assert.ok(
     fields.findIndex((candidate) => candidate.configPath === 'subtitleStyle.primaryDefaultMode') <
       fields.findIndex((candidate) => candidate.configPath === 'secondarySub.defaultMode'),
   );
 });
 
+test('settings registry groups playback startup controls under playback behavior', () => {
+  for (const path of [
+    'subtitleStyle.autoPauseVideoOnHover',
+    'subtitleStyle.autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup',
+    'subtitleSidebar.pauseVideoOnHover',
+    'mpv.autoStartSubMiner',
+    'auto_start_overlay',
+    'mpv.pauseUntilOverlayReady',
+  ]) {
+    assert.equal(field(path).category, 'behavior', path);
+    assert.equal(field(path).section, 'Playback Behavior', path);
+  }
+});
+
+test('settings registry moves AniSkip button key into input shortcuts and hot reload', () => {
+  assert.equal(field('mpv.aniskipButtonKey').category, 'input');
+  assert.equal(field('mpv.aniskipButtonKey').section, 'Overlay Shortcuts');
+  assert.equal(field('mpv.aniskipButtonKey').subsection, 'Playback');
+  assert.equal(field('mpv.aniskipButtonKey').control, 'mpv-key');
+  assert.equal(field('mpv.aniskipButtonKey').restartBehavior, 'hot-reload');
+});
+
+test('settings registry hides removed modal-only fields', () => {
+  for (const path of [
+    'shortcuts.multiCopyTimeoutMs',
+    'anilist.characterDictionary.profileScope',
+    'jellyfin.directPlayContainers',
+    'jellyfin.remoteControlDeviceName',
+  ]) {
+    assert.equal(
+      fields.some((candidate) => candidate.configPath === path),
+      false,
+      path,
+    );
+  }
+});
+
+test('settings registry orders websocket server immediately after annotation websocket', () => {
+  const integrationSections = [
+    ...new Set(
+      fields
+        .filter((candidate) => candidate.category === 'integrations')
+        .map((candidate) => candidate.section),
+    ),
+  ];
+  const annotationIndex = integrationSections.indexOf('Annotation WebSocket');
+  assert.equal(integrationSections[annotationIndex + 1], 'WebSocket server');
+});
+
+test('settings registry explains websocket auto mode and keeps it disabled by default', () => {
+  assert.equal(field('websocket.enabled').defaultValue, false);
+  assert.equal(
+    field('websocket.enabled').description,
+    'Built-in subtitle WebSocket server mode. Auto starts the built-in server only when mpv_websocket is not detected; otherwise it defers to the plugin.',
+  );
+});
+
+test('settings registry places immersion tracking after other tracking and app sections', () => {
+  const trackingSections = [
+    ...new Set(
+      fields
+        .filter((candidate) => candidate.category === 'tracking-app')
+        .map((candidate) => candidate.section),
+    ),
+  ];
+  assert.equal(trackingSections.at(-1), 'Immersion tracking');
+});
+
 test('settings registry groups annotation display fields by config group', () => {
   assert.equal(field('ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled').section, 'Annotation Display');
   assert.equal(field('ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled').subsection, 'Known Words');
@@ -134,8 +202,8 @@ test('settings registry exposes css declaration editor for subtitle sidebar appe
 test('settings registry routes playback-related integrations into integrations', () => {
   assert.equal(field('jimaku.apiBaseUrl').category, 'integrations');
   assert.equal(field('jimaku.apiBaseUrl').section, 'Jimaku');
-  assert.equal(field('subsync.defaultMode').category, 'integrations');
-  assert.equal(field('subsync.defaultMode').section, 'Subtitle Sync');
+  assert.equal(field('subsync.replace').category, 'integrations');
+  assert.equal(field('subsync.replace').section, 'Subtitle Sync');
 });
 
 test('settings registry puts feature toggles first, then other toggles alphabetically', () => {
@@ -190,6 +258,7 @@ test('settings registry hides app-managed and inactive config surfaces', () => {
 
 test('settings registry marks safe live config paths as hot-reloadable', () => {
   for (const path of [
+    'mpv.aniskipButtonKey',
     'stats.toggleKey',
     'stats.markWatchedKey',
     'logging.level',
@@ -197,7 +266,7 @@ test('settings registry marks safe live config paths as hot-reloadable', () => {
     'jimaku.apiBaseUrl',
     'jimaku.languagePreference',
     'jimaku.maxEntryResults',
-    'subsync.defaultMode',
+    'subsync.replace',
     'ankiConnect.behavior.autoUpdateNewCards',
     'ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled',
     'ankiConnect.knownWords.refreshMinutes',
@@ -218,6 +287,11 @@ test('settings registry marks safe live config paths as hot-reloadable', () => {
   }
 });
 
+test('settings registry does not expose removed subsync mode option', () => {
+  const paths = new Set(fields.map((candidate) => candidate.configPath));
+  assert.equal(paths.has('subsync.defaultMode'), false);
+});
+
 test('settings registry keeps unsafe config siblings restart-required', () => {
   for (const path of [
     'stats.serverPort',

src/config/settings/registry.ts

@@ -65,13 +65,17 @@ export const LEGACY_HIDDEN_CONFIG_PATHS = [
   'youtubeSubgen.primarySubLanguages',
   'anilist.characterDictionary.refreshTtlHours',
   'anilist.characterDictionary.evictionPolicy',
+  'anilist.characterDictionary.profileScope',
   'jellyfin.accessToken',
   'jellyfin.userId',
   'jellyfin.clientName',
   'jellyfin.clientVersion',
   'jellyfin.defaultLibraryId',
   'jellyfin.deviceId',
+  'jellyfin.directPlayContainers',
+  'jellyfin.remoteControlDeviceName',
   'controller.buttonIndices',
+  'shortcuts.multiCopyTimeoutMs',
   'subtitleSidebar.toggleKey',
   'jellyfin.recentServers',
 ] as const;
@@ -123,12 +127,11 @@ const SECTION_ORDER = new Map<string, number>(
     'Primary Subtitle Appearance',
     'Secondary Subtitle Appearance',
     'Subtitle Sidebar Appearance',
-    'Playback Pause Behavior',
+    'Playback Behavior',
     'Subtitle Behavior',
     'Subtitle Sidebar Behavior',
-    'Visible Overlay Auto-Start',
     'YouTube Playback Settings',
-    'MPV Launcher',
+    'mpv Playback',
     'Note Fields',
     'Media Capture',
     'Kiku/Lapis Features',
@@ -140,7 +143,19 @@ const SECTION_ORDER = new Map<string, number>(
     'MPV Keybindings',
     'Overlay Shortcuts',
     'Controller',
+    'Annotation WebSocket',
+    'WebSocket server',
+    'AniList',
     'Character Dictionary',
+    'Discord Rich Presence',
+    'Jellyfin',
+    'Texthooker',
+    'Yomitan',
+    'Stats dashboard',
+    'Startup warmups',
+    'Logging',
+    'Updates',
+    'Immersion tracking',
   ].map((section, index) => [section, index]),
 );
 
@@ -169,9 +184,9 @@ const PATH_ORDER = new Map<string, number>(
     'mpv.backend',
     'mpv.subminerBinaryPath',
     'mpv.aniskipEnabled',
-    'mpv.aniskipButtonKey',
     'mpv.launchMode',
     'mpv.executablePath',
+    'mpv.aniskipButtonKey',
   ].map((path, index) => [path, index]),
 );
 
@@ -186,7 +201,6 @@ const SUBSECTION_ORDER = new Map<string, number>(
     'Toggle & Visibility',
     'Open Panels',
     'Playback',
-    'Timing',
     'Default Fold State',
   ].map((subsection, index) => [subsection, index]),
 );
@@ -215,6 +229,7 @@ const LABEL_OVERRIDES: Record<string, string> = {
   'mpv.pauseUntilOverlayReady': 'Pause Until Overlay Ready',
   'mpv.aniskipEnabled': 'Enable AniSkip',
   'mpv.aniskipButtonKey': 'AniSkip Button Key',
+  'discordPresence.updateIntervalMs': 'Update Interval (ms)',
 };
 
 const DESCRIPTION_OVERRIDES: Record<string, string> = {
@@ -232,6 +247,10 @@ const DESCRIPTION_OVERRIDES: Record<string, string> = {
     'CSS declarations applied to secondary subtitles. Includes color, background-color, and all font properties.',
   'subtitleSidebar.css':
     'CSS declarations applied to the subtitle sidebar. Includes color, background-color, all font properties, and sidebar CSS variables.',
+  'websocket.enabled':
+    'Built-in subtitle WebSocket server mode. Auto starts the built-in server only when mpv_websocket is not detected; otherwise it defers to the plugin.',
+  'discordPresence.updateIntervalMs':
+    'Minimum interval between presence payload updates, in milliseconds.',
 };
 
 function isRecord(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
@@ -295,7 +314,7 @@ function categoryAndSection(path: string): { category: ConfigSettingsCategory; s
     path === 'subtitleStyle.autoPauseVideoOnYomitanPopup' ||
     path === 'subtitleSidebar.pauseVideoOnHover'
   ) {
-    return { category: 'behavior', section: 'Playback Pause Behavior' };
+    return { category: 'behavior', section: 'Playback Behavior' };
   }
   if (path === 'subtitleStyle.preserveLineBreaks') {
     return { category: 'behavior', section: 'Subtitle Behavior' };
@@ -373,8 +392,15 @@ function categoryAndSection(path: string): { category: ConfigSettingsCategory; s
   if (path.startsWith('ankiConnect.')) {
     return { category: 'mining-anki', section: 'AnkiConnect' };
   }
-  if (path === 'auto_start_overlay') {
-    return { category: 'behavior', section: topSection(path) };
+  if (
+    path === 'auto_start_overlay' ||
+    path === 'mpv.autoStartSubMiner' ||
+    path === 'mpv.pauseUntilOverlayReady'
+  ) {
+    return { category: 'behavior', section: 'Playback Behavior' };
+  }
+  if (path === 'mpv.aniskipButtonKey') {
+    return { category: 'input', section: 'Overlay Shortcuts' };
   }
   if (path.startsWith('mpv.') || path.startsWith('youtube.')) {
     return { category: 'behavior', section: topSection(path) };
@@ -437,7 +463,7 @@ function topSection(path: string): string {
     jimaku: 'Jimaku',
     jellyfin: 'Jellyfin',
     logging: 'Logging',
-    mpv: 'MPV Launcher',
+    mpv: 'mpv Playback',
     stats: 'Stats dashboard',
     startupWarmups: 'Startup warmups',
     subsync: 'Subtitle Sync',
@@ -447,7 +473,7 @@ function topSection(path: string): string {
     yomitan: 'Yomitan',
     youtube: 'YouTube Playback Settings',
     youtubeSubgen: 'YouTube subtitle generation',
-    auto_start_overlay: 'Visible Overlay Auto-Start',
+    auto_start_overlay: 'Playback Behavior',
   };
   return labels[top] ?? humanizePath(top);
 }
@@ -515,9 +541,11 @@ function subsectionForPath(path: string): string | undefined {
   if (path === 'stats.toggleKey' || path === 'stats.markWatchedKey') {
     return 'Toggle & Visibility';
   }
+  if (path === 'mpv.aniskipButtonKey') {
+    return 'Playback';
+  }
   if (path.startsWith('shortcuts.')) {
     const leaf = path.split('.').at(-1) ?? '';
-    if (leaf === 'multiCopyTimeoutMs') return 'Timing';
     if (
       leaf === 'copySubtitle' ||
       leaf === 'copySubtitleMultiple' ||
@@ -632,6 +660,7 @@ function restartBehaviorForPath(path: string): ConfigSettingsRestartBehavior {
     path === 'ankiConnect.fields.miscInfo' ||
     path === 'ankiConnect.isLapis.sentenceCardModel' ||
     path === 'ankiConnect.isKiku.fieldGrouping' ||
+    path === 'mpv.aniskipButtonKey' ||
     path === 'stats.toggleKey' ||
     path === 'stats.markWatchedKey' ||
     path === 'logging.level' ||

src/core/services/app-lifecycle.test.ts

@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ function makeArgs(overrides: Partial<CliArgs> = {}): CliArgs {
     toggle: false,
     toggleVisibleOverlay: false,
     togglePrimarySubtitleBar: false,
+    yomitan: false,
     settings: false,
-    configSettings: false,
     setup: false,
     show: false,
     hide: false,
@@ -223,3 +223,97 @@ test('startAppLifecycle queues second-instance commands until app ready runtime
   runSecondInstance(['SubMiner', '--start']);
   assert.deepEqual(handled, ['ready', 'second-instance:start', 'second-instance:start']);
 });
+
+test('startAppLifecycle routes control socket commands through the second-instance queue', async () => {
+  const handled: string[] = [];
+  let controlArgvHandler: ((argv: string[]) => void) | null = null;
+  let readyHandler: (() => Promise<void>) | null = null;
+  let releaseReady: (() => void) | null = null;
+  const readyFinished = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    releaseReady = resolve;
+  });
+
+  const { deps } = createDeps({
+    shouldStartApp: () => true,
+    parseArgs: (argv) => makeArgs({ start: argv.includes('--start') }),
+    handleCliCommand: (args, source) => {
+      handled.push(`${source}:${args.start ? 'start' : 'other'}`);
+    },
+    startControlServer: (handler) => {
+      controlArgvHandler = handler;
+      return () => {
+        handled.push('control-close');
+      };
+    },
+    whenReady: (handler) => {
+      readyHandler = handler;
+    },
+    onReady: async () => {
+      await readyFinished;
+      handled.push('ready');
+    },
+  });
+
+  let willQuitHandler: (() => void) | null = null;
+  deps.onWillQuit = (handler) => {
+    willQuitHandler = handler;
+  };
+
+  startAppLifecycle(makeArgs({ background: true }), deps);
+
+  assert.ok(controlArgvHandler);
+  (controlArgvHandler as (argv: string[]) => void)(['--start']);
+  assert.deepEqual(handled, []);
+
+  assert.ok(readyHandler);
+  const readyRun = (readyHandler as () => Promise<void>)();
+  await Promise.resolve();
+  assert.deepEqual(handled, []);
+
+  assert.ok(releaseReady);
+  (releaseReady as () => void)();
+  await readyRun;
+  assert.deepEqual(handled, ['ready', 'second-instance:start']);
+
+  assert.ok(willQuitHandler);
+  (willQuitHandler as () => void)();
+  assert.deepEqual(handled, ['ready', 'second-instance:start', 'control-close']);
+});
+
+test('startAppLifecycle quits macOS config-only launch when all windows close', () => {
+  let windowAllClosedHandler: (() => void) | null = null;
+  const { deps, calls } = createDeps({
+    shouldStartApp: () => true,
+    isDarwinPlatform: () => true,
+    shouldQuitOnWindowAllClosed: () => true,
+    onWindowAllClosed: (handler) => {
+      windowAllClosedHandler = handler;
+    },
+  });
+
+  startAppLifecycle(makeArgs({ settings: true }), deps);
+
+  const handler = windowAllClosedHandler as (() => void) | null;
+  assert.ok(handler);
+  handler();
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['quitApp']);
+});
+
+test('startAppLifecycle quits macOS setup-only launch when all windows close', () => {
+  let windowAllClosedHandler: (() => void) | null = null;
+  const { deps, calls } = createDeps({
+    shouldStartApp: () => true,
+    isDarwinPlatform: () => true,
+    shouldQuitOnWindowAllClosed: () => true,
+    onWindowAllClosed: (handler) => {
+      windowAllClosedHandler = handler;
+    },
+  });
+
+  startAppLifecycle(makeArgs({ setup: true }), deps);
+
+  const handler = windowAllClosedHandler as (() => void) | null;
+  assert.ok(handler);
+  handler();
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['quitApp']);
+});

src/core/services/app-lifecycle.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export interface AppLifecycleServiceDeps {
   handleCliCommand: (args: CliArgs, source: CliCommandSource) => void;
   printHelp: () => void;
   logNoRunningInstance: () => void;
+  startControlServer?: (handleArgv: (argv: string[]) => void) => (() => void) | void;
   whenReady: (handler: () => Promise<void>) => void;
   onWindowAllClosed: (handler: () => void) => void;
   onWillQuit: (handler: () => void) => void;
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ export interface AppLifecycleDepsRuntimeOptions {
   handleCliCommand: (args: CliArgs, source: CliCommandSource) => void;
   printHelp: () => void;
   logNoRunningInstance: () => void;
+  startControlServer?: (handleArgv: (argv: string[]) => void) => (() => void) | void;
   onReady: () => Promise<void>;
   onWillQuitCleanup: () => void;
   shouldRestoreWindowsOnActivate: () => boolean;
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ export function createAppLifecycleDepsRuntime(
     handleCliCommand: options.handleCliCommand,
     printHelp: options.printHelp,
     logNoRunningInstance: options.logNoRunningInstance,
+    startControlServer: options.startControlServer,
     whenReady: (handler) => {
       options.app
         .whenReady()
@@ -116,6 +119,7 @@ export function startAppLifecycle(initialArgs: CliArgs, deps: AppLifecycleServic
 
   let appReadyRuntimeComplete = false;
   const pendingSecondInstanceCommands: CliArgs[] = [];
+  let stopControlServer: (() => void) | null = null;
   const handleSecondInstanceCommand = (args: CliArgs): void => {
     try {
       deps.handleCliCommand(args, 'second-instance');
@@ -133,7 +137,7 @@ export function startAppLifecycle(initialArgs: CliArgs, deps: AppLifecycleServic
     }
   };
 
-  deps.onSecondInstance((_event, argv) => {
+  const dispatchSecondInstanceArgv = (argv: string[]): void => {
     try {
       const nextArgs = deps.parseArgs(argv);
       if (!appReadyRuntimeComplete) {
@@ -145,6 +149,10 @@ export function startAppLifecycle(initialArgs: CliArgs, deps: AppLifecycleServic
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error('Failed to handle second-instance CLI command:', error);
     }
+  };
+
+  deps.onSecondInstance((_event, argv) => {
+    dispatchSecondInstanceArgv(argv);
   });
 
   if (!deps.shouldStartApp(initialArgs)) {
@@ -157,6 +165,12 @@ export function startAppLifecycle(initialArgs: CliArgs, deps: AppLifecycleServic
     return;
   }
 
+  try {
+    stopControlServer = deps.startControlServer?.(dispatchSecondInstanceArgv) ?? null;
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.error('Failed to start app control socket:', error);
+  }
+
   deps.whenReady(async () => {
     await deps.onReady();
     appReadyRuntimeComplete = true;
@@ -164,12 +178,17 @@ export function startAppLifecycle(initialArgs: CliArgs, deps: AppLifecycleServic
   });
 
   deps.onWindowAllClosed(() => {
-    if (!deps.isDarwinPlatform() && deps.shouldQuitOnWindowAllClosed()) {
+    if (
+      deps.shouldQuitOnWindowAllClosed() &&
+      (!deps.isDarwinPlatform() || initialArgs.settings || initialArgs.setup)
+    ) {
       deps.quitApp();
     }
   });
 
   deps.onWillQuit(() => {
+    stopControlServer?.();
+    stopControlServer = null;
     deps.onWillQuitCleanup();
   });
 

src/core/services/cli-command.test.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import test from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { CliArgs } from '../../cli/args';
-import { CliCommandServiceDeps, handleCliCommand } from './cli-command';
+import {
+  CliCommandServiceDeps,
+  createCliCommandDepsRuntime,
+  handleCliCommand,
+} from './cli-command';
 
 function makeArgs(overrides: Partial<CliArgs> = {}): CliArgs {
   return {
@@ -15,8 +19,8 @@ function makeArgs(overrides: Partial<CliArgs> = {}): CliArgs {
     stop: false,
     toggle: false,
     toggleVisibleOverlay: false,
+    yomitan: false,
     settings: false,
-    configSettings: false,
     setup: false,
     show: false,
     hide: false,
@@ -501,6 +505,132 @@ test('handleCliCommand applies socket path and connects on start', () => {
   assert.ok(calls.includes('connectMpvClient'));
 });
 
+test('createCliCommandDepsRuntime reconnects MPV client when reconnect hook exists', () => {
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  const client = {
+    setSocketPath: (socketPath: string) => {
+      calls.push(`setSocketPath:${socketPath}`);
+    },
+    connect: () => {
+      calls.push('connect');
+    },
+    reconnect: () => {
+      calls.push('reconnect');
+    },
+  };
+  const deps = createCliCommandDepsRuntime({
+    mpv: {
+      getSocketPath: () => '/tmp/runtime.sock',
+      setSocketPath: () => {},
+      getClient: () => client,
+      showOsd: () => {},
+    },
+    texthooker: {
+      service: { isRunning: () => false, start: () => {} },
+      getPort: () => 5174,
+      setPort: () => {},
+      getWebsocketUrl: () => undefined,
+      shouldOpenBrowser: () => false,
+      openInBrowser: () => {},
+    },
+    overlay: {
+      isInitialized: () => true,
+      initialize: () => {},
+      toggleVisible: () => {},
+      togglePrimarySubtitleBar: () => {},
+      setVisible: () => {},
+    },
+    mining: {
+      copyCurrentSubtitle: () => {},
+      startPendingMultiCopy: () => {},
+      mineSentenceCard: async () => {},
+      startPendingMineSentenceMultiple: () => {},
+      updateLastCardFromClipboard: async () => {},
+      refreshKnownWords: async () => {},
+      triggerFieldGrouping: async () => {},
+      triggerSubsyncFromConfig: async () => {},
+      markLastCardAsAudioCard: async () => {},
+    },
+    anilist: {
+      getStatus: () => ({
+        tokenStatus: 'not_checked',
+        tokenSource: 'none',
+        tokenMessage: null,
+        tokenResolvedAt: null,
+        tokenErrorAt: null,
+        queuePending: 0,
+        queueReady: 0,
+        queueDeadLetter: 0,
+        queueLastAttemptAt: null,
+        queueLastError: null,
+      }),
+      clearToken: () => {},
+      openSetup: () => {},
+      getQueueStatus: () => ({
+        pending: 0,
+        ready: 0,
+        deadLetter: 0,
+        lastAttemptAt: null,
+        lastError: null,
+      }),
+      retryQueueNow: async () => ({ ok: true, message: 'ok' }),
+    },
+    dictionary: {
+      generate: async () => ({
+        zipPath: '/tmp/test.zip',
+        fromCache: false,
+        mediaId: 1,
+        mediaTitle: 'Test',
+        entryCount: 0,
+      }),
+      getSelection: async () => ({
+        seriesKey: 'test',
+        guessTitle: null,
+        current: null,
+        override: null,
+        candidates: [],
+      }),
+      setSelection: async () => ({
+        ok: true,
+        seriesKey: 'test',
+        selected: { id: 1, title: 'Test', episodes: null },
+        staleMediaIds: [],
+      }),
+    },
+    jellyfin: {
+      openSetup: () => {},
+      runStatsCommand: async () => {},
+      runCommand: async () => {},
+    },
+    ui: {
+      openFirstRunSetup: () => {},
+      openYomitanSettings: () => {},
+      openConfigSettingsWindow: () => {},
+      cycleSecondarySubMode: () => {},
+      openRuntimeOptionsPalette: () => {},
+      printHelp: () => {},
+    },
+    app: {
+      stop: () => {},
+      hasMainWindow: () => true,
+      runUpdateCommand: async () => {},
+      runYoutubePlaybackFlow: async () => {},
+    },
+    dispatchSessionAction: async () => {},
+    getMultiCopyTimeoutMs: () => 2500,
+    schedule: () => undefined,
+    log: () => {},
+    logDebug: () => {},
+    warn: () => {},
+    error: () => {},
+  });
+
+  deps.setMpvClientSocketPath('/tmp/runtime.sock');
+  deps.connectMpvClient();
+
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['setSocketPath:/tmp/runtime.sock', 'reconnect']);
+});
+
 test('handleCliCommand warns when texthooker port override used while running', () => {
   const { deps, calls } = createDeps({
     isTexthookerRunning: () => true,
@@ -586,8 +716,8 @@ test('handleCliCommand handles visibility and utility command dispatches', () =>
     args: Partial<CliArgs>;
     expected: string;
   }> = [
-    { args: { settings: true }, expected: 'openYomitanSettingsDelayed:1000' },
-    { args: { configSettings: true }, expected: 'openConfigSettingsWindow' },
+    { args: { yomitan: true }, expected: 'openYomitanSettingsDelayed:1000' },
+    { args: { settings: true }, expected: 'openConfigSettingsWindow' },
     {
       args: { showVisibleOverlay: true },
       expected: 'setVisibleOverlayVisible:true',

src/core/services/cli-command.ts

@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ export interface CliCommandServiceDeps {
 interface MpvClientLike {
   setSocketPath: (socketPath: string) => void;
   connect: () => void;
+  reconnect?: () => void;
 }
 
 interface TexthookerServiceLike {
@@ -235,6 +236,10 @@ export function createCliCommandDepsRuntime(
     connectMpvClient: () => {
       const client = options.mpv.getClient();
       if (!client) return;
+      if (client.reconnect) {
+        client.reconnect();
+        return;
+      }
       client.connect();
     },
     isTexthookerRunning: () => options.texthooker.service.isRunning(),
@@ -386,9 +391,9 @@ export function handleCliCommand(
   } else if (args.setup) {
     deps.openFirstRunSetup(true);
     deps.logDebug('Opened first-run setup flow.');
-  } else if (args.settings) {
+  } else if (args.yomitan) {
     deps.openYomitanSettingsDelayed(1000);
-  } else if (args.configSettings) {
+  } else if (args.settings) {
     deps.openConfigSettingsWindow();
   } else if (args.show || args.showVisibleOverlay) {
     deps.setVisibleOverlayVisible(true);

src/core/services/config-hot-reload.test.ts

@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ test('classifyConfigHotReloadDiff separates hot and restart-required fields', ()
 test('classifyConfigHotReloadDiff treats safe nested config paths as hot-reloadable', () => {
   const prev = deepCloneConfig(DEFAULT_CONFIG);
   const next = deepCloneConfig(DEFAULT_CONFIG);
+  next.mpv.aniskipButtonKey = 'F8';
   next.stats.toggleKey = 'F8';
   next.stats.markWatchedKey = 'F9';
   next.logging.level = 'debug';
   next.youtube.primarySubLanguages = ['ja', 'en'];
   next.jimaku.maxEntryResults = prev.jimaku.maxEntryResults + 1;
-  next.subsync.defaultMode = prev.subsync.defaultMode === 'auto' ? 'manual' : 'auto';
+  next.subsync.replace = !prev.subsync.replace;
   next.ankiConnect.behavior.autoUpdateNewCards = !prev.ankiConnect.behavior.autoUpdateNewCards;
   next.ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled = !prev.ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled;
   next.ankiConnect.knownWords.refreshMinutes = prev.ankiConnect.knownWords.refreshMinutes + 5;
@@ -52,11 +53,12 @@ test('classifyConfigHotReloadDiff treats safe nested config paths as hot-reloada
     new Set(diff.hotReloadFields),
     new Set([
       'stats.toggleKey',
+      'mpv.aniskipButtonKey',
       'stats.markWatchedKey',
       'logging.level',
       'youtube.primarySubLanguages',
       'jimaku.maxEntryResults',
-      'subsync.defaultMode',
+      'subsync.replace',
       'ankiConnect.behavior.autoUpdateNewCards',
       'ankiConnect.knownWords.highlightEnabled',
       'ankiConnect.knownWords.refreshMinutes',

src/core/services/config-hot-reload.ts

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ const HOT_RELOAD_ROOTS = ['subtitleStyle', 'keybindings', 'shortcuts', 'subtitle
 
 const HOT_RELOAD_EXACT_OR_PREFIX_PATHS = [
   'secondarySub.defaultMode',
+  'mpv.aniskipButtonKey',
   'ankiConnect.ai.enabled',
   'stats.toggleKey',
   'stats.markWatchedKey',

src/core/services/mpv-transport.test.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ class FakeSocket extends EventEmitter {
   }
 }
 
+class ManualCloseSocket extends FakeSocket {
+  override destroy(): void {
+    this.destroyed = true;
+  }
+}
+
 const wait = () => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
 
 test('getMpvReconnectDelay follows existing reconnect ramp', () => {
@@ -203,12 +209,15 @@ test('MpvSocketTransport ignores connect requests while already connecting or co
 });
 
 test('MpvSocketTransport.shutdown clears socket and lifecycle flags', async () => {
+  const events: string[] = [];
   const transport = new MpvSocketTransport({
     socketPath: '/tmp/mpv.sock',
     onConnect: () => {},
     onData: () => {},
     onError: () => {},
-    onClose: () => {},
+    onClose: () => {
+      events.push('close');
+    },
     socketFactory: () => new FakeSocket() as unknown as net.Socket,
   });
 
@@ -220,4 +229,45 @@ test('MpvSocketTransport.shutdown clears socket and lifecycle flags', async () =
   assert.equal(transport.isConnected, false);
   assert.equal(transport.isConnecting, false);
   assert.equal(transport.getSocket(), null);
+  assert.deepEqual(events, []);
+});
+
+test('MpvSocketTransport ignores stale socket events after shutdown and reconnect', async () => {
+  const events: string[] = [];
+  const sockets: ManualCloseSocket[] = [];
+  const transport = new MpvSocketTransport({
+    socketPath: '/tmp/mpv.sock',
+    onConnect: () => {
+      events.push('connect');
+    },
+    onData: () => {
+      events.push('data');
+    },
+    onError: () => {
+      events.push('error');
+    },
+    onClose: () => {
+      events.push('close');
+    },
+    socketFactory: () => {
+      const socket = new ManualCloseSocket();
+      sockets.push(socket);
+      return socket as unknown as net.Socket;
+    },
+  });
+
+  transport.connect();
+  await wait();
+  transport.shutdown();
+  transport.connect();
+  await wait();
+  const eventsBeforeStaleSocket = [...events];
+
+  sockets[0]!.emit('data', Buffer.from('{}'));
+  sockets[0]!.emit('error', new Error('stale'));
+  sockets[0]!.emit('close');
+
+  assert.deepEqual(events, eventsBeforeStaleSocket);
+  assert.equal(transport.isConnected, true);
+  assert.equal(transport.getSocket(), sockets[1]);
 });

src/core/services/mpv-transport.ts

@@ -105,32 +105,37 @@ export class MpvSocketTransport {
     }
 
     this.connecting = true;
-    this.socketRef = this.socketFactory();
-    this.socket = this.socketRef;
+    const socket = this.socketFactory();
+    this.socketRef = socket;
+    this.socket = socket;
 
-    this.socketRef.on('connect', () => {
+    socket.on('connect', () => {
+      if (this.socketRef !== socket) return;
       this.connected = true;
       this.connecting = false;
       this.callbacks.onConnect();
     });
 
-    this.socketRef.on('data', (data: Buffer) => {
+    socket.on('data', (data: Buffer) => {
+      if (this.socketRef !== socket) return;
       this.callbacks.onData(data);
     });
 
-    this.socketRef.on('error', (error: Error) => {
+    socket.on('error', (error: Error) => {
+      if (this.socketRef !== socket) return;
       this.connected = false;
       this.connecting = false;
       this.callbacks.onError(error);
     });
 
-    this.socketRef.on('close', () => {
+    socket.on('close', () => {
+      if (this.socketRef !== socket) return;
       this.connected = false;
       this.connecting = false;
       this.callbacks.onClose();
     });
 
-    this.socketRef.connect(this.socketPath);
+    socket.connect(this.socketPath);
   }
 
   send(payload: MpvSocketMessagePayload): boolean {
@@ -144,13 +149,14 @@ export class MpvSocketTransport {
   }
 
   shutdown(): void {
-    if (this.socketRef) {
-      this.socketRef.destroy();
-    }
+    const socket = this.socketRef;
     this.socketRef = null;
     this.socket = null;
     this.connected = false;
     this.connecting = false;
+    if (socket) {
+      socket.destroy();
+    }
   }
 
   getSocket(): net.Socket | null {

src/core/services/mpv.test.ts

@@ -168,6 +168,37 @@ test('MpvIpcClient connect logs connect-request at debug level', () => {
   assert.equal(requestLogs.length, 1);
 });
 
+test('MpvIpcClient reconnect clears stale connected state and starts a fresh transport connect', () => {
+  const client = new MpvIpcClient('/tmp/mpv.sock', makeDeps());
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  const connectionChanges: boolean[] = [];
+  const resolved: unknown[] = [];
+  client.on('connection-change', ({ connected }) => {
+    connectionChanges.push(connected);
+  });
+  (client as any).connected = true;
+  (client as any).connecting = false;
+  (client as any).socket = {};
+  (client as any).pendingRequests.set(10, (message: unknown) => {
+    resolved.push(message);
+  });
+  (client as any).transport.shutdown = () => {
+    calls.push('shutdown');
+  };
+  (client as any).transport.connect = () => {
+    calls.push('connect');
+  };
+
+  client.reconnect();
+
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['shutdown', 'connect']);
+  assert.equal(client.connected, false);
+  assert.equal((client as any).connecting, true);
+  assert.equal((client as any).socket, null);
+  assert.deepEqual(connectionChanges, [false]);
+  assert.deepEqual(resolved, [{ request_id: 10, error: 'disconnected' }]);
+});
+
 test('MpvIpcClient failPendingRequests resolves outstanding requests as disconnected', () => {
   const client = new MpvIpcClient('/tmp/mpv.sock', makeDeps());
   const resolved: unknown[] = [];

src/core/services/mpv.ts

@@ -275,6 +275,21 @@ export class MpvIpcClient implements MpvClient {
     this.transport.connect();
   }
 
+  reconnect(): void {
+    logger.debug('MPV IPC reconnect requested.');
+    const wasConnected = this.connected;
+    this.transport.shutdown();
+    this.connected = false;
+    this.connecting = false;
+    this.socket = null;
+    this.playbackPaused = null;
+    if (wasConnected) {
+      this.emit('connection-change', { connected: false });
+    }
+    this.failPendingRequests();
+    this.connect();
+  }
+
   private scheduleReconnect(): void {
     this.reconnectAttempt = scheduleMpvReconnect({
       attempt: this.reconnectAttempt,

src/core/services/startup-bootstrap.test.ts

@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ function makeArgs(overrides: Partial<CliArgs> = {}): CliArgs {
     toggle: false,
     toggleVisibleOverlay: false,
     togglePrimarySubtitleBar: false,
+    yomitan: false,
     settings: false,
-    configSettings: false,
     setup: false,
     show: false,
     hide: false,

src/core/services/subsync.test.ts

@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ function makeDeps(
   return {
     getMpvClient: () => mpvClient,
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath: '/usr/bin/alass',
       ffsubsyncPath: '/usr/bin/ffsubsync',
       ffmpegPath: '/usr/bin/ffmpeg',
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig returns early when already in progress', async ()
   assert.deepEqual(osd, ['Subsync already running']);
 });
 
-test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig opens manual picker in manual mode', async () => {
+test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig opens manual picker', async () => {
   const osd: string[] = [];
   let payloadTrackCount = 0;
   let inProgressState: boolean | null = null;
@@ -92,6 +91,31 @@ test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig opens manual picker in manual mode', async () =>
   assert.equal(inProgressState, false);
 });
 
+test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig does not run automatic sync', async () => {
+  const osd: string[] = [];
+  let payloadTrackCount = 0;
+  let spinnerRan = false;
+
+  await triggerSubsyncFromConfig(
+    makeDeps({
+      openManualPicker: (payload) => {
+        payloadTrackCount = payload.sourceTracks.length;
+      },
+      showMpvOsd: (text) => {
+        osd.push(text);
+      },
+      runWithSubsyncSpinner: async <T>(task: () => Promise<T>) => {
+        spinnerRan = true;
+        return task();
+      },
+    }),
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(payloadTrackCount, 1);
+  assert.equal(spinnerRan, false);
+  assert.deepEqual(osd, ['Subsync: choose engine and source']);
+});
+
 test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig dedupes repeated subtitle source tracks', async () => {
   let payloadTrackCount = 0;
 
@@ -161,14 +185,14 @@ test('runSubsyncManual requires a source track for alass', async () => {
   });
 });
 
-test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig reports path validation failures', async () => {
+test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig does not validate sync tool paths before manual selection', async () => {
   const osd: string[] = [];
   const inProgress: boolean[] = [];
+  let payloadTrackCount = 0;
 
   await triggerSubsyncFromConfig(
     makeDeps({
       getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-        defaultMode: 'auto',
         alassPath: '/missing/alass',
         ffsubsyncPath: '/missing/ffsubsync',
         ffmpegPath: '/missing/ffmpeg',
@@ -176,16 +200,18 @@ test('triggerSubsyncFromConfig reports path validation failures', async () => {
       setSubsyncInProgress: (value) => {
         inProgress.push(value);
       },
+      openManualPicker: (payload) => {
+        payloadTrackCount = payload.sourceTracks.length;
+      },
       showMpvOsd: (text) => {
         osd.push(text);
       },
     }),
   );
 
-  assert.deepEqual(inProgress, [true, false]);
-  assert.ok(
-    osd.some((line) => line.startsWith('Subsync failed: Configured ffmpeg executable not found')),
-  );
+  assert.deepEqual(inProgress, [false]);
+  assert.equal(payloadTrackCount, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(osd, ['Subsync: choose engine and source']);
 });
 
 function writeExecutableScript(filePath: string, content: string): void {
@@ -260,7 +286,6 @@ test('runSubsyncManual constructs ffsubsync command and returns success', async
       },
     }),
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath,
       ffsubsyncPath,
       ffmpegPath,
@@ -326,7 +351,6 @@ test('runSubsyncManual writes deterministic _retimed filename when replace is fa
       },
     }),
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath,
       ffsubsyncPath,
       ffmpegPath,
@@ -382,7 +406,6 @@ test('runSubsyncManual reports ffsubsync command failures with details', async (
       },
     }),
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath,
       ffsubsyncPath,
       ffmpegPath,
@@ -448,7 +471,6 @@ test('runSubsyncManual constructs alass command and returns failure on non-zero
       },
     }),
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath,
       ffsubsyncPath,
       ffmpegPath,
@@ -520,7 +542,6 @@ test('runSubsyncManual keeps internal alass source file alive until sync finishe
       },
     }),
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath,
       ffsubsyncPath,
       ffmpegPath,
@@ -577,7 +598,6 @@ test('runSubsyncManual resolves string sid values from mpv stream properties', a
       },
     }),
     getResolvedConfig: () => ({
-      defaultMode: 'manual',
       alassPath,
       ffsubsyncPath,
       ffmpegPath,

src/core/services/subsync.ts

@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ import {
   SubsyncResolvedConfig,
 } from '../../subsync/utils';
 import { isRemoteMediaPath } from '../../jimaku/utils';
-import { createLogger } from '../../logger';
-
-const logger = createLogger('main:subsync');
 
 interface FileExtractionResult {
   path: string;
@@ -340,57 +337,6 @@ function validateFfsubsyncReference(videoPath: string): void {
   }
 }
 
-async function runSubsyncAutoInternal(deps: SubsyncCoreDeps): Promise<SubsyncResult> {
-  const client = getMpvClientForSubsync(deps);
-  const context = await gatherSubsyncContext(client);
-  const resolved = deps.getResolvedConfig();
-  const ffmpegPath = ensureExecutablePath(resolved.ffmpegPath, 'ffmpeg');
-
-  if (context.secondaryTrack) {
-    let secondaryExtraction: FileExtractionResult | null = null;
-    try {
-      secondaryExtraction = await extractSubtitleTrackToFile(
-        ffmpegPath,
-        context.videoPath,
-        context.secondaryTrack,
-      );
-      const alassResult = await subsyncToReference(
-        'alass',
-        secondaryExtraction.path,
-        context,
-        resolved,
-        client,
-      );
-      if (alassResult.ok) {
-        return alassResult;
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      logger.warn('Auto alass sync failed, trying ffsubsync fallback:', error);
-    } finally {
-      if (secondaryExtraction) {
-        cleanupTemporaryFile(secondaryExtraction);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  const ffsubsyncPath = ensureExecutablePath(resolved.ffsubsyncPath, 'ffsubsync');
-  if (!ffsubsyncPath) {
-    return {
-      ok: false,
-      message: 'No secondary subtitle for alass and ffsubsync not configured',
-    };
-  }
-  try {
-    validateFfsubsyncReference(context.videoPath);
-  } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      ok: false,
-      message: `ffsubsync synchronization failed: ${(error as Error).message}`,
-    };
-  }
-  return subsyncToReference('ffsubsync', context.videoPath, context, resolved, client);
-}
-
 export async function runSubsyncManual(
   request: SubsyncManualRunRequest,
   deps: SubsyncCoreDeps,
@@ -448,17 +394,9 @@ export async function triggerSubsyncFromConfig(deps: TriggerSubsyncFromConfigDep
     return;
   }
 
-  const resolved = deps.getResolvedConfig();
   try {
-    if (resolved.defaultMode === 'manual') {
     await openSubsyncManualPicker(deps);
     deps.showMpvOsd('Subsync: choose engine and source');
-      return;
-    }
-
-    deps.setSubsyncInProgress(true);
-    const result = await deps.runWithSubsyncSpinner(() => runSubsyncAutoInternal(deps));
-    deps.showMpvOsd(result.message);
   } catch (error) {
     deps.showMpvOsd(`Subsync failed: ${(error as Error).message}`);
   } finally {

src/core/services/subtitle-ws.test.ts

@@ -217,6 +217,38 @@ test('serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage emits structured token api payload', ()
   });
 });
 
+test('serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage can force plain subtitle payloads', () => {
+  const payload: SubtitleData = {
+    text: '無事',
+    tokens: [
+      {
+        surface: '無事',
+        reading: 'ぶじ',
+        headword: '無事',
+        startPos: 0,
+        endPos: 2,
+        partOfSpeech: PartOfSpeech.other,
+        isMerged: false,
+        isKnown: true,
+        isNPlusOneTarget: false,
+        jlptLevel: 'N2',
+        frequencyRank: 745,
+      },
+    ],
+  };
+
+  const raw = serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(payload, frequencyOptions, {
+    payloadMode: 'plain',
+  });
+
+  assert.deepEqual(JSON.parse(raw), {
+    version: 1,
+    text: '無事',
+    sentence: '無事',
+    tokens: [],
+  });
+});
+
 test('serializeInitialSubtitleWebsocketMessage keeps annotated current subtitle content', () => {
   const payload: SubtitleData = {
     text: 'ignored fallback',

src/core/services/subtitle-ws.ts

@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ export type SubtitleWebsocketFrequencyOptions = {
   mode: 'single' | 'banded';
 };
 
+export type SubtitleWebsocketPayloadMode = 'plain' | 'annotated';
+
+type SubtitleWebsocketMessageOptions = {
+  payloadMode?: SubtitleWebsocketPayloadMode;
+};
+
 type SerializedSubtitleToken = Pick<
   MergedToken,
   | 'surface'
@@ -198,7 +204,17 @@ export function serializeSubtitleMarkup(
 export function serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(
   payload: SubtitleData,
   options: SubtitleWebsocketFrequencyOptions,
+  messageOptions: SubtitleWebsocketMessageOptions = {},
 ): string {
+  if (messageOptions.payloadMode === 'plain') {
+    return JSON.stringify({
+      version: 1,
+      text: payload.text,
+      sentence: escapeHtml(payload.text).replaceAll('\n', '<br>'),
+      tokens: [],
+    });
+  }
+
   return JSON.stringify({
     version: 1,
     text: payload.text,
@@ -210,18 +226,21 @@ export function serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(
 export function serializeInitialSubtitleWebsocketMessage(
   payload: SubtitleData | null,
   options: SubtitleWebsocketFrequencyOptions,
+  messageOptions: SubtitleWebsocketMessageOptions = {},
 ): string | null {
   if (!payload || !payload.text.trim()) {
     return null;
   }
 
-  return serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(payload, options);
+  return serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(payload, options, messageOptions);
 }
 
 export class SubtitleWebSocket {
   private server: WebSocket.Server | null = null;
   private latestMessage = '';
 
+  public constructor(private readonly payloadMode: SubtitleWebsocketPayloadMode = 'annotated') {}
+
   public isRunning(): boolean {
     return this.server !== null;
   }
@@ -247,6 +266,7 @@ export class SubtitleWebSocket {
       const currentMessage = serializeInitialSubtitleWebsocketMessage(
         getCurrentSubtitleData(),
         getFrequencyOptions(),
+        { payloadMode: this.payloadMode },
       );
       if (currentMessage) {
         ws.send(currentMessage);
@@ -262,7 +282,9 @@ export class SubtitleWebSocket {
 
   public broadcast(payload: SubtitleData, options: SubtitleWebsocketFrequencyOptions): void {
     if (!this.server) return;
-    const message = serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(payload, options);
+    const message = serializeSubtitleWebsocketMessage(payload, options, {
+      payloadMode: this.payloadMode,
+    });
     this.latestMessage = message;
     for (const client of this.server.clients) {
       if (client.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {

src/main.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import {
   clipboard,
   globalShortcut,
   ipcMain,
-  net,
   shell,
   protocol,
   Extension,
@@ -35,6 +34,8 @@ import {
 import { applyControllerConfigUpdate } from './main/controller-config-update.js';
 import { openPlaylistBrowser as openPlaylistBrowserRuntime } from './main/runtime/playlist-browser-open';
 import { createDiscordRpcClient } from './main/runtime/discord-rpc-client.js';
+import { startAppControlServer } from './main/runtime/app-control-server';
+import { getAppControlSocketPath } from './shared/app-control';
 import {
   type CancelLinuxMpvFullscreenOverlayRefreshBurst,
   clearLinuxMpvFullscreenOverlayRefreshTimeouts,
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ protocol.registerSchemesAsPrivileged([
 ]);
 
 import * as fs from 'fs';
-import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import { execFile, spawn } from 'node:child_process';
 import * as os from 'os';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import { MecabTokenizer } from './mecab-tokenizer';
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ import {
   rememberAnilistAttemptedUpdateKey,
 } from './main/runtime/domains/anilist';
 import { DEFAULT_MIN_WATCH_RATIO } from './shared/watch-threshold';
+import { shouldShowTexthookerTrayEntry } from './main/runtime/tray-main-actions';
 import {
   createApplyJellyfinMpvDefaultsHandler,
   createBuildApplyJellyfinMpvDefaultsMainDepsHandler,
@@ -505,11 +507,7 @@ import {
   createElectronAppUpdater,
   isNativeUpdaterSupported,
 } from './main/runtime/update/app-updater';
-import {
-  createCurlFetch,
-  createElectronNetFetch,
-  createGlobalFetch,
-} from './main/runtime/update/fetch-adapter';
+import { createCurlFetch, createGlobalFetch } from './main/runtime/update/fetch-adapter';
 import { createCurlHttpExecutor } from './main/runtime/update/curl-http-executor';
 import { createFetchHttpExecutor } from './main/runtime/update/fetch-http-executor';
 import {
@@ -618,6 +616,7 @@ const ANILIST_UPDATE_MIN_WATCH_SECONDS = 10 * 60;
 const ANILIST_DURATION_RETRY_INTERVAL_MS = 15_000;
 const ANILIST_MAX_ATTEMPTED_UPDATE_KEYS = 1000;
 const TRAY_TOOLTIP = 'SubMiner';
+const SUBMINER_BUNDLE_ID = 'com.sudacode.SubMiner';
 const JELLYFIN_SETUP_PRELOAD_PATH = path.join(__dirname, 'preload-jellyfin-setup.js');
 
 let anilistMediaGuessRuntimeState: AnilistMediaGuessRuntimeState =
@@ -794,7 +793,7 @@ const bootServices = createMainBootServices({
       warn: (message: string, details?: unknown) => console.warn(message, details),
       error: (message: string, details?: unknown) => console.error(message, details),
     }),
-  createSubtitleWebSocket: () => new SubtitleWebSocket(),
+  createSubtitleWebSocket: (payloadMode) => new SubtitleWebSocket(payloadMode),
   createLogger,
   createMainRuntimeRegistry,
   createOverlayManager,
@@ -3077,6 +3076,16 @@ const openFirstRunSetupWindowHandler = createOpenFirstRunSetupWindowHandler({
         : 'Yomitan settings are unavailable while external read-only profile mode is enabled.';
       return;
     }
+    if (submission.action === 'open-config-settings') {
+      const opened = openConfigSettingsWindow();
+      firstRunSetupMessage = opened
+        ? 'Opened SubMiner settings.'
+        : 'SubMiner settings are unavailable.';
+      if (opened) {
+        return { skipRender: true };
+      }
+      return;
+    }
     if (submission.action === 'refresh') {
       const snapshot = await firstRunSetupService.refreshStatus('Status refreshed.');
       firstRunSetupMessage = snapshot.message;
@@ -4894,28 +4903,19 @@ flushPendingMpvLogWrites = () => {
 
 const updateStateStore = createFileUpdateStateStore(path.join(USER_DATA_PATH, 'update-state.json'));
 let updateService: ReturnType<typeof createUpdateService> | null = null;
-const electronNetFetch = createElectronNetFetch({
-  fetch: (url, init) => net.fetch(url, init as RequestInit),
-});
 const globalFetchForUpdater = createGlobalFetch();
 const curlFetch = createCurlFetch();
 
 function createNativeUpdaterHttpExecutor() {
-  if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
-    return createCurlHttpExecutor();
-  }
   if (process.platform === 'win32') {
     return createFetchHttpExecutor();
   }
-  return undefined;
+  return createCurlHttpExecutor();
 }
 
 function getFetchForUpdater() {
-  if (process.platform === 'win32') {
-    return globalFetchForUpdater;
-  }
-  if (process.platform === 'linux') return curlFetch;
-  return electronNetFetch;
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') return globalFetchForUpdater;
+  return curlFetch;
 }
 
 async function updateLauncherFromSelectedRelease(
@@ -4962,11 +4962,8 @@ function getUpdateService() {
     isPackaged: app.isPackaged,
     log: (message) => logger.info(message),
     getChannel: () => getResolvedConfig().updates.channel,
-    configureHttpExecutor:
-      process.platform === 'darwin' || process.platform === 'win32'
-        ? createNativeUpdaterHttpExecutor
-        : undefined,
-    disableDifferentialDownload: process.platform === 'darwin' || process.platform === 'win32',
+    configureHttpExecutor: createNativeUpdaterHttpExecutor,
+    disableDifferentialDownload: true,
     isNativeUpdaterSupported: () =>
       isNativeUpdaterSupported({
         platform: process.platform,
@@ -4978,7 +4975,37 @@ function getUpdateService() {
   });
   const updateDialogPresenter = createUpdateDialogPresenter({
     platform: process.platform,
-    focusApp: () => app.focus({ steal: true }),
+    focusApp: async () => {
+      if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
+        app.focus({ steal: true });
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        await app.dock?.show();
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.warn('Failed to show macOS dock before update dialog', error);
+      }
+      // app.focus({ steal: true }) alone does not reliably activate the process
+      // when SubMiner was reached via `subminer -u` (single-instance forwarding
+      // from a CLI-spawned child). osascript's `activate` uses LaunchServices,
+      // which is the only path that reliably brings the running app forward.
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        execFile(
+          '/usr/bin/osascript',
+          ['-e', `tell application id "${SUBMINER_BUNDLE_ID}" to activate`],
+          { timeout: 2000 },
+          (error) => {
+            if (error) {
+              logger.warn(
+                `Failed to activate SubMiner via osascript: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+              );
+            }
+            resolve();
+          },
+        );
+      });
+      app.focus({ steal: true });
+    },
     showMessageBox: (options) => dialog.showMessageBox(options),
   });
   updateService = createUpdateService({
@@ -5782,6 +5809,16 @@ const { runAndApplyStartupState } = composeHeadlessStartupHandlers<
         handleCliCommand(nextArgs, source),
       printHelp: () => printHelp(DEFAULT_TEXTHOOKER_PORT),
       logNoRunningInstance: () => appLogger.logNoRunningInstance(),
+      startControlServer: (handleArgv: (argv: string[]) => void) => {
+        const server = startAppControlServer({
+          socketPath: getAppControlSocketPath({ configDir: CONFIG_DIR }),
+          platform: process.platform,
+          handleArgv,
+          logDebug: (message) => logger.debug(message),
+          logWarn: (message, error) => logger.warn(message, error),
+        });
+        return () => server.close();
+      },
       onReady: runAppReadyRuntimeWithFatalReporting,
       onWillQuitCleanup: () => onWillQuitCleanupHandler(),
       shouldRestoreWindowsOnActivate: () => shouldRestoreWindowsOnActivateHandler(),
@@ -5929,12 +5966,11 @@ const { ensureTray: ensureTrayHandler, destroyTray: destroyTrayHandler } =
       openSessionHelpModal: () => openSessionHelpOverlay(),
       openTexthookerInBrowser: () =>
         handleCliCommand(parseArgs(['--texthooker', '--open-browser'])),
-      showTexthookerPage: () => getResolvedConfig().texthooker.launchAtStartup !== false,
+      showTexthookerPage: () => shouldShowTexthookerTrayEntry(getResolvedConfig()),
       showFirstRunSetup: () => !firstRunSetupService.isSetupCompleted(),
       openFirstRunSetupWindow: () => openFirstRunSetupWindow(),
       showWindowsMpvLauncherSetup: () => process.platform === 'win32',
       openYomitanSettings: () => openYomitanSettings(),
-      openRuntimeOptionsPalette: () => openRuntimeOptionsPalette(),
       openConfigSettingsWindow: () => openConfigSettingsWindow(),
       openJellyfinSetupWindow: () => openJellyfinSetupWindow(),
       isJellyfinConfigured: () =>

src/main/app-lifecycle.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export interface AppLifecycleRuntimeDepsFactoryInput {
   handleCliCommand: (nextArgs: CliArgs, source: CliCommandSource) => void;
   printHelp: () => void;
   logNoRunningInstance: () => void;
+  startControlServer?: (handleArgv: (argv: string[]) => void) => (() => void) | void;
   onReady: () => Promise<void>;
   onWillQuitCleanup: () => void;
   shouldRestoreWindowsOnActivate: () => boolean;
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ export function createAppLifecycleRuntimeDeps(
     handleCliCommand: params.handleCliCommand,
     printHelp: params.printHelp,
     logNoRunningInstance: params.logNoRunningInstance,
+    startControlServer: params.startControlServer,
     onReady: params.onReady,
     onWillQuitCleanup: params.onWillQuitCleanup,
     shouldRestoreWindowsOnActivate: params.shouldRestoreWindowsOnActivate,

src/main/boot/services.test.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ test('createMainBootServices builds boot-phase service bundle', () => {
     { targetPath: string },
     { targetPath: string },
     { targetPath: string },
-    { kind: string },
+    { kind: string; payloadMode: 'plain' | 'annotated' },
     { scope: string; warn: () => void; info: () => void; error: () => void },
     { registry: boolean },
     { getMainWindow: () => null; getModalWindow: () => null },
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ test('createMainBootServices builds boot-phase service bundle', () => {
     createAnilistTokenStore: (targetPath) => ({ targetPath }),
     createJellyfinTokenStore: (targetPath) => ({ targetPath }),
     createAnilistUpdateQueue: (targetPath) => ({ targetPath }),
-    createSubtitleWebSocket: () => ({ kind: 'ws' }),
+    createSubtitleWebSocket: (payloadMode) => ({ kind: 'ws', payloadMode }),
     createLogger: (scope) =>
       ({
         scope,
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ test('createMainBootServices builds boot-phase service bundle', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(services.anilistUpdateQueue, {
     targetPath: '/tmp/subminer-config/anilist-retry-queue.json',
   });
+  assert.deepEqual(services.subtitleWsService, { kind: 'ws', payloadMode: 'plain' });
+  assert.deepEqual(services.annotationSubtitleWsService, {
+    kind: 'ws',
+    payloadMode: 'annotated',
+  });
   assert.deepEqual(services.appState, {
     mpvSocketPath: '/tmp/subminer.sock',
     texthookerPort: 5174,

src/main/boot/services.ts

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export interface MainBootServicesParams<
   createAnilistTokenStore: (targetPath: string) => TAnilistTokenStore;
   createJellyfinTokenStore: (targetPath: string) => TJellyfinTokenStore;
   createAnilistUpdateQueue: (targetPath: string) => TAnilistUpdateQueue;
-  createSubtitleWebSocket: () => TSubtitleWebSocket;
+  createSubtitleWebSocket: (payloadMode: 'plain' | 'annotated') => TSubtitleWebSocket;
   createLogger: (scope: string) => TLogger & {
     warn: (message: string) => void;
     info: (message: string) => void;
@@ -205,8 +205,8 @@ export function createMainBootServices<
   const anilistUpdateQueue = params.createAnilistUpdateQueue(
     params.joinPath(userDataPath, 'anilist-retry-queue.json'),
   );
-  const subtitleWsService = params.createSubtitleWebSocket();
-  const annotationSubtitleWsService = params.createSubtitleWebSocket();
+  const subtitleWsService = params.createSubtitleWebSocket('plain');
+  const annotationSubtitleWsService = params.createSubtitleWebSocket('annotated');
   const logger = params.createLogger('main');
   const runtimeRegistry = params.createMainRuntimeRegistry();
   const overlayManager = params.createOverlayManager();

src/main/runtime/app-control-server.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events';
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import net from 'node:net';
+import os from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import test from 'node:test';
+import { sendAppControlCommand } from '../../shared/app-control-client';
+import { startAppControlServer } from './app-control-server';
+
+async function waitForSocketPath(socketPath: string): Promise<void> {
+  const timeoutMs = 1000;
+  const deadline = Date.now() + timeoutMs;
+  while (Date.now() < deadline) {
+    if (fs.existsSync(socketPath)) return;
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 10));
+  }
+  throw new Error(`Timed out waiting for control socket ${socketPath} after ${timeoutMs}ms`);
+}
+
+test('app control server dispatches argv requests and replies ok', async () => {
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+  const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'subminer-control-test-'));
+  const socketPath = path.join(dir, 'control.sock');
+  const received: string[][] = [];
+  const server = startAppControlServer({
+    socketPath,
+    platform: 'linux',
+    handleArgv: (argv) => {
+      received.push(argv);
+    },
+  });
+
+  try {
+    await waitForSocketPath(socketPath);
+    const result = await sendAppControlCommand(['--start', '--socket', '/tmp/mpv.sock'], {
+      socketPath,
+    });
+
+    assert.deepEqual(result, { ok: true });
+    assert.deepEqual(received, [['--start', '--socket', '/tmp/mpv.sock']]);
+  } finally {
+    server.close();
+    fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
+test('app control server rejects requests larger than 64KB by UTF-8 byte length', async () => {
+  if (process.platform === 'win32') return;
+
+  const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'subminer-control-test-'));
+  const socketPath = path.join(dir, 'control.sock');
+  const received: string[][] = [];
+  const server = startAppControlServer({
+    socketPath,
+    platform: 'linux',
+    handleArgv: (argv) => {
+      received.push(argv);
+    },
+  });
+
+  try {
+    await waitForSocketPath(socketPath);
+    const result = await sendAppControlCommand(
+      Array.from({ length: 4 }, () => 'あ'.repeat(6000)),
+      {
+        socketPath,
+      },
+    );
+
+    assert.deepEqual(result, { ok: false, error: 'App control request too large' });
+    assert.deepEqual(received, []);
+  } finally {
+    server.close();
+    fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
+test('app control server logs and closes errored client sockets', () => {
+  const originalCreateServer = net.createServer;
+  let socketHandler: ((socket: net.Socket) => void) | null = null;
+  const fakeServer = new EventEmitter() as net.Server;
+  fakeServer.listen = (() => fakeServer) as net.Server['listen'];
+  fakeServer.close = ((callback?: (err?: Error) => void) => {
+    callback?.();
+    return fakeServer;
+  }) as net.Server['close'];
+  const received: string[][] = [];
+  const warnings: Array<{ message: string; error?: unknown }> = [];
+
+  try {
+    net.createServer = ((handler?: (socket: net.Socket) => void) => {
+      socketHandler = handler ?? null;
+      return fakeServer;
+    }) as typeof net.createServer;
+
+    const server = startAppControlServer({
+      socketPath: '\\\\.\\pipe\\subminer-test-control',
+      platform: 'win32',
+      handleArgv: (argv) => {
+        received.push(argv);
+      },
+      logWarn: (message, error) => {
+        warnings.push({ message, error });
+      },
+    });
+
+    const error = new Error('client reset');
+    let destroyed = false;
+    const socket = new EventEmitter() as net.Socket;
+    socket.destroy = (() => {
+      destroyed = true;
+      return socket;
+    }) as net.Socket['destroy'];
+
+    const handler = socketHandler as ((socket: net.Socket) => void) | null;
+    assert.ok(handler);
+    handler(socket);
+    socket.emit('error', error);
+    socket.emit('data', Buffer.from('{"argv":["--start"]}\n'));
+
+    assert.equal(destroyed, true);
+    assert.deepEqual(received, []);
+    assert.deepEqual(warnings, [{ message: 'App control client socket error.', error }]);
+
+    server.close();
+  } finally {
+    net.createServer = originalCreateServer;
+  }
+});

src/main/runtime/app-control-server.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import net from 'node:net';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import {
+  encodeAppControlResponse,
+  parseAppControlRequestLine,
+  type AppControlResponse,
+} from '../../shared/app-control';
+
+export interface AppControlServerOptions {
+  socketPath: string;
+  platform?: NodeJS.Platform;
+  handleArgv: (argv: string[]) => void;
+  logDebug?: (message: string) => void;
+  logWarn?: (message: string, error?: unknown) => void;
+}
+
+export interface AppControlServerHandle {
+  close: () => void;
+}
+
+function prepareSocketPath(socketPath: string, platform: NodeJS.Platform): void {
+  if (platform === 'win32') return;
+  fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(socketPath), { recursive: true });
+  fs.rmSync(socketPath, { force: true });
+}
+
+function cleanupSocketPath(socketPath: string, platform: NodeJS.Platform): void {
+  if (platform === 'win32') return;
+  try {
+    fs.rmSync(socketPath, { force: true });
+  } catch {
+    // ignore
+  }
+}
+
+function writeResponse(socket: net.Socket, response: AppControlResponse): void {
+  socket.end(encodeAppControlResponse(response));
+}
+
+export function startAppControlServer(options: AppControlServerOptions): AppControlServerHandle {
+  const platform = options.platform ?? process.platform;
+  prepareSocketPath(options.socketPath, platform);
+
+  const server = net.createServer((socket) => {
+    let buffer = '';
+    let byteCount = 0;
+    let handled = false;
+
+    socket.on('error', (error) => {
+      if (handled) return;
+      handled = true;
+      options.logWarn?.('App control client socket error.', error);
+      socket.destroy();
+    });
+
+    socket.on('data', (chunk) => {
+      if (handled) return;
+      byteCount += chunk.length;
+      buffer += chunk.toString('utf8');
+      if (byteCount > 65536) {
+        handled = true;
+        writeResponse(socket, { ok: false, error: 'App control request too large' });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const newlineIndex = buffer.indexOf('\n');
+      if (newlineIndex < 0) return;
+      handled = true;
+
+      try {
+        const request = parseAppControlRequestLine(buffer.slice(0, newlineIndex));
+        options.handleArgv(request.argv);
+        writeResponse(socket, { ok: true });
+      } catch (error) {
+        options.logWarn?.('Failed to handle app control command.', error);
+        writeResponse(socket, {
+          ok: false,
+          error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
+  server.on('error', (error) => {
+    options.logWarn?.(`App control socket failed: ${options.socketPath}`, error);
+  });
+  server.listen(options.socketPath, () => {
+    options.logDebug?.(`App control socket listening: ${options.socketPath}`);
+  });
+
+  let closed = false;
+  return {
+    close: () => {
+      if (closed) return;
+      closed = true;
+      try {
+        server.close();
+      } catch {
+        // ignore
+      }
+      cleanupSocketPath(options.socketPath, platform);
+    },
+  };
+}

src/main/runtime/autoplay-tokenization-warm-release.test.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import test from 'node:test';
 import { createAutoplayTokenizationWarmRelease } from './autoplay-tokenization-warm-release';
 
+function flushMicrotasks(): Promise<void> {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+}
+
 test('autoplay tokenization warm release signals immediately when warmups are ready', () => {
   const calls: string[] = [];
   const release = createAutoplayTokenizationWarmRelease({
@@ -45,14 +49,17 @@ test('autoplay tokenization warm release primes subtitles before waiting for war
 
   resolveWarmup();
   await warmup;
-  await Promise.resolve();
+  await flushMicrotasks();
 
   assert.deepEqual(calls, ['prime', 'warmup', 'signal']);
 });
 
-test('autoplay tokenization warm release does not await subtitle priming before signaling ready media', async () => {
+test('autoplay tokenization warm release waits for subtitle priming before signaling ready media', async () => {
   const calls: string[] = [];
-  const never = new Promise<void>(() => {});
+  let resolvePrime!: () => void;
+  const prime = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    resolvePrime = resolve;
+  });
   const release = createAutoplayTokenizationWarmRelease({
     isTokenizationWarmupReady: () => true,
     startTokenizationWarmups: async () => {
@@ -61,7 +68,7 @@ test('autoplay tokenization warm release does not await subtitle priming before
     getCurrentMediaPath: () => '/tmp/video.mkv',
     primeCurrentSubtitle: () => {
       calls.push('prime');
-      return never;
+      return prime;
     },
     signalAutoplayReady: () => calls.push('signal'),
     warn: () => {},
@@ -70,6 +77,12 @@ test('autoplay tokenization warm release does not await subtitle priming before
   release('/tmp/video.mkv');
   await Promise.resolve();
 
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['prime']);
+
+  resolvePrime();
+  await prime;
+  await Promise.resolve();
+
   assert.deepEqual(calls, ['prime', 'signal']);
 });
 

src/main/runtime/autoplay-tokenization-warm-release.ts

@@ -22,24 +22,41 @@ export function createAutoplayTokenizationWarmRelease(deps: {
     deps.signalAutoplayReady();
   };
 
+  const primeSubtitleForRelease = (mediaPath: string): Promise<void> | null => {
+    if (!deps.primeCurrentSubtitle) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    try {
+      return Promise.resolve(deps.primeCurrentSubtitle(mediaPath)).catch((error) => {
+        deps.warn('Startup subtitle priming failed before autoplay readiness release:', error);
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      deps.warn('Startup subtitle priming failed before autoplay readiness release:', error);
+      return null;
+    }
+  };
+
   return (mediaPath) => {
     const normalizedPath = normalizeMediaPath(mediaPath);
     if (!normalizedPath) {
       return;
     }
-    try {
-      void Promise.resolve(deps.primeCurrentSubtitle?.(normalizedPath)).catch((error) => {
-        deps.warn('Startup subtitle priming failed before autoplay readiness release:', error);
-      });
-    } catch (error) {
-      deps.warn('Startup subtitle priming failed before autoplay readiness release:', error);
-    }
+    const primePromise = primeSubtitleForRelease(normalizedPath);
     if (deps.isTokenizationWarmupReady()) {
+      if (!primePromise) {
         signalIfCurrent(normalizedPath);
         return;
       }
-    void deps
-      .startTokenizationWarmups()
+      void primePromise.then(() => {
+        signalIfCurrent(normalizedPath);
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    const warmupPromise = deps.startTokenizationWarmups();
+    const readinessPromise = primePromise
+      ? Promise.all([primePromise, warmupPromise]).then(() => {})
+      : warmupPromise;
+    void readinessPromise
       .then(() => {
         signalIfCurrent(normalizedPath);
       })

src/main/runtime/config-settings-ipc.test.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const fields: ConfigSettingsField[] = [
     description: 'Launch mode setting.',
     configPath: 'mpv.launchMode',
     category: 'behavior',
-    section: 'MPV Launcher',
+    section: 'mpv Playback',
     control: 'select',
     defaultValue: 'windowed',
     restartBehavior: 'restart',

src/main/runtime/config-settings-window.ts

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function createOpenConfigSettingsWindowHandler<TWindow extends ConfigSett
     const window = deps.createSettingsWindow();
     void Promise.resolve(window.loadFile(deps.settingsHtmlPath)).catch((error) => {
       const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-      deps.log?.(`Failed to load configuration settings window: ${message}`);
+      deps.log?.(`Failed to load settings window: ${message}`);
       deps.setSettingsWindow(null);
       window.destroy?.();
     });

src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-service.test.ts

@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ function makeArgs(overrides: Partial<CliArgs> = {}): CliArgs {
     toggle: false,
     toggleVisibleOverlay: false,
     togglePrimarySubtitleBar: false,
+    yomitan: false,
     settings: false,
-    configSettings: false,
     setup: false,
     show: false,
     hide: false,
@@ -122,12 +122,12 @@ function createCommandLineLauncherSnapshot(
 test('shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup only for startup/setup intents', () => {
   assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ start: true, background: true })), true);
   assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ background: true, setup: true })), true);
-  assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ start: true, configSettings: true })), false);
+  assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ start: true, settings: true })), false);
   assert.equal(
     shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ background: true, jellyfinRemoteAnnounce: true })),
     false,
   );
-  assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ settings: true })), false);
+  assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ yomitan: true })), false);
   assert.equal(shouldAutoOpenFirstRunSetup(makeArgs({ start: true, update: true })), false);
 });
 

src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-service.ts

@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ function hasAnyStartupCommandBeyondSetup(args: CliArgs): boolean {
     args.toggleVisibleOverlay ||
     args.togglePrimarySubtitleBar ||
     args.launchMpv ||
+    args.yomitan ||
     args.settings ||
-    args.configSettings ||
     args.show ||
     args.hide ||
     args.showVisibleOverlay ||

src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.test.ts

@@ -59,10 +59,15 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml renders macchiato setup actions and disabled finish
   assert.match(html, /SubMiner setup/);
   assert.doesNotMatch(html, /Install legacy mpv plugin/);
   assert.doesNotMatch(html, /action=install-plugin/);
-  assert.match(html, /Ready/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /mpv runtime plugin/);
   assert.doesNotMatch(html, /Bundled ready/);
-  assert.match(html, /Managed mpv launches use the bundled runtime plugin\./);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /Managed mpv launches use the bundled runtime plugin\./);
   assert.match(html, /Open Yomitan Settings/);
+  assert.match(html, /Open SubMiner Settings/);
+  assert.match(
+    html,
+    /action=open-yomitan-settings'">Open Yomitan Settings<\/button>\s*<button class="ghost" onclick="window\.location\.href='subminer:\/\/first-run-setup\?action=refresh'">Refresh status<\/button>\s*<button onclick="window\.location\.href='subminer:\/\/first-run-setup\?action=open-config-settings'">Open SubMiner Settings<\/button>\s*<button class="primary" disabled onclick="window\.location\.href='subminer:\/\/first-run-setup\?action=finish'">Finish setup<\/button>/,
+  );
   assert.match(html, /Finish setup/);
   assert.match(html, /disabled/);
   assert.match(html, /html,\s*body\s*{\s*min-height:\s*100%;/);
@@ -70,7 +75,7 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml renders macchiato setup actions and disabled finish
   assert.match(html, /box-sizing:\s*border-box;/);
 });
 
-test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml switches plugin action to reinstall when already installed', () => {
+test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml omits bundled mpv plugin readiness when already installed', () => {
   const html = buildFirstRunSetupHtml({
     configReady: true,
     dictionaryCount: 1,
@@ -94,10 +99,11 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml switches plugin action to reinstall when already in
 
   assert.doesNotMatch(html, /Reinstall mpv plugin/);
   assert.doesNotMatch(html, /action=install-plugin/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /mpv runtime plugin/);
   assert.match(html, /mpv executable path/);
   assert.match(html, /Leave blank to auto-discover mpv\.exe from PATH\./);
   assert.match(html, /aria-label="Path to mpv\.exe"/);
-  assert.match(html, /SubMiner-managed mpv launches use the bundled runtime plugin\./);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /SubMiner-managed mpv launches use the bundled runtime plugin\./);
 });
 
 test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml shows legacy mpv plugin removal action with confirmation', () => {
@@ -124,7 +130,8 @@ test('buildFirstRunSetupHtml shows legacy mpv plugin removal action with confirm
   });
 
   assert.match(html, /Legacy mpv plugin/);
-  assert.match(html, /Legacy detected/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(html, /mpv runtime plugin/);
+  assert.match(html, /Found/);
   assert.match(html, /\/tmp\/mpv\/scripts\/subminer/);
   assert.match(html, /\/tmp\/mpv\/scripts\/subminer\.lua/);
   assert.match(html, /Remove legacy mpv plugin/);
@@ -251,6 +258,12 @@ test('parseFirstRunSetupSubmissionUrl parses supported custom actions', () => {
       action: 'remove-legacy-plugin',
     },
   );
+  assert.deepEqual(
+    parseFirstRunSetupSubmissionUrl('subminer://first-run-setup?action=open-config-settings'),
+    {
+      action: 'open-config-settings',
+    },
+  );
   assert.equal(
     parseFirstRunSetupSubmissionUrl('subminer://first-run-setup?action=skip-plugin'),
     null,
@@ -542,6 +555,89 @@ test('opening first-run setup skips rendering if window is destroyed after snaps
   assert.deepEqual(calls, ['set', 'show', 'focus', 'in-progress', 'snapshot']);
 });
 
+test('first-run setup action can skip rerender after launching another window', async () => {
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  let navigateHandler: ((event: unknown, url: string) => void) | undefined;
+  const handler = createOpenFirstRunSetupWindowHandler({
+    maybeFocusExistingSetupWindow: () => false,
+    createSetupWindow: () =>
+      ({
+        webContents: {
+          on: (_event: 'will-navigate', callback: (event: unknown, url: string) => void) => {
+            navigateHandler = callback;
+          },
+        },
+        loadURL: async () => {
+          calls.push('load');
+        },
+        on: () => {},
+        isDestroyed: () => false,
+        close: () => {},
+        show: () => calls.push('show'),
+        focus: () => calls.push('focus'),
+      }) as never,
+    getSetupSnapshot: async () => ({
+      configReady: true,
+      dictionaryCount: 1,
+      canFinish: true,
+      externalYomitanConfigured: false,
+      pluginStatus: 'installed',
+      pluginInstallPathSummary: null,
+      mpvExecutablePath: '',
+      mpvExecutablePathStatus: 'blank',
+      windowsMpvShortcuts: {
+        supported: false,
+        startMenuEnabled: true,
+        desktopEnabled: true,
+        startMenuInstalled: false,
+        desktopInstalled: false,
+        status: 'optional',
+      },
+      commandLineLauncher: createCommandLineLauncherSnapshot(),
+      message: null,
+    }),
+    buildSetupHtml: () => '<html></html>',
+    parseSubmissionUrl: (url) => parseFirstRunSetupSubmissionUrl(url),
+    handleAction: async () => {
+      calls.push('action');
+      return { skipRender: true };
+    },
+    markSetupInProgress: async () => {
+      calls.push('in-progress');
+    },
+    markSetupCancelled: async () => undefined,
+    isSetupCompleted: () => true,
+    shouldQuitWhenClosedIncomplete: () => false,
+    quitApp: () => {},
+    clearSetupWindow: () => {},
+    setSetupWindow: () => {
+      calls.push('set');
+    },
+    encodeURIComponent: (value) => value,
+    logError: () => {},
+  });
+
+  handler();
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+  navigateHandler?.(
+    { preventDefault: () => calls.push('preventDefault') },
+    'subminer://first-run-setup?action=open-config-settings',
+  );
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, [
+    'set',
+    'show',
+    'focus',
+    'in-progress',
+    'load',
+    'show',
+    'focus',
+    'preventDefault',
+    'action',
+  ]);
+});
+
 test('closing incomplete first-run setup quits app outside background mode', async () => {
   const calls: string[] = [];
   let closedHandler: (() => void) | undefined;

src/main/runtime/first-run-setup-window.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export type FirstRunSetupAction =
   | 'install-bun'
   | 'install-command-line-launcher'
   | 'open-yomitan-settings'
+  | 'open-config-settings'
   | 'refresh'
   | 'finish';
 
@@ -200,14 +201,6 @@ export function buildFirstRunSetupHtml(model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel): string {
     legacyMpvPluginPaths.length > 0 && model.canFinish
       ? 'Continue without removing'
       : 'Finish setup';
-  const pluginLabel =
-    legacyMpvPluginPaths.length > 0
-      ? 'Legacy detected'
-      : model.pluginStatus === 'failed'
-        ? 'Failed'
-        : 'Ready';
-  const pluginTone =
-    legacyMpvPluginPaths.length > 0 ? 'warn' : model.pluginStatus === 'failed' ? 'danger' : 'ready';
   const windowsShortcutLabel =
     model.windowsMpvShortcuts.status === 'installed'
       ? 'Installed'
@@ -326,7 +319,7 @@ export function buildFirstRunSetupHtml(model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel): string {
     : model.canFinish
       ? model.externalYomitanConfigured
         ? 'Finish stays unlocked while SubMiner is reusing an external Yomitan profile. If you later launch without yomitan.externalProfilePath, setup will require at least one internal dictionary.'
-        : 'Finish stays unlocked once Yomitan reports at least one installed dictionary. SubMiner-managed mpv launches use the bundled runtime plugin.'
+        : 'Finish stays unlocked once Yomitan reports at least one installed dictionary.'
       : 'Finish stays locked until Yomitan reports at least one installed dictionary.';
 
   return `<!doctype html>
@@ -522,14 +515,6 @@ export function buildFirstRunSetupHtml(model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel): string {
       </div>
       ${renderStatusBadge(model.configReady ? 'Ready' : 'Missing', model.configReady ? 'ready' : 'danger')}
     </div>
-    <div class="card">
-      <div>
-        <strong>mpv runtime plugin</strong>
-        <div class="meta">${escapeHtml(model.pluginInstallPathSummary ?? 'Default mpv scripts location')}</div>
-        <div class="meta">Managed mpv launches use the bundled runtime plugin.</div>
-      </div>
-      ${renderStatusBadge(pluginLabel, pluginTone)}
-    </div>
     <div class="card">
       <div>
         <strong>Yomitan dictionaries</strong>
@@ -544,6 +529,7 @@ export function buildFirstRunSetupHtml(model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel): string {
     <div class="actions">
       <button onclick="window.location.href='subminer://first-run-setup?action=open-yomitan-settings'">Open Yomitan Settings</button>
       <button class="ghost" onclick="window.location.href='subminer://first-run-setup?action=refresh'">Refresh status</button>
+      <button onclick="window.location.href='subminer://first-run-setup?action=open-config-settings'">Open SubMiner Settings</button>
       <button class="primary" ${model.canFinish ? '' : 'disabled'} onclick="window.location.href='subminer://first-run-setup?action=finish'">${finishButtonLabel}</button>
     </div>
     <div class="message">${model.message ? escapeHtml(model.message) : ''}</div>
@@ -566,6 +552,7 @@ export function parseFirstRunSetupSubmissionUrl(rawUrl: string): FirstRunSetupSu
     action !== 'install-bun' &&
     action !== 'install-command-line-launcher' &&
     action !== 'open-yomitan-settings' &&
+    action !== 'open-config-settings' &&
     action !== 'refresh' &&
     action !== 'finish'
   ) {
@@ -632,7 +619,9 @@ export function createOpenFirstRunSetupWindowHandler<
   getSetupSnapshot: () => Promise<FirstRunSetupHtmlModel>;
   buildSetupHtml: (model: FirstRunSetupHtmlModel) => string;
   parseSubmissionUrl: (rawUrl: string) => FirstRunSetupSubmission | null;
-  handleAction: (submission: FirstRunSetupSubmission) => Promise<{ closeWindow?: boolean } | void>;
+  handleAction: (
+    submission: FirstRunSetupSubmission,
+  ) => Promise<{ closeWindow?: boolean; skipRender?: boolean } | void>;
   markSetupInProgress: () => Promise<unknown>;
   markSetupCancelled: () => Promise<unknown>;
   isSetupCompleted: () => boolean;
@@ -680,6 +669,9 @@ export function createOpenFirstRunSetupWindowHandler<
           }
           return;
         }
+        if (result?.skipRender) {
+          return;
+        }
         if (!setupWindow.isDestroyed()) {
           await render();
         }

src/main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection.test.ts

@@ -144,3 +144,34 @@ test('managed local subtitle selection runtime promotes a single unlabeled exter
     ['set_property', 'secondary-sid', 1],
   ]);
 });
+
+test('managed local subtitle selection keeps waiting for primary after early secondary-only track list', () => {
+  const commands: Array<Array<string | number>> = [];
+  const runtime = createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime({
+    getCurrentMediaPath: () => '/videos/example.mkv',
+    getMpvClient: () => null,
+    getPrimarySubtitleLanguages: () => [],
+    getSecondarySubtitleLanguages: () => [],
+    sendMpvCommand: (command) => {
+      commands.push(command);
+    },
+    schedule: () => 1 as never,
+    clearScheduled: () => {},
+  });
+
+  runtime.handleMediaPathChange('/videos/example.mkv');
+  runtime.handleSubtitleTrackListChange([
+    { type: 'sub', id: 1, lang: 'eng', title: 'ASS', external: false },
+    { type: 'sub', id: 2, lang: 'en', title: 'en.srt', external: true },
+  ]);
+  runtime.handleSubtitleTrackListChange([
+    { type: 'sub', id: 1, lang: 'eng', title: 'ASS', external: false },
+    { type: 'sub', id: 2, lang: 'en', title: 'en.srt', external: true },
+    { type: 'sub', id: 3, lang: 'ja', title: 'ja.srt', external: true },
+  ]);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(commands, [
+    ['set_property', 'secondary-sid', 2],
+    ['set_property', 'sid', 3],
+  ]);
+});

src/main/runtime/local-subtitle-selection.ts

@@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ export function createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime(deps: {
 }) {
   const delayMs = deps.delayMs ?? 400;
   let currentMediaPath: string | null = null;
-  let appliedMediaPath: string | null = null;
+  let appliedPrimaryMediaPath: string | null = null;
+  let appliedSecondaryMediaPath: string | null = null;
   let pendingTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
 
   const clearPendingTimer = (): void => {
@@ -212,7 +213,11 @@ export function createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime(deps: {
   };
 
   const maybeApplySelection = (trackList: unknown[] | null): void => {
-    if (!currentMediaPath || appliedMediaPath === currentMediaPath) {
+    if (
+      !currentMediaPath ||
+      (appliedPrimaryMediaPath === currentMediaPath &&
+        appliedSecondaryMediaPath === currentMediaPath)
+    ) {
       return;
     }
     const selection = resolveManagedLocalSubtitleSelection({
@@ -223,14 +228,17 @@ export function createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime(deps: {
     if (!selection.hasPrimaryMatch && !selection.hasSecondaryMatch) {
       return;
     }
-    if (selection.primaryTrackId !== null) {
+    if (selection.primaryTrackId !== null && appliedPrimaryMediaPath !== currentMediaPath) {
       deps.sendMpvCommand(['set_property', 'sid', selection.primaryTrackId]);
+      appliedPrimaryMediaPath = currentMediaPath;
     }
-    if (selection.secondaryTrackId !== null) {
+    if (selection.secondaryTrackId !== null && appliedSecondaryMediaPath !== currentMediaPath) {
       deps.sendMpvCommand(['set_property', 'secondary-sid', selection.secondaryTrackId]);
+      appliedSecondaryMediaPath = currentMediaPath;
     }
-    appliedMediaPath = currentMediaPath;
+    if (appliedPrimaryMediaPath === currentMediaPath) {
       clearPendingTimer();
+    }
   };
 
   const refreshFromMpv = async (): Promise<void> => {
@@ -252,7 +260,7 @@ export function createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime(deps: {
 
   const scheduleRefresh = (): void => {
     clearPendingTimer();
-    if (!currentMediaPath || appliedMediaPath === currentMediaPath) {
+    if (!currentMediaPath || appliedPrimaryMediaPath === currentMediaPath) {
       return;
     }
     pendingTimer = deps.schedule(() => {
@@ -265,7 +273,8 @@ export function createManagedLocalSubtitleSelectionRuntime(deps: {
     handleMediaPathChange: (mediaPath: string | null | undefined): void => {
       const normalizedPath = normalizeLocalMediaPath(mediaPath);
       if (normalizedPath !== currentMediaPath) {
-        appliedMediaPath = null;
+        appliedPrimaryMediaPath = null;
+        appliedSecondaryMediaPath = null;
       }
       currentMediaPath = normalizedPath;
       if (!currentMediaPath) {

src/main/runtime/mpv-main-event-bindings.test.ts

@@ -161,3 +161,67 @@ test('main mpv event binder runs mpv-connected callback on connection', () => {
 
   assert.ok(calls.includes('mpv-connected'));
 });
+
+test('main mpv event binder clears media path on disconnect', () => {
+  const handlers = new Map<string, (payload: unknown) => void>();
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+
+  const bind = createBindMpvMainEventHandlersHandler({
+    reportJellyfinRemoteStopped: () => calls.push('remote-stopped'),
+    syncOverlayMpvSubtitleSuppression: () => calls.push('sync-overlay-mpv-sub'),
+    resetSubtitleSidebarEmbeddedLayout: () => calls.push('reset-sidebar-layout'),
+    hasInitialPlaybackQuitOnDisconnectArg: () => false,
+    isOverlayRuntimeInitialized: () => true,
+    shouldQuitOnDisconnectWhenOverlayRuntimeInitialized: () => false,
+    isQuitOnDisconnectArmed: () => false,
+    scheduleQuitCheck: () => {},
+    isMpvConnected: () => false,
+    quitApp: () => {},
+
+    recordImmersionSubtitleLine: () => {},
+    hasSubtitleTimingTracker: () => false,
+    recordSubtitleTiming: () => {},
+    maybeRunAnilistPostWatchUpdate: async () => {},
+    logSubtitleTimingError: () => {},
+    setCurrentSubText: () => {},
+    broadcastSubtitle: () => {},
+    onSubtitleChange: () => {},
+    refreshDiscordPresence: () => calls.push('presence-refresh'),
+
+    setCurrentSubAssText: () => {},
+    broadcastSubtitleAss: () => {},
+    broadcastSecondarySubtitle: () => {},
+
+    updateCurrentMediaPath: (path) => calls.push(`media-path:${path}`),
+    restoreMpvSubVisibility: () => {},
+    getCurrentAnilistMediaKey: () => null,
+    resetAnilistMediaTracking: () => {},
+    maybeProbeAnilistDuration: () => {},
+    ensureAnilistMediaGuess: () => {},
+    syncImmersionMediaState: () => {},
+
+    updateCurrentMediaTitle: () => {},
+    resetAnilistMediaGuessState: () => {},
+    notifyImmersionTitleUpdate: () => {},
+
+    recordPlaybackPosition: () => {},
+    recordMediaDuration: () => {},
+    reportJellyfinRemoteProgress: () => {},
+    recordPauseState: () => {},
+
+    updateSubtitleRenderMetrics: () => {},
+    setPreviousSecondarySubVisibility: () => {},
+  });
+
+  bind({
+    on: (event, handler) => {
+      handlers.set(event, handler as (payload: unknown) => void);
+    },
+  });
+
+  handlers.get('connection-change')?.({ connected: false });
+
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('media-path:'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('remote-stopped'));
+  assert.ok(calls.includes('presence-refresh'));
+});

src/main/runtime/mpv-main-event-bindings.ts

@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ export function createBindMpvMainEventHandlersHandler(deps: {
     }): void => {
       if (connected) {
         deps.resetSubtitleSidebarEmbeddedLayout();
+      } else {
+        deps.updateCurrentMediaPath('');
       }
       handleMpvConnectionChange({ connected });
     };