diff --git a/SpotiFLAC.py b/SpotiFLAC.py
index 349f5a6..7e64ae8 100644
--- a/SpotiFLAC.py
+++ b/SpotiFLAC.py
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ class QobuzRegionComboBox(QComboBox):
 class SpotiFLACGUI(QWidget):
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
-        self.current_version = "2.8"
+        self.current_version = "2.9"
         self.tracks = []
         self.reset_state()
         
@@ -997,7 +997,7 @@ class SpotiFLACGUI(QWidget):
                 spacer = QSpacerItem(20, 6, QSizePolicy.Policy.Minimum, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed)
                 about_layout.addItem(spacer)
 
-        footer_label = QLabel("v2.8 | May 2025")
+        footer_label = QLabel("v2.9 | May 2025")
         footer_label.setStyleSheet("font-size: 12px; margin-top: 10px;")
         about_layout.addWidget(footer_label, alignment=Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
 
diff --git a/SquidWTF.py b/SquidWTF.py
index 49aa56b..2ac8a97 100644
--- a/SquidWTF.py
+++ b/SquidWTF.py
@@ -6,15 +6,48 @@ import os
 
 def _safe_print(*args, **kwargs):
     if sys.stdout:
-        print(*args, **kwargs)
+        try:
+            print(*args, **kwargs)
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            encoding = getattr(sys.stdout, 'encoding', None) or 'ascii'
+            
+            processed_args = []
+            for arg in args:
+                processed_args.append(str(arg).encode(encoding, 'replace').decode(encoding))
+            
+            processed_kwargs = {}
+            for k, v in kwargs.items():
+                if isinstance(v, str):
+                    processed_kwargs[k] = v.encode(encoding, 'replace').decode(encoding)
+                else:
+                    processed_kwargs[k] = v
+            try:
+                print(*processed_args, **processed_kwargs)
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        except Exception:
+            pass
 
 def _safe_stdout_write(data_to_write):
     if sys.stdout:
-        sys.stdout.write(data_to_write)
+        try:
+            sys.stdout.write(data_to_write)
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            encoding = getattr(sys.stdout, 'encoding', None) or 'ascii'
+            safe_data = data_to_write.encode(encoding, 'replace').decode(encoding)
+            try:
+                sys.stdout.write(safe_data)
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        except Exception:
+            pass
 
 def _safe_flush():
     if sys.stdout:
-        sys.stdout.flush()
+        try:
+            sys.stdout.flush()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
 
 def get_track_info(isrc, region="us"):
     _safe_print(f"Search: {isrc}")