[Bug]: Subscription feed scroll resets when default viewing mode opens external player

[dylper]

Guidelines

• I have encountered this bug in the latest release of FreeTube.
• I have encountered this bug in the official downloads of FreeTube. The only official downloads are from the https://freetubeapp.io website, the FreeTubeApp/FreeTube GitHub repository and the io.freetubeapp.FreeTube flatpak from Flathub.
• I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the bug report I want to file, without success.
• I have searched the documentation for information that matches the description of the bug I want to file, without success.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and agree to follow the rules.

Describe the bug

When the default viewing mode is set to open videos in an external player, clicking a video from the Subscriptions feed opens mpv but resets the Subscriptions feed scroll position back to the top.

This does not happen when using the explicit "open in external player" button on a video in the Subscriptions feed. That button opens mpv while preserving the current scroll position.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Configure FreeTube to use mpv as the external player.
2. Set the default video action/click behavior to open videos in the external player.
3. Go to the Subscriptions feed.
4. Scroll down in the feed.
5. Click a video normally.
6. mpv opens, but the Subscriptions feed position resets to the top.

Control case:

1. Go to the Subscriptions feed.
2. Scroll down.
3. Click the dedicated "open in external player" button on a video.
4. mpv opens and the feed position is preserved.

Expected Behavior

When a normal video click is configured to open the external player, it should behave like the dedicated "open in external player" button and preserve the current Subscriptions feed scroll position.

Issue Labels

usability issue, inconsistent behavior

FreeTube Version

v0.24.1-beta

Operating System Version

Ubuntu 25.10

Installation Method

.deb

Primary API used

Local API

Last Known Working FreeTube Version (If Any)

Unknown

Upload screenshots or videos

No response

Additional Information

External player: mpv

The important difference appears to be between:

• normal video click with default action set to external player: resets Subscriptions scroll
• explicit external-player button from the feed: preserves Subscriptions scroll

This suggests the default-click path may still be navigating/re-rendering the video route or feed differently than the dedicated external-player button path.

Nightly Build

• I have encountered this bug in the latest official nightly build, do not check this box if you are using an unofficial or custom build.

[absidue]

Your analysis is correct "This suggests the default-click path may still be navigating/re-rendering the video route or feed differently than the dedicated external-player button path." the default viewing mode = external player setting is very much a hack and probably never should have been added to FreeTube.

As you've already discovered that the proper open in external player button works correctly, I suggest you keep using that :).