u/jeffy303

Idk if it works better on linux (probably) but on Win11, when switching audio devices mpv would not recognize it, which is bit annoying to me since I switched to using wireless earbuds which don't last all day. And ChatGPT was surprisingly able to help. After a bit I discovered when you switch audio device, mpv disappears completely, this script stops it and switches the devices pretty seamlessly

Create a new script file in scripts folder:

local mp = require "mp"

local timer = nil
local first_device_event = true
local last_device_signature = nil
local suppress_until = 0

-- Tweak these if needed.
local DEBOUNCE_SECONDS = 2.0
local SUPPRESS_AFTER_FILE_START = 2.5

local function now()
    return mp.get_time()
end

local function safe_commandv(...)
    local ok, err = mp.commandv(...)
    return ok
end

local function device_signature(list)
    if type(list) ~= "table" then
        return ""
    end

    local parts = {}

    for _, dev in ipairs(list) do
        parts[#parts + 1] = tostring(dev.name or "")
        parts[#parts + 1] = tostring(dev.description or "")
    end

    return table.concat(parts, "|")
end

local function cancel_timer()
    if timer then
        timer:kill()
        timer = nil
    end
end

local function suppress_recovery_temporarily()
    suppress_until = now() + SUPPRESS_AFTER_FILE_START
    cancel_timer()
end

local function recover_audio(show_osd)
    local old_aid = mp.get_property("aid", "auto")

    mp.set_property("audio-device", "auto")

    -- More directly reloads the audio output.
    safe_commandv("ao-reload")

    -- Extra force: tear down and recreate the selected audio track.
    mp.set_property("aid", "no")

    mp.add_timeout(0.8, function()
        if old_aid == "no" or old_aid == "" then
            old_aid = "auto"
        end

        mp.set_property("audio-device", "auto")
        mp.set_property("aid", old_aid)

        safe_commandv("ao-reload")
        safe_commandv("audio-reload")

        if show_osd ~= false then
            mp.osd_message("Audio output refreshed", 2)
        end
    end)
end

mp.add_key_binding("F8", "recover-audio-output", function()
    recover_audio(true)
end)

-- Prevent auto-refresh while opening/changing files.
mp.register_event("start-file", suppress_recovery_temporarily)
mp.register_event("file-loaded", suppress_recovery_temporarily)

-- Keep fallback enabled so mpv can recover after Bluetooth/WASAPI device loss.
mp.set_property("options/audio-fallback-to-null", "yes")

mp.observe_property("audio-device-list", "native", function(_, list)
    local sig = device_signature(list)

    -- mpv sends an initial observer notification; ignore it.
    if first_device_event then
        first_device_event = false
        last_device_signature = sig
        return
    end

    -- Ignore notifications where the actual device list did not change.
    if sig == last_device_signature then
        return
    end

    last_device_signature = sig

    -- Ignore device-list churn caused by opening a new file.
    if now() < suppress_until then
        return
    end

    cancel_timer()

    -- Bluetooth endpoints appear/disappear in bursts, so wait before recovering.
    timer = mp.add_timeout(DEBOUNCE_SECONDS, function()
        timer = nil

        if now() < suppress_until then
            return
        end

        recover_audio(true)
    end)
end)

And in mpf.conf this:

audio-device=auto
audio-exclusive=no
audio-fallback-to-null=yes

The code got twice as long when I asked it to stop it from refreshing audio device when opening new file, but who cares. Would be cool if something like this was in the app by default. Browsers and new games don't seem to have an issue with it, it's primarily older games that usually need restarting.