diff --git a/DOCS/interface-changes.rst b/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
index 538439ec28..8d34fcf99e 100644
--- a/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
+++ b/DOCS/interface-changes.rst
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ Interface changes
     - add `--libplacebo-opts` option
     - change `--video-pan-x/y` to be relative to the destination rectangle
     - add `--audio-file-exts`, `--cover-art-auto-exts`, and `--sub-auto-exts`
+    - change `slang` default back to NULL
+    - remove special handling of the `auto` value from `--alang/slang/vlang` options
  --- mpv 0.36.0 ---
     - add `--target-contrast`
     - Target luminance value is now also applied when ICC profile is used.
diff --git a/DOCS/man/options.rst b/DOCS/man/options.rst
index 23692a672f..94d7bce6e8 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/options.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/options.rst
@@ -11,9 +11,6 @@ Track Selection
     A track that matches more subtags will be preferred over one that matches fewer,
     with preference given to earlier subtags over later ones. See also ``--aid``.
 
-    The special value "auto" can be included anywhere in the list,
-    and is equivalent to the user's OS-level list of preferred languages.
-
     This is a string list option. See `List Options`_ for details.
 
     .. admonition:: Examples
@@ -24,7 +21,7 @@ Track Selection
           audio.
 
 ``--slang=<languagecode[,languagecode,...]>``
-    Equivalent to ``--alang``, for subtitle tracks (default: auto).
+    Equivalent to ``--alang``, for subtitle tracks.
 
     This is a string list option. See `List Options`_ for details.
 
diff --git a/options/options.c b/options/options.c
index 7b9156a823..13fefd5f0d 100644
--- a/options/options.c
+++ b/options/options.c
@@ -1042,9 +1042,6 @@ static const struct MPOpts mp_default_opts = {
                    { [STREAM_AUDIO] = -2,
                      [STREAM_VIDEO] = -2,
                      [STREAM_SUB] = -2, }, },
-    .stream_lang = {
-        [STREAM_SUB] = (char *[]){ "auto", NULL },
-    },
     .stream_auto_sel = true,
     .subs_with_matching_audio = true,
     .subs_fallback = 1,
diff --git a/player/loadfile.c b/player/loadfile.c
index 84cef94639..a64a0733df 100644
--- a/player/loadfile.c
+++ b/player/loadfile.c
@@ -568,13 +568,8 @@ static char **process_langs(char **in)
     size_t nb = 0;
     char **out = NULL;
     for (int i = 0; in && in[i]; i++) {
-        if (!strcmp(in[i], "auto")) {
-            if (!add_auto_langs(&nb, &out))
-                break;
-        } else {
-            if (!append_lang(&nb, &out, talloc_strdup(NULL, in[i])))
-                break;
-        }
+        if (!append_lang(&nb, &out, talloc_strdup(NULL, in[i])))
+            break;
     }
     return out;
 }