diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index db5f61c92..a7d1c594b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ The application is a cross-platform, open-source project built with Electron and
 - M3u and M3u8 playlist support 📺
 - Radio playlist support with dedicated audio player 📻
 - Xtream Code (XC) and Stalker portal (STB) support
-- External player support - MPV, VLC
+- External player support - MPV and VLC; macOS accepts `mpv.app` / `VLC.app` bundle paths. IINA can be launched via its executable path on macOS (best-effort: controls and position polling are MPV IPC only)
 - Add playlists from the file system or remote URLs 📂
 - Automatic playlist updates on application startup
 - Channel search functionality 🔍
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.html b/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.html
index eb1011636..76494e5e6 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.html
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.html
@@ -148,13 +148,16 @@
         </div>
     }
 
-    @if (form().value.player === 'mpv') {
+    @if (isDesktop() && form().value.player === 'mpv') {
         <div class="setting-item">
             <div class="setting-item__meta">
                 <h4>{{ 'SETTINGS.MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL' | translate }}</h4>
                 <p>
                     {{ 'SETTINGS.MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION' | translate }}
                 </p>
+                <p data-test-id="mpv-compatible-player-tip">
+                    {{ 'SETTINGS.MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP' | translate }}
+                </p>
             </div>
             <div class="setting-item__control">
                 <mat-form-field appearance="outline" subscriptSizing="dynamic">
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@
         </div>
     }
 
-    @if (form().value.player === 'vlc') {
+    @if (isDesktop() && form().value.player === 'vlc') {
         <div class="setting-item">
             <div class="setting-item__meta">
                 <h4>{{ 'SETTINGS.VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL' | translate }}</h4>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.spec.ts b/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.spec.ts
index 8aa611bdf..77fefc620 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/settings/settings-playback-section.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { FormControl, FormGroup, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
 import { NoopAnimationsModule } from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
-import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { TranslateModule, TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { StreamFormat, VideoPlayer } from 'shared-interfaces';
 import { SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent } from './settings-playback-section.component';
 
+const MPV_PATH_DESCRIPTION =
+    'Set the path to MPV. On macOS you can use the MPV app bundle, such as /Applications/mpv.app, or the executable path.';
+const MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP =
+    'IINA can be launched as an MPV-compatible player on macOS, but use its executable path, such as /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli or /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. IPTVnator controls, position polling, and reuse-instance behavior are guaranteed only for MPV IPC.';
+const VLC_PATH_DESCRIPTION =
+    'Set the path to VLC. On macOS you can use the VLC app bundle, such as /Applications/VLC.app, or the executable path.';
+
 describe('SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent', () => {
     let fixture: ComponentFixture<SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent>;
 
@@ -18,6 +25,20 @@ describe('SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent', () => {
             ],
         }).compileComponents();
 
+        const translate = TestBed.inject(TranslateService);
+        translate.setTranslation(
+            'en',
+            {
+                SETTINGS: {
+                    MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION: MPV_PATH_DESCRIPTION,
+                    MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP: MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP,
+                    VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION: VLC_PATH_DESCRIPTION,
+                },
+            },
+            true
+        );
+        translate.use('en');
+
         fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent);
         fixture.componentRef.setInput('form', createForm());
         fixture.componentRef.setInput('activeSection', 'playback');
@@ -119,6 +140,92 @@ describe('SettingsPlaybackSectionComponent', () => {
             )
         ).toBeNull();
     });
+
+    it('shows MPV bundle guidance and the IINA executable tip for desktop MPV playback', () => {
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('form', createForm(VideoPlayer.MPV));
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('isDesktop', true);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain(
+            MPV_PATH_DESCRIPTION
+        );
+        expect(
+            fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+                '[data-test-id="mpv-compatible-player-tip"]'
+            )
+        ).not.toBeNull();
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain(
+            MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('hides MPV path guidance and the IINA executable tip outside desktop builds', () => {
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('form', createForm(VideoPlayer.MPV));
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('isDesktop', false);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).not.toContain(
+            MPV_PATH_DESCRIPTION
+        );
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).not.toContain(
+            MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP
+        );
+        expect(
+            fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+                '[data-test-id="mpv-compatible-player-tip"]'
+            )
+        ).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('shows VLC bundle guidance without the IINA tip for desktop VLC playback', () => {
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('form', createForm(VideoPlayer.VLC));
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('isDesktop', true);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).toContain(
+            VLC_PATH_DESCRIPTION
+        );
+        expect(
+            fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+                '[data-test-id="mpv-compatible-player-tip"]'
+            )
+        ).toBeNull();
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).not.toContain(
+            MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('hides VLC path guidance outside desktop builds', () => {
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('form', createForm(VideoPlayer.VLC));
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('isDesktop', false);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).not.toContain(
+            VLC_PATH_DESCRIPTION
+        );
+        expect(
+            fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+                '[data-test-id="mpv-compatible-player-tip"]'
+            )
+        ).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('does not show external-player path guidance for embedded players', () => {
+        fixture.componentRef.setInput('isDesktop', true);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).not.toContain(
+            MPV_PATH_DESCRIPTION
+        );
+        expect(fixture.nativeElement.textContent).not.toContain(
+            VLC_PATH_DESCRIPTION
+        );
+        expect(
+            fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+                '[data-test-id="mpv-compatible-player-tip"]'
+            )
+        ).toBeNull();
+    });
 });
 
 function createForm(player = VideoPlayer.VideoJs): FormGroup {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ar.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ar.json
index bc3e4e2a3..89077016b 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ar.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ar.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "خطأ في الاستيراد، يرجى تجربة ملف آخر.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "مسار مشغل MPV",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار مشغل MPV في نظامك.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار MPV. على macOS يمكنك استخدام حزمة تطبيق MPV مثل /Applications/mpv.app أو مسار الملف التنفيذي.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "يمكن تشغيل IINA كمشغل متوافق مع MPV على macOS، لكن استخدم مسار الملف التنفيذي مثل /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli أو /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. عناصر تحكم IPTVnator وتتبع الموضع وإعادة استخدام النافذة مضمونة فقط مع MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "مسار مشغل MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "إعادة استخدام نسخة MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "عند التفعيل، سيتم إعادة استخدام نفس نافذة MPV لتشغيل البثوث المختلفة. عند التعطيل، يفتح كل بث في نافذة MPV جديدة.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "مسار VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار مشغل VLC في نظامك.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار VLC. على macOS يمكنك استخدام حزمة تطبيق VLC مثل /Applications/VLC.app أو مسار الملف التنفيذي.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "مسار مشغل VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "إعادة استخدام نسخة VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "عند التفعيل، سيتم إعادة استخدام نفس نافذة VLC لتشغيل البثوث المختلفة. عند التعطيل، يفتح كل بث في نافذة VLC جديدة.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ary.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ary.json
index d610e18e8..d0e98eae8 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ary.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ary.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "خطأ في الاستيراد، عفاك جرب بملف آخر.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "مسار mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار مشغل mpv في السيستيم ديالك. غادي يستعمل المسار اللي عطيتيه لملف mpv بدل اللي كيتلقى في $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار MPV. فـ macOS تقدر تستعمل باقة تطبيق MPV بحال /Applications/mpv.app أو مسار الملف التنفيذي.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA يقدر يتفتح كمشغل متوافق مع MPV فـ macOS، ولكن استعمل مسار الملف التنفيذي بحال /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli أو /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. تحكم IPTVnator وتتبع الموضع وإعادة استعمال النافذة مضمونين غير مع MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "مسار مشغل mpv",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "إعادة استخدام نسخة MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "إلى كانت مفعلة، نفس نافذة MPV غادي تستعمل لتشغيل بثوث مختلفة. إلى كانت معطلة، كل بث كيتحل في نافذة MPV جديدة.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "مسار VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار مشغل VLC في السيستيم ديالك. غادي يستعمل المسار اللي عطيتيه لملف VLC بدل المسار الافتراضي ديال السيستيم ديالنا.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "حدد مسار VLC. فـ macOS تقدر تستعمل باقة تطبيق VLC بحال /Applications/VLC.app أو مسار الملف التنفيذي.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "مسار مشغل VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "إعادة استخدام نسخة VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "إلى كانت مفعلة، نفس نافذة VLC غادي تستعمل لتشغيل بثوث مختلفة. إلى كانت معطلة، كل بث كيتحل في نافذة VLC جديدة.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/by.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/by.json
index 1326d4742..4d12859fd 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/by.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/by.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Памылка імпарту, калі ласка, паспрабуйце імпартаваць іншы файл.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Шлях да mpv прайгравальніка",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Усталюйце шлях да прайгравальніка MPV у вашай сістэме. Будзе выкарыстаны ўказаны шлях да бінарнага файла MPV замест таго, што знойдзены ў $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Укажыце шлях да MPV. На macOS можна выкарыстоўваць пакет праграмы MPV, напрыклад /Applications/mpv.app, або шлях да выканальнага файла.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA можна запускаць як MPV-сумяшчальны прайгравальнік на macOS, але выкарыстоўвайце шлях да выканальнага файла, напрыклад /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli або /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Кіраванне IPTVnator, апытанне пазіцыі і паўторнае выкарыстанне акна гарантаваныя толькі для MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "Шлях да mpv прайгравальніка",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Паўторна выкарыстоўваць асобнік MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Калі ўключана, тое ж акно MPV будзе паўторна выкарыстоўвацца для прайгравання розных патокаў. Калі адключана, кожны паток адкрываецца ў новым акне MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Шлях да VLC прайгравальніка",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Усталюйце шлях да прайгравальніка VLC у вашай сістэме. \nЁн будзе выкарыстоўваць прадастаўлены шлях да бінарнага файла VLC замест шляху па змаўчанні.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Укажыце шлях да VLC. На macOS можна выкарыстоўваць пакет праграмы VLC, напрыклад /Applications/VLC.app, або шлях да выканальнага файла.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Шлях да VLC прайгравальніка",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Паўторна выкарыстоўваць асобнік VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Калі ўключана, тое ж акно VLC будзе паўторна выкарыстоўвацца для прайгравання розных патокаў. Калі адключана, кожны паток адкрываецца ў новым акне VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/de.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/de.json
index 12134643c..1a0b45ffb 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/de.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/de.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Importfehler. Bitte versuchen Sie es mit einer anderen Datei.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "MPV-Pfad",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Legen Sie den Pfad zum MPV-Player in Ihrem System fest. Es wird der bereitgestellte Pfad zu einer MPV-Binärdatei anstelle des in $PATH gefundenen verwendet.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Lege den Pfad zu MPV fest. Unter macOS kannst du das MPV-App-Bundle wie /Applications/mpv.app oder den ausführbaren Pfad verwenden.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA kann unter macOS als MPV-kompatibler Player gestartet werden, verwende dafür aber den ausführbaren Pfad wie /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli oder /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. IPTVnator-Steuerung, Positionsabfrage und Wiederverwendung der Instanz sind nur für MPV IPC garantiert.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "MPV-Player-Pfad",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "MPV-Instanz wiederverwenden",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Wenn aktiviert, wird dasselbe MPV-Fenster zum Abspielen verschiedener Streams wiederverwendet. Wenn deaktiviert, wird jeder Stream in einem neuen MPV-Fenster geöffnet.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC-Pfad",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Legen Sie den Pfad zum VLC-Player in Ihrem System fest. \nEs wird der bereitgestellte Pfad zu einer VLC-Binärdatei anstelle des Standardpfads für unser System verwendet.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Lege den Pfad zu VLC fest. Unter macOS kannst du das VLC-App-Bundle wie /Applications/VLC.app oder den ausführbaren Pfad verwenden.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC-Playerpfad",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "VLC-Instanz wiederverwenden",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Wenn aktiviert, wird dasselbe VLC-Fenster zum Abspielen verschiedener Streams wiederverwendet. Wenn deaktiviert, wird jeder Stream in einem neuen VLC-Fenster geöffnet.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/el.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/el.json
index e98dbcb92..73fe688b5 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/el.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/el.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Σφάλμα εισαγωγής, δοκιμάστε με άλλο αρχείο.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "διαδρομή mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ορίστε τη διαδρομή προς το mpv player στο σύστημά σας. Θα χρησιμοποιήσει την παρεχόμενη διαδρομή προς ένα δυαδικό αρχείο mpv αντί για αυτήν που βρίσκεται στο $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ορίστε τη διαδρομή προς το MPV. Στο macOS μπορείτε να χρησιμοποιήσετε το πακέτο εφαρμογής MPV, όπως /Applications/mpv.app, ή τη διαδρομή του εκτελέσιμου αρχείου.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "Το IINA μπορεί να εκκινηθεί ως συμβατό με MPV πρόγραμμα αναπαραγωγής στο macOS, αλλά χρησιμοποιήστε τη διαδρομή του εκτελέσιμου, όπως /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli ή /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Τα στοιχεία ελέγχου του IPTVnator, η παρακολούθηση θέσης και η επαναχρησιμοποίηση instance είναι εγγυημένα μόνο για MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "διαδρομή mpv προγράμματος αναπαραγωγής",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Επαναχρησιμοποίηση της παρουσίας MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Όταν είναι ενεργοποιημένη, το ίδιο παράθυρο MPV θα επαναχρησιμοποιηθεί για την αναπαραγωγή διαφορετικών ροών. Όταν είναι απενεργοποιημένη, κάθε ροή ανοίγει σε ένα νέο παράθυρο MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "διαδρομή VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ορίστε τη διαδρομή προς το VLC player στο σύστημά σας. Θα χρησιμοποιήσει την παρεχόμενη διαδρομή προς ένα δυαδικό αρχείο VLC αντί για την προεπιλεγμένη διαδρομή για το σύστημά μας.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ορίστε τη διαδρομή προς το VLC. Στο macOS μπορείτε να χρησιμοποιήσετε το πακέτο εφαρμογής VLC, όπως /Applications/VLC.app, ή τη διαδρομή του εκτελέσιμου αρχείου.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "διαδρομή VLC player",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Επαναχρησιμοποίηση της παρουσίας VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Όταν είναι ενεργοποιημένη, το ίδιο παράθυρο VLC θα επαναχρησιμοποιηθεί για την αναπαραγωγή διαφορετικών ροών. Όταν είναι απενεργοποιημένη, κάθε ροή ανοίγει σε ένα νέο παράθυρο VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/en.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/en.json
index 9f6ace9f0..3ac2322f6 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/en.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/en.json
@@ -320,7 +320,8 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Import error, please try with another file.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "mpv path",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Set path to mpv player in your system. It will use the provided path to a mpv binary instead of using the one found in $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Set the path to MPV. On macOS you can use the MPV app bundle, such as /Applications/mpv.app, or the executable path.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA can be launched as an MPV-compatible player on macOS, but use its executable path, such as /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli or /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. IPTVnator controls, position polling, and reuse-instance behavior are guaranteed only for MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpv player path",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Reuse MPV instance",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "When enabled, the same MPV window will be reused for playing different streams. When disabled, each stream opens in a new MPV window.",
@@ -329,7 +330,7 @@
         "RECORDING_FOLDER": "Recording folder",
         "RECORDING_FOLDER_SELECT": "Select recording folder",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC path",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Set path to VLC player in your system. It will use the provided path to a VLC binary instead of the default path for our system.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Set the path to VLC. On macOS you can use the VLC app bundle, such as /Applications/VLC.app, or the executable path.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC player path",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Reuse VLC instance",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "When enabled, the same VLC window will be reused for playing different streams. When disabled, each stream opens in a new VLC window.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/es.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/es.json
index 76b8a66ea..23dbf76e0 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/es.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/es.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Error de importación, intente con otro archivo.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Ruta de mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Establece la ruta al reproductor mpv en tu sistema. Se usará la ruta proporcionada al binario de mpv en lugar de la encontrada en $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Establece la ruta a MPV. En macOS puedes usar el paquete de la app MPV, como /Applications/mpv.app, o la ruta del ejecutable.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA puede iniciarse como reproductor compatible con MPV en macOS, pero usa su ruta ejecutable, como /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli o /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Los controles de IPTVnator, el seguimiento de posición y la reutilización de instancia solo están garantizados con MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "ruta del reproductor mpv",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Reutilizar instancia de MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Cuando esta opción está activada, se reutiliza la misma ventana de MPV para reproducir distintos streams. Cuando está desactivada, cada stream se abre en una nueva ventana de MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "ruta VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Establezca la ruta al reproductor VLC en su sistema. \nUtilizará la ruta proporcionada a un binario VLC en lugar de la ruta predeterminada para nuestro sistema.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Establece la ruta a VLC. En macOS puedes usar el paquete de la app VLC, como /Applications/VLC.app, o la ruta del ejecutable.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Ruta del reproductor VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Reutilizar instancia de VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Cuando esta opción está activada, se reutiliza la misma ventana de VLC para reproducir distintos streams. Cuando está desactivada, cada stream se abre en una nueva ventana de VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/fr.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/fr.json
index db4fc35a6..8136fdde7 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/fr.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/fr.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Erreur d'importation, veuillez essayer avec un autre fichier.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Chemin mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Définissez le chemin d'accès au lecteur mpv dans votre système. Il utilisera le chemin fourni vers un binaire mpv au lieu de celui trouvé dans $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Définissez le chemin vers MPV. Sur macOS, vous pouvez utiliser le bundle de l’app MPV, comme /Applications/mpv.app, ou le chemin de l’exécutable.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA peut être lancé comme lecteur compatible MPV sur macOS, mais utilisez son chemin exécutable, comme /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli ou /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Les contrôles IPTVnator, le suivi de position et la réutilisation d’instance ne sont garantis qu’avec MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "Chemin du lecteur mpv",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Réutiliser l'instance MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Lorsqu'elle est activée, la même fenêtre MPV sera réutilisée pour lire différents flux. Lorsqu'elle est désactivée, chaque flux s'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Chemin VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Définissez le chemin d'accès au lecteur VLC dans votre système. Il utilisera le chemin fourni vers un binaire VLC au lieu du chemin par défaut.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Définissez le chemin vers VLC. Sur macOS, vous pouvez utiliser le bundle de l’app VLC, comme /Applications/VLC.app, ou le chemin de l’exécutable.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Chemin du lecteur VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Réutiliser l'instance VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Lorsqu'elle est activée, la même fenêtre VLC sera réutilisée pour lire différents flux. Lorsqu'elle est désactivée, chaque flux s'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/it.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/it.json
index 91b11a273..dc686b2c6 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/it.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/it.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Errore di importazione, prova con un altro file.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "percorso mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Imposta il percorso per il lettore mpv in questo tuo sistema. Verrà usato il percorso fornito per un eseguibile mpv invece di usare quello trovato in $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Imposta il percorso di MPV. Su macOS puoi usare il bundle dell’app MPV, come /Applications/mpv.app, oppure il percorso dell’eseguibile.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA può essere avviato come player compatibile con MPV su macOS, ma usa il suo percorso eseguibile, come /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli o /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. I controlli di IPTVnator, il polling della posizione e il riuso dell’istanza sono garantiti solo con MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "percorso riproduttore mpv",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Riutilizza istanza MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Quando attivo, la stessa finestra MPV viene riutilizzata per riprodurre stream diversi. Quando disattivo, ogni stream viene aperto in una nuova finestra MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Percorso VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Imposta il percorso del lettore VLC nel sistema. Verrà usato il percorso fornito per il file exe VLC invece del percorso predefinito per il sistema.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Imposta il percorso di VLC. Su macOS puoi usare il bundle dell’app VLC, come /Applications/VLC.app, oppure il percorso dell’eseguibile.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Percorso lettore VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Riutilizza istanza VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Quando attivo, la stessa finestra VLC viene riutilizzata per riprodurre stream diversi. Quando disattivo, ogni stream viene aperto in una nuova finestra VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ja.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ja.json
index b22801e33..a927ee680 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ja.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ja.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "インポートエラー。別のファイルで試してください。",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "mpvのパス",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "システム内のmpvプレーヤーのパスを設定します。$PATHで見つかったものの代わりに、指定されたmpvバイナリのパスを使用します。",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "MPV へのパスを設定します。macOS では /Applications/mpv.app のような MPV アプリバンドル、または実行ファイルのパスを使用できます。",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA は macOS で MPV 互換プレーヤーとして起動できますが、/Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli または /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA のような実行ファイルのパスを指定してください。IPTVnator の操作、位置ポーリング、インスタンス再利用は MPV IPC でのみ保証されます。",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpvプレーヤーのパス",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "MPVインスタンスを再利用",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "有効にすると、異なるストリームの再生に同じMPVウィンドウが再利用されます。無効にすると、各ストリームが新しいMPVウィンドウで開きます。",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLCのパス",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "システム内のVLCプレーヤーのパスを設定します。システムのデフォルトパスの代わりに、指定されたVLCバイナリのパスを使用します。",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "VLC へのパスを設定します。macOS では /Applications/VLC.app のような VLC アプリバンドル、または実行ファイルのパスを使用できます。",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLCプレーヤーのパス",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "VLCインスタンスを再利用",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "有効にすると、異なるストリームの再生に同じVLCウィンドウが再利用されます。無効にすると、各ストリームが新しいVLCウィンドウで開きます。",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ko.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ko.json
index dcf07fe03..22d98d4da 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ko.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ko.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "가져오기 오류가 발생했습니다. 다른 파일로 시도해 보세요.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "mpv 경로",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "시스템에서 mpv 플레이어 경로를 설정합니다. $PATH에서 찾은 mpv 대신 제공된 경로의 mpv 바이너리를 사용합니다.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "MPV 경로를 설정합니다. macOS에서는 /Applications/mpv.app 같은 MPV 앱 번들이나 실행 파일 경로를 사용할 수 있습니다.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA는 macOS에서 MPV 호환 플레이어로 실행할 수 있지만 /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli 또는 /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA 같은 실행 파일 경로를 사용하세요. IPTVnator 컨트롤, 위치 폴링, 인스턴스 재사용 동작은 MPV IPC에서만 보장됩니다.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpv 플레이어 경로",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "MPV 인스턴스 재사용",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "활성화하면 동일한 MPV 창에서 다른 스트림을 재생합니다. 비활성화하면 각 스트림이 새 MPV 창에서 열립니다.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC 경로",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "시스템에서 VLC 플레이어의 경로를 설정하십시오. \n시스템의 기본 경로 대신 VLC 바이너리에 제공된 경로를 사용합니다.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "VLC 경로를 설정합니다. macOS에서는 /Applications/VLC.app 같은 VLC 앱 번들이나 실행 파일 경로를 사용할 수 있습니다.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC 플레이어 경로",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "VLC 인스턴스 재사용",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "활성화하면 동일한 VLC 창에서 다른 스트림을 재생합니다. 비활성화하면 각 스트림이 새 VLC 창에서 열립니다.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/nl.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/nl.json
index 6e96e2741..9263f1308 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/nl.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/nl.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Fout bij importeren, probeer een ander bestand.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "mpv-bestandspad",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Stel het bestandspad in naar de mpv-speler op je systeem. Dit bestandspad wordt gebruikt in plaats van de standaard mpv-bestand uit $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Stel het pad naar MPV in. Op macOS kun je de MPV-appbundel gebruiken, zoals /Applications/mpv.app, of het pad naar het uitvoerbare bestand.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA kan op macOS als MPV-compatibele speler worden gestart, maar gebruik het uitvoerbare pad, zoals /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli of /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. IPTVnator-bediening, positie-polling en hergebruik van de instantie zijn alleen gegarandeerd met MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpv-speler bestandspad",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "MPV-instantie hergebruiken",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Wanneer ingeschakeld, wordt hetzelfde MPV-venster hergebruikt voor het afspelen van verschillende streams. Wanneer uitgeschakeld, wordt elke stream geopend in een nieuw MPV-venster.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC-bestandspad",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Stel het bestandspad in naar de VLC-speler op je systeem. Dit bestandspad wordt gebruikt in plaats van het standaardpad van het systeem.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Stel het pad naar VLC in. Op macOS kun je de VLC-appbundel gebruiken, zoals /Applications/VLC.app, of het pad naar het uitvoerbare bestand.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC-speler bestandspad",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "VLC-instantie hergebruiken",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Wanneer ingeschakeld, wordt hetzelfde VLC-venster hergebruikt voor het afspelen van verschillende streams. Wanneer uitgeschakeld, wordt elke stream geopend in een nieuw VLC-venster.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pl.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pl.json
index a16a0b5dd..1df5bcd69 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pl.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pl.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Błąd importu, spróbuj z innym plikiem.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Ścieżka mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ustaw ścieżkę do odtwarzacza mpv w systemie. Będzie używać podanej ścieżki do pliku binarnego mpv zamiast tego znalezionego w $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ustaw ścieżkę do MPV. W macOS możesz użyć pakietu aplikacji MPV, np. /Applications/mpv.app, albo ścieżki do pliku wykonywalnego.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA można uruchomić jako odtwarzacz zgodny z MPV w macOS, ale użyj ścieżki do pliku wykonywalnego, np. /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli lub /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Sterowanie IPTVnator, odpytywanie pozycji i ponowne użycie instancji są gwarantowane tylko dla MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "Ścieżka odtwarzacza mpv",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Użyj ponownie instancji MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Po włączeniu to samo okno MPV będzie używane do odtwarzania różnych strumieni. Po wyłączeniu każdy strumień otwiera się w nowym oknie MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Ścieżka VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ustaw ścieżkę do odtwarzacza VLC w systemie. Będzie używać podanej ścieżki do pliku binarnego VLC zamiast domyślnej ścieżki dla naszego systemu.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Ustaw ścieżkę do VLC. W macOS możesz użyć pakietu aplikacji VLC, np. /Applications/VLC.app, albo ścieżki do pliku wykonywalnego.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Ścieżka odtwarzacza VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Użyj ponownie instancji VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Po włączeniu to samo okno VLC będzie używane do odtwarzania różnych strumieni. Po wyłączeniu każdy strumień otwiera się w nowym oknie VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pt.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pt.json
index 6e9f9c098..d4dccf1aa 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pt.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/pt.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Erro de importação, tente com outro arquivo.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Caminho do mpv",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Defina o caminho para o reprodutor mpv em seu sistema. Ele usará o caminho fornecido para um binário mpv em vez de usar o encontrado em $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Defina o caminho para o MPV. No macOS você pode usar o pacote do app MPV, como /Applications/mpv.app, ou o caminho do executável.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "O IINA pode ser iniciado como player compatível com MPV no macOS, mas use o caminho do executável, como /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli ou /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Controles do IPTVnator, consulta de posição e reutilização de instância são garantidos apenas com MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "Caminho do reprodutor mpv",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Reutilizar instância do MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Quando ativado, a mesma janela do MPV será reutilizada para reproduzir streams diferentes. Quando desativado, cada stream abre em uma nova janela do MPV.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Caminho do VLC",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Defina o caminho para o reprodutor VLC em seu sistema. Ele usará o caminho fornecido para um binário VLC em vez do caminho padrão para o nosso sistema.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Defina o caminho para o VLC. No macOS você pode usar o pacote do app VLC, como /Applications/VLC.app, ou o caminho do executável.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Caminho do reprodutor VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Reutilizar instância do VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Quando ativado, a mesma janela do VLC será reutilizada para reproduzir streams diferentes. Quando desativado, cada stream abre em uma nova janela do VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ru.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ru.json
index 0b6b0a169..f80230efa 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ru.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/ru.json
@@ -318,7 +318,8 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "Ошибка импорта, пожалуйста попробуйте импортировать другой файл.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Путь к mpv плееру",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Установите путь к проигрывателю MPV в вашей системе. Он будет использовать предоставленный путь к бинарному файлу MPV вместо найденного в $PATH.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Укажите путь к MPV. В macOS можно использовать пакет приложения MPV, например /Applications/mpv.app, или путь к исполняемому файлу.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA можно запускать как MPV-совместимый плеер в macOS, но указывайте путь к исполняемому файлу, например /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli или /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA. Управление из IPTVnator, опрос позиции и переиспользование экземпляра гарантированы только для MPV IPC.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "Путь к mpv плееру",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Переиспользовать экземпляр MPV",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Когда включено, одно и то же окно MPV будет использоваться для воспроизведения разных потоков. Когда отключено, каждый поток открывается в новом окне MPV.",
@@ -327,7 +328,7 @@
         "RECORDING_FOLDER": "Папка для записей",
         "RECORDING_FOLDER_SELECT": "Выбрать папку для записей",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "Путь к VLC плееру",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Установите путь к проигрывателю VLC в вашей системе. \nОн будет использовать предоставленный путь к binary файлу VLC вместо пути по умолчанию.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Укажите путь к VLC. В macOS можно использовать пакет приложения VLC, например /Applications/VLC.app, или путь к исполняемому файлу.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "Путь к VLC плееру",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "Переиспользовать экземпляр VLC",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Когда включено, одно и то же окно VLC будет использоваться для воспроизведения разных потоков. Когда отключено, каждый поток открывается в новом окне VLC.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/tr.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/tr.json
index ce0f0e818..eb5858e58 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/tr.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/tr.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "İçe aktarma hatası, lütfen başka bir dosyayla deneyin.",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "mpv yolu",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Sisteminizdeki mpv oynatıcı yolunu ayarlayın. $PATH'de bulunanı kullanmak yerine, sağlanan mpv ikili dosyası yolunu kullanacaktır.",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "MPV yolunu ayarlayın. macOS’ta /Applications/mpv.app gibi MPV uygulama paketini veya yürütülebilir dosya yolunu kullanabilirsiniz.",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA, macOS’ta MPV uyumlu bir oynatıcı olarak başlatılabilir; ancak /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli veya /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA gibi yürütülebilir dosya yolunu kullanın. IPTVnator kontrolleri, konum yoklama ve örnek yeniden kullanımı yalnızca MPV IPC için garanti edilir.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpv oynatıcı yolu",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "MPV örneğini yeniden kullan",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Etkinleştirildiğinde, farklı yayınları oynatmak için aynı MPV penceresi yeniden kullanılır. Devre dışı bırakıldığında, her yayın yeni bir MPV penceresinde açılır.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC yolu",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "Sisteminizdeki VLC oynatıcı yolunu ayarlayın. Sistemimiz için varsayılan yolu kullanmak yerine, sağlanan VLC ikili dosyası yolunu kullanacaktır.",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "VLC yolunu ayarlayın. macOS’ta /Applications/VLC.app gibi VLC uygulama paketini veya yürütülebilir dosya yolunu kullanabilirsiniz.",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC oynatıcı yolu",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "VLC örneğini yeniden kullan",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "Etkinleştirildiğinde, farklı yayınları oynatmak için aynı VLC penceresi yeniden kullanılır. Devre dışı bırakıldığında, her yayın yeni bir VLC penceresinde açılır.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zh.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zh.json
index 24e1e0643..29b003a69 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zh.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zh.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "导入错误，请尝试使用其他文件。",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "多用途车路径",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "设置系统中 mpv 播放器的路径。将使用提供的 mpv 二进制文件路径，而不是在 $PATH 中查找。",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "设置 MPV 路径。在 macOS 上可以使用 MPV 应用包，例如 /Applications/mpv.app，也可以使用可执行文件路径。",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA 可以在 macOS 上作为兼容 MPV 的播放器启动，但请使用它的可执行文件路径，例如 /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli 或 /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA。IPTVnator 控制、位置轮询和实例复用行为仅对 MPV IPC 保证可用。",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpv 播放器路径",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "复用 MPV 实例",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "启用后，将复用同一个 MPV 窗口播放不同的视频流。禁用后，每个视频流都会在新的 MPV 窗口中打开。",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC路径",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "设置系统中 VLC 播放器的路径。\n它将使用提供的 VLC 二进制文件路径，而不是我们系统的默认路径。",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "设置 VLC 路径。在 macOS 上可以使用 VLC 应用包，例如 /Applications/VLC.app，也可以使用可执行文件路径。",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC播放器路径",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "复用 VLC 实例",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "启用后，将复用同一个 VLC 窗口播放不同的视频流。禁用后，每个视频流都会在新的 VLC 窗口中打开。",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zhtw.json b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zhtw.json
index fb89c9b4d..f0180760f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zhtw.json
+++ b/apps/web/src/assets/i18n/zhtw.json
@@ -318,12 +318,13 @@
         "IMPORT_ERROR": "匯入錯誤，請嘗試另外一個檔案。",
         "PLAYLISTS_REMOVED": "All playlists and playlist data were removed.",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "mpv 路徑",
-        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "設定您系統中 mpv 播放器的路徑。將使用提供的 mpv 二進位檔路徑，而非 $PATH 中的預設路徑。",
+        "MPV_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "設定 MPV 路徑。在 macOS 上可以使用 MPV App bundle，例如 /Applications/mpv.app，也可以使用可執行檔路徑。",
+        "MPV_COMPATIBLE_PLAYER_TIP": "IINA 可以在 macOS 上作為相容 MPV 的播放器啟動，但請使用它的可執行檔路徑，例如 /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli 或 /Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA。IPTVnator 控制、位置輪詢與 instance 重複使用僅保證適用於 MPV IPC。",
         "MPV_PLAYER_PATH": "mpv 播放器路徑",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "重複使用 MPV 實體",
         "MPV_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "啟用後，相同的 MPV 視窗將重複用於播放不同串流。停用時，每個串流會在新的 MPV 視窗中開啟。",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_LABEL": "VLC 路徑",
-        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "設定您系統中 VLC 播放器的路徑。將使用提供的 VLC 二進位檔路徑，而非系統預設路徑。",
+        "VLC_PLAYER_PATH_DESCRIPTION": "設定 VLC 路徑。在 macOS 上可以使用 VLC App bundle，例如 /Applications/VLC.app，也可以使用可執行檔路徑。",
         "VLC_PLAYER_PATH": "VLC 播放器路徑",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_LABEL": "重複使用 VLC 實體",
         "VLC_REUSE_INSTANCE_DESCRIPTION": "啟用後，相同的 VLC 視窗將重複用於播放不同串流。停用時，每個串流會在新的 VLC 視窗中開啟。",
diff --git a/apps/website/src/content/blog/v0-21-release-notes.mdx b/apps/website/src/content/blog/v0-21-release-notes.mdx
index 0a4edea1e..319bb2222 100644
--- a/apps/website/src/content/blog/v0-21-release-notes.mdx
+++ b/apps/website/src/content/blog/v0-21-release-notes.mdx
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ Not everyone is going to want the embedded MPV player, and a question that came
 Turns out: **yes**, and a community member figured it out before I did. Huge thanks to them — credit where it’s due, even without naming them publicly.
 
 <Alert type="info" title="Using IINA as the external player on macOS">
-In **Settings → External player**, point IPTVnator at `IINA.app` (the bundle path, e.g. `/Applications/IINA.app`) where you would normally put the path to MPV or VLC. Streams open in IINA the same way they would in MPV — single instance, GUI controls included.
+In **Settings → External player**, select MPV and point IPTVnator at IINA's executable path, for example `/Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli` or `/Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/IINA`. Do not use `/Applications/IINA.app` directly: IPTVnator only resolves `.app` bundle paths for the real MPV and VLC apps. Streams can launch in IINA, but IPTVnator controls, position polling, and reuse-instance behavior are only guaranteed for MPV IPC.
 </Alert>
 
 This also retroactively closes the long-standing request in [#896](https://github.com/4gray/iptvnator/issues/896) — IINA support was effectively already there, it just wasn’t documented.
diff --git a/docs/architecture/embedded-inline-playback.md b/docs/architecture/embedded-inline-playback.md
index e80715b8e..cea12ced9 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/embedded-inline-playback.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/embedded-inline-playback.md
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ This document records the current contract for embedded playback in portal detai
 
 - Embedded web players are `videojs`, `html5`, and `artplayer`.
 - `embedded-mpv` exists as a hidden macOS-only feasibility harness backed by a native `libmpv` addon.
-- External players are `mpv` and `vlc`.
+- Controlled external players are `mpv` and `vlc`.
+- macOS `.app` bundle paths are resolved only for real MPV/VLC apps. IINA may
+  launch through the MPV path field when the user supplies an executable path
+  such as `/Applications/IINA.app/Contents/MacOS/iina-cli`, but IPTVnator
+  controls, position polling, and instance reuse are not guaranteed for IINA.
 - Flatpak launches external players on the host via `flatpak-spawn --host`.
 - Live playback stays inline in dedicated live layouts.
 - VOD and series detail playback stays inline on canonical detail, collection,