diff --git a/modules/home/niri/config.kdl b/modules/home/niri/config.kdl
index f657fd1..f70a779 100644
--- a/modules/home/niri/config.kdl
+++ b/modules/home/niri/config.kdl
@@ -359,12 +359,16 @@ binds {
     XF86AudioMute        allow-when-locked=true { spawn-sh "wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ toggle"; }
     XF86AudioMicMute     allow-when-locked=true { spawn-sh "wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SOURCE@ toggle"; }
 
-    // Example media keys mapping using playerctl.
-    // This will work with any MPRIS-enabled media player.
-    XF86AudioPlay        allow-when-locked=true { spawn-sh "playerctl play-pause"; }
-    XF86AudioStop        allow-when-locked=true { spawn-sh "playerctl stop"; }
-    XF86AudioPrev        allow-when-locked=true { spawn-sh "playerctl previous"; }
-    XF86AudioNext        allow-when-locked=true { spawn-sh "playerctl next"; }
+    // Route through DMS's `mpris` IPC target instead of bare `playerctl`.
+    // DMS tracks its own `activePlayer` (last-active/non-idle heuristic,
+    // see MprisController.qml) independently of whatever MPRIS reports as
+    // "current" — with multiple players running (browser tabs, Spotify,
+    // etc.) the two disagree and bare playerctl toggles the wrong stream.
+    XF86AudioPlay        allow-when-locked=true { spawn "dms" "ipc" "call" "mpris" "playPause"; }
+    XF86AudioPause       allow-when-locked=true { spawn "dms" "ipc" "call" "mpris" "playPause"; }
+    XF86AudioStop        allow-when-locked=true { spawn "dms" "ipc" "call" "mpris" "stop"; }
+    XF86AudioPrev        allow-when-locked=true { spawn "dms" "ipc" "call" "mpris" "previous"; }
+    XF86AudioNext        allow-when-locked=true { spawn "dms" "ipc" "call" "mpris" "next"; }
 
     // Example brightness key mappings for brightnessctl.
     // You can use regular spawn with multiple arguments too (to avoid going through "sh"),
diff --git a/modules/home/niri/default.nix b/modules/home/niri/default.nix
index 6fe14d8..ebb314c 100644
--- a/modules/home/niri/default.nix
+++ b/modules/home/niri/default.nix
@@ -136,7 +136,6 @@ include "dms-input.kdl"
         pkgs.xwayland-satellite
         pkgs.wl-clipboard
         pkgs.brightnessctl
-        pkgs.playerctl
         pkgs.swayidle
       ];