diff --git a/src/components/Chooser.svelte b/src/components/Chooser.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fda85a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/Chooser.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+<script>
+    // A chooser: one value out of a list, in the app's own menu vocabulary
+    // (Library's sort menu ← CatalogDiscography ← the player bar's popover)
+    // instead of a native <select>, which WebView2 draws with the OS's text
+    // rendering and looks wrong beside everything else. The trigger is a
+    // pill with the current label and a chevron; the popover is the same
+    // dark .menu as the sort menu, with the accent check on the current row.
+    //
+    // Portalled to body and positioned fixed: a settings card clips its
+    // overflow, and the pane is a containing block for anything fixed
+    // inside it. Closes on a choice, Escape, an outside press, a scroll, or
+    // a resize — a menu that drifts from its trigger is worse than none.
+    import Icon from "./Icon.svelte";
+
+    /** @type {{ options: [string, string][], value: string, onchange: (v: string) => void, disabled?: boolean, title?: string, width?: number }} */
+    let { options, value, onchange, disabled = false, title = "", width = 0 } = $props();
+
+    let triggerEl = $state(null);
+    let menuEl = $state(null);
+    let open = $state(false);
+    let pos = $state({ top: 0, left: 0, minWidth: 186 });
+
+    const label = $derived(options.find(([v]) => v === value)?.[1] ?? value ?? "");
+
+    function portal(node) {
+        document.body.appendChild(node);
+        return { destroy: () => node.remove() };
+    }
+
+    function place() {
+        const r = triggerEl.getBoundingClientRect();
+        const minWidth = Math.max(186, width || r.width);
+        const est = 12 + options.length * 30;
+        let top = r.bottom + 6;
+        if (top + est > window.innerHeight - 8) top = Math.max(8, r.top - 6 - est);
+        let left = Math.min(r.right - minWidth, window.innerWidth - minWidth - 8);
+        left = Math.max(8, left);
+        pos = { top, left, minWidth };
+    }
+
+    function toggle(e) {
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        if (disabled) return;
+        if (open) {
+            open = false;
+            return;
+        }
+        place();
+        open = true;
+    }
+
+    function pick(v) {
+        open = false;
+        if (v !== value) onchange(v);
+    }
+
+    $effect(() => {
+        if (!open) return;
+        const onDown = (e) => {
+            if (triggerEl?.contains(e.target) || menuEl?.contains(e.target)) return;
+            open = false;
+        };
+        const onKey = (e) => {
+            if (e.key === "Escape") open = false;
+        };
+        const close = () => (open = false);
+        document.addEventListener("pointerdown", onDown, true);
+        document.addEventListener("keydown", onKey);
+        document.addEventListener("scroll", close, true);
+        window.addEventListener("resize", close);
+        return () => {
+            document.removeEventListener("pointerdown", onDown, true);
+            document.removeEventListener("keydown", onKey);
+            document.removeEventListener("scroll", close, true);
+            window.removeEventListener("resize", close);
+        };
+    });
+</script>
+
+<button bind:this={triggerEl} class="chooser" class:on={open} onclick={toggle} {disabled} {title} aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded={open}>
+    <span class="lab">{label}</span>
+    <Icon name="chevron-down" size={13} />
+</button>
+
+{#if open}
+    <div class="menu" role="menu" use:portal bind:this={menuEl} style:top="{pos.top}px" style:left="{pos.left}px" style:min-width="{pos.minWidth}px">
+        {#each options as [v, l] (v)}
+            <button role="menuitemradio" aria-checked={v === value} class:cur={v === value} onclick={() => pick(v)}>
+                {l}
+                {#if v === value}<span class="mcheck"><Icon name="check" size={13} /></span>{/if}
+            </button>
+        {/each}
+    </div>
+{/if}
+
+<style>
+    .chooser {
+        display: inline-flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: 8px;
+        height: 32px;
+        padding: 0 11px 0 14px;
+        border-radius: 99px;
+        background: var(--bg-highlight);
+        color: var(--text-primary);
+        font-size: 12.5px;
+        font-weight: 800;
+        white-space: nowrap;
+        max-width: 320px;
+        transition: background 0.15s;
+    }
+    .chooser .lab { overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
+    .chooser :global(svg) { color: var(--text-secondary); flex: none; transition: transform 160ms ease; }
+    .chooser:hover:not(:disabled), .chooser.on { background: var(--bg-press); }
+    .chooser.on :global(svg) { transform: rotate(180deg); }
+    .chooser:disabled { opacity: 0.6; cursor: default; }
+
+    /* the sort menu's popover, verbatim — solid on purpose: a menu has to be
+       readable over whatever it lands on, dark glass included */
+    .menu {
+        position: fixed;
+        z-index: 1000;
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: 2px;
+        padding: 7px;
+        border-radius: 9px;
+        background: #0d0d0d;
+        border: 1px solid var(--border);
+        box-shadow: 0 12px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
+        font-family: var(--app-font);
+    }
+    .menu button {
+        display: flex;
+        align-items: center;
+        gap: 9px;
+        width: 100%;
+        padding: 6px 8px;
+        border-radius: 6px;
+        font-size: 12px;
+        font-weight: 600;
+        color: var(--text-secondary);
+        text-align: left;
+        white-space: nowrap;
+    }
+    .menu button:hover, .menu button.cur { color: var(--text-primary); }
+    .menu button:hover { background: var(--bg-highlight); }
+    .menu .mcheck { margin-left: auto; display: inline-flex; color: var(--accent-hover); }
+</style>
diff --git a/src/views/Settings.svelte b/src/views/Settings.svelte
index 758b504..e04efe8 100644
--- a/src/views/Settings.svelte
+++ b/src/views/Settings.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     import { applyGlass } from "../lib/glass.js";
     import * as api from "../lib/api.js";
     import Icon from "../components/Icon.svelte";
+    import Chooser from "../components/Chooser.svelte";
     import {
         community,
         refreshFreenet,
@@ -311,6 +312,19 @@
         return d.toLocaleDateString([], { month: "short", day: "numeric" });
     }
 
+    // ---- the long lists, as [value, label] for the chooser -------------------
+    const RETENTION = [["1", "1 day"], ["3", "3 days"], ["7", "1 week"], ["14", "2 weeks"], ["30", "1 month (recommended)"], ["90", "3 months"], ["forever", "Forever — save to library"]];
+    const CACHE = [["512", "512 MB"], ["1024", "1 GB"], ["2048", "2 GB (recommended)"], ["5120", "5 GB"], ["10240", "10 GB"], ["20480", "20 GB"], ["0", "Unlimited"]];
+    const MIN_QUALITY = [["any", "Any quality"], ["kbps192", "192 kbps and up"], ["kbps256", "256 kbps and up"], ["kbps320", "320 kbps and up"], ["lossless", "Lossless only"]];
+    const audioOutputs = $derived.by(() => {
+        if (!settings) return [];
+        const out = [["", "System default (recommended)"]];
+        const cur = settings.audio_output_device;
+        if (cur && !settings.audio_output_devices.includes(cur)) out.push([cur, `${cur} (unavailable)`]);
+        for (const d of settings.audio_output_devices) out.push([d, d]);
+        return out;
+    });
+
     // ---- the index ---------------------------------------------------------
     const SECTIONS = [
         { id: "account", title: "Account", group: "You" },
@@ -533,17 +547,7 @@
                                 <div class="name">Audio output</div>
                                 <div class="hint">System default follows Windows when headphones or speakers change.</div>
                             </div>
-                            <div class="ctl">
-                                <select class="menu" value={settings.audio_output_device ?? ""} disabled={saving} onchange={(e) => setAudioOutput(e.currentTarget.value)}>
-                                    <option value="">System default (recommended)</option>
-                                    {#if settings.audio_output_device && !settings.audio_output_devices.includes(settings.audio_output_device)}
-                                        <option value={settings.audio_output_device}>{settings.audio_output_device} (unavailable)</option>
-                                    {/if}
-                                    {#each settings.audio_output_devices as device (device)}
-                                        <option value={device}>{device}</option>
-                                    {/each}
-                                </select>
-                            </div>
+                            <div class="ctl"><Chooser options={audioOutputs} value={settings.audio_output_device ?? ""} onchange={(v) => setAudioOutput(v)} disabled={saving} /></div>
                         </div>
                         <div class="row">
                             <div class="label">
@@ -611,34 +615,14 @@
                                 <div class="name">Keep streamed tracks</div>
                                 <div class="hint">Streamed songs stay in a private cache for instant replay — not in your library. Forever adds everything you stream to the library instead.</div>
                             </div>
-                            <div class="ctl">
-                                <select class="menu" value={settings.stream_keep_forever ? "forever" : String(settings.stream_retention_days)} disabled={saving} onchange={(e) => setStreamRetention(e.currentTarget.value)}>
-                                    <option value="1">1 day</option>
-                                    <option value="3">3 days</option>
-                                    <option value="7">1 week</option>
-                                    <option value="14">2 weeks</option>
-                                    <option value="30">1 month (recommended)</option>
-                                    <option value="90">3 months</option>
-                                    <option value="forever">Forever — save to library</option>
-                                </select>
-                            </div>
+                            <div class="ctl"><Chooser options={RETENTION} value={settings.stream_keep_forever ? "forever" : String(settings.stream_retention_days)} onchange={(v) => setStreamRetention(v)} disabled={saving} /></div>
                         </div>
                         <div class="row">
                             <div class="label">
                                 <div class="name">Cache size limit</div>
                                 <div class="hint">Oldest streamed tracks are removed first once the cache passes this size. Saved and downloaded music is never touched.</div>
                             </div>
-                            <div class="ctl">
-                                <select class="menu" value={String(settings.stream_cache_max_mb)} disabled={saving} onchange={(e) => setStreamCacheMax(e.currentTarget.value)}>
-                                    <option value="512">512 MB</option>
-                                    <option value="1024">1 GB</option>
-                                    <option value="2048">2 GB (recommended)</option>
-                                    <option value="5120">5 GB</option>
-                                    <option value="10240">10 GB</option>
-                                    <option value="20480">20 GB</option>
-                                    <option value="0">Unlimited</option>
-                                </select>
-                            </div>
+                            <div class="ctl"><Chooser options={CACHE} value={String(settings.stream_cache_max_mb)} onchange={(v) => setStreamCacheMax(v)} disabled={saving} /></div>
                         </div>
                         <div class="foot">Retention counts from the last time a track was played. Tracks you save stay in your library regardless.</div>
                     </div>
@@ -721,15 +705,7 @@
                                     <div class="name">Minimum</div>
                                     <div class="hint">Reject files below this floor. Lossy files must report a bitrate to qualify.</div>
                                 </div>
-                                <div class="ctl">
-                                    <select class="menu" value={sourcePrefsFor(mode.key).min} disabled={saving} onchange={(e) => setSourcePref(mode.key, "min", e.currentTarget.value)}>
-                                        <option value="any">Any quality</option>
-                                        <option value="kbps192">192 kbps and up</option>
-                                        <option value="kbps256">256 kbps and up</option>
-                                        <option value="kbps320">320 kbps and up</option>
-                                        <option value="lossless">Lossless only</option>
-                                    </select>
-                                </div>
+                                <div class="ctl"><Chooser options={MIN_QUALITY} value={sourcePrefsFor(mode.key).min} onchange={(v) => setSourcePref(mode.key, "min", v)} disabled={saving} /></div>
                             </div>
                             <div class="row">
                                 <div class="label">
@@ -876,13 +852,6 @@
     .seg button.on { background: var(--accent); color: #000; }
     .seg button:hover:not(.on):not(:disabled) { color: #fff; }
     .seg button:disabled { opacity: 0.6; cursor: default; }
-    /* a long list stays a real <select>, dressed as the menu pill */
-    .menu { appearance: none; -webkit-appearance: none; height: 32px; padding: 0 30px 0 14px; border-radius: 99px; border: none; background-color: var(--surf-hi); color: #fff; font-size: 12.5px; font-weight: 800; outline: none; cursor: pointer; max-width: 320px;
-        background-image: linear-gradient(45deg, transparent 50%, var(--text-secondary) 50%), linear-gradient(135deg, var(--text-secondary) 50%, transparent 50%);
-        background-position: calc(100% - 16px) 55%, calc(100% - 11px) 55%; background-size: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat; }
-    .menu:hover { background-color: var(--bg-press); }
-    .menu:disabled { opacity: 0.6; cursor: default; }
-    .menu option { background: var(--bg-elevated); color: var(--text-primary); font-weight: 600; }
     .ax-ghost { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px; height: 32px; padding: 0 14px; border-radius: 99px; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 800; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.28); transition: 0.18s; white-space: nowrap; }
     .ax-ghost:hover:not(:disabled) { border-color: #fff; background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08); }
     .ax-ghost.sm { height: 28px; padding: 0 11px; font-size: 11px; }