> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/mpv-player/mpv/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Track selection

> Select audio, video, and subtitle tracks by language, ID, or default rules

mpv can play files with multiple audio, video, and subtitle tracks. These options let you specify which tracks to use — by language preference, numeric ID, or automatic rules.

<Note>
  Track selection behavior has evolved across mpv releases. Since 0.33.0, selecting a track by number strictly selects that track; if it doesn't exist, the option resets to `auto` rather than falling back to defaults.
</Note>

## Language preferences

Use IETF language tags (e.g. `en`, `eng`, `pt-BR`, `jpn`) to express a prioritized list. mpv selects the first match; a track matching more subtags wins over one matching fewer.

<ParamField path="--alang" type="string list">
  Prioritized list of audio languages. Equivalent ISO 639-1 (two-letter) and ISO 639-2 (three-letter) codes are treated the same.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv dvd://1 --alang=hu,en           # Hungarian audio, fall back to English
  mpv --alang=jpn example.mkv         # Japanese audio track
  ```

  This is a string list option — use `--alang-append` to add languages without replacing the list.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--slang" type="string list">
  Prioritized list of subtitle languages. Same matching logic as `--alang`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv dvd://1 --slang=hu,en           # Hungarian subs, fall back to English
  mpv --slang=pt-BR example.mkv       # Brazilian Portuguese; falls back to any Portuguese
  mpv --slang=jpn example.mkv         # Japanese subtitles
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--vlang" type="string list">
  Prioritized list of video track languages. Same as `--alang` and `--slang` but for video tracks.
</ParamField>

## Track ID selection

<ParamField path="--aid" type="ID|auto|no" default="auto">
  Select the audio track by numeric ID. `auto` selects the default track; `no` disables audio.

  `--audio` is an alias for `--aid`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv --aid=2 file.mkv    # select audio track 2
  mpv --aid=no file.mkv   # disable audio (same as --audio=no)
  mpv --aid=auto file.mkv # use default selection (same as omitting the option)
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--sid" type="ID|auto|no" default="auto">
  Select the subtitle track by numeric ID. `auto` selects the default; `no` disables subtitles.

  `--sub` is an alias for `--sid`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv --sid=1 file.mkv    # select subtitle track 1
  mpv --sid=no file.mkv   # disable subtitles
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--vid" type="ID|auto|no" default="auto">
  Select the video track by numeric ID. `auto` selects the default; `no` disables video.

  `--video` is an alias for `--vid`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv --vid=no file.mkv   # audio-only playback
  ```

  <Note>
    When video is disabled while streaming with yt-dlp/youtube-dl, mpv sets the format to `bestaudio/best` to save bandwidth.
  </Note>
</ParamField>

## Subtitle auto-selection rules

These options control how mpv picks subtitle tracks automatically when `--slang` is not set or produces no match.

<ParamField path="--sub-forced-only" type="auto|yes|no" default="auto">
  Controls whether forced-only subtitle tracks are preferred.

  * `auto` — use forced tracks when the subtitle language matches the audio language
  * `yes` — only show forced subtitle tracks
  * `no` — treat forced and non-forced tracks equally
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--subs-with-matching-audio" type="yes|forced|no" default="yes">
  When autoselecting subtitles, whether to select a track whose language matches the audio track's language.

  * `yes` — select a matching subtitle track even if it matches the audio language
  * `no` — never autoselect subtitles matching the audio language
  * `forced` — only autoselect forced subtitle tracks when audio and subtitle language match
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--subs-match-os-language" type="yes|no" default="yes">
  When no `--slang` is set, autoselect subtitles that match the OS language, if the audio stream is in a different language. Ignored when `--slang` is set.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--subs-fallback" type="yes|default|no" default="default">
  When no subtitle track matches your preferred languages, whether to fall back to a full (non-forced) track in any language.

  * `yes` — always fall back to any track
  * `default` — only fall back to tracks flagged as default
  * `no` — do not fall back; show no subtitles
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--subs-fallback-forced" type="yes|no|always" default="yes">
  Controls behavior of forced subtitle tracks in the fallback selection.

  * `yes` — prefer forced tracks if language matches audio and preferred languages
  * `always` — only use forced tracks, never fall back to regular tracks
  * `no` — never select forced subtitle tracks automatically
</ParamField>

## Audio cover art display

<ParamField path="--audio-display" type="no|embedded-first|external-first" default="embedded-first">
  Whether to show cover art when playing audio files, and which source takes priority.

  * `no` — disable video display entirely for audio-only files
  * `embedded-first` — show embedded cover art before external image files
  * `external-first` — prefer external cover art files (e.g. `cover.jpg` in the same directory)

  This option has no effect when the file has a real video track.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv --audio-display=no song.flac         # terminal-only audio playback
  mpv --audio-display=external-first album.mp3
  ```
</ParamField>

## Matroska edition selection

<ParamField path="--edition" type="ID|auto" default="auto">
  For Matroska files with multiple editions (chapter sets), select the edition by zero-based index. `auto` picks the edition flagged as default, or the first edition if none is flagged.

  ```bash theme={null}
  mpv --edition=0 file.mkv   # first edition
  mpv --edition=1 file.mkv   # second edition
  ```
</ParamField>

## Auto-selection control

<ParamField path="--track-auto-selection" type="yes|no" default="yes">
  Enable or disable automatic track selection based on `--aid`, `--alang`, and similar options. When disabled, no tracks are selected and playback waits (similar to a paused state) rather than exiting if no tracks are selected.

  Useful with `--lavfi-complex` for setting up filter graphs that select tracks at runtime.
</ParamField>

## Track properties vs. options

Track selection options also exist as runtime properties. The property value during playback reflects the *effective* selection — not necessarily the option value:

```bash theme={null}
# Outside playback: aid property returns "auto"
# During playback of a file with 2 audio tracks: aid property may return "2"
```

To change the active track at runtime (via console or input.conf):

```
set aid 2        # switch to audio track 2
cycle sub        # cycle through subtitle tracks
```

<Tip>
  Running `mpv --aid=2 file1.mkv file2.mkv` selects track 2 for file1; if file2 only has one audio track, the `aid` option resets to `auto` for that file (behavior since mpv 0.33.0).
</Tip>

## Common examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash DVD playback theme={null}
  # Hungarian audio with English fallback, Hungarian subs
  mpv dvd://1 --alang=hu,en --slang=hu,en
  ```

  ```bash Anime with Japanese audio and English subs theme={null}
  mpv --alang=jpn --slang=eng episode.mkv
  ```

  ```bash Audio-only, no cover art theme={null}
  mpv --vid=no song.flac
  ```

  ```bash Force specific track IDs theme={null}
  mpv --aid=3 --sid=2 movie.mkv
  ```
</CodeGroup>