diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv.nix b/hosts/common/programs/mpv.nix
index 89c5e6daa..751e54baa 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/mpv.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv.nix
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# mpv docs:
+# - <https://mpv.io/manual/master>
+# - <https://github.com/mpv-player/mpv/wiki>
+# curated mpv mods/scripts/users:
+# - <https://github.com/stax76/awesome-mpv>
 { ... }:
 
 {
@@ -8,6 +13,21 @@
       save-position-on-quit=%3%yes
       keep-open=%3%yes
     '';
+    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/osc.conf".symlink.text = ''
+      # make the on-screen controls *always* visible
+      # unfortunately, this applies to full-screen as well
+      # - docs: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#on-screen-controller-visibility>
+      visibility=always
+    '';
+
+    mime.priority = 200;  # default = 100; 200 means to yield to other apps
+    mime.associations."audio/flac" = "mpv.desktop";
+    mime.associations."audio/mpeg" = "mpv.desktop";
+    mime.associations."audio/x-vorbis+ogg" = "mpv.desktop";
+    mime.associations."video/mp4" = "mpv.desktop";
+    mime.associations."video/quicktime" = "mpv.desktop";
+    mime.associations."video/webm" = "mpv.desktop";
+    mime.associations."video/x-matroska" = "mpv.desktop";
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/hosts/modules/gui/default.nix b/hosts/modules/gui/default.nix
index cf2254ebf..83fbb7d99 100644
--- a/hosts/modules/gui/default.nix
+++ b/hosts/modules/gui/default.nix
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
       "lemoa"  # lemmy app
       # "lollypop"
       "mepo"  # maps viewer
-      # "mpv"
+      "mpv"
       # "networkmanagerapplet"
       # "newsflash"
       "nheko"
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@
       # "tdesktop"  # broken on phosh
       # "tokodon"
       "tuba"  # mastodon/pleroma client (stores pw in keyring)
-      "vlc"
       # "whalebird"  # pleroma client (Electron). input is broken on phosh.
       "xterm"  # broken on phosh
     ];
@@ -84,6 +83,7 @@
       "obsidian"
       "slic3r"
       "steam"
+      "vlc"
       "wireshark"  # could maybe ship the cli as sysadmin pkg
     ];
   };