diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/MainActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/MainActivity.kt
index 8325258ec..80ba7edcf 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/MainActivity.kt
@@ -387,10 +387,10 @@ class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
                     // Check if the permissions for local media access
                     if (firstSetupPassed && localLibEnable && autoScan
                         && checkSelfPermission(MEDIA_PERMISSION_LEVEL) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
-                        val scanner = LocalMediaScanner.getScanner(this@MainActivity, scannerImpl)
 
                         // equivalent to (quick scan)
                         try {
+                            val scanner = LocalMediaScanner.getScanner(this@MainActivity, scannerImpl)
                             val directoryStructure = scanner.scanLocal(
                                 database,
                                 scanPaths.split('\n'),
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/component/Preference.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/component/Preference.kt
index 721f56522..bab193d92 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/component/Preference.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/component/Preference.kt
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ fun <T> ListPreference(
     valueText: @Composable (T) -> String,
     onValueSelected: (T) -> Unit,
     isEnabled: Boolean = true,
+    disabled: (T) -> Boolean = { false }
 ) {
     var showDialog by remember {
         mutableStateOf(false)
@@ -105,11 +106,12 @@ fun <T> ListPreference(
             onDismiss = { showDialog = false }
         ) {
             items(values) { value ->
+                val isDisabled = disabled(value)
                 Row(
                     verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
                     modifier = Modifier
                         .fillMaxWidth()
-                        .clickable {
+                        .clickable(enabled = !isDisabled) {
                             showDialog = false
                             onValueSelected(value)
                         }
@@ -117,13 +119,16 @@ fun <T> ListPreference(
                 ) {
                     RadioButton(
                         selected = value == selectedValue,
-                        onClick = null
+                        onClick = null,
+                        enabled = !isDisabled
                     )
 
                     Text(
                         text = valueText(value),
                         style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
-                        modifier = Modifier.padding(start = 16.dp)
+                        modifier = Modifier
+                            .padding(start = 16.dp)
+                            .alpha(if (isDisabled) 0.5f else 1f)
                     )
                 }
             }
@@ -149,7 +154,8 @@ inline fun <reified T : Enum<T>> EnumListPreference(
     noinline valueText: @Composable (T) -> String,
     noinline onValueSelected: (T) -> Unit,
     isEnabled: Boolean = true,
-    values: List<T> = enumValues<T>().toList()
+    values: List<T> = enumValues<T>().toList(),
+    noinline disabled: (T) -> Boolean = { false }
 ) {
     ListPreference(
         modifier = modifier,
@@ -159,7 +165,8 @@ inline fun <reified T : Enum<T>> EnumListPreference(
         values = values,
         valueText = valueText,
         onValueSelected = onValueSelected,
-        isEnabled = isEnabled
+        isEnabled = isEnabled,
+        disabled = disabled
     )
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/ExperimentalSettings.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/ExperimentalSettings.kt
index 71645e89e..77e8178a8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/ExperimentalSettings.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/ExperimentalSettings.kt
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ fun ExperimentalSettings(
                 onClick = {
                     Toast.makeText(context, "Starting migration...", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show()
                     coroutineScope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
-                        val scanner = LocalMediaScanner.getScanner(context, scannerImpl)
+                        val scanner = LocalMediaScanner.getScanner(context, ScannerImpl.TAGLIB)
                         Timber.tag("Settings").d("Force Migrating local artists to YTM (MANUAL TRIGGERED)")
                         scanner.localToRemoteArtist(database)
                     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/LocalPlayerSettings.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/LocalPlayerSettings.kt
index 828d84f54..564cf52f2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/LocalPlayerSettings.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/ui/screens/settings/LocalPlayerSettings.kt
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ package com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.screens.settings
 
 import android.Manifest
 import android.app.Activity
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.IntentFilter
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.os.Build
 import android.os.Looper
@@ -40,6 +44,8 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.TopAppBar
 import androidx.compose.material3.TopAppBarScrollBehavior
 import androidx.compose.material3.VerticalDivider
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.DisposableEffect
+import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.collectAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
@@ -78,6 +84,7 @@ import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.component.SwitchPreference
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.utils.DEFAULT_SCAN_PATH
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.utils.backToMain
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.utils.cacheDirectoryTree
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.isPackageInstalled
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.purgeCache
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.rememberEnumPreference
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.rememberPreference
@@ -92,6 +99,7 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import java.time.LocalDateTime
 import java.time.ZoneOffset
 
+
 val MEDIA_PERMISSION_LEVEL =
     if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) Manifest.permission.READ_MEDIA_AUDIO
     else Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
@@ -332,10 +340,10 @@ fun LocalPlayerSettings(
                     scannerFailure = false
 
                     coroutineScope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
-                        val scanner = getScanner(context, scannerImpl)
                         // full rescan
                         if (fullRescan) {
                             try {
+                                val scanner = getScanner(context, scannerImpl)
                                 val directoryStructure =
                                     scanner.scanLocal(
                                         database,
@@ -378,6 +386,7 @@ fun LocalPlayerSettings(
                         } else {
                             // quick scan
                             try {
+                                val scanner = getScanner(context, scannerImpl)
                                 val directoryStructure = scanner.scanLocal(
                                     database,
                                     scanPaths.split('\n'),
@@ -536,24 +545,38 @@ fun LocalPlayerSettings(
             onCheckedChange = onStrictExtensionsChange
         )
         // scanner type
-        if (true) { // todo: detect if ext library is installed
-            EnumListPreference(
-                title = { Text(stringResource(R.string.scanner_type_title)) },
-                icon = { Icon(Icons.Rounded.Speed, null) },
-                selectedValue = scannerImpl,
-                onValueSelected = onScannerImplChange,
-                valueText = {
-                    when (it) {
-                        ScannerImpl.TAGLIB -> stringResource(R.string.scanner_type_taglib)
-                        ScannerImpl.FFMPEG_EXT -> stringResource(R.string.scanner_type_ffmpeg_ext)
-                    }
-                }
-            )
-        }
-    }
-
+        val isFFmpegInstalled = rememberFFmpegAvailability()
 
+        // if plugin is not found, although we reset if a scan is run, ensure the user is made aware if in settings page
+        LaunchedEffect(isFFmpegInstalled) {
+            if (scannerImpl == ScannerImpl.FFMPEG_EXT && !isFFmpegInstalled) {
+                onScannerImplChange(ScannerImpl.TAGLIB)
+            }
+        }
 
+        EnumListPreference(
+            title = { Text(stringResource(R.string.scanner_type_title)) },
+            icon = { Icon(Icons.Rounded.Speed, null) },
+            selectedValue = scannerImpl,
+            onValueSelected = {
+                if (it == ScannerImpl.FFMPEG_EXT && isFFmpegInstalled) {
+                    onScannerImplChange(it)
+                } else {
+                    Toast.makeText(context, "FFmpeg extractor not detected.", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show()
+                    // Explicitly revert to TagLib if FFmpeg is not available
+                    onScannerImplChange(ScannerImpl.TAGLIB)
+                }
+            },
+            valueText = {
+                when (it) {
+                    ScannerImpl.TAGLIB -> stringResource(R.string.scanner_type_taglib)
+                    ScannerImpl.FFMPEG_EXT -> stringResource(R.string.scanner_type_ffmpeg_ext)
+                }
+            },
+            values = ScannerImpl.entries,
+            disabled = { it == ScannerImpl.FFMPEG_EXT && !isFFmpegInstalled }
+        )
+    }
 
     TopAppBar(
         title = { Text(stringResource(R.string.local_player_settings_title)) },
@@ -570,4 +593,44 @@ fun LocalPlayerSettings(
         },
         scrollBehavior = scrollBehavior
     )
+}
+
+@Composable
+fun rememberFFmpegAvailability(): Boolean {
+    val context = LocalContext.current
+    var isFFmpegInstalled by remember {
+        mutableStateOf(isPackageInstalled("wah.mikooomich.ffMetadataEx", context.packageManager))
+    }
+
+    DisposableEffect(context) {
+        val packageReceiver = object : BroadcastReceiver() {
+            override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
+                when (intent?.action) {
+                    Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_REMOVED,
+                    Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED -> {
+                        isFFmpegInstalled = context?.packageManager?.let {
+                            isPackageInstalled(
+                                "wah.mikooomich.ffMetadataEx",
+                                it
+                            )
+                        } == true
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        val filter = IntentFilter().apply {
+            addAction(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_REMOVED)
+            addAction(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED)
+            addDataScheme("package")
+        }
+
+        context.registerReceiver(packageReceiver, filter)
+
+        onDispose {
+            context.unregisterReceiver(packageReceiver)
+        }
+    }
+
+    return isFFmpegInstalled
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/Utils.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/Utils.kt
index d3a4568ab..2ad01aba6 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/Utils.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/Utils.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.dd3boh.outertune.utils
 
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.db.entities.Artist
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.screens.settings.NavigationTab
 
@@ -102,4 +103,16 @@ fun numberToAlpha(l: Long): String {
             alphabetMap[it.digitToInt()]
         }
     }.joinToString("")
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if a package with the specified package name is installed
+ */
+fun isPackageInstalled(packageName: String, packageManager: PackageManager): Boolean {
+    return try {
+        packageManager.getPackageInfo(packageName, 0)
+        true
+    } catch (e: PackageManager.NameNotFoundException) {
+        false
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/scanners/LocalMediaScanner.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/scanners/LocalMediaScanner.kt
index a5833c2a0..0779c02f1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/scanners/LocalMediaScanner.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/dd3boh/outertune/utils/scanners/LocalMediaScanner.kt
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@ package com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.scanners
 import android.content.Context
 import android.media.MediaPlayer
 import android.os.Environment
+import androidx.datastore.dataStore
+import androidx.datastore.preferences.core.edit
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.MainActivity
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.constants.AutomaticScannerKey
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.constants.PlayerVolumeKey
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.constants.ScannerImpl
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.constants.ScannerImplKey
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.constants.ScannerMatchCriteria
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.db.MusicDatabase
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.db.entities.ArtistEntity
@@ -22,6 +28,8 @@ import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.utils.SYNC_SCANNER
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.utils.cacheDirectoryTree
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.ui.utils.scannerSession
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.closestMatch
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.dataStore
+import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.isPackageInstalled
 import com.dd3boh.outertune.utils.reportException
 import com.zionhuang.innertube.YouTube
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Deferred
@@ -744,8 +752,24 @@ class LocalMediaScanner(val context: Context, val scannerImpl: ScannerImpl) {
          * Trust me bro, it should never be null
          */
         fun getScanner(context: Context, scannerImpl: ScannerImpl): LocalMediaScanner {
+            /*
+            if the FFmpeg extractor is suddenly removed and a scan is ran, reset to taglib, disable auto scanner.
+            we don't want to run the taglib scanner fallback if the user explicitly selected FFmpeg as differences
+            can muck with the song detection. Throw the error to the ui where it can be handled there
+             */
+            val isFFmpegInstalled = isPackageInstalled("wah.mikooomich.ffMetadataEx", context.packageManager)
+            if (scannerImpl == ScannerImpl.FFMPEG_EXT && !isFFmpegInstalled) {
+                runBlocking {
+                    context.dataStore.edit { settings ->
+                        settings[ScannerImplKey] = ScannerImpl.TAGLIB.toString()
+                        settings[AutomaticScannerKey] = false
+                    }
+                }
+                throw ScannerAbortException("FFmpeg extractor was selected, but the package is no longer available. Reset to taglib scanner and disabled automatic scanning")
+            }
+
             if (localScanner == null) {
-                localScanner = LocalMediaScanner(context, scannerImpl)
+                localScanner = LocalMediaScanner(context, if (isFFmpegInstalled) scannerImpl else ScannerImpl.TAGLIB)
             }
 
             return localScanner!!