Memory leak when pressing <><><> many times or playing a long playlist.

mpv Information

mpv v0.40.0 Copyright © 2000-2025 mpv/MPlayer/mplayer2 projects
libplacebo version: v7.349.0
FFmpeg version: 7.1.1-1+b1
FFmpeg library versions:
   libavcodec      61.19.101
   libavdevice     61.3.100
   libavfilter     10.4.100
   libavformat     61.7.100
   libavutil       59.39.100
   libswresample   5.3.100
   libswscale      8.3.100

Other Information

- Linux version: Debian 13.0
- Kernel Version: 6.12.38+deb13-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.12.38-1 (2025-07-16) x86_64 GNU/Linux
- GPU Model: NVIDIA Corporation GA106M [GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile / Max-Q] (using nouveau)
- Mesa/GPU Driver Version: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.0.7-2
- Window Manager and Version: Gnome 48.0
- Source of mpv: Debian 13.0
- Latest known working version: Debian 12.11 version, 0.35.1-4
- Issue started after the following happened: Upgraded to Debian 13.0

Reproduction Steps

Run mpv with at two video files in playlist. Run top in a different window to observe memory usage. Once mpv starts, type "><><><><><><><><><><" over and over into mpv video window for a few minutes. Observe memory usage climb until OOM killer kills mpv.

I use:
mpv --no-config --vo=gpu --gpu-debug --log-file=output.txt file1 file2

Problem only occurs with certain video files. Though many files, not just these two, trigger memory leak. But some files do not. I have not been able to determine pattern.

Problem occurs with --hwdec=auto, --hwdec=no. Problem occurs with --vo=gpu-next, --vo=dmabuf-wayland, --vo=gpu.

Problem also occurs when I play a 9000 video playlist and just let it run for hours without typing anything.

ffprobe for file1 and file2:

Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'file1':
Metadata:
encoder : libebml v1.3.4 + libmatroska v1.4.5
creation_time : 2018-09-21T21:22:28.000000Z
Duration: 00:03:54.29, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1992 kb/s
Stream #0:0(eng): Audio: aac (LC), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp (default)
Metadata:
BPS : 125588
BPS-eng : 125588
DURATION : 00:03:54.289000000
DURATION-eng : 00:03:54.289000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 10090
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 10090
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 3677999
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 3677999
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.8.0 ('Kuglblids') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.8.0 ('Kuglblids') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2018-09-21 21:22:28
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2018-09-21 21:22:28
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
Stream #0:1: Video: h264 (High), yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 1k tbn (default)
Metadata:
BPS : 1865345
BPS-eng : 1865345
DURATION : 00:03:54.200000000
DURATION-eng : 00:03:54.200000000
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES: 7019
NUMBER_OF_FRAMES-eng: 7019
NUMBER_OF_BYTES : 54607984
NUMBER_OF_BYTES-eng: 54607984
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP: mkvmerge v9.8.0 ('Kuglblids') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_APP-eng: mkvmerge v9.8.0 ('Kuglblids') 64bit
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC: 2018-09-21 21:22:28
_STATISTICS_WRITING_DATE_UTC-eng: 2018-09-21 21:22:28
_STATISTICS_TAGS: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES
_STATISTICS_TAGS-eng: BPS DURATION NUMBER_OF_FRAMES NUMBER_OF_BYTES

Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'file2':
Metadata:
major_brand : isom
minor_version : 512
compatible_brands: isomiso2avc1mp41
encoder : Lavf58.25.100
Duration: 00:04:34.10, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 5155 kb/s
Stream #0:00x1: Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709, progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 5016 kb/s, 30 fps, 30 tbr, 16k tbn (default)
Metadata:
handler_name : VideoHandler
vendor_id : [0][0][0][0]
Stream #0:10x2: Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
handler_name : SoundHandler
vendor_id : [0][0][0][0]

Expected Behavior

Play videos without triggering OOM killer.

Actual Behavior

Memory usage increases until triggers OOM killer.

Log File

output.txt

Sample Files

No response

I carefully read all instruction and confirm that I did the following:

• I tested with the latest mpv version to validate that the issue is not already fixed.
• I provided all required information including system and mpv version.
• I produced the log file with the exact same set of files, parameters, and conditions used in "Reproduction Steps", with the addition of --log-file=output.txt.
• I produced the log file while the behaviors described in "Actual Behavior" were actively observed.
• I attached the full, untruncated log file.
• I attached the backtrace in the case of a crash.

Start by reproducing the leak with the stated mpv command, the two playlist files, repeated ">" and "<" input, and the attached output.txt log. Compare memory usage across the listed video-output and hardware-decoding options; done means playlist playback and repeated navigation no longer cause unbounded growth or an OOM kill.