diff --git a/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerCore.kt b/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerCore.kt
index 73f6b9ca..878899c3 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerCore.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerCore.kt
@@ -440,7 +440,6 @@ class ExoPlayerCore(private val activity: Activity) : Player.Listener {
             // encoded audio track when capabilities come back. See androidx/media#2258.
             .setAllowInvalidateSelectionsOnRendererCapabilitiesChange(true)
             .setTrackTypeDisabled(C.TRACK_TYPE_TEXT, false)
-            .setPreferredTextLanguage("en")
         )
       }
 
@@ -2279,7 +2278,7 @@ class ExoPlayerCore(private val activity: Activity) : Player.Listener {
     startPositionMs: Long,
     autoPlay: Boolean,
     isLive: Boolean = false,
-    externalSubtitleList: List<Map<String, String?>>? = null
+    externalSubtitleList: List<Map<String, Any?>>? = null
   ) {
     if (!isInitialized) return
 
@@ -2330,12 +2329,22 @@ class ExoPlayerCore(private val activity: Activity) : Player.Listener {
 
     // Build external subtitle configurations (attached to MediaItem before prepare)
     externalSubtitleList?.forEachIndexed { index, sub ->
-      val subUri = sub["uri"] ?: return@forEachIndexed
+      val subUri = sub["uri"] as? String ?: return@forEachIndexed
+      val title = sub["title"] as? String
+      val language = sub["language"] as? String
+      val codec = sub["codec"] as? String
+      val mimeType = sub["mimeType"] as? String
+      val isDefault = sub["isDefault"] as? Boolean ?: false
+      val isForced = sub["isForced"] as? Boolean ?: false
+      val selectionFlags =
+        (if (isDefault) C.SELECTION_FLAG_DEFAULT else 0) or
+          (if (isForced) C.SELECTION_FLAG_FORCED else 0)
       val config = MediaItem.SubtitleConfiguration.Builder(Uri.parse(subUri))
         .setId("external_$index")
-        .setLabel(sub["title"] ?: "External")
-        .setLanguage(sub["language"])
-        .setMimeType(sub["mimeType"] ?: detectSubtitleMimeType(subUri))
+        .setLabel(title ?: "External")
+        .setLanguage(language)
+        .setMimeType(mimeType ?: subtitleMimeTypeForCodec(codec) ?: detectSubtitleMimeType(subUri))
+        .setSelectionFlags(selectionFlags)
         .build()
       externalSubtitles.add(config)
       externalSubtitleUris.add(subUri)
@@ -2351,7 +2360,8 @@ class ExoPlayerCore(private val activity: Activity) : Player.Listener {
       reason = "open",
       forceSelector = true,
       clearAudioOverrides = true,
-      clearTextOverrides = true
+      clearTextOverrides = true,
+      textDisabled = true
     )
     emitSeekable(false, force = true)
 
@@ -2618,6 +2628,14 @@ class ExoPlayerCore(private val activity: Activity) : Player.Listener {
     }
   }
 
+  private fun subtitleMimeTypeForCodec(codec: String?): String? = when (codec?.lowercase()) {
+    "srt", "subrip" -> MimeTypes.APPLICATION_SUBRIP
+    "ass", "ssa" -> MimeTypes.TEXT_SSA
+    "webvtt", "vtt" -> MimeTypes.TEXT_VTT
+    "ttml" -> MimeTypes.APPLICATION_TTML
+    else -> null
+  }
+
   fun setVisible(visible: Boolean) {
     if (disposing) return
     currentVisible = visible
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerPlugin.kt b/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerPlugin.kt
index 55ad5649..59ec90c6 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerPlugin.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/edde746/plezy/exoplayer/ExoPlayerPlugin.kt
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ class ExoPlayerPlugin :
     val startPositionMs = call.argument<Number>("startPositionMs")?.toLong() ?: 0L
     val autoPlay = call.argument<Boolean>("autoPlay") ?: true
     val isLive = call.argument<Boolean>("isLive") ?: false
-    val externalSubtitles = call.argument<List<Map<String, String?>>>("externalSubtitles")
+    val externalSubtitles = call.argument<List<Map<String, Any?>>>("externalSubtitles")
 
     if (uri == null) {
       result.error("INVALID_ARGS", "Missing 'uri'", null)
@@ -260,6 +260,8 @@ class ExoPlayerPlugin :
         val options = mutableListOf<String>()
         options.add("start=$startSeconds")
         if (!autoPlay) options.add("pause=yes")
+        options.add("sid=no")
+        options.add("secondary-sid=no")
         headers?.forEach { (key, value) ->
           options.add("http-header-fields-append=$key: $value")
         }
diff --git a/lib/mpv/models.dart b/lib/mpv/models.dart
index d692ab3a..5e940e80 100644
--- a/lib/mpv/models.dart
+++ b/lib/mpv/models.dart
@@ -70,8 +70,23 @@ sealed class SubtitleTrack with _$SubtitleTrack {
     String? uri,
   }) = _SubtitleTrack;
 
-  factory SubtitleTrack.uri(String uri, {String? title, String? language}) =>
-      SubtitleTrack(id: 'external:$uri', title: title, language: language, isExternal: true, uri: uri);
+  factory SubtitleTrack.uri(
+    String uri, {
+    String? title,
+    String? language,
+    String? codec,
+    bool isDefault = false,
+    bool isForced = false,
+  }) => SubtitleTrack(
+    id: 'external:$uri',
+    title: title,
+    language: language,
+    codec: codec,
+    isDefault: isDefault,
+    isForced: isForced,
+    isExternal: true,
+    uri: uri,
+  );
 
   static const auto = SubtitleTrack(id: 'auto', title: 'Auto');
 
diff --git a/lib/mpv/player/platform/player_android.dart b/lib/mpv/player/platform/player_android.dart
index df5ae565..c61be47c 100644
--- a/lib/mpv/player/platform/player_android.dart
+++ b/lib/mpv/player/platform/player_android.dart
@@ -120,7 +120,16 @@ class PlayerAndroid extends PlayerBase {
       if (externalSubtitles != null && externalSubtitles.isNotEmpty)
         'externalSubtitles': externalSubtitles
             .where((s) => s.uri != null)
-            .map((s) => {'uri': s.uri, 'title': s.title, 'language': s.language})
+            .map(
+              (s) => {
+                'uri': s.uri,
+                'title': s.title,
+                'language': s.language,
+                'codec': s.codec,
+                'isDefault': s.isDefault,
+                'isForced': s.isForced,
+              },
+            )
             .toList(),
     });
   }
diff --git a/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart b/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart
index e8c9c2ae..ee1b5e7f 100644
--- a/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart
+++ b/lib/mpv/player/player_native.dart
@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ class PlayerNative extends PlayerBase {
       await setProperty('pause', 'yes');
     }
 
+    // Prevent mpv's own default subtitle selection from racing the
+    // server-backed TrackManager decision applied after tracks are discovered.
+    await setProperty('sid', 'no');
+    await setProperty('secondary-sid', 'no');
+
     // Convert content:// URIs to fdclose:// for MPV on Android (SAF SD card downloads)
     var uri = media.uri;
     if (Platform.isAndroid && uri.startsWith('content://')) {
diff --git a/lib/services/jellyfin_client/parts/playback.dart b/lib/services/jellyfin_client/parts/playback.dart
index 82fb4db6..eb6f659f 100644
--- a/lib/services/jellyfin_client/parts/playback.dart
+++ b/lib/services/jellyfin_client/parts/playback.dart
@@ -343,6 +343,9 @@ mixin _JellyfinPlaybackMethods on MediaServerCacheMixin {
               cleanSubtitleTitle(track.displayTitle ?? track.title, codec: track.codec) ??
               cleanTrackMetadataValue(track.language),
           language: cleanTrackMetadataValue(track.languageCode),
+          codec: track.codec,
+          isDefault: track.selected,
+          isForced: track.forced,
         ),
       );
     }
diff --git a/lib/services/playback_initialization_service.dart b/lib/services/playback_initialization_service.dart
index 45cccb8f..f005592f 100644
--- a/lib/services/playback_initialization_service.dart
+++ b/lib/services/playback_initialization_service.dart
@@ -270,6 +270,9 @@ class PlaybackInitializationService {
             'file://${entity.path}',
             title: cachedTrack?.displayTitle ?? cachedTrack?.language ?? 'Subtitle $fileName',
             language: cachedTrack?.languageCode,
+            codec: cachedTrack?.codec,
+            isDefault: cachedTrack?.selected ?? false,
+            isForced: cachedTrack?.forced ?? false,
           ),
         );
       }
diff --git a/lib/services/plex_client.dart b/lib/services/plex_client.dart
index a313bcb1..46aa6a76 100644
--- a/lib/services/plex_client.dart
+++ b/lib/services/plex_client.dart
@@ -3437,6 +3437,9 @@ class PlexClient
             url,
             title: plexTrack.displayTitle ?? plexTrack.title ?? plexTrack.language ?? 'Track ${plexTrack.id}',
             language: plexTrack.languageCode,
+            codec: plexTrack.codec,
+            isDefault: plexTrack.selected,
+            isForced: plexTrack.forced,
           ),
         );
       } catch (e) {
diff --git a/test/mpv/player_open_test.dart b/test/mpv/player_open_test.dart
index 2b7f55b9..f1554985 100644
--- a/test/mpv/player_open_test.dart
+++ b/test/mpv/player_open_test.dart
@@ -34,6 +34,58 @@ void main() {
       );
     });
 
+    test('ExoPlayer forwards external subtitle metadata at open', () async {
+      final calls = <MethodCall>[];
+
+      await _withMockChannels(
+        methodChannelName: 'com.plezy/exo_player',
+        eventChannelName: 'com.plezy/exo_player/events',
+        methodHandler: (call) {
+          calls.add(call);
+          switch (call.method) {
+            case 'initialize':
+              return Future.value(true);
+            default:
+              return Future.value(null);
+          }
+        },
+        testBody: () async {
+          final player = PlayerAndroid();
+          try {
+            await player.open(
+              Media('https://example.test/movie.mkv'),
+              externalSubtitles: const [
+                SubtitleTrack(
+                  id: 'external-sub',
+                  title: 'English Forced',
+                  language: 'eng',
+                  codec: 'srt',
+                  isDefault: true,
+                  isForced: true,
+                  isExternal: true,
+                  uri: 'https://example.test/sub.srt',
+                ),
+              ],
+            );
+
+            final openCall = calls.singleWhere((call) => call.method == 'open');
+            final args = Map<Object?, Object?>.from(openCall.arguments as Map);
+            final external = args['externalSubtitles'] as List;
+            final subtitle = Map<Object?, Object?>.from(external.single as Map);
+
+            expect(subtitle['uri'], 'https://example.test/sub.srt');
+            expect(subtitle['title'], 'English Forced');
+            expect(subtitle['language'], 'eng');
+            expect(subtitle['codec'], 'srt');
+            expect(subtitle['isDefault'], isTrue);
+            expect(subtitle['isForced'], isTrue);
+          } finally {
+            await player.dispose();
+          }
+        },
+      );
+    });
+
     test('ExoPlayer applies DV conversion mode changed during in-flight initialization', () async {
       final initialize = Completer<bool>();
       final calls = <MethodCall>[];
@@ -105,6 +157,44 @@ void main() {
       );
     });
 
+    test('MPV disables subtitles before loading media', () async {
+      final calls = <MethodCall>[];
+
+      await _withMockChannels(
+        methodChannelName: 'com.plezy/mpv_player',
+        eventChannelName: 'com.plezy/mpv_player/events',
+        methodHandler: (call) {
+          calls.add(call);
+          switch (call.method) {
+            case 'initialize':
+              return Future.value(true);
+            default:
+              return Future.value(null);
+          }
+        },
+        testBody: () async {
+          final player = PlayerNative();
+          try {
+            await player.open(Media('https://example.test/next.mkv'));
+
+            final sidIndex = _setPropertyCallIndex(calls, 'sid');
+            final secondarySidIndex = _setPropertyCallIndex(calls, 'secondary-sid');
+            final loadIndex = _loadfileCallIndex(calls);
+
+            expect(sidIndex, greaterThanOrEqualTo(0));
+            expect(secondarySidIndex, greaterThanOrEqualTo(0));
+            expect(loadIndex, greaterThanOrEqualTo(0));
+            expect(sidIndex, lessThan(loadIndex));
+            expect(secondarySidIndex, lessThan(loadIndex));
+            expect(_setPropertyValue(calls[sidIndex]), 'no');
+            expect(_setPropertyValue(calls[secondarySidIndex]), 'no');
+          } finally {
+            await player.dispose();
+          }
+        },
+      );
+    });
+
     test('MPV maps server-offset streams to absolute timeline positions', () async {
       final calls = <MethodCall>[];
 
@@ -235,3 +325,19 @@ void _seedTracks(dynamic player) {
     {'type': 'sub', 'id': '3_0', 'title': 'English', 'lang': 'eng', 'selected': true},
   ]);
 }
+
+int _setPropertyCallIndex(List<MethodCall> calls, String name) {
+  return calls.indexWhere((call) => call.method == 'setProperty' && _setPropertyName(call) == name);
+}
+
+String? _setPropertyName(MethodCall call) => Map<Object?, Object?>.from(call.arguments as Map)['name'] as String?;
+
+String? _setPropertyValue(MethodCall call) => Map<Object?, Object?>.from(call.arguments as Map)['value'] as String?;
+
+int _loadfileCallIndex(List<MethodCall> calls) {
+  return calls.indexWhere((call) {
+    if (call.method != 'command') return false;
+    final args = Map<Object?, Object?>.from(call.arguments as Map)['args'] as List;
+    return args.isNotEmpty && args.first == 'loadfile';
+  });
+}