diff --git a/Modules/Bar/Widgets/AudioVisualizer.qml b/Modules/Bar/Widgets/AudioVisualizer.qml
index f13701d3a..30ea55c75 100644
--- a/Modules/Bar/Widgets/AudioVisualizer.qml
+++ b/Modules/Bar/Widgets/AudioVisualizer.qml
@@ -45,23 +45,29 @@ Item {
 
   readonly property bool shouldShow: (currentVisualizerType !== "" && currentVisualizerType !== "none") && (!hideWhenIdle || MediaService.isPlaying)
 
+  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.shouldShow && MediaService.isPlaying
+
   // Register/unregister with SpectrumService based on visibility (use screenName — screen can be null after DPMS/output changes)
   readonly property string spectrumComponentId: "bar:audiovisualizer:" + screenName + ":" + root.section + ":" + root.sectionWidgetIndex
 
-  onShouldShowChanged: {
-    if (root.shouldShow) {
+  onNeedsSpectrumChanged: {
+    if (root.needsSpectrum) {
       SpectrumService.registerComponent(root.spectrumComponentId);
     } else {
       SpectrumService.unregisterComponent(root.spectrumComponentId);
     }
   }
 
-  Component.onDestruction: {
-    if (root.shouldShow) {
-      SpectrumService.unregisterComponent(root.spectrumComponentId);
+  Component.onCompleted: {
+    if (root.needsSpectrum) {
+      SpectrumService.registerComponent(root.spectrumComponentId);
     }
   }
 
+  Component.onDestruction: {
+    SpectrumService.unregisterComponent(root.spectrumComponentId);
+  }
+
   // Content dimensions for implicit sizing
   readonly property real contentWidth: !shouldShow ? 0 : isVerticalBar ? capsuleHeight : visualizerWidth
   readonly property real contentHeight: !shouldShow ? 0 : isVerticalBar ? visualizerWidth : capsuleHeight
@@ -104,7 +110,7 @@ Item {
       id: visualizerLoader
       anchors.fill: parent
       anchors.margins: Style.marginS
-      active: shouldShow
+      active: root.needsSpectrum
       asynchronous: true
 
       sourceComponent: {
diff --git a/Modules/Bar/Widgets/MediaMini.qml b/Modules/Bar/Widgets/MediaMini.qml
index d7b6b74aa..8e27aa6fd 100644
--- a/Modules/Bar/Widgets/MediaMini.qml
+++ b/Modules/Bar/Widgets/MediaMini.qml
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Item {
 
   // SpectrumService registration for visualizer
   readonly property string spectrumComponentId: "bar:mediamini:" + root.screen?.name + ":" + root.section + ":" + root.sectionWidgetIndex
-  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.showVisualizer && root.visualizerType !== "" && root.visualizerType !== "none" && !root.isHidden
+  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.showVisualizer && root.visualizerType !== "" && root.visualizerType !== "none" && !root.isHidden && MediaService.isPlaying
 
   Layout.preferredHeight: isVertical ? -1 : Style.getBarHeightForScreen(screenName)
   Layout.preferredWidth: isVertical ? Style.getBarHeightForScreen(screenName) : -1
@@ -265,10 +265,10 @@ Item {
         y: Style.pixelAlignCenter(parent.height, height)
         width: Style.toOdd(parent.width)
         height: Style.toOdd(parent.height)
-        active: showVisualizer
+        active: root.needsSpectrum
         z: 0
         sourceComponent: {
-          if (!showVisualizer)
+          if (!root.needsSpectrum)
             return null;
           if (visualizerType === "linear")
             return linearSpectrum;
diff --git a/Modules/Cards/MediaCard.qml b/Modules/Cards/MediaCard.qml
index ab604be12..7526d4f97 100644
--- a/Modules/Cards/MediaCard.qml
+++ b/Modules/Cards/MediaCard.qml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ NBox {
   readonly property bool hasActivePlayer: MediaService.currentPlayer && MediaService.canPlay
 
   // SpectrumService registration for visualizer
-  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "" && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "none"
+  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "" && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "none" && MediaService.isPlaying
 
   onNeedsSpectrumChanged: {
     if (root.needsSpectrum) {
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ NBox {
     // Background visualizer on top of the artwork
     Loader {
       anchors.fill: parent
-      active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "" && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "none"
+      active: root.needsSpectrum
 
       sourceComponent: {
         switch (Settings.data.audio.visualizerType) {
diff --git a/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopAudioVisualizer.qml b/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopAudioVisualizer.qml
index a462df86c..dc30b1543 100644
--- a/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopAudioVisualizer.qml
+++ b/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopAudioVisualizer.qml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ DraggableDesktopWidget {
 
   readonly property bool shouldShow: visualizerType !== "" && visualizerType !== "none" && (!hideWhenIdle || MediaService.isPlaying)
   readonly property bool isHidden: !shouldShow
-  readonly property bool shouldRegisterSpectrum: shouldShow
+  readonly property bool shouldRegisterSpectrum: shouldShow && MediaService.isPlaying
 
   // Keep widget visible in edit mode so users can move/configure it
   visible: !root.isHidden || DesktopWidgetRegistry.editMode
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ DraggableDesktopWidget {
       id: visualizerLoader
       anchors.fill: parent
       anchors.margins: root.showBackground ? Math.round(Style.marginXS * root.widgetScale) : 0
-      active: root.shouldShow
+      active: root.shouldRegisterSpectrum
       asynchronous: true
 
       sourceComponent: {
diff --git a/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopMediaPlayer.qml b/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopMediaPlayer.qml
index 52b5cbbf7..81ba80816 100644
--- a/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopMediaPlayer.qml
+++ b/Modules/DesktopWidgets/Widgets/DesktopMediaPlayer.qml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ DraggableDesktopWidget {
 
   // SpectrumService registration for visualizer
   readonly property string spectrumComponentId: "desktopmediaplayer:" + (root.screen ? root.screen.name : "unknown")
-  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.shouldShowVisualizer && !root.isHidden
+  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.shouldShowVisualizer && !root.isHidden && root.isPlaying
 
   onNeedsSpectrumChanged: {
     if (root.needsSpectrum) {
diff --git a/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml b/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml
index 88698b58f..eb6851005 100644
--- a/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml
+++ b/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreen.qml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ Loader {
   active: false
 
   // Track if the visualizer should be shown (lockscreen active + media playing + non-compact mode)
-  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.active && !Settings.data.general.compactLockScreen && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "" && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "none"
+  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.active && !Settings.data.general.compactLockScreen && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "" && Settings.data.audio.visualizerType !== "none" && MediaService.isPlaying
 
   onActiveChanged: {
     if (root.active && root.needsSpectrum) {
diff --git a/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreenPanel.qml b/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreenPanel.qml
index ddd0678c4..03c4e3e1d 100644
--- a/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreenPanel.qml
+++ b/Modules/LockScreen/LockScreenPanel.qml
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ Item {
           Loader {
             anchors.fill: parent
             anchors.margins: 4
-            active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType === "linear"
+            active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType === "linear" && MediaService.isPlaying
             z: 0
             sourceComponent: NLinearSpectrum {
               anchors.fill: parent
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ Item {
           Loader {
             anchors.fill: parent
             anchors.margins: 4
-            active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType === "mirrored"
+            active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType === "mirrored" && MediaService.isPlaying
             z: 0
             sourceComponent: NMirroredSpectrum {
               anchors.fill: parent
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ Item {
           Loader {
             anchors.fill: parent
             anchors.margins: 4
-            active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType === "wave"
+            active: Settings.data.audio.visualizerType === "wave" && MediaService.isPlaying
             z: 0
             sourceComponent: NWaveSpectrum {
               anchors.fill: parent
diff --git a/Modules/Panels/Media/MediaPlayerPanel.qml b/Modules/Panels/Media/MediaPlayerPanel.qml
index 400738f9e..79100e25e 100644
--- a/Modules/Panels/Media/MediaPlayerPanel.qml
+++ b/Modules/Panels/Media/MediaPlayerPanel.qml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ SmartPanel {
 
   readonly property bool isSideBySide: root.compactMode && root.showAlbumArt
 
-  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.showVisualizer && root.visualizerType !== "" && root.visualizerType !== "none" && root.isPanelOpen
+  readonly property bool needsSpectrum: root.showVisualizer && root.visualizerType !== "" && root.visualizerType !== "none" && root.isPanelOpen && MediaService.isPlaying
 
   onNeedsSpectrumChanged: {
     if (root.needsSpectrum) {