diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8f57db..73fb3ba 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ optional; all values have defaults. Unknown keys are rejected with an error.
 
 ```toml
 [general]
-preferred_player  = "spotify"       # preferred MPRIS player when multiple are active
+preferred_player  = ""              # preferred MPRIS player when multiple are active
 player_blacklist  = ["firefox", "zen", "chrome", "chromium", "vivaldi", "edge", "opera", "mpv"]  # bypassed by --player/-p
 http_timeout      = 10.0            # seconds
 
diff --git a/src/lrx_cli/config.py b/src/lrx_cli/config.py
index f7be3eb..eddd3ec 100644
--- a/src/lrx_cli/config.py
+++ b/src/lrx_cli/config.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ MUSIXMATCH_COOLDOWN_MS = 600_000  # 10 minutes
 os.makedirs(CACHE_DIR, exist_ok=True)
 
 
-DEFAULT_PREFERRED_PLAYER = "spotify"
+DEFAULT_PREFERRED_PLAYER = ""
 DEFAULT_PLAYER_BLACKLIST: tuple[str, ...] = (
     "firefox",
     "zen",