memleak watching hls tv streams

[m0g13r]

mpv Information

mpv v0.41.0 Copyright © 2000-2025 mpv/MPlayer/mplayer2 projects
 built on Dec 28 2025 10:27:16
libplacebo version: v7.351.0
FFmpeg version: n8.0.1
FFmpeg library versions:
   libavcodec      62.11.100
   libavdevice     62.1.100
   libavfilter     11.4.100
   libavformat     62.3.100
   libavutil       60.8.100
   libswresample   6.1.100
   libswscale      9.1.100

Other Information

- Linux version:arch linux
- Kernel Version:Linux 6.18.7-1-tachyon #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:07:15 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

- GPU Model:Intel Corporation Kaby Lake-S GT2 [HD Graphics 630] [8086:5912] (rev 04)
- Mesa/GPU Driver Version:Mesa 25.3.4-arch1.1.1
- Window Manager and Version:cinamon 5.2
- Source of mpv:
- Latest known working version:
- Issue started after the following happened:

Reproduction Steps

huge memleak watching streams after some time mpv was using 1.3 gig wtf?

Expected Behavior

no memleak :)

Actual Behavior

memleak :)

Log File

no log ...

Sample Files

watch some streams .....

I carefully read all instruction and confirm that I did the following:

• I tested with the latest mpv version to validate that the issue is not already fixed.
• I provided all required information including system and mpv version.
• I produced the log file with the exact same set of files, parameters, and conditions used in "Reproduction Steps", with the addition of --log-file=output.txt.
• I produced the log file while the behaviors described in "Actual Behavior" were actively observed.
• I attached the full, untruncated log file.
• I attached the backtrace in the case of a crash.

[kasper93]

What is your cache size?

[m0g13r]

my relevant cache settings
cache-secs=120
stream-buffer-size=4MiB
demuxer-readahead-secs=120
demuxer-max-bytes=500MiB
demuxer-max-back-bytes=200MiB

i know it's allot of caching ... but why it geht's up to 1.3 gig?!
will let it run thought night lets see how big it goes

[m0g13r]

wooohooo 3,71 gig
https://i.ibb.co/Y7ZLVX4t/Bildschirmfoto-vom-2026-01-26-16-29-23.png

[m0g13r]

similar to ... #17079

[fkroener]

I think I can reproduce on Arch as well. I'm using jellyfin-mpv-shim and have cache configured to demuxer-max-bytes=15GiB demuxer-max-back-bytes=15GiB to let content buffer a little bit. Since the shim keeps the mpv executable lingering, I end up with 10+ GB of memory consumed, even after quitting or watching the entire file. Only way to reclaim the memory appears to shutdown/restart the daemon.

[kasper93]

@fkroener: I don't think it's the same issue, you requested mpv to use this memory. While this issue is with smaller cache size.

[fkroener]

@kasper93: it reads similar to me: mpv not returning memory properly when expected (in my case end of file or pressing q, in theirs exceeding their settings). Just earlier I had about 2 GB buffered and then instructed jellyfin to start a different file. Memory usage just kept increasing instead of first at least returning those 2 GB.

I can open a new issue, if you prefer.

[kasper93]

@kasper93: it reads similar to me: mpv not returning memory properly when expected (in my case end of file or pressing q, in theirs exceeding their settings). Just earlier I had about 2 GB buffered and then instructed jellyfin to start a different file. Memory usage just kept increasing instead of first at least returning those 2 GB.

I can open a new issue, if you prefer.

Demuxer memory is not released and reused for further playback. If it keeps increasing, it's an issue, but I have not observed that.

[fkroener]

So do you mean what I'm observing is to be expected? When I quit playback or switch to a different file the demuxer memory doesn't get returned?

I still think I can reproduce an issue here:

cp <file> /tmp/file-larger-than-6GB.mp4
cd /tmp && python -m http.server
mpv --mute --no-config --demuxer-max-bytes=5Gib http://localhost:8000/file-larger-than-6GB.mp4 http://localhost:8000/file-larger-than-6GB.mp4 http://localhost:8000/file-larger-than-6GB.mp4

Memory usage (cat /proc/676243/statm):

1: 2155246 1439185 26200 532 0 1495123 0
2: 3087132 2394202 26357 532 0 2440402 0
3: 3200441 2463823 26922 532 0 2511421 0

While playing mpv reports to use the 5 GiB configured. It jumps from 4 % to 7 % memory usage on my system after advancing to the next URL (same data).