diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5e2b837..e79715f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.49.9 - 2026-07-26
+
+- Changed the Config page `ani-cli` version probe to run with `ANI_CLI_PLAYER=download`, avoiding false missing-player failures on headless installs without `mpv` or `vlc`.
+- Added regression coverage for the player-safe `ani-cli --version` environment.
+
 ## 0.49.8 - 2026-07-21
 
 - Forced queued `ani-cli` attempts into explicit download-player mode with `ANI_CLI_PLAYER=download`, preventing headless Docker jobs from failing the upstream player check when `mpv` or `vlc` are not installed.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f190330..cd34936 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Local web UI for a system-wide `ani-cli` install.
 
-Current version: `0.49.8`
+Current version: `0.49.9`
 
 ## What it does
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ This endpoint is intentionally small so Homepage can map the returned values dir
 The Config page runtime panel shows:
 
 - `ani-cli-web` version loaded from `VERSION`
-- Installed `ani-cli` version
+- Installed `ani-cli` version, checked with download-player mode so headless installs do not need `mpv` or `vlc` for runtime info
 - Installed `anipy-cli` and `animdl` versions and dependency status
 - A `Changelog` button that opens a scrollable viewer backed by `CHANGELOG.md`
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 3174c45..f9ebf27 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.49.8
+0.49.9
diff --git a/http_handler.py b/http_handler.py
index 5371677..0214a66 100644
--- a/http_handler.py
+++ b/http_handler.py
@@ -239,6 +239,11 @@ def installed_ani_cli_version():
             [ANI_CLI, "--version"],
             check=True,
             capture_output=True,
+            env={
+                **os.environ.copy(),
+                "ANI_CLI_PLAYER": "download",
+                "TERM": os.environ.get("TERM", "xterm-256color"),
+            },
             text=True,
             timeout=6,
         )
diff --git a/test_app.py b/test_app.py
index d70343d..87b6d91 100644
--- a/test_app.py
+++ b/test_app.py
@@ -3319,6 +3319,23 @@ class HandlerRouteTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("anipy_cli_version", handler.json_payload)
         self.assertIn("animdl_version", handler.json_payload)
 
+    def test_ani_cli_version_probe_uses_download_player(self):
+        http_handler.installed_ani_cli_version.cache_clear()
+        calls = []
+
+        def fake_run(command, **kwargs):
+            calls.append((command, kwargs))
+            return mock.Mock(stdout="ani-cli 4.9.0\n", stderr="")
+
+        try:
+            with mock.patch.object(http_handler.subprocess, "run", side_effect=fake_run):
+                self.assertEqual(http_handler.installed_ani_cli_version(), "ani-cli 4.9.0")
+        finally:
+            http_handler.installed_ani_cli_version.cache_clear()
+
+        self.assertEqual(calls[0][0], [http_handler.ANI_CLI, "--version"])
+        self.assertEqual(calls[0][1]["env"]["ANI_CLI_PLAYER"], "download")
+
     def test_dependencies_route_reports_fallback_tool_status(self):
         handler = DummyHandler("/api/dependencies")
         APP.Handler.do_GET(handler)