diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlayer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlayer.tsx
index c36a7f29..437bad27 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlayer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlayer.tsx
@@ -289,7 +289,6 @@ export default function PlexPlayer({ itemId, onClose, queue }: Props) {
     aoffRef,
     absRef,
   });
-  audioRef.current = audioOrd; // belt-and-suspenders mirror (changeAudio / the detail effect set it too)
 
   // Start playback when the detail arrives (resume from the saved position unless already watched).
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -370,7 +369,7 @@ export default function PlexPlayer({ itemId, onClose, queue }: Props) {
       video.removeEventListener("canplay", syncPlaying);
       video.removeEventListener("seeked", syncPlaying);
     };
-  }, [id, patchPrefs]);
+  }, [id]);
 
   // Periodic + on-unmount progress checkpoint (interval flush + pause/pagehide + reopen cache patch).
   usePlexProgress({ id, qc, videoRef, absRef, durationRef });