chore(playback): remove Preload Next Track setting (#1007)

* chore(playback): remove Preload Next Track setting

The configurable next-track RAM preload duplicated hot cache and is
obsolete now that ranged streaming starts playback sooner. Gapless and
crossfade still use the internal audio_preload backup when hot cache is off.

* docs: add CHANGELOG entry for Preload Next Track removal (PR #1007)

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -60,6 +60,15 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 
 
+### Playback — Preload Next Track setting removed
+
+**By [@cucadmuh](https://github.com/cucadmuh), PR [#1007](https://github.com/Psychotoxical/psysonic/pull/1007)**
+
+* The **Preload Next Track** toggle and timing modes under **Settings → Storage → Buffering** are gone — ranged streaming now starts playback without that extra RAM prefetch.
+* Gapless and crossfade still prefetch the next track internally when Hot Cache is off; Hot Cache is unchanged.
+
+
+
 ## Fixed
 
 ### Servers — complete border on the active server card

src-tauri/crates/psysonic-analysis/src/analysis_runtime.rs

@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ impl AnalysisBackfillQueueState {
     }
 }
 
-/// Frontend-maintained set of queue-neighbour track ids (next ~5 + preload next).
+/// Frontend-maintained set of queue-neighbour track ids (next ~5 in queue).
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct PlaybackPriorityHints {
     middle_track_ids: Mutex<HashSet<String>>,

src/components/settings/StorageTab.tsx

@@ -203,65 +203,6 @@ export function StorageTab() {
         icon={<Download size={16} />}
       >
         <div className="settings-card">
-          <div style={{ fontSize: 12, color: 'var(--text-muted)', lineHeight: 1.5, marginBottom: '0.75rem' }}>
-            {t('settings.preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive')}
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Preload mode */}
-          <div className="settings-toggle-row">
-            <div>
-              <div style={{ fontWeight: 500 }}>{t('settings.preloadMode')}</div>
-              <div style={{ fontSize: 12, color: 'var(--text-muted)' }}>{t('settings.preloadModeDesc')}</div>
-            </div>
-            <label className="toggle-switch" aria-label={t('settings.preloadMode')}>
-              <input
-                type="checkbox"
-                checked={auth.preloadMode !== 'off'}
-                onChange={e => {
-                  if (e.target.checked) {
-                    auth.setPreloadMode('balanced');
-                    if (auth.hotCacheEnabled) auth.setHotCacheEnabled(false);
-                  } else {
-                    auth.setPreloadMode('off');
-                  }
-                }}
-              />
-              <span className="toggle-track" />
-            </label>
-          </div>
-          {auth.preloadMode !== 'off' && (
-            <>
-              <div style={{ paddingLeft: '1rem', marginTop: '0.5rem', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.75rem', flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
-                {(['balanced', 'early', 'custom'] as const).map(mode => (
-                  <button
-                    key={mode}
-                    className={`btn ${auth.preloadMode === mode ? 'btn-primary' : 'btn-surface'}`}
-                    style={{ fontSize: 12, padding: '3px 12px' }}
-                    onClick={() => auth.setPreloadMode(mode)}
-                  >
-                    {t(`settings.preload${mode.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + mode.slice(1)}` as any)}
-                  </button>
-                ))}
-              </div>
-              {auth.preloadMode === 'custom' && (
-                <div style={{ paddingLeft: '1rem', marginTop: '0.5rem', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.75rem', flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
-                  <input
-                    type="range"
-                    min={5} max={120} step={5}
-                    value={auth.preloadCustomSeconds}
-                    onChange={e => auth.setPreloadCustomSeconds(parseInt(e.target.value))}
-                    style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 80, maxWidth: 200 }}
-                  />
-                  <span style={{ fontSize: 13, color: 'var(--text-secondary)', minWidth: 36 }}>
-                    {t('settings.preloadCustomSeconds', { n: auth.preloadCustomSeconds })}
-                  </span>
-                </div>
-              )}
-            </>
-          )}
-
-          <div className="divider" />
-
           {/* Hot Cache */}
           <div className="settings-toggle-row">
             <div>
@@ -280,7 +221,6 @@ export function StorageTab() {
                     auth.setHotCacheEnabled(false);
                   } else {
                     auth.setHotCacheEnabled(true);
-                    if (auth.preloadMode !== 'off') auth.setPreloadMode('off');
                     invoke<number>('get_hot_cache_size', { customDir: auth.hotCacheDownloadDir || null })
                       .then(setHotCacheBytes)
                       .catch(() => setHotCacheBytes(0));

src/components/settings/settingsTabs.ts

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_INDEX: SearchIndexEntry[] = [
   { tab: 'library',        titleKey: 'settings.ratingsSectionTitle',      keywords: 'ratings stars skip threshold manual' },
   { tab: 'storage',        titleKey: 'settings.coverCacheStrategyTitle', keywords: 'cover art cache webp aggressive lazy disk per server' },
   { tab: 'storage',        titleKey: 'settings.offlineDirTitle',          keywords: 'offline library download directory folder cache' },
-  { tab: 'storage',        titleKey: 'settings.nextTrackBufferingTitle',  keywords: 'next track buffering preload hot cache streaming' },
+  { tab: 'storage',        titleKey: 'settings.nextTrackBufferingTitle',  keywords: 'next track buffering hot cache streaming' },
   { tab: 'storage',        titleKey: 'settings.downloadsTitle',           keywords: 'downloads zip export archive folder' },
   { tab: 'appearance',     titleKey: 'settings.theme',                    keywords: 'theme color palette dark light' },
   { tab: 'appearance',     titleKey: 'settings.themeSchedulerTitle',      keywords: 'theme scheduler auto time dark mode sunset' },

src/hotCachePrefetch/analysisPrune.ts

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ type AnalysisPrunePendingResult = {
 
 export function scheduleAnalysisQueuePruneFromPlaybackQueue(): void {
   const { queueItems, currentTrack, queueIndex } = usePlayerStore.getState();
-  const { preloadMode } = useAuthStore.getState();
   const rawServerId = getPlaybackServerId() ?? '';
   const server = useAuthStore.getState().servers.find(s => s.id === rawServerId);
   const serverId = server ? serverIndexKeyFromUrl(server.url) : rawServerId;
@@ -42,7 +41,6 @@ export function scheduleAnalysisQueuePruneFromPlaybackQueue(): void {
     queueItems,
     queueIndex,
     currentTrack,
-    preloadMode,
   );
   const sig = JSON.stringify({ keepTrackIds, middleTrackIds, serverId });
   if (sig === lastAnalysisPruneSig) return;

src/locales/de/settings.ts

@@ -490,15 +490,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'In Favoriten',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'In Künstler-Top-Tracks',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'In Random Mix',
-  preloadMode: 'Nächsten Track vorpuffern',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Wann mit dem Puffern des nächsten Tracks begonnen werden soll',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Pufferung',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Preload und Hot Cache erfüllen denselben Zweck – nur eine Methode kann gleichzeitig aktiv sein. Das Aktivieren einer deaktiviert die andere automatisch.',
-  preloadOff: 'Aus',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Ausgewogen (30 s vor Ende)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Früh (nach 5 s Wiedergabe)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Benutzerdefiniert',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Sekunden vor Ende: {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'Endlose Warteschlange',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Automatisch Zufallstitel anhängen wenn die Warteschlange leer wird',
   experimental: 'Experimentell',
@@ -551,7 +543,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'Aggressiver Hintergrundscan. Nach Abschluss erhältst du BPM für alle Tracks sowie sofort verfügbare Loudness- und Waveform-Daten.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Analyse-Priorität (immer aktiv)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Aktuell laufender Track: zuerst herunterladen und analysieren (Playback-Bytes, Loudness-Backfill oder HTTP falls nötig).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Als Nächstes: die nächsten ~5 Queue-Tracks, Preload-next und Hot-Cache-Nachbarn — Analyse bevorzugt aus Cache/Downloads; HTTP-Backfill nur bei Miss.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Als Nächstes: die nächsten ~5 Queue-Tracks und Hot-Cache-Nachbarn — Analyse bevorzugt aus Cache/Downloads; HTTP-Backfill nur bei Miss.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Bibliotheks-Batch (nur Aggressiv): automatische Hintergrund-Queue am Ende; wird per Watermark (~3× Worker) nachgefüllt, ohne auf eine leere Queue zu warten.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Server',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Analysefortschritt:',

src/locales/en/settings.ts

@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'More aggressive background scan. Once finished, you get BPM for every track plus instant loudness + waveform loads.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Analysis priority (always enforced)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Currently playing: download + analyze first (playback bytes, loudness backfill, or HTTP when needed).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Up next: the next ~5 queue tracks, preload next, and hot-cache neighbours — analyze from cached/downloaded bytes when possible; HTTP backfill only on miss.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Up next: the next ~5 queue tracks and hot-cache neighbours — analyze from cached/downloaded bytes when possible; HTTP backfill only on miss.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Library batch (Aggressive only): automatic background queue at the tail; refilled by watermark (~3× workers) without waiting for an empty queue.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Server',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Analysis progress:',
@@ -577,15 +577,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'In favorites',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'In artist top tracks',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'In Random Mix',
-  preloadMode: 'Preload Next Track',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'When to start buffering the next track in the queue',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Buffering',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Preload and Hot Cache serve the same purpose — only one can be active at a time. Enabling one will automatically disable the other.',
-  preloadOff: 'Off',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Balanced (30 s before end)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Early (after 5 s of playback)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Custom',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Seconds before end: {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'Infinite Queue',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Automatically append random tracks when the queue runs out',
   experimental: 'Experimental',

src/locales/es/settings.ts

@@ -489,15 +489,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'En favoritos',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'En las mejores pistas del artista',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'En Random Mix',
-  preloadMode: 'Precargar Siguiente Pista',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Cuándo comenzar a cargar la siguiente pista en cola',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Buffer',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Precarga y Caché Activa sirven para lo mismo — solo uno puede estar activo a la vez. Habilitar uno desactivará automáticamente el otro.',
-  preloadOff: 'Apagado',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Balanceado (30 s antes del final)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Temprano (después de 5 s de reproducción)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Personalizado',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Segundos antes del final: {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'Cola Infinita',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Agregar automáticamente pistas aleatorias cuando la cola termina',
   experimental: 'Experimental',
@@ -551,7 +543,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'Escaneo en segundo plano más agresivo. Al terminar, obtienes BPM para todas las pistas y carga inmediata de loudness y forma de onda.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Prioridad de análisis (siempre activa)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Reproducción actual: descargar y analizar primero (bytes de reproducción, backfill de loudness o HTTP cuando haga falta).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Siguientes: ~5 pistas de cola, precarga de la siguiente y vecinas de caché caliente; analiza desde caché/descarga cuando sea posible, con backfill HTTP solo en fallo.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Siguientes: ~5 pistas de cola y vecinas de caché caliente; analiza desde caché/descarga cuando sea posible, con backfill HTTP solo en fallo.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Lote de biblioteca (solo Agresiva): cola automática en segundo plano al final; se rellena por watermark (~3× workers) sin esperar a que quede vacía.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Servidor',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Progreso del análisis:',

src/locales/fr/settings.ts

@@ -487,15 +487,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'Dans les favoris',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'Dans les meilleurs morceaux de l\'artiste',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'Dans Random Mix',
-  preloadMode: 'Précharger la piste suivante',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Quand commencer à mettre en mémoire tampon la piste suivante',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Mise en mémoire tampon',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: "Preload et Hot Cache remplissent le même rôle — un seul peut être actif à la fois. Activer l'un désactive automatiquement l'autre.",
-  preloadOff: 'Désactivé',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Équilibré (30 s avant la fin)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Tôt (après 5 s de lecture)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Personnalisé',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Secondes avant la fin : {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'File infinie',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Ajouter automatiquement des morceaux aléatoires quand la file est épuisée',
   experimental: 'Expérimental',
@@ -551,7 +543,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'Analyse de fond plus agressive. Une fois terminée, vous obtenez le BPM pour toutes les pistes et un chargement immédiat de loudness et de formes d’onde.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Priorité d’analyse (toujours appliquée)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — En cours de lecture : télécharger et analyser en premier (octets de lecture, backfill loudness ou HTTP si nécessaire).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — À suivre : les ~5 pistes suivantes de la file, préchargement de la suivante et voisines du hot-cache — analyse depuis cache/téléchargements si possible, backfill HTTP seulement en cas d’absence.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — À suivre : les ~5 pistes suivantes de la file et voisines du hot-cache — analyse depuis cache/téléchargements si possible, backfill HTTP seulement en cas d’absence.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Lot bibliothèque (Agressive uniquement) : file d’arrière-plan automatique en fin de file ; réalimentée par watermark (~3× workers) sans attendre une file vide.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Server',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Progression de l’analyse :',

src/locales/nb/settings.ts

@@ -489,15 +489,7 @@ export const settings = {
   infiniteQueue: 'Uendelig kø',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Legg automatisk til tilfeldige spor når køen går tom',
   experimental: 'Eksperimentell',
-  preloadMode: 'Forhåndslast neste spor',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Når buffering av neste spor i køen skal starte',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Bufring',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Forhåndslasting og Hot Cache tjener samme formål – bare én kan være aktiv om gangen. Å aktivere den ene deaktiverer automatisk den andre.',
-  preloadOff: 'Av',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Balansert (30 s før slutt)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Tidlig (etter 5 s avspilling)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Egendefinert',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Sekunder før slutt: {{n}}',
   sidebarLyricsStyle: 'Rullestil for tekst',
   sidebarLyricsStyleClassic: 'Klassisk',
   sidebarLyricsStyleClassicDesc: 'Aktiv linje sentreres.',
@@ -552,7 +544,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'Mer aggressiv bakgrunnsskanning. Når den er ferdig får du BPM for alle spor samt umiddelbar lasting av loudness og waveform.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Analyseprioritet (alltid aktiv)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Spiller nå: last ned og analyser først (avspillingsbytes, loudness-backfill eller HTTP ved behov).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Neste opp: de neste ~5 køsporene, preload av neste og hot-cache-naboer — analyser fra cache/nedlastede bytes når mulig; HTTP-backfill kun ved bom.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Neste opp: de neste ~5 køsporene og hot-cache-naboer — analyser fra cache/nedlastede bytes når mulig; HTTP-backfill kun ved bom.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Bibliotekbatch (kun Aggressiv): automatisk bakgrunnskø bakerst; fylles på ved watermark (~3× workers) uten å vente på tom kø.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Server',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Analysefremdrift:',

src/locales/nl/settings.ts

@@ -487,15 +487,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'In favorieten',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'In top-tracks van artiest',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'In Random Mix',
-  preloadMode: 'Volgend nummer vooraf laden',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Wanneer met het bufferen van het volgende nummer wordt begonnen',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Buffering',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Preload en Hot Cache dienen hetzelfde doel — slechts één kan tegelijk actief zijn. Het inschakelen van de ene schakelt de andere automatisch uit.',
-  preloadOff: 'Uit',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Gebalanceerd (30 s voor einde)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Vroeg (na 5 s afspelen)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Aangepast',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Seconden voor einde: {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'Oneindige wachtrij',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Automatisch willekeurige nummers toevoegen als de wachtrij leeg raakt',
   experimental: 'Experimenteel',
@@ -551,7 +543,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'Agressievere achtergrondscan. Na voltooiing krijg je BPM voor alle tracks plus directe loudness- en waveform-lading.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Analyseprioriteit (altijd actief)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Nu afspelen: eerst downloaden en analyseren (playback-bytes, loudness-backfill of HTTP indien nodig).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Hierna: de volgende ~5 wachtrijtracks, preload-next en hot-cache-buren — analyse vanuit cache/downloads waar mogelijk; HTTP-backfill alleen bij miss.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Hierna: de volgende ~5 wachtrijtracks en hot-cache-buren — analyse vanuit cache/downloads waar mogelijk; HTTP-backfill alleen bij miss.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Bibliotheekbatch (alleen Agressief): automatische achtergrondwachtrij achteraan; wordt bijgevuld via watermark (~3× workers) zonder op een lege wachtrij te wachten.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Server',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Analysevoortgang:',

src/locales/ro/settings.ts

@@ -492,15 +492,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'În favorite',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'În top piese ale artistului',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'În Mixul Aleatoriu',
-  preloadMode: 'Preîncarcă Următoarea Piesă',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Când să înceapă preîncărcarea următoarei piese din coadă',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Preîncarcă',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Preîncarcarea și Hot Cache au același scop — doar una poate fi activată deodată. Pornirea unei opțiuni o dezactivează pe cealaltă.',
-  preloadOff: 'Oprit',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Balansat (30 s înainte de sfârșit)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Devreme (după 5 s de redare)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Personalizat',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Secunde înainte de sfârșit: {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'Coadă Infinită',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Adaugă automat piese aleatorii când coada se golește',
   experimental: 'Experimental',
@@ -551,7 +543,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: 'Scanare de fundal mai agresivă. După finalizare, primești BPM pentru toate piesele și încărcare instantă pentru loudness și waveform.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Prioritate analiză (mereu activă)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Redare curentă: descarcă și analizează mai întâi (bytes de playback, loudness backfill sau HTTP când e nevoie).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Urmează: următoarele ~5 piese din coadă, preload pentru următoarea și vecinii din hot-cache — analiză din cache/descărcări când se poate; backfill HTTP doar la miss.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Urmează: următoarele ~5 piese din coadă și vecinii din hot-cache — analiză din cache/descărcări când se poate; backfill HTTP doar la miss.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Lot bibliotecă (doar Agresivă): coadă automată în fundal la final; reumplere pe watermark (~3× workers) fără a aștepta golirea cozii.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Server',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Progres analiză:',

src/locales/ru/settings.ts

@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ export const settings = {
     'Запускает фоновый анализ всей библиотеки и скачивает треки для анализа.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: 'Приоритет анализа (всегда)',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — Сейчас играет: скачивание и анализ в первую очередь (байты воспроизведения, loudness backfill или HTTP при необходимости).',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Следующие: ~5 треков в очереди, preload next и соседи hot cache — анализ из уже скачанных байтов, HTTP backfill только при промахе.',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — Следующие: ~5 треков в очереди и соседи hot cache — анализ из уже скачанных байтов, HTTP backfill только при промахе.',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — Библиотечный batch (только Агрессивный): автоматическая фоновая очередь в хвосте; пополняется по watermark (~3× потоков), не дожидаясь полного опустошения.',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: 'Сервер',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: 'Прогресс анализа:',
@@ -598,15 +598,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: 'В избранном',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: 'В топ-треках исполнителя',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'В Random Mix',
-  preloadMode: 'Предзагрузка следующего трека',
-  preloadModeDesc: 'Когда начинать буферизацию следующего в очереди',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: 'Буферизация',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: 'Предзагрузка и Hot Cache выполняют одну функцию — одновременно может быть активна только одна. Включение одной автоматически отключает другую.',
-  preloadOff: 'Выкл.',
-  preloadBalanced: 'Умеренно (за 30 с до конца)',
-  preloadEarly: 'Рано (через 5 с после старта)',
-  preloadCustom: 'Свой интервал',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: 'Секунд до конца: {{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: 'Бесконечная очередь',
   infiniteQueueDesc: 'Подмешивать случайные треки, когда очередь закончится',
   experimental: 'Экспериментально',

src/locales/zh/settings.ts

@@ -486,15 +486,7 @@ export const settings = {
   trackPreviewLocation_favorites: '收藏中',
   trackPreviewLocation_artist: '艺人热门曲目中',
   trackPreviewLocation_randomMix: 'Random Mix 中',
-  preloadMode: '预加载下一曲目',
-  preloadModeDesc: '何时开始缓冲队列中的下一曲目',
   nextTrackBufferingTitle: '缓冲',
-  preloadHotCacheMutualExclusive: '预加载与热缓存用途相同——两者不能同时启用。启用其中一个会自动禁用另一个。',
-  preloadOff: '关闭',
-  preloadBalanced: '均衡（结束前30秒）',
-  preloadEarly: '提前（播放5秒后）',
-  preloadCustom: '自定义',
-  preloadCustomSeconds: '结束前秒数：{{n}}',
   infiniteQueue: '无限队列',
   infiniteQueueDesc: '队列播完时自动追加随机曲目',
   experimental: '实验性',
@@ -550,7 +542,7 @@ export const settings = {
   analyticsStrategyAdvancedDesc: '更激进的后台扫描。完成后可获得所有歌曲 BPM，并可即时加载响度与波形。',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityTitle: '分析优先级（始终生效）',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityHigh: '1 — 当前播放：优先下载并分析（播放字节、响度回填，或在需要时走 HTTP）。',
-  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — 即将播放：队列中接下来的约 5 首、预加载下一首以及热缓存邻近曲目——优先从缓存/已下载字节分析，未命中时才做 HTTP 回填。',
+  analyticsStrategyPriorityMiddle: '2 — 即将播放：队列中接下来的约 5 首及热缓存邻近曲目——优先从缓存/已下载字节分析，未命中时才做 HTTP 回填。',
   analyticsStrategyPriorityLow: '3 — 库批处理（仅“激进”）：自动后台队列排在末尾；按水位线（约 3× workers）补充，无需等待队列清空。',
   analyticsStrategyServerLabel: '服务器',
   analyticsStrategyProgressLabel: '分析进度：',

src/store/audioEventHandlers.ts

@@ -207,46 +207,22 @@ export function handleAudioProgress(
     markStoreProgressCommit(nowCommit);
   }
 
-  // Pre-buffer / pre-chain next track based on preload mode and crossfade.
+  // Pre-buffer / pre-chain next track for gapless and crossfade.
   const {
     gaplessEnabled,
-    preloadMode,
-    preloadCustomSeconds,
     hotCacheEnabled,
     crossfadeEnabled,
     crossfadeSecs,
   } = useAuthStore.getState();
   const remaining = dur - current_time;
 
-  // Gapless chain: always triggers at 30s regardless of preloadMode.
   const shouldChainGapless = gaplessEnabled && remaining < 30 && remaining > 0;
-  // Byte pre-download: skip when Hot Cache is active (it already handles buffering).
-  // Even with preload mode OFF, crossfade needs the next track bytes ready before
-  // we enter the fade window to avoid a hard gap after track boundary.
-  const shouldBytePreloadFromMode = preloadMode !== 'off' && (
-    preloadMode === 'early'
-      ? current_time >= 5
-      : preloadMode === 'custom'
-        ? remaining < preloadCustomSeconds && remaining > 0
-        : remaining < 30 && remaining > 0 // balanced (default)
-  );
+  // Crossfade needs the next track bytes ready before the fade window.
   const crossfadeWindowSecs = Math.max(8, Math.min(30, crossfadeSecs + 6));
   const shouldBytePreloadForCrossfade =
-    !gaplessEnabled && crossfadeEnabled && remaining < crossfadeWindowSecs && remaining > 0;
-  const shouldBytePreload = !hotCacheEnabled && (
-    shouldBytePreloadFromMode ||
-    shouldBytePreloadForCrossfade
-  );
-  // Hot/offline cache: seed enrichment from disk (playback also uses psysonic-local://).
-  const shouldPreloadLocalFileAnalysis = preloadMode !== 'off' && (
-    preloadMode === 'early'
-      ? current_time >= 5
-      : preloadMode === 'custom'
-        ? remaining < preloadCustomSeconds && remaining > 0
-        : remaining < 30 && remaining > 0
-  );
+    !hotCacheEnabled && !gaplessEnabled && crossfadeEnabled && remaining < crossfadeWindowSecs && remaining > 0;
 
-  if (shouldChainGapless || shouldBytePreload || shouldPreloadLocalFileAnalysis || gaplessEnabled) {
+  if (shouldChainGapless || shouldBytePreloadForCrossfade || gaplessEnabled) {
     const { queueItems, queueIndex, repeatMode } = store;
     const nextIdx = queueIndex + 1;
     // Next track for preload/chain. The resolver bridge keeps the window around
@@ -281,11 +257,10 @@ export function handleAudioProgress(
     const serverId = getPlaybackCacheServerKey();
     const analysisServerId = getPlaybackIndexKey();
     const nextUrl = resolvePlaybackUrl(nextTrack.id, serverId);
-    const nextIsLocalFile = nextUrl.startsWith('psysonic-local://');
 
-    // Byte pre-download — runs early so bytes are cached by chain time.
+    // Byte pre-download — gapless backup or crossfade; runs early so bytes are ready by chain time.
     if (
-      (shouldBytePreload || shouldBytePreloadForGaplessBackup || (shouldPreloadLocalFileAnalysis && nextIsLocalFile))
+      (shouldBytePreloadForCrossfade || shouldBytePreloadForGaplessBackup)
       && nextTrack.id !== getBytePreloadingId()
     ) {
       setBytePreloadingId(nextTrack.id);
@@ -296,10 +271,8 @@ export function handleAudioProgress(
         console.info('[psysonic][preload-request]', {
           nextTrackId: nextTrack.id,
           nextUrl,
-          shouldBytePreload,
+          shouldBytePreloadForCrossfade,
           shouldBytePreloadForGaplessBackup,
-          shouldPreloadLocalFileAnalysis,
-          nextIsLocalFile,
           remaining,
           gaplessEnabled,
         });

src/store/authPlumbingActions.ts

@@ -6,23 +6,19 @@ type SetState = (
 
 /**
  * Persistent plumbing settings that don't fit a more specific domain:
- * runtime logging level, Navidrome `getNowPlaying` toggle, preload
- * mode + custom seconds, audiobook exclusion, genre blacklist.
+ * runtime logging level, Navidrome `getNowPlaying` toggle, audiobook
+ * exclusion, genre blacklist.
  */
 export function createPlumbingSettingsActions(set: SetState): Pick<
   AuthState,
   | 'setLoggingMode'
   | 'setNowPlayingEnabled'
-  | 'setPreloadMode'
-  | 'setPreloadCustomSeconds'
   | 'setExcludeAudiobooks'
   | 'setCustomGenreBlacklist'
 > {
   return {
     setLoggingMode: (v) => set({ loggingMode: v }),
     setNowPlayingEnabled: (v) => set({ nowPlayingEnabled: v }),
-    setPreloadMode: (v) => set({ preloadMode: v }),
-    setPreloadCustomSeconds: (v) => set({ preloadCustomSeconds: v }),
     setExcludeAudiobooks: (v) => set({ excludeAudiobooks: v }),
     setCustomGenreBlacklist: (v) => set({ customGenreBlacklist: v }),
   };

src/store/authStore.persistence.test.ts

@@ -4,8 +4,7 @@
  * Covers Zustand persist's hydration path (via `useAuthStore.persist.rehydrate()`):
  * existing localStorage shapes load, missing fields default to the store's
  * initial values, corrupt JSON does not crash bootstrap, the
- * hotCacheEnabled / preloadMode≠'off' conflicting-legacy migration clears
- * both, and a few smaller field-level migrations.
+ * legacy field stripping, and a few smaller field-level migrations.
  *
  * Also pins the **synchronous storage** invariant called out in `CLAUDE.md`
  * ("never switch to async storage") — regression §2 of the pre-refactor
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ describe('hydration — loads existing localStorage shape', () => {
     expect(s.gaplessEnabled).toBe(false);
     expect(s.replayGainEnabled).toBe(false);
     expect(s.normalizationEngine).toBe('off');
-    expect(s.preloadMode).toBe('balanced');
   });
 
   it('preserves saved fields verbatim when present', async () => {
@@ -94,34 +92,21 @@ describe('hydration — corrupt / unexpected input', () => {
 });
 
 describe('onRehydrate migrations', () => {
-  it('clears the conflicting hotCacheEnabled + preloadMode≠"off" legacy combo', async () => {
+  it('keeps hotCacheEnabled when legacy preloadMode fields are present', async () => {
     writePersistedState({
       servers: [],
       activeServerId: null,
       hotCacheEnabled: true,
       preloadMode: 'balanced',
-    });
-
-    await useAuthStore.persist.rehydrate();
-
-    const s = useAuthStore.getState();
-    expect(s.hotCacheEnabled).toBe(false);
-    expect(s.preloadMode).toBe('off');
-  });
-
-  it('keeps hotCacheEnabled when preloadMode was already "off"', async () => {
-    writePersistedState({
-      servers: [],
-      activeServerId: null,
-      hotCacheEnabled: true,
-      preloadMode: 'off',
+      preloadCustomSeconds: 45,
     });
 
     await useAuthStore.persist.rehydrate();
 
     const s = useAuthStore.getState();
     expect(s.hotCacheEnabled).toBe(true);
-    expect(s.preloadMode).toBe('off');
+    expect((s as { preloadMode?: unknown }).preloadMode).toBeUndefined();
+    expect((s as { preloadCustomSeconds?: unknown }).preloadCustomSeconds).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('migrates a legacy `waveform` seekbarStyle to `truewave`', async () => {

src/store/authStore.settings.test.ts

@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ describe('trivial pass-through setters', () => {
     ['setMaxCacheMb', 'maxCacheMb', 2048],
     ['setHotCacheMaxMb', 'hotCacheMaxMb', 1024],
     ['setHotCacheDebounceSec', 'hotCacheDebounceSec', 60],
-    ['setPreloadCustomSeconds', 'preloadCustomSeconds', 45],
   ])('%s stores a numeric value', (setter, key, value) => {
     (useAuthStore.getState() as unknown as Record<string, (v: unknown) => void>)[setter](value);
     expect((useAuthStore.getState() as unknown as Record<string, unknown>)[key]).toBe(value);
@@ -207,14 +206,7 @@ describe('replay-gain related setters (write through to player store)', () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe('preload mode + discord cover source setters', () => {
-  it('setPreloadMode accepts off / balanced / early / custom', () => {
-    for (const mode of ['off', 'balanced', 'early', 'custom'] as const) {
-      useAuthStore.getState().setPreloadMode(mode);
-      expect(useAuthStore.getState().preloadMode).toBe(mode);
-    }
-  });
-
+describe('discord cover source setters', () => {
   it('setDiscordCoverSource accepts none / apple / server', () => {
     for (const src of ['none', 'apple', 'server'] as const) {
       useAuthStore.getState().setDiscordCoverSource(src);

src/store/authStore.ts

@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ export const useAuthStore = create<AuthState>()(
       trackPreviewLocations: { ...DEFAULT_TRACK_PREVIEW_LOCATIONS },
       trackPreviewStartRatio: 0.33,
       trackPreviewDurationSec: 30,
-      preloadMode: 'balanced',
-      preloadCustomSeconds: 30,
       infiniteQueueEnabled: false,
       preservePlayNextOrder: false,
       showArtistImages: false,

src/store/authStoreRehydrate.ts

@@ -34,11 +34,9 @@ import type {
  * and writes the one-shot Linux smooth-scroll migration sentinel.
  */
 export function computeAuthStoreRehydration(state: AuthState): Partial<AuthState> {
-  // If both hot cache and preload were enabled before mutual exclusion was enforced, reset both.
-  const conflictingLegacyState =
-    state.hotCacheEnabled && state.preloadMode !== 'off'
-      ? { hotCacheEnabled: false, preloadMode: 'off' as const }
-      : {};
+  // Drop removed preload-next-track settings from legacy persist blobs.
+  delete (state as { preloadMode?: unknown }).preloadMode;
+  delete (state as { preloadCustomSeconds?: unknown }).preloadCustomSeconds;
 
   // Migrate lyricsServerFirst + enableNeteaselyrics → lyricsSources (one-time).
   // Only for an *existing* persisted state (upgrade from a build without
@@ -166,7 +164,6 @@ export function computeAuthStoreRehydration(state: AuthState): Partial<AuthState
     loudnessTargetLufs: targetSan,
     loudnessPreAnalysisAttenuationDb: preSan,
     loudnessPreIsRefV1: true,
-    ...conflictingLegacyState,
     ...lyricsSourcesMigrated,
     ...youLyPlusMigrated,
     ...wheelSmoothOneTime,

src/store/authStoreTypes.ts

@@ -115,8 +115,6 @@ export interface AuthState {
   trackPreviewStartRatio: number;
   /** Preview window length in seconds. Default 30 s. */
   trackPreviewDurationSec: number;
-  preloadMode: 'off' | 'balanced' | 'early' | 'custom';
-  preloadCustomSeconds: number;
   infiniteQueueEnabled: boolean;
   preservePlayNextOrder: boolean;
   showArtistImages: boolean;
@@ -307,8 +305,6 @@ export interface AuthState {
   setTrackPreviewLocation: (location: TrackPreviewLocation, enabled: boolean) => void;
   setTrackPreviewStartRatio: (v: number) => void;
   setTrackPreviewDurationSec: (v: number) => void;
-  setPreloadMode: (v: 'off' | 'balanced' | 'early' | 'custom') => void;
-  setPreloadCustomSeconds: (v: number) => void;
   setInfiniteQueueEnabled: (v: boolean) => void;
   setPreservePlayNextOrder: (v: boolean) => void;
   setShowArtistImages: (v: boolean) => void;

src/store/loudnessBackfillWindow.ts

@@ -46,12 +46,11 @@ export function collectLoudnessBackfillWindowTrackIds(
   return Array.from(ids);
 }
 
-/** Next ~5 queue neighbours (+ immediate next when preload is on) for middle-tier analysis. */
+/** Next ~5 queue neighbours for middle-tier analysis priority hints. */
 export function collectPlaybackMiddlePriorityTrackIds(
   queue: QueueItemRef[],
   queueIndex: number,
   currentTrack: Track | null,
-  preloadMode: 'off' | 'balanced' | 'early' | 'custom',
 ): string[] {
   const ids = new Set<string>();
   const start = Math.max(0, queueIndex + 1);
@@ -60,13 +59,6 @@ export function collectPlaybackMiddlePriorityTrackIds(
     const tid = queue[i]?.trackId;
     if (tid && tid !== currentTrack?.id) ids.add(tid);
   }
-  if (preloadMode !== 'off') {
-    const nextIdx = queueIndex + 1;
-    if (nextIdx >= 0 && nextIdx < queue.length) {
-      const tid = queue[nextIdx]?.trackId;
-      if (tid && tid !== currentTrack?.id) ids.add(tid);
-    }
-  }
   return Array.from(ids);
 }