What is the mpv watch-later directory function?
The watch-later directory in the mpv media player
configuration folder automatically stores the playback state of files
you close before they finish. When you exit a video mid-way, mpv saves
metadata—including your exact timestamp, volume levels, and selected
subtitle tracks—into this folder as a unique text file. The next time
you open that same video, mpv reads this file to seamlessly resume
playback right where you left off, deleting the temporary file once the
video completes.
How it Works Behind the Scenes
Every time you quit mpv while a video is playing, the player hashes
the file path or URL to create a unique filename inside the
watch-later directory. Inside this plaintext file, mpv
writes specific configuration lines representing your exact state.
These saved parameters typically include:
- Start Time: The exact millisecond
(
start=...) where you paused or closed the player. - Audio and Subtitle Tracks: Your preferred audio language and subtitle track selections.
- Player State: Volume levels, playback speed, and any active video filters you applied.
Location of the Directory
The exact location of the watch-later folder depends
entirely on your operating system:
- Windows:
%APPDATA%\mpv\watch-later\ - Linux/macOS:
~/.config/mpv/watch-later/
Managing and Configuring the Feature
By default, mpv handles the creation and deletion of these files automatically. Once a video plays to the very end, mpv considers it “watched” and purges the corresponding file from the directory to save space.
If you want to customize how this folder behaves, you can modify your
main mpv.conf file with the following options:
write-filename-in-watch-later-config: Adds the real name of the video file as a comment inside the hashed file, making it much easier to identify which saved state belongs to which video.watch-later-directory=<path>: Redirects mpv to save these resume states in a completely different folder of your choice.watch-later-options: Restricts exactly what settings mpv remembers (for example, telling it to only save the timestamp but ignore volume changes).