diff --git a/backend/app.go b/backend/app.go
index 440e579d..4c5e9cc0 100644
--- a/backend/app.go
+++ b/backend/app.go
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ import (
 	"slices"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/backend/ipc"
 	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/backend/mediaprovider"
 	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/backend/player"
 	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/backend/player/mpv"
 	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/backend/util"
-	"github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 
 	"github.com/20after4/configdir"
@@ -24,13 +24,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	configFile          = "config.toml"
-	portableDir         = "supersonic_portable"
-	sessionDir          = "session"
-	sessionLockFile     = ".lock"
-	sessionActivateFile = ".activate"
-	savedQueueFile      = "saved_queue.json"
-	themesDir           = "themes"
+	configFile     = "config.toml"
+	portableDir    = "supersonic_portable"
+	savedQueueFile = "saved_queue.json"
+	themesDir      = "themes"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -46,6 +43,7 @@ type App struct {
 	LocalPlayer     *mpv.Player
 	UpdateChecker   UpdateChecker
 	MPRISHandler    *MPRISHandler
+	ipcServer       ipc.IPCServer
 
 	// UI callbacks to be set in main
 	OnReactivate func()
@@ -83,26 +81,6 @@ func StartupApp(appName, displayAppName, appVersionTag, latestReleaseURL string)
 	configdir.MakePath(confDir)
 	configdir.MakePath(cacheDir)
 
-	sessionPath := path.Join(confDir, sessionDir)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(path.Join(sessionPath, sessionLockFile)); err == nil {
-		log.Println("Another instance is running. Reactivating it...")
-		reactivateFile := path.Join(sessionPath, sessionActivateFile)
-		if f, err := os.Create(reactivateFile); err == nil {
-			f.Close()
-		}
-		time.Sleep(750 * time.Millisecond)
-		if _, err := os.Stat(reactivateFile); err == nil {
-			log.Println("No other instance responded. Starting as normal...")
-			os.RemoveAll(sessionPath)
-		} else {
-			return nil, ErrAnotherInstance
-		}
-	}
-
-	log.Printf("Starting %s...", appName)
-	log.Printf("Using config dir: %s", confDir)
-	log.Printf("Using cache dir: %s", cacheDir)
-
 	a := &App{
 		appName:       appName,
 		appVersionTag: appVersionTag,
@@ -112,19 +90,24 @@ func StartupApp(appName, displayAppName, appVersionTag, latestReleaseURL string)
 	}
 	a.bgrndCtx, a.cancel = context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	a.readConfig()
-	a.startConfigWriter(a.bgrndCtx)
 
-	if !a.Config.Application.AllowMultiInstance {
-		log.Println("Creating session lock file")
-		os.MkdirAll(sessionPath, 0770)
-		if f, err := os.Create(path.Join(sessionPath, sessionLockFile)); err == nil {
-			f.Close()
-		} else {
-			log.Printf("error creating session file: %s", err.Error())
+	cli, _ := ipc.Connect()
+	if HaveCommandLineOptions() {
+		if err := a.checkFlagsAndSendIPCMsg(cli); err != nil {
+			// we were supposed to control another instance and couldn't
+			log.Fatalf("error sending IPC message: %s", err.Error())
 		}
-		a.startSessionWatcher(sessionPath)
+		return nil, ErrAnotherInstance
+	} else if cli != nil && !a.Config.Application.AllowMultiInstance {
+		log.Println("Another instance is running. Reactivating it...")
+		cli.Show()
+		return nil, ErrAnotherInstance
 	}
 
+	log.Printf("Starting %s...", appName)
+	log.Printf("Using config dir: %s", confDir)
+	log.Printf("Using cache dir: %s", cacheDir)
+
 	a.UpdateChecker = NewUpdateChecker(appVersionTag, latestReleaseURL, &a.Config.Application.LastCheckedVersion)
 	a.UpdateChecker.Start(a.bgrndCtx, 24*time.Hour)
 
@@ -144,6 +127,19 @@ func StartupApp(appName, displayAppName, appVersionTag, latestReleaseURL string)
 		_, _ = a.ImageManager.GetCoverThumbnail(coverID)
 	})
 
+	// Start IPC server if another not already running in a different instance
+	if cli == nil {
+		ipc.DestroyConn() // cleanup socket possibly orphaned by crashed process
+		listener, err := ipc.Listen()
+		if err == nil {
+			a.ipcServer = ipc.NewServer(a.PlaybackManager, a.callOnReactivate,
+				func() { _ = a.callOnExit() })
+			go a.ipcServer.Serve(listener)
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("error starting IPC server: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+	}
+
 	// OS media center integrations
 	a.setupMPRIS(displayAppName)
 	InitMPMediaHandler(a.PlaybackManager, func(id string) (string, error) {
@@ -151,6 +147,8 @@ func StartupApp(appName, displayAppName, appVersionTag, latestReleaseURL string)
 		return a.ImageManager.GetCoverArtUrl(id)
 	})
 
+	a.startConfigWriter(a.bgrndCtx)
+
 	return a, nil
 }
 
@@ -196,26 +194,6 @@ func (a *App) readConfig() {
 	a.Config = cfg
 }
 
-func (a *App) startSessionWatcher(sessionPath string) {
-	if sessionWatch, err := fsnotify.NewWatcher(); err == nil {
-		sessionWatch.Add(sessionPath)
-		go func() {
-			for {
-				select {
-				case <-a.bgrndCtx.Done():
-					return
-				case <-sessionWatch.Events:
-					activatePath := path.Join(sessionPath, sessionActivateFile)
-					if _, err := os.Stat(activatePath); err == nil {
-						os.Remove(path.Join(sessionPath, sessionActivateFile))
-						a.callOnReactivate()
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}()
-	}
-}
-
 // periodically save config file so abnormal exit won't lose settings
 func (a *App) startConfigWriter(ctx context.Context) {
 	tick := time.NewTicker(2 * time.Minute)
@@ -239,6 +217,17 @@ func (a *App) callOnReactivate() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (a *App) callOnExit() error {
+	if a.OnExit == nil {
+		return errors.New("no quit handler registered")
+	}
+	go func() {
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+		a.OnExit()
+	}()
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (a *App) initMPV() error {
 	p := mpv.NewWithClientName(a.appName)
 	c := a.Config.LocalPlayback
@@ -314,16 +303,7 @@ func (a *App) setupMPRIS(mprisAppName string) {
 		return a.ImageManager.GetCoverArtUrl(id)
 	}
 	a.MPRISHandler.OnRaise = func() error { a.callOnReactivate(); return nil }
-	a.MPRISHandler.OnQuit = func() error {
-		if a.OnExit == nil {
-			return errors.New("no quit handler registered")
-		}
-		go func() {
-			time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-			a.OnExit()
-		}()
-		return nil
-	}
+	a.MPRISHandler.OnQuit = a.callOnExit
 	a.MPRISHandler.Start()
 }
 
@@ -346,6 +326,9 @@ func (a *App) DeleteServerCacheDir(serverID uuid.UUID) error {
 }
 
 func (a *App) Shutdown() {
+	if a.ipcServer != nil {
+		a.ipcServer.Shutdown(a.bgrndCtx)
+	}
 	a.MPRISHandler.Shutdown()
 	a.PlaybackManager.DisableCallbacks()
 	if a.Config.Application.SavePlayQueue {
@@ -362,7 +345,6 @@ func (a *App) Shutdown() {
 	a.cancel()
 	a.LocalPlayer.Destroy()
 	a.Config.WriteConfigFile(a.configFilePath())
-	os.RemoveAll(path.Join(a.configDir, sessionDir))
 }
 
 func (a *App) LoadSavedPlayQueue() error {
@@ -397,6 +379,30 @@ func (a *App) SaveConfigFile() {
 	a.lastWrittenCfg = *a.Config
 }
 
+func (a *App) checkFlagsAndSendIPCMsg(cli *ipc.Client) error {
+	if cli == nil {
+		return errors.New("no IPC connection")
+	}
+	switch {
+	case *FlagPlay:
+		return cli.Play()
+	case *FlagPause:
+		return cli.Pause()
+	case *FlagPlayPause:
+		return cli.PlayPause()
+	case *FlagPrevious:
+		return cli.SeekBackOrPrevious()
+	case *FlagNext:
+		return cli.SeekNext()
+	case VolumeCLIArg >= 0:
+		return cli.SetVolume(VolumeCLIArg)
+	case SeekToCLIArg >= 0:
+		return cli.SeekSeconds(SeekToCLIArg)
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 func (a *App) configFilePath() string {
 	return path.Join(a.configDir, configFile)
 }
diff --git a/backend/cmdlineoptions.go b/backend/cmdlineoptions.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5e189ed7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/cmdlineoptions.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package backend
+
+import (
+	"flag"
+	"strconv"
+)
+
+var (
+	VolumeCLIArg int     = -1
+	SeekToCLIArg float64 = -1
+
+	FlagPlay      = flag.Bool("play", false, "unpause or begin playback")
+	FlagPause     = flag.Bool("pause", false, "pause playback")
+	FlagPlayPause = flag.Bool("play-pause", false, "toggle play/pause state")
+	FlagPrevious  = flag.Bool("previous", false, "seek to previous track or beginning of current")
+	FlagNext      = flag.Bool("next", false, "seek to next track")
+	FlagVersion   = flag.Bool("version", false, "print app version and exit")
+	FlagHelp      = flag.Bool("help", false, "print command line options and exit")
+)
+
+func init() {
+	flag.Func("volume", "sets the playback volume (0-100)", func(s string) error {
+		v, err := strconv.Atoi(s)
+		VolumeCLIArg = v
+		return err
+	})
+
+	flag.Func("seek-to", "seeks to the given position in seconds in the current file (0.0 - <trackDur>)", func(s string) error {
+		v, err := strconv.ParseFloat(s, 64)
+		SeekToCLIArg = v
+		return err
+	})
+}
+
+func HaveCommandLineOptions() bool {
+	visitedAny := false
+	flag.Visit(func(*flag.Flag) {
+		visitedAny = true
+	})
+	return visitedAny
+}
diff --git a/backend/ipc/api.go b/backend/ipc/api.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fbea445f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/ipc/api.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package ipc
+
+import "fmt"
+
+const (
+	PingPath      = "/ping"
+	PlayPath      = "/transport/play"
+	PlayPausePath = "/transport/playpause"
+	PausePath     = "/transport/pause"
+	StopPath      = "/transport/stop"
+	PreviousPath  = "/transport/previous"
+	NextPath      = "/transport/next"
+	TimePosPath   = "/transport/timepos" // ?s=<seconds>
+	VolumePath    = "/volume"            // ?v=<vol>
+	ShowPath      = "/window/show"
+	QuitPath      = "/window/quit"
+)
+
+type Response struct {
+	Error string `json:"error"`
+}
+
+func SetVolumePath(vol int) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s?v=%d", VolumePath, vol)
+}
+
+func SeekToSecondsPath(secs float64) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s?s=%0.2f", TimePosPath, secs)
+}
diff --git a/backend/ipc/client.go b/backend/ipc/client.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3423827
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/ipc/client.go
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package ipc
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+)
+
+var ErrPingFail = errors.New("ping failed")
+
+type Client struct {
+	httpC http.Client
+}
+
+// Connect attempts to connect to the IPC socket as client.
+func Connect() (*Client, error) {
+	client := &Client{httpC: http.Client{
+		Transport: &http.Transport{
+			DialContext: func(_ context.Context, _, _ string) (net.Conn, error) {
+				return Dial()
+			},
+		},
+	}}
+	if err := client.Ping(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return client, nil
+}
+
+func (c *Client) Ping() error {
+	if c.sendRequest(PingPath) != nil {
+		return ErrPingFail
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *Client) Play() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(PlayPath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) Pause() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(PausePath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) PlayPause() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(PlayPausePath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) SeekNext() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(NextPath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) SeekBackOrPrevious() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(PreviousPath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) SeekSeconds(secs float64) error {
+	return c.sendRequest(SeekToSecondsPath(secs))
+}
+
+func (c *Client) SetVolume(vol int) error {
+	return c.sendRequest(SetVolumePath(vol))
+}
+
+func (c *Client) Show() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(ShowPath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) Quit() error {
+	return c.sendRequest(QuitPath)
+}
+
+func (c *Client) sendRequest(path string) error {
+	resp, err := c.httpC.Get("http://supersonic/" + path)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		var r Response
+		json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&r)
+		return errors.New(r.Error)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/backend/ipc/conn_other.go b/backend/ipc/conn_other.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5ac6a454
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/ipc/conn_other.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package ipc
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"os"
+	"os/user"
+	"path"
+	"runtime"
+)
+
+var socketPath = "/tmp/supersonic.sock"
+
+func init() {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
+		if home, err := os.UserHomeDir(); err == nil {
+			socketPath = path.Join(home, "Library", "Caches", "supersonic", "supersonic.sock")
+		} else if user, err := user.Current(); err == nil {
+			socketPath = fmt.Sprintf("/tmp/supersonic-%s.sock", user.Uid)
+		}
+	} else {
+		if runtime := os.Getenv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR"); runtime != "" {
+			socketPath = path.Join(runtime, "supersonic.sock")
+		} else if user, err := user.Current(); err == nil {
+			socketPath = fmt.Sprintf("/tmp/supersonic-%s.sock", user.Uid)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func Dial() (net.Conn, error) {
+	// TODO - use XDG runtime dir, also handle portable mode
+	return net.Dial("unix", socketPath)
+}
+
+func Listen() (net.Listener, error) {
+	return net.Listen("unix", socketPath)
+}
+
+func DestroyConn() error {
+	return os.Remove(socketPath)
+}
diff --git a/backend/ipc/conn_windows.go b/backend/ipc/conn_windows.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..26de3d7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/ipc/conn_windows.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package ipc
+
+import (
+	"net"
+	"os/user"
+	"regexp"
+
+	"github.com/Microsoft/go-winio"
+)
+
+var pipeName = `\\.\pipe\supersonic`
+
+func init() {
+	if user, err := user.Current(); err == nil {
+		pipeName += regexp.MustCompile(`[^a-zA-Z0-9]+`).ReplaceAllString(user.Name, "")
+	}
+}
+
+func Dial() (net.Conn, error) {
+	return winio.DialPipe(pipeName, nil)
+}
+
+func Listen() (net.Listener, error) {
+	return winio.ListenPipe(pipeName, nil)
+}
+
+func DestroyConn() error {
+	// Windows named pipes automatically clean up
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/backend/ipc/server.go b/backend/ipc/server.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fc62ed3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/ipc/server.go
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package ipc
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+)
+
+type PlaybackHandler interface {
+	PlayPause() error
+	Stop() error
+	Pause() error
+	Continue() error
+	SeekBackOrPrevious() error
+	SeekNext() error
+	SeekSeconds(float64) error
+	Volume() int
+	SetVolume(int) error
+}
+
+type IPCServer interface {
+	Serve(net.Listener) error
+	Shutdown(context.Context) error
+}
+
+type serverImpl struct {
+	server    *http.Server
+	pbHandler PlaybackHandler
+	showFn    func()
+	quitFn    func()
+}
+
+func NewServer(pbHandler PlaybackHandler, showFn, quitFn func()) IPCServer {
+	s := &serverImpl{pbHandler: pbHandler, showFn: showFn, quitFn: quitFn}
+	s.server = &http.Server{
+		Handler: s.createHandler(),
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) Serve(listener net.Listener) error {
+	return s.server.Serve(listener)
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) Shutdown(ctx context.Context) error {
+	err := s.server.Shutdown(ctx)
+	DestroyConn()
+	return err
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) createHandler() http.Handler {
+	m := http.NewServeMux()
+	m.HandleFunc("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		w.Write([]byte("The given path is not valid"))
+	})
+	m.HandleFunc(PingPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(func() error { return nil }))
+	m.HandleFunc(ShowPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(func() error {
+		s.showFn()
+		return nil
+	}))
+	m.HandleFunc(QuitPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(func() error {
+		s.quitFn()
+		return nil
+	}))
+	m.HandleFunc(PlayPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(s.pbHandler.Continue))
+	m.HandleFunc(PausePath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(s.pbHandler.Pause))
+	m.HandleFunc(PlayPausePath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(s.pbHandler.PlayPause))
+	m.HandleFunc(StopPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(s.pbHandler.Stop))
+	m.HandleFunc(PreviousPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(s.pbHandler.SeekBackOrPrevious))
+	m.HandleFunc(NextPath, s.makeSimpleEndpointHandler(s.pbHandler.SeekNext))
+	m.HandleFunc(TimePosPath, func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		_s := r.URL.Query().Get("s")
+		if secs, err := strconv.ParseFloat(_s, 64); err == nil {
+			s.writeSimpleResponse(w, s.pbHandler.SeekSeconds(secs))
+		} else {
+			s.writeErr(w, err)
+		}
+	})
+	m.HandleFunc(VolumePath, func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		v := r.URL.Query().Get("v")
+		if vol, err := strconv.Atoi(v); err == nil {
+			s.writeSimpleResponse(w, s.pbHandler.SetVolume(vol))
+		} else {
+			s.writeErr(w, err)
+		}
+	})
+	return m
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) makeSimpleEndpointHandler(f func() error) func(http.ResponseWriter, *http.Request) {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		s.writeSimpleResponse(w, f())
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) writeSimpleResponse(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) {
+	if err == nil {
+		s.writeOK(w)
+	} else {
+		s.writeErr(w, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) writeOK(w http.ResponseWriter) (int, error) {
+	var r Response
+	b, err := json.Marshal(&r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	return w.Write(b)
+}
+
+func (s *serverImpl) writeErr(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) (int, error) {
+	r := Response{Error: err.Error()}
+	b, err := json.Marshal(&r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
+	return w.Write(b)
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 72b5bb79..dc95f667 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ go 1.21
 require (
 	fyne.io/fyne/v2 v2.5.0
 	github.com/20after4/configdir v0.1.1
+	github.com/Microsoft/go-winio v0.6.2
 	github.com/cenkalti/dominantcolor v1.0.2
 	github.com/deluan/sanitize v0.0.0-20230310221930-6e18967d9fc1
 	github.com/dweymouth/fyne-lyrics v0.0.0-20240528234907-15eee7ce5e64
 	github.com/dweymouth/go-jellyfin v0.0.0-20240517151952-5ceca61cb645
 	github.com/dweymouth/go-mpv v0.0.0-20230406003141-7f1858e503ee
 	github.com/dweymouth/go-subsonic v0.0.0-20240603150834-605046e7c78a
-	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0
 	github.com/godbus/dbus/v5 v5.1.0
 	github.com/google/uuid v1.3.0
 	github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.0.8
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 // indirect
 	github.com/disintegration/imaging v1.6.2 // indirect
 	github.com/fredbi/uri v1.1.0 // indirect
+	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/fyne-io/gl-js v0.0.0-20220119005834-d2da28d9ccfe // indirect
 	github.com/fyne-io/glfw-js v0.0.0-20240101223322-6e1efdc71b7a // indirect
 	github.com/fyne-io/image v0.0.0-20220602074514-4956b0afb3d2 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 6a858b24..335b6a50 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ github.com/BurntSushi/toml v0.3.1/go.mod h1:xHWCNGjB5oqiDr8zfno3MHue2Ht5sIBksp03
 github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.3.2 h1:o7IhLm0Msx3BaB+n3Ag7L8EVlByGnpq14C4YWiu/gL8=
 github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.3.2/go.mod h1:CxXYINrC8qIiEnFrOxCa7Jy5BFHlXnUU2pbicEuybxQ=
 github.com/BurntSushi/xgb v0.0.0-20160522181843-27f122750802/go.mod h1:IVnqGOEym/WlBOVXweHU+Q+/VP0lqqI8lqeDx9IjBqo=
+github.com/Microsoft/go-winio v0.6.2 h1:F2VQgta7ecxGYO8k3ZZz3RS8fVIXVxONVUPlNERoyfY=
+github.com/Microsoft/go-winio v0.6.2/go.mod h1:yd8OoFMLzJbo9gZq8j5qaps8bJ9aShtEA8Ipt1oGCvU=
 github.com/akavel/rsrc v0.10.2/go.mod h1:uLoCtb9J+EyAqh+26kdrTgmzRBFPGOolLWKpdxkKq+c=
 github.com/alessio/shellescape v1.4.1 h1:V7yhSDDn8LP4lc4jS8pFkt0zCnzVJlG5JXy9BVKJUX0=
 github.com/alessio/shellescape v1.4.1/go.mod h1:PZAiSCk0LJaZkiCSkPv8qIobYglO3FPpyFjDCtHLS30=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 212d0aea..513bef58 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 	"runtime"
@@ -10,14 +12,28 @@ import (
 	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/res"
 	"github.com/dweymouth/supersonic/ui"
 
-	"fyne.io/fyne/v2"
 	"fyne.io/fyne/v2/app"
 )
 
 func main() {
+	// parse cmd line flags - see backend/cmdlineoptions.go
+	flag.Parse()
+	if *backend.FlagVersion {
+		fmt.Println(res.AppVersion)
+		return
+	}
+	if *backend.FlagHelp {
+		flag.Usage()
+		return
+	}
+	// rest of flag actions are handled in backend.StartupApp
+
 	myApp, err := backend.StartupApp(res.AppName, res.DisplayName, res.AppVersionTag, res.LatestReleaseURL)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("fatal startup error: %v", err.Error())
+		if err != backend.ErrAnotherInstance {
+			log.Fatalf("fatal startup error: %v", err.Error())
+		}
+		return
 	}
 
 	if myApp.Config.Application.UIScaleSize == "Smaller" {
@@ -29,15 +45,7 @@ func main() {
 	fyneApp := app.New()
 	fyneApp.SetIcon(res.ResAppicon256Png)
 
-	w := float32(myApp.Config.Application.WindowWidth)
-	if w <= 1 {
-		w = 1000
-	}
-	h := float32(myApp.Config.Application.WindowHeight)
-	if h <= 1 {
-		h = 800
-	}
-	mainWindow := ui.NewMainWindow(fyneApp, res.AppName, res.DisplayName, res.AppVersion, myApp, fyne.NewSize(w, h))
+	mainWindow := ui.NewMainWindow(fyneApp, res.AppName, res.DisplayName, res.AppVersion, myApp)
 	myApp.OnReactivate = mainWindow.Show
 	myApp.OnExit = mainWindow.Quit
 
diff --git a/ui/mainwindow.go b/ui/mainwindow.go
index 1c24141c..10b21110 100644
--- a/ui/mainwindow.go
+++ b/ui/mainwindow.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ type MainWindow struct {
 	radioBtn *widget.Button
 }
 
-func NewMainWindow(fyneApp fyne.App, appName, displayAppName, appVersion string, app *backend.App, size fyne.Size) MainWindow {
+func NewMainWindow(fyneApp fyne.App, appName, displayAppName, appVersion string, app *backend.App) MainWindow {
 	m := MainWindow{
 		App:    app,
 		Window: fyneApp.NewWindow(displayAppName),
@@ -89,7 +89,16 @@ func NewMainWindow(fyneApp fyne.App, appName, displayAppName, appVersion string,
 	m.BottomPanel = NewBottomPanel(app.PlaybackManager, app.ImageManager, m.Controller)
 	m.container = container.NewBorder(nil, m.BottomPanel, nil, nil, m.BrowsingPane)
 	m.Window.SetContent(m.container)
-	m.Window.Resize(size)
+
+	w := float32(app.Config.Application.WindowWidth)
+	if w <= 1 {
+		w = 1000
+	}
+	h := float32(app.Config.Application.WindowHeight)
+	if h <= 1 {
+		h = 800
+	}
+	m.Window.Resize(fyne.NewSize(w, h))
 	app.PlaybackManager.OnSongChange(func(item mediaprovider.MediaItem, _ *mediaprovider.Track) {
 		if item == nil {
 			m.Window.SetTitle(displayAppName)