diff --git a/shell/plugins/services/media/Service.qml b/shell/plugins/services/media/Service.qml
index e22bf236..1cfeb9c9 100644
--- a/shell/plugins/services/media/Service.qml
+++ b/shell/plugins/services/media/Service.qml
@@ -430,12 +430,20 @@ Item {
     return handled
   }
 
-  Timer {
-    interval: 500
-    running: true
-    repeat: true
-    triggeredOnStart: true
-    onTriggered: root.syncPlayingOrder()
+  // Recompute play-order reactively instead of polling every 500ms.
+  // syncPlayingOrder only depends on the set of players and each player's
+  // isPlaying state: onPlayersChanged covers players appearing/disappearing,
+  // and the Instantiator wires isPlayingChanged for each live player.
+  Component.onCompleted: root.syncPlayingOrder()
+  onPlayersChanged: root.syncPlayingOrder()
+
+  Instantiator {
+    model: root.players
+    delegate: Connections {
+      required property var modelData
+      target: modelData
+      function onIsPlayingChanged() { root.syncPlayingOrder() }
+    }
   }
 
   Timer {