diff --git a/Media/play_state_sync.sh b/Media/play_state_sync.sh
index 4aaf32b..672eb9d 100755
--- a/Media/play_state_sync.sh
+++ b/Media/play_state_sync.sh
@@ -426,10 +426,14 @@ for lname in "${!USER_MAP[@]}"; do
             _pc="${E_PCOUNT[$_si]:-0}"
             _tk="${E_TICKS[$_si]:-0}"
             _pf="${E_PLAYED[$_si]:-false}"
-            if [[ "$_e" -gt "$_auth_epoch" ]] || \
-               [[ "$_e" -eq "$_auth_epoch" && "$_pc" -gt "$_auth_pcount" ]] || \
-               [[ "$_e" -eq "$_auth_epoch" && "$_pc" -eq "$_auth_pcount" && "$_tk" -gt "$_auth_ticks" ]] || \
-               [[ "$_e" -eq "$_auth_epoch" && "$_pc" -eq "$_auth_pcount" && "$_tk" -eq "$_auth_ticks" && "$_pf" == "true" && "$_auth_pf" != "true" ]]; then
+            # Played=true is the primary key — a played server always beats a non-played server
+            # regardless of epoch. A resumable item with a newer LastPlayedDate must not become
+            # authority over a played item, as pushing resume ticks to a played server resets
+            # the played status on some Emby/Jellyfin versions.
+            if ( [[ "$_pf" == "true" ]] && [[ "$_auth_pf" != "true" ]] ) || \
+               ( [[ "$_pf" == "$_auth_pf" ]] && [[ "$_e" -gt "$_auth_epoch" ]] ) || \
+               ( [[ "$_pf" == "$_auth_pf" ]] && [[ "$_e" -eq "$_auth_epoch" ]] && [[ "$_pc" -gt "$_auth_pcount" ]] ) || \
+               ( [[ "$_pf" == "$_auth_pf" ]] && [[ "$_e" -eq "$_auth_epoch" ]] && [[ "$_pc" -eq "$_auth_pcount" ]] && [[ "$_tk" -gt "$_auth_ticks" ]] ); then
                 _auth_si="$_si"
                 _auth_epoch="$_e"
                 _auth_pcount="$_pc"
@@ -527,7 +531,13 @@ for lname in "${!USER_MAP[@]}"; do
                     (( TOTAL_ERRORS++ ))
                 fi
             else
-                # Sync resume position only
+                # Sync resume position only — never push ticks to a server that already
+                # has this item marked played. Writing ticks via UserData can reset Played=false.
+                if [[ "${E_PLAYED[$_si]:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
+                    log "  SKIP  $_pkey → ${SRV_NAME[$_si]} already played, not overwriting with resume ticks"
+                    (( TOTAL_SKIPPED++ ))
+                    continue
+                fi
                 _ticks_int=$(( ${_auth_ticks:-0} ))
                 if [[ "$_ticks_int" -gt 0 ]]; then
                     _payload="{\"PlaybackPositionTicks\":${_ticks_int}}"