diff --git a/beets/dbcore/query.py b/beets/dbcore/query.py
index 7d9f0cee7..ae8e0ddf6 100644
--- a/beets/dbcore/query.py
+++ b/beets/dbcore/query.py
@@ -411,39 +411,6 @@ class BooleanQuery(MatchQuery[int]):
         super().__init__(field_name, pattern_int, fast)
 
 
-class BytesQuery(FieldQuery[bytes]):
-    """Match a raw bytes field (i.e., a path). This is a necessary hack
-    to work around the `sqlite3` module's desire to treat `bytes` and
-    `unicode` equivalently in Python 2. Always use this query instead of
-    `MatchQuery` when matching on BLOB values.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, field_name: str, pattern: bytes | str | memoryview):
-        # Use a buffer/memoryview representation of the pattern for SQLite
-        # matching. This instructs SQLite to treat the blob as binary
-        # rather than encoded Unicode.
-        if isinstance(pattern, (str, bytes)):
-            if isinstance(pattern, str):
-                bytes_pattern = pattern.encode("utf-8")
-            else:
-                bytes_pattern = pattern
-            self.buf_pattern = memoryview(bytes_pattern)
-        elif isinstance(pattern, memoryview):
-            self.buf_pattern = pattern
-            bytes_pattern = bytes(pattern)
-        else:
-            raise ValueError("pattern must be bytes, str, or memoryview")
-
-        super().__init__(field_name, bytes_pattern)
-
-    def col_clause(self) -> tuple[str, Sequence[SQLiteType]]:
-        return self.field + " = ?", [self.buf_pattern]
-
-    @classmethod
-    def value_match(cls, pattern: bytes, value: Any) -> bool:
-        return pattern == value
-
-
 class NumericQuery(FieldQuery[str]):
     """Matches numeric fields. A syntax using Ruby-style range ellipses
     (``..``) lets users specify one- or two-sided ranges. For example,
diff --git a/beets/importer/tasks.py b/beets/importer/tasks.py
index 75f04cf5a..441224b6b 100644
--- a/beets/importer/tasks.py
+++ b/beets/importer/tasks.py
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Iterable, Sequence
 
 import mediafile
 
-from beets import autotag, config, dbcore, library, plugins, util
+from beets import autotag, config, library, plugins, util
+from beets.dbcore.query import PathQuery
 
 from .state import ImportState
 
@@ -520,9 +521,7 @@ class ImportTask(BaseImportTask):
         )
         replaced_album_ids = set()
         for item in self.imported_items():
-            dup_items = list(
-                lib.items(query=dbcore.query.BytesQuery("path", item.path))
-            )
+            dup_items = list(lib.items(query=PathQuery("path", item.path)))
             self.replaced_items[item] = dup_items
             for dup_item in dup_items:
                 if (
diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index b7033e41b..74dee550c 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -104,30 +104,15 @@ def _stream_encoding(stream, default="utf-8"):
     return stream.encoding or default
 
 
-def decargs(arglist):
-    """Given a list of command-line argument bytestrings, attempts to
-    decode them to Unicode strings when running under Python 2.
-    """
-    return arglist
-
-
-def print_(*strings, **kwargs):
+def print_(*strings: str, end: str = "\n") -> None:
     """Like print, but rather than raising an error when a character
     is not in the terminal's encoding's character set, just silently
     replaces it.
 
-    The arguments must be Unicode strings: `unicode` on Python 2; `str` on
-    Python 3.
-
     The `end` keyword argument behaves similarly to the built-in `print`
     (it defaults to a newline).
     """
-    if not strings:
-        strings = [""]
-    assert isinstance(strings[0], str)
-
-    txt = " ".join(strings)
-    txt += kwargs.get("end", "\n")
+    txt = " ".join(strings or ("",)) + end
 
     # Encode the string and write it to stdout.
     # On Python 3, sys.stdout expects text strings and uses the
@@ -1308,14 +1293,9 @@ class CommonOptionsParser(optparse.OptionParser):
             setattr(parser.values, option.dest, True)
 
         # Use the explicitly specified format, or the string from the option.
-        if fmt:
-            value = fmt
-        elif value:
-            (value,) = decargs([value])
-        else:
-            value = ""
-
+        value = fmt or value or ""
         parser.values.format = value
+
         if target:
             config[target._format_config_key].set(value)
         else:
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index 3117262f1..25af95646 100755
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import beets
 from beets import autotag, config, importer, library, logging, plugins, ui, util
 from beets.autotag import Recommendation, hooks
 from beets.ui import (
-    decargs,
     input_,
     print_,
     print_column_layout,
@@ -1303,7 +1302,7 @@ class TerminalImportSession(importer.ImportSession):
 # The import command.
 
 
-def import_files(lib, paths, query):
+def import_files(lib, paths: list[bytes], query):
     """Import the files in the given list of paths or matching the
     query.
     """
@@ -1334,7 +1333,7 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, query):
     plugins.send("import", lib=lib, paths=paths)
 
 
-def import_func(lib, opts, args):
+def import_func(lib, opts, args: list[str]):
     config["import"].set_args(opts)
 
     # Special case: --copy flag suppresses import_move (which would
@@ -1343,7 +1342,7 @@ def import_func(lib, opts, args):
         config["import"]["move"] = False
 
     if opts.library:
-        query = decargs(args)
+        query = args
         paths = []
     else:
         query = None
@@ -1356,15 +1355,11 @@ def import_func(lib, opts, args):
         if not paths and not paths_from_logfiles:
             raise ui.UserError("no path specified")
 
-        # On Python 2, we used to get filenames as raw bytes, which is
-        # what we need. On Python 3, we need to undo the "helpful"
-        # conversion to Unicode strings to get the real bytestring
-        # filename.
-        paths = [os.fsencode(p) for p in paths]
+        byte_paths = [os.fsencode(p) for p in paths]
         paths_from_logfiles = [os.fsencode(p) for p in paths_from_logfiles]
 
         # Check the user-specified directories.
-        for path in paths:
+        for path in byte_paths:
             if not os.path.exists(syspath(normpath(path))):
                 raise ui.UserError(
                     "no such file or directory: {}".format(
@@ -1385,14 +1380,14 @@ def import_func(lib, opts, args):
                 )
                 continue
 
-            paths.append(path)
+            byte_paths.append(path)
 
         # If all paths were read from a logfile, and none of them exist, throw
         # an error
         if not paths:
             raise ui.UserError("none of the paths are importable")
 
-    import_files(lib, paths, query)
+    import_files(lib, byte_paths, query)
 
 
 import_cmd = ui.Subcommand(
@@ -1596,7 +1591,7 @@ def list_items(lib, query, album, fmt=""):
 
 
 def list_func(lib, opts, args):
-    list_items(lib, decargs(args), opts.album)
+    list_items(lib, args, opts.album)
 
 
 list_cmd = ui.Subcommand("list", help="query the library", aliases=("ls",))
@@ -1739,7 +1734,7 @@ def update_func(lib, opts, args):
             return
     update_items(
         lib,
-        decargs(args),
+        args,
         opts.album,
         ui.should_move(opts.move),
         opts.pretend,
@@ -1861,7 +1856,7 @@ def remove_items(lib, query, album, delete, force):
 
 
 def remove_func(lib, opts, args):
-    remove_items(lib, decargs(args), opts.album, opts.delete, opts.force)
+    remove_items(lib, args, opts.album, opts.delete, opts.force)
 
 
 remove_cmd = ui.Subcommand(
@@ -1931,7 +1926,7 @@ Album artists: {}""".format(
 
 
 def stats_func(lib, opts, args):
-    show_stats(lib, decargs(args), opts.exact)
+    show_stats(lib, args, opts.exact)
 
 
 stats_cmd = ui.Subcommand(
@@ -2059,7 +2054,7 @@ def modify_parse_args(args):
 
 
 def modify_func(lib, opts, args):
-    query, mods, dels = modify_parse_args(decargs(args))
+    query, mods, dels = modify_parse_args(args)
     if not mods and not dels:
         raise ui.UserError("no modifications specified")
     modify_items(
@@ -2217,7 +2212,7 @@ def move_func(lib, opts, args):
     move_items(
         lib,
         dest,
-        decargs(args),
+        args,
         opts.copy,
         opts.album,
         opts.pretend,
@@ -2298,7 +2293,7 @@ def write_items(lib, query, pretend, force):
 
 
 def write_func(lib, opts, args):
-    write_items(lib, decargs(args), opts.pretend, opts.force)
+    write_items(lib, args, opts.pretend, opts.force)
 
 
 write_cmd = ui.Subcommand("write", help="write tag information to files")
diff --git a/beets/util/__init__.py b/beets/util/__init__.py
index c1c76c860..00c9ce05d 100644
--- a/beets/util/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/util/__init__.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import sys
 import tempfile
 import traceback
 from collections import Counter
+from collections.abc import Sequence
 from contextlib import suppress
 from enum import Enum
 from functools import cache
@@ -41,7 +42,6 @@ from typing import (
     AnyStr,
     Callable,
     Generic,
-    Iterable,
     NamedTuple,
     TypeVar,
     Union,
@@ -53,23 +53,17 @@ import beets
 from beets.util import hidden
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from collections.abc import Iterator, Sequence
+    from collections.abc import Iterable, Iterator
     from logging import Logger
 
     from beets.library import Item
 
-if sys.version_info >= (3, 10):
-    from typing import TypeAlias
-else:
-    from typing_extensions import TypeAlias
-
 
 MAX_FILENAME_LENGTH = 200
 WINDOWS_MAGIC_PREFIX = "\\\\?\\"
 T = TypeVar("T")
-BytesOrStr = Union[str, bytes]
-PathLike = Union[BytesOrStr, Path]
-Replacements: TypeAlias = "Sequence[tuple[Pattern[str], str]]"
+PathLike = Union[str, bytes, Path]
+Replacements = Sequence[tuple[Pattern[str], str]]
 
 # Here for now to allow for a easy replace later on
 # once we can move to a PathLike (mainly used in importer)
@@ -860,7 +854,9 @@ class CommandOutput(NamedTuple):
     stderr: bytes
 
 
-def command_output(cmd: list[BytesOrStr], shell: bool = False) -> CommandOutput:
+def command_output(
+    cmd: list[str] | list[bytes], shell: bool = False
+) -> CommandOutput:
     """Runs the command and returns its output after it has exited.
 
     Returns a CommandOutput. The attributes ``stdout`` and ``stderr`` contain
@@ -878,8 +874,6 @@ def command_output(cmd: list[BytesOrStr], shell: bool = False) -> CommandOutput:
     This replaces `subprocess.check_output` which can have problems if lots of
     output is sent to stderr.
     """
-    converted_cmd = [os.fsdecode(a) for a in cmd]
-
     devnull = subprocess.DEVNULL
 
     proc = subprocess.Popen(
@@ -894,7 +888,7 @@ def command_output(cmd: list[BytesOrStr], shell: bool = False) -> CommandOutput:
     if proc.returncode:
         raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(
             returncode=proc.returncode,
-            cmd=" ".join(converted_cmd),
+            cmd=" ".join(map(os.fsdecode, cmd)),
             output=stdout + stderr,
         )
     return CommandOutput(stdout, stderr)
diff --git a/beets/util/artresizer.py b/beets/util/artresizer.py
index 33b98c413..fe67c506e 100644
--- a/beets/util/artresizer.py
+++ b/beets/util/artresizer.py
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@ class IMBackend(LocalBackend):
         else:
             return cls._version
 
-    convert_cmd: list[str | bytes]
-    identify_cmd: list[str | bytes]
-    compare_cmd: list[str | bytes]
+    convert_cmd: list[str]
+    identify_cmd: list[str]
+    compare_cmd: list[str]
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         """Initialize a wrapper around ImageMagick for local image operations.
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ class IMBackend(LocalBackend):
         # with regards to the height.
         # ImageMagick already seems to default to no interlace, but we include
         # it here for the sake of explicitness.
-        cmd: list[str | bytes] = self.convert_cmd + [
+        cmd: list[str] = self.convert_cmd + [
             syspath(path_in, prefix=False),
             "-resize",
             f"{maxwidth}x>",
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ class IMBackend(LocalBackend):
         return path_out
 
     def get_size(self, path_in: bytes) -> tuple[int, int] | None:
-        cmd: list[str | bytes] = self.identify_cmd + [
+        cmd: list[str] = self.identify_cmd + [
             "-format",
             "%w %h",
             syspath(path_in, prefix=False),
@@ -480,10 +480,11 @@ class IMBackend(LocalBackend):
         return True
 
     def write_metadata(self, file: bytes, metadata: Mapping[str, str]) -> None:
-        assignments = list(
-            chain.from_iterable(("-set", k, v) for k, v in metadata.items())
+        assignments = chain.from_iterable(
+            ("-set", k, v) for k, v in metadata.items()
         )
-        command = self.convert_cmd + [file, *assignments, file]
+        str_file = os.fsdecode(file)
+        command = self.convert_cmd + [str_file, *assignments, str_file]
 
         util.command_output(command)
 
diff --git a/beetsplug/absubmit.py b/beetsplug/absubmit.py
index 3c48f8897..3d3227ed2 100644
--- a/beetsplug/absubmit.py
+++ b/beetsplug/absubmit.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ only files which would be processed",
             )
         else:
             # Get items from arguments
-            items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+            items = lib.items(args)
             self.opts = opts
             util.par_map(self.analyze_submit, items)
 
diff --git a/beetsplug/acousticbrainz.py b/beetsplug/acousticbrainz.py
index 714751ac9..56ac0f6c5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/acousticbrainz.py
+++ b/beetsplug/acousticbrainz.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class AcousticPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def func(lib, opts, args):
-            items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+            items = lib.items(args)
             self._fetch_info(
                 items,
                 ui.should_write(),
diff --git a/beetsplug/badfiles.py b/beetsplug/badfiles.py
index 0903ebabf..0511d960d 100644
--- a/beetsplug/badfiles.py
+++ b/beetsplug/badfiles.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class BadFiles(BeetsPlugin):
 
     def command(self, lib, opts, args):
         # Get items from arguments
-        items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+        items = lib.items(args)
         self.verbose = opts.verbose
 
         def check_and_print(item):
diff --git a/beetsplug/bareasc.py b/beetsplug/bareasc.py
index 3a52c41dd..d2852bb1d 100644
--- a/beetsplug/bareasc.py
+++ b/beetsplug/bareasc.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from unidecode import unidecode
 from beets import ui
 from beets.dbcore.query import StringFieldQuery
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import decargs, print_
+from beets.ui import print_
 
 
 class BareascQuery(StringFieldQuery[str]):
@@ -83,14 +83,13 @@ class BareascPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
 
     def unidecode_list(self, lib, opts, args):
         """Emulate normal 'list' command but with unidecode output."""
-        query = decargs(args)
         album = opts.album
         # Copied from commands.py - list_items
         if album:
-            for album in lib.albums(query):
+            for album in lib.albums(args):
                 bare = unidecode(str(album))
                 print_(bare)
         else:
-            for item in lib.items(query):
+            for item in lib.items(args):
                 bare = unidecode(str(item))
                 print_(bare)
diff --git a/beetsplug/bench.py b/beetsplug/bench.py
index 62d512ce7..cf72527e8 100644
--- a/beetsplug/bench.py
+++ b/beetsplug/bench.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class BenchmarkPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             "-i", "--id", default=None, help="album ID to match against"
         )
         match_bench_cmd.func = lambda lib, opts, args: match_benchmark(
-            lib, opts.profile, ui.decargs(args), opts.id
+            lib, opts.profile, args, opts.id
         )
 
         return [aunique_bench_cmd, match_bench_cmd]
diff --git a/beetsplug/bpm.py b/beetsplug/bpm.py
index 946769cdc..145986a95 100644
--- a/beetsplug/bpm.py
+++ b/beetsplug/bpm.py
@@ -63,9 +63,8 @@ class BPMPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         return [cmd]
 
     def command(self, lib, opts, args):
-        items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
         write = ui.should_write()
-        self.get_bpm(items, write)
+        self.get_bpm(lib.items(args), write)
 
     def get_bpm(self, items, write=False):
         overwrite = self.config["overwrite"].get(bool)
diff --git a/beetsplug/bpsync.py b/beetsplug/bpsync.py
index 05be94c99..ccd781b28 100644
--- a/beetsplug/bpsync.py
+++ b/beetsplug/bpsync.py
@@ -65,10 +65,9 @@ class BPSyncPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         move = ui.should_move(opts.move)
         pretend = opts.pretend
         write = ui.should_write(opts.write)
-        query = ui.decargs(args)
 
-        self.singletons(lib, query, move, pretend, write)
-        self.albums(lib, query, move, pretend, write)
+        self.singletons(lib, args, move, pretend, write)
+        self.albums(lib, args, move, pretend, write)
 
     def singletons(self, lib, query, move, pretend, write):
         """Retrieve and apply info from the autotagger for items matched by
diff --git a/beetsplug/chroma.py b/beetsplug/chroma.py
index 5c718154b..de3ac525a 100644
--- a/beetsplug/chroma.py
+++ b/beetsplug/chroma.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class AcoustidPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
                 apikey = config["acoustid"]["apikey"].as_str()
             except confuse.NotFoundError:
                 raise ui.UserError("no Acoustid user API key provided")
-            submit_items(self._log, apikey, lib.items(ui.decargs(args)))
+            submit_items(self._log, apikey, lib.items(args))
 
         submit_cmd.func = submit_cmd_func
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ class AcoustidPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def fingerprint_cmd_func(lib, opts, args):
-            for item in lib.items(ui.decargs(args)):
+            for item in lib.items(args):
                 fingerprint_item(self._log, item, write=ui.should_write())
 
         fingerprint_cmd.func = fingerprint_cmd_func
diff --git a/beetsplug/convert.py b/beetsplug/convert.py
index 7586c2a1b..c4df9ab57 100644
--- a/beetsplug/convert.py
+++ b/beetsplug/convert.py
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ class ConvertPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             encode_cmd.append(os.fsdecode(args[i]))
 
         if pretend:
-            self._log.info("{0}", " ".join(ui.decargs(args)))
+            self._log.info("{0}", " ".join(args))
             return
 
         try:
@@ -323,9 +323,7 @@ class ConvertPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             raise
         except OSError as exc:
             raise ui.UserError(
-                "convert: couldn't invoke '{}': {}".format(
-                    " ".join(ui.decargs(args)), exc
-                )
+                "convert: couldn't invoke '{}': {}".format(" ".join(args), exc)
             )
 
         if not quiet and not pretend:
@@ -579,13 +577,13 @@ class ConvertPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         ) = self._get_opts_and_config(opts)
 
         if opts.album:
-            albums = lib.albums(ui.decargs(args))
+            albums = lib.albums(args)
             items = [i for a in albums for i in a.items()]
             if not pretend:
                 for a in albums:
                     ui.print_(format(a, ""))
         else:
-            items = list(lib.items(ui.decargs(args)))
+            items = list(lib.items(args))
             if not pretend:
                 for i in items:
                     ui.print_(format(i, ""))
diff --git a/beetsplug/deezer.py b/beetsplug/deezer.py
index c9703c4dd..7e4896437 100644
--- a/beetsplug/deezer.py
+++ b/beetsplug/deezer.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class DeezerPlugin(MetadataSourcePlugin[Response], BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def func(lib: Library, opts, args):
-            items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+            items = lib.items(args)
             self.deezerupdate(list(items), ui.should_write())
 
         deezer_update_cmd.func = func
diff --git a/beetsplug/duplicates.py b/beetsplug/duplicates.py
index 5a2be0cd2..ea7abaaff 100644
--- a/beetsplug/duplicates.py
+++ b/beetsplug/duplicates.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import shlex
 
 from beets.library import Album, Item
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import Subcommand, UserError, decargs, print_
+from beets.ui import Subcommand, UserError, print_
 from beets.util import (
     MoveOperation,
     bytestring_path,
@@ -163,11 +163,11 @@ class DuplicatesPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             if album:
                 if not keys:
                     keys = ["mb_albumid"]
-                items = lib.albums(decargs(args))
+                items = lib.albums(args)
             else:
                 if not keys:
                     keys = ["mb_trackid", "mb_albumid"]
-                items = lib.items(decargs(args))
+                items = lib.items(args)
 
             # If there's nothing to do, return early. The code below assumes
             # `items` to be non-empty.
diff --git a/beetsplug/edit.py b/beetsplug/edit.py
index b92c48839..52387c314 100644
--- a/beetsplug/edit.py
+++ b/beetsplug/edit.py
@@ -180,8 +180,7 @@ class EditPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
     def _edit_command(self, lib, opts, args):
         """The CLI command function for the `beet edit` command."""
         # Get the objects to edit.
-        query = ui.decargs(args)
-        items, albums = _do_query(lib, query, opts.album, False)
+        items, albums = _do_query(lib, args, opts.album, False)
         objs = albums if opts.album else items
         if not objs:
             ui.print_("Nothing to edit.")
diff --git a/beetsplug/embedart.py b/beetsplug/embedart.py
index 2a4e06a93..8df3c3c05 100644
--- a/beetsplug/embedart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/embedart.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import requests
 
 from beets import art, config, ui
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import decargs, print_
+from beets.ui import print_
 from beets.util import bytestring_path, displayable_path, normpath, syspath
 from beets.util.artresizer import ArtResizer
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                         )
                     )
 
-                items = lib.items(decargs(args))
+                items = lib.items(args)
 
                 # Confirm with user.
                 if not opts.yes and not _confirm(items, not opts.file):
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 except Exception as e:
                     self._log.error("Unable to save image: {}".format(e))
                     return
-                items = lib.items(decargs(args))
+                items = lib.items(args)
                 # Confirm with user.
                 if not opts.yes and not _confirm(items, not opts.url):
                     os.remove(tempimg)
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                     )
                 os.remove(tempimg)
             else:
-                albums = lib.albums(decargs(args))
+                albums = lib.albums(args)
                 # Confirm with user.
                 if not opts.yes and not _confirm(albums, not opts.file):
                     return
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         def extract_func(lib, opts, args):
             if opts.outpath:
                 art.extract_first(
-                    self._log, normpath(opts.outpath), lib.items(decargs(args))
+                    self._log, normpath(opts.outpath), lib.items(args)
                 )
             else:
                 filename = bytestring_path(
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                         "Only specify a name rather than a path for -n"
                     )
                     return
-                for album in lib.albums(decargs(args)):
+                for album in lib.albums(args):
                     artpath = normpath(os.path.join(album.path, filename))
                     artpath = art.extract_first(
                         self._log, artpath, album.items()
@@ -244,11 +244,11 @@ class EmbedCoverArtPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def clear_func(lib, opts, args):
-            items = lib.items(decargs(args))
+            items = lib.items(args)
             # Confirm with user.
             if not opts.yes and not _confirm(items, False):
                 return
-            art.clear(self._log, lib, decargs(args))
+            art.clear(self._log, lib, args)
 
         clear_cmd.func = clear_func
 
diff --git a/beetsplug/export.py b/beetsplug/export.py
index 9b8ad3580..05ca3f24a 100644
--- a/beetsplug/export.py
+++ b/beetsplug/export.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class ExportPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         items = []
         for data_emitter in data_collector(
             lib,
-            ui.decargs(args),
+            args,
             album=opts.album,
         ):
             try:
diff --git a/beetsplug/fetchart.py b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
index b442633da..e1ec5aa09 100644
--- a/beetsplug/fetchart.py
+++ b/beetsplug/fetchart.py
@@ -1503,9 +1503,7 @@ class FetchArtPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin, RequestMixin):
         )
 
         def func(lib: Library, opts, args) -> None:
-            self.batch_fetch_art(
-                lib, lib.albums(ui.decargs(args)), opts.force, opts.quiet
-            )
+            self.batch_fetch_art(lib, lib.albums(args), opts.force, opts.quiet)
 
         cmd.func = func
         return [cmd]
diff --git a/beetsplug/ftintitle.py b/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
index a85aa9719..150f230aa 100644
--- a/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
+++ b/beetsplug/ftintitle.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class FtInTitlePlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
             keep_in_artist_field = self.config["keep_in_artist"].get(bool)
             write = ui.should_write()
 
-            for item in lib.items(ui.decargs(args)):
+            for item in lib.items(args):
                 if self.ft_in_title(item, drop_feat, keep_in_artist_field):
                     item.store()
                     if write:
diff --git a/beetsplug/hook.py b/beetsplug/hook.py
index 5ce5ef828..90d66553a 100644
--- a/beetsplug/hook.py
+++ b/beetsplug/hook.py
@@ -14,27 +14,21 @@
 
 """Allows custom commands to be run when an event is emitted by beets"""
 
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
 import shlex
 import string
 import subprocess
-import sys
+from typing import Any
 
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
 
 
-class CodingFormatter(string.Formatter):
-    """A variant of `string.Formatter` that converts everything to `unicode`
-    strings.
+class BytesToStrFormatter(string.Formatter):
+    """A variant of `string.Formatter` that converts `bytes` to `str`."""
 
-    This was necessary on Python 2, in needs to be kept for backwards
-    compatibility.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, coding):
-        """Creates a new coding formatter with the provided coding."""
-        self._coding = coding
-
-    def convert_field(self, value, conversion):
+    def convert_field(self, value: Any, conversion: str | None) -> Any:
         """Converts the provided value given a conversion type.
 
         This method decodes the converted value using the formatter's coding.
@@ -42,7 +36,7 @@ class CodingFormatter(string.Formatter):
         converted = super().convert_field(value, conversion)
 
         if isinstance(converted, bytes):
-            return converted.decode(self._coding)
+            return os.fsdecode(converted)
 
         return converted
 
@@ -72,8 +66,8 @@ class HookPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 return
 
             # For backwards compatibility, use a string formatter that decodes
-            # bytes (in particular, paths) to unicode strings.
-            formatter = CodingFormatter(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+            # bytes (in particular, paths) to strings.
+            formatter = BytesToStrFormatter()
             command_pieces = [
                 formatter.format(piece, event=event, **kwargs)
                 for piece in shlex.split(command)
diff --git a/beetsplug/info.py b/beetsplug/info.py
index d759d6066..c4d5aacbf 100644
--- a/beetsplug/info.py
+++ b/beetsplug/info.py
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class InfoPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         summary = {}
         for data_emitter in data_collector(
             lib,
-            ui.decargs(args),
+            args,
             album=opts.album,
         ):
             try:
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class InfoPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 if opts.keys_only:
                     print_data_keys(data, item)
                 else:
-                    fmt = ui.decargs([opts.format])[0] if opts.format else None
+                    fmt = [opts.format][0] if opts.format else None
                     print_data(data, item, fmt)
                 first = False
 
diff --git a/beetsplug/ipfs.py b/beetsplug/ipfs.py
index 1c8c89aa9..3c6425c06 100644
--- a/beetsplug/ipfs.py
+++ b/beetsplug/ipfs.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class IPFSPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
 
         def func(lib, opts, args):
             if opts.add:
-                for album in lib.albums(ui.decargs(args)):
+                for album in lib.albums(args):
                     if len(album.items()) == 0:
                         self._log.info(
                             "{0} does not contain items, aborting", album
@@ -84,19 +84,19 @@ class IPFSPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                     album.store()
 
             if opts.get:
-                self.ipfs_get(lib, ui.decargs(args))
+                self.ipfs_get(lib, args)
 
             if opts.publish:
                 self.ipfs_publish(lib)
 
             if opts._import:
-                self.ipfs_import(lib, ui.decargs(args))
+                self.ipfs_import(lib, args)
 
             if opts._list:
-                self.ipfs_list(lib, ui.decargs(args))
+                self.ipfs_list(lib, args)
 
             if opts.play:
-                self.ipfs_play(lib, opts, ui.decargs(args))
+                self.ipfs_play(lib, opts, args)
 
         cmd.func = func
         return [cmd]
diff --git a/beetsplug/keyfinder.py b/beetsplug/keyfinder.py
index 87f0cc427..00b688d4f 100644
--- a/beetsplug/keyfinder.py
+++ b/beetsplug/keyfinder.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class KeyFinderPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         return [cmd]
 
     def command(self, lib, opts, args):
-        self.find_key(lib.items(ui.decargs(args)), write=ui.should_write())
+        self.find_key(lib.items(args), write=ui.should_write())
 
     def imported(self, session, task):
         self.find_key(task.imported_items())
diff --git a/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py b/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py
index 30b44e187..b67f1fae2 100644
--- a/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py
+++ b/beetsplug/lastgenre/__init__.py
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ class LastGenrePlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
 
             if opts.album:
                 # Fetch genres for whole albums
-                for album in lib.albums(ui.decargs(args)):
+                for album in lib.albums(args):
                     album.genre, src = self._get_genre(album)
                     self._log.info(
                         'genre for album "{0.album}" ({1}): {0.genre}',
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ class LastGenrePlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
             else:
                 # Just query singletons, i.e. items that are not part of
                 # an album
-                for item in lib.items(ui.decargs(args)):
+                for item in lib.items(args):
                     item.genre, src = self._get_genre(item)
                     item.store()
                     self._log.info(
diff --git a/beetsplug/limit.py b/beetsplug/limit.py
index 0a13a78aa..aae99a717 100644
--- a/beetsplug/limit.py
+++ b/beetsplug/limit.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from itertools import islice
 
 from beets.dbcore import FieldQuery
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import Subcommand, decargs, print_
+from beets.ui import Subcommand, print_
 
 
 def lslimit(lib, opts, args):
@@ -36,11 +36,10 @@ def lslimit(lib, opts, args):
     if (opts.head or opts.tail or 0) < 0:
         raise ValueError("Limit value must be non-negative")
 
-    query = decargs(args)
     if opts.album:
-        objs = lib.albums(query)
+        objs = lib.albums(args)
     else:
-        objs = lib.items(query)
+        objs = lib.items(args)
 
     if opts.head is not None:
         objs = islice(objs, opts.head)
diff --git a/beetsplug/mbsubmit.py b/beetsplug/mbsubmit.py
index d215e616c..e23c0d610 100644
--- a/beetsplug/mbsubmit.py
+++ b/beetsplug/mbsubmit.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class MBSubmitPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def func(lib, opts, args):
-            items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+            items = lib.items(args)
             self._mbsubmit(items)
 
         mbsubmit_cmd.func = func
diff --git a/beetsplug/mbsync.py b/beetsplug/mbsync.py
index 94870232c..d38b25e9f 100644
--- a/beetsplug/mbsync.py
+++ b/beetsplug/mbsync.py
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ class MBSyncPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         move = ui.should_move(opts.move)
         pretend = opts.pretend
         write = ui.should_write(opts.write)
-        query = ui.decargs(args)
 
-        self.singletons(lib, query, move, pretend, write)
-        self.albums(lib, query, move, pretend, write)
+        self.singletons(lib, args, move, pretend, write)
+        self.albums(lib, args, move, pretend, write)
 
     def singletons(self, lib, query, move, pretend, write):
         """Retrieve and apply info from the autotagger for items matched by
diff --git a/beetsplug/metasync/__init__.py b/beetsplug/metasync/__init__.py
index 2466efe54..f99e820b5 100644
--- a/beetsplug/metasync/__init__.py
+++ b/beetsplug/metasync/__init__.py
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ class MetaSyncPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     def func(self, lib, opts, args):
         """Command handler for the metasync function."""
         pretend = opts.pretend
-        query = ui.decargs(args)
 
         sources = []
         for source in opts.sources:
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ class MetaSyncPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         sources = sources or self.config["source"].as_str_seq()
 
         meta_source_instances = {}
-        items = lib.items(query)
+        items = lib.items(args)
 
         # Avoid needlessly instantiating meta sources (can be expensive)
         if not items:
diff --git a/beetsplug/missing.py b/beetsplug/missing.py
index c4bbb83fd..8c328e647 100644
--- a/beetsplug/missing.py
+++ b/beetsplug/missing.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from beets import config, plugins
 from beets.dbcore import types
 from beets.library import Album, Item, Library
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import Subcommand, decargs, print_
+from beets.ui import Subcommand, print_
 
 MB_ARTIST_QUERY = r"mb_albumartistid::^\w{8}-\w{4}-\w{4}-\w{4}-\w{12}$"
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class MissingPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             albms = self.config["album"].get()
 
             helper = self._missing_albums if albms else self._missing_tracks
-            helper(lib, decargs(args))
+            helper(lib, args)
 
         self._command.func = _miss
         return [self._command]
diff --git a/beetsplug/parentwork.py b/beetsplug/parentwork.py
index 463a455f5..ab2d39b2b 100644
--- a/beetsplug/parentwork.py
+++ b/beetsplug/parentwork.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class ParentWorkPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             force_parent = self.config["force"].get(bool)
             write = ui.should_write()
 
-            for item in lib.items(ui.decargs(args)):
+            for item in lib.items(args):
                 changed = self.find_work(item, force_parent, verbose=True)
                 if changed:
                     item.store()
diff --git a/beetsplug/play.py b/beetsplug/play.py
index ddebd7d41..3e7ba0a9e 100644
--- a/beetsplug/play.py
+++ b/beetsplug/play.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class PlayPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         # Perform search by album and add folders rather than tracks to
         # playlist.
         if opts.album:
-            selection = lib.albums(ui.decargs(args))
+            selection = lib.albums(args)
             paths = []
 
             sort = lib.get_default_album_sort()
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class PlayPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
 
         # Perform item query and add tracks to playlist.
         else:
-            selection = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+            selection = lib.items(args)
             paths = [item.path for item in selection]
             item_type = "track"
 
diff --git a/beetsplug/random.py b/beetsplug/random.py
index 05f2cdf77..c791af414 100644
--- a/beetsplug/random.py
+++ b/beetsplug/random.py
@@ -16,17 +16,16 @@
 
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
 from beets.random import random_objs
-from beets.ui import Subcommand, decargs, print_
+from beets.ui import Subcommand, print_
 
 
 def random_func(lib, opts, args):
     """Select some random items or albums and print the results."""
     # Fetch all the objects matching the query into a list.
-    query = decargs(args)
     if opts.album:
-        objs = list(lib.albums(query))
+        objs = list(lib.albums(args))
     else:
-        objs = list(lib.items(query))
+        objs = list(lib.items(args))
 
     # Print a random subset.
     objs = random_objs(
diff --git a/beetsplug/replaygain.py b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
index 3aad8cd89..00b651d99 100644
--- a/beetsplug/replaygain.py
+++ b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class FatalGstreamerPluginReplayGainError(FatalReplayGainError):
     loading the required plugins."""
 
 
-def call(args: list[Any], log: Logger, **kwargs: Any):
+def call(args: list[str], log: Logger, **kwargs: Any):
     """Execute the command and return its output or raise a
     ReplayGainError on failure.
     """
@@ -73,11 +73,6 @@ def call(args: list[Any], log: Logger, **kwargs: Any):
         raise ReplayGainError(
             "{} exited with status {}".format(args[0], e.returncode)
         )
-    except UnicodeEncodeError:
-        # Due to a bug in Python 2's subprocess on Windows, Unicode
-        # filenames can fail to encode on that platform. See:
-        # https://github.com/google-code-export/beets/issues/499
-        raise ReplayGainError("argument encoding failed")
 
 
 def db_to_lufs(db: float) -> float:
@@ -403,20 +398,18 @@ class FfmpegBackend(Backend):
 
     def _construct_cmd(
         self, item: Item, peak_method: PeakMethod | None
-    ) -> list[str | bytes]:
+    ) -> list[str]:
         """Construct the shell command to analyse items."""
         return [
             self._ffmpeg_path,
             "-nostats",
             "-hide_banner",
             "-i",
-            item.path,
+            str(item.filepath),
             "-map",
             "a:0",
             "-filter",
-            "ebur128=peak={}".format(
-                "none" if peak_method is None else peak_method.name
-            ),
+            f"ebur128=peak={'none' if peak_method is None else peak_method.name}",
             "-f",
             "null",
             "-",
@@ -660,7 +653,7 @@ class CommandBackend(Backend):
         # tag-writing; this turns the mp3gain/aacgain tool into a gain
         # calculator rather than a tag manipulator because we take care
         # of changing tags ourselves.
-        cmd: list[bytes | str] = [self.command, "-o", "-s", "s"]
+        cmd: list[str] = [self.command, "-o", "-s", "s"]
         if self.noclip:
             # Adjust to avoid clipping.
             cmd = cmd + ["-k"]
@@ -1039,7 +1032,7 @@ class AudioToolsBackend(Backend):
                 os.fsdecode(syspath(item.path))
             )
         except OSError:
-            raise ReplayGainError(f"File {item.path} was not found")
+            raise ReplayGainError(f"File {item.filepath} was not found")
         except self._mod_audiotools.UnsupportedFile:
             raise ReplayGainError(f"Unsupported file type {item.format}")
 
@@ -1530,7 +1523,7 @@ class ReplayGainPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 self.open_pool(threads)
 
             if opts.album:
-                albums = lib.albums(ui.decargs(args))
+                albums = lib.albums(args)
                 self._log.info(
                     "Analyzing {} albums ~ {} backend...".format(
                         len(albums), self.backend_name
@@ -1539,7 +1532,7 @@ class ReplayGainPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
                 for album in albums:
                     self.handle_album(album, write, force)
             else:
-                items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+                items = lib.items(args)
                 self._log.info(
                     "Analyzing {} tracks ~ {} backend...".format(
                         len(items), self.backend_name
diff --git a/beetsplug/scrub.py b/beetsplug/scrub.py
index 630a4e6e6..813effb5f 100644
--- a/beetsplug/scrub.py
+++ b/beetsplug/scrub.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class ScrubPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     def commands(self):
         def scrub_func(lib, opts, args):
             # Walk through matching files and remove tags.
-            for item in lib.items(ui.decargs(args)):
+            for item in lib.items(args):
                 self._log.info(
                     "scrubbing: {0}", util.displayable_path(item.path)
                 )
diff --git a/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py b/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py
index 5ea3c6bff..e65d59649 100644
--- a/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py
+++ b/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class SmartPlaylistPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     def update_cmd(self, lib, opts, args):
         self.build_queries()
         if args:
-            args = set(ui.decargs(args))
+            args = set(args)
             for a in list(args):
                 if not a.endswith(".m3u"):
                     args.add(f"{a}.m3u")
diff --git a/beetsplug/spotify.py b/beetsplug/spotify.py
index 595da4892..36790b56b 100644
--- a/beetsplug/spotify.py
+++ b/beetsplug/spotify.py
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ class SpotifyPlugin(MetadataSourcePlugin, BeetsPlugin):
         def queries(lib, opts, args):
             success = self._parse_opts(opts)
             if success:
-                results = self._match_library_tracks(lib, ui.decargs(args))
+                results = self._match_library_tracks(lib, args)
                 self._output_match_results(results)
 
         spotify_cmd = ui.Subcommand(
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ class SpotifyPlugin(MetadataSourcePlugin, BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def func(lib, opts, args):
-            items = lib.items(ui.decargs(args))
+            items = lib.items(args)
             self._fetch_info(items, ui.should_write(), opts.force_refetch)
 
         sync_cmd.func = func
diff --git a/beetsplug/thumbnails.py b/beetsplug/thumbnails.py
index e11b75390..5460d3fec 100644
--- a/beetsplug/thumbnails.py
+++ b/beetsplug/thumbnails.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from pathlib import PurePosixPath
 from xdg import BaseDirectory
 
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import Subcommand, decargs
+from beets.ui import Subcommand
 from beets.util import bytestring_path, displayable_path, syspath
 from beets.util.artresizer import ArtResizer
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class ThumbnailsPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
     def process_query(self, lib, opts, args):
         self.config.set_args(opts)
         if self._check_local_ok():
-            for album in lib.albums(decargs(args)):
+            for album in lib.albums(args):
                 self.process_album(album)
 
     def _check_local_ok(self):
diff --git a/beetsplug/web/__init__.py b/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
index c1b0b5029..559f0622c 100644
--- a/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
+++ b/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
@@ -308,18 +308,8 @@ def all_items():
 def item_file(item_id):
     item = g.lib.get_item(item_id)
 
-    # On Windows under Python 2, Flask wants a Unicode path. On Python 3, it
-    # *always* wants a Unicode path.
-    if os.name == "nt":
-        item_path = util.syspath(item.path)
-    else:
-        item_path = os.fsdecode(item.path)
-
+    item_path = util.syspath(item.path)
     base_filename = os.path.basename(item_path)
-    if isinstance(base_filename, bytes):
-        unicode_base_filename = util.displayable_path(base_filename)
-    else:
-        unicode_base_filename = base_filename
 
     try:
         # Imitate http.server behaviour
@@ -327,7 +317,7 @@ def item_file(item_id):
     except UnicodeError:
         safe_filename = unidecode(base_filename)
     else:
-        safe_filename = unicode_base_filename
+        safe_filename = base_filename
 
     response = flask.send_file(
         item_path, as_attachment=True, download_name=safe_filename
@@ -470,7 +460,7 @@ class WebPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         )
 
         def func(lib, opts, args):
-            args = ui.decargs(args)
+            args = args
             if args:
                 self.config["host"] = args.pop(0)
             if args:
diff --git a/beetsplug/zero.py b/beetsplug/zero.py
index 7ee624ce7..05e55bfcd 100644
--- a/beetsplug/zero.py
+++ b/beetsplug/zero.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from mediafile import MediaFile
 
 from beets.importer import Action
 from beets.plugins import BeetsPlugin
-from beets.ui import Subcommand, decargs, input_yn
+from beets.ui import Subcommand, input_yn
 
 __author__ = "baobab@heresiarch.info"
 
@@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ class ZeroPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
         zero_command = Subcommand("zero", help="set fields to null")
 
         def zero_fields(lib, opts, args):
-            if not decargs(args) and not input_yn(
+            if not args and not input_yn(
                 "Remove fields for all items? (Y/n)", True
             ):
                 return
-            for item in lib.items(decargs(args)):
+            for item in lib.items(args):
                 self.process_item(item)
 
         zero_command.func = zero_fields
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_thumbnails.py b/test/plugins/test_thumbnails.py
index bd3e22714..fadac34c2 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_thumbnails.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_thumbnails.py
@@ -232,8 +232,7 @@ class ThumbnailsTest(BeetsTestCase):
         )
 
     @patch("beetsplug.thumbnails.ThumbnailsPlugin._check_local_ok", Mock())
-    @patch("beetsplug.thumbnails.decargs")
-    def test_invokations(self, mock_decargs):
+    def test_invokations(self):
         plugin = ThumbnailsPlugin()
         plugin.process_album = Mock()
         album = Mock()
@@ -243,7 +242,6 @@ class ThumbnailsTest(BeetsTestCase):
         album2 = Mock()
         lib.albums.return_value = [album, album2]
         plugin.process_query(lib, Mock(), None)
-        lib.albums.assert_called_once_with(mock_decargs.return_value)
         plugin.process_album.assert_has_calls(
             [call(album), call(album2)], any_order=True
         )