diff --git a/src/hooks/useSettings.ts b/src/hooks/useSettings.ts
index 7addb62f..c0d97c2a 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useSettings.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useSettings.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ export interface AppSettings {
   openMetadataScreenWhenCacheDisabled: boolean; // When cache disabled, open MetadataScreen instead of StreamsScreen
   streamCacheTTL: number; // Stream cache duration in milliseconds (default: 1 hour)
   enableStreamsBackdrop: boolean; // Enable blurred backdrop background on StreamsScreen mobile
+  useExternalPlayerForDownloads: boolean; // Enable/disable external player for downloaded content
 }
 
 export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: AppSettings = {
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: AppSettings = {
   alwaysResume: true,
   // Downloads
   enableDownloads: false,
+  useExternalPlayerForDownloads: false,
   // Theme defaults
   themeId: 'default',
   customThemes: [],
@@ -162,12 +164,12 @@ export const useSettings = () => {
 
   useEffect(() => {
     loadSettings();
-    
+
     // Subscribe to settings changes
     const unsubscribe = settingsEmitter.addListener(() => {
       loadSettings();
     });
-    
+
     return unsubscribe;
   }, []);
 
@@ -183,13 +185,13 @@ export const useSettings = () => {
 
       const scope = (await mmkvStorage.getItem('@user:current')) || 'local';
       const scopedKey = `@user:${scope}:${SETTINGS_STORAGE_KEY}`;
-      
+
       // Use synchronous MMKV reads for better performance
       const [scopedJson, legacyJson] = await Promise.all([
         mmkvStorage.getItem(scopedKey),
         mmkvStorage.getItem(SETTINGS_STORAGE_KEY),
       ]);
-      
+
       const parsedScoped = scopedJson ? JSON.parse(scopedJson) : null;
       const parsedLegacy = legacyJson ? JSON.parse(legacyJson) : null;
 
@@ -202,16 +204,16 @@ export const useSettings = () => {
         if (scoped) {
           try {
             merged = JSON.parse(scoped);
-          } catch {}
+          } catch { }
         }
       }
 
       const finalSettings = merged ? { ...DEFAULT_SETTINGS, ...merged } : DEFAULT_SETTINGS;
-      
+
       // Update cache
       cachedSettings = finalSettings;
       settingsCacheTimestamp = now;
-      
+
       setSettings(finalSettings);
     } catch (error) {
       if (__DEV__) console.error('Failed to load settings:', error);
@@ -231,23 +233,23 @@ export const useSettings = () => {
   ) => {
     const newSettings = { ...settings, [key]: value };
     try {
-    const scope = (await mmkvStorage.getItem('@user:current')) || 'local';
-    const scopedKey = `@user:${scope}:${SETTINGS_STORAGE_KEY}`;
-    // Write to both scoped key (multi-user aware) and legacy key for backward compatibility
-    await Promise.all([
-      mmkvStorage.setItem(scopedKey, JSON.stringify(newSettings)),
-      mmkvStorage.setItem(SETTINGS_STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(newSettings)),
-    ]);
-    // Ensure a current scope exists to avoid future loads missing the chosen scope
-    await mmkvStorage.setItem('@user:current', scope);
-      
+      const scope = (await mmkvStorage.getItem('@user:current')) || 'local';
+      const scopedKey = `@user:${scope}:${SETTINGS_STORAGE_KEY}`;
+      // Write to both scoped key (multi-user aware) and legacy key for backward compatibility
+      await Promise.all([
+        mmkvStorage.setItem(scopedKey, JSON.stringify(newSettings)),
+        mmkvStorage.setItem(SETTINGS_STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(newSettings)),
+      ]);
+      // Ensure a current scope exists to avoid future loads missing the chosen scope
+      await mmkvStorage.setItem('@user:current', scope);
+
       // Update cache
       cachedSettings = newSettings;
       settingsCacheTimestamp = Date.now();
-      
+
       setSettings(newSettings);
       if (__DEV__) console.log(`Setting updated: ${key}`, value);
-      
+
       // Notify all subscribers that settings have changed (if requested)
       if (emitEvent) {
         if (__DEV__) console.log('Emitting settings change event');
diff --git a/src/screens/DownloadsScreen.tsx b/src/screens/DownloadsScreen.tsx
index 98736736..db0fedc3 100644
--- a/src/screens/DownloadsScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/DownloadsScreen.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   Alert,
   Platform,
   Clipboard,
+  Linking,
 } from 'react-native';
 import { SafeAreaView, useSafeAreaInsets } from 'react-native-safe-area-context';
 import { useNavigation, useFocusEffect } from '@react-navigation/native';
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@ import { RootStackParamList } from '../navigation/AppNavigator';
 import { LinearGradient } from 'expo-linear-gradient';
 import FastImage from '@d11/react-native-fast-image';
 import { useDownloads } from '../contexts/DownloadsContext';
+import { useSettings } from '../hooks/useSettings';
+import { VideoPlayerService } from '../services/videoPlayerService';
 import type { DownloadItem } from '../contexts/DownloadsContext';
 import { useToast } from '../contexts/ToastContext';
 import CustomAlert from '../components/CustomAlert';
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ const optimizePosterUrl = (poster: string | undefined | null): string => {
 // Empty state component
 const EmptyDownloadsState: React.FC<{ navigation: NavigationProp<RootStackParamList> }> = ({ navigation }) => {
   const { currentTheme } = useTheme();
-  
+
   return (
     <View style={styles.emptyContainer}>
       <View style={[styles.emptyIconContainer, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.elevation1 }]}>
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ const EmptyDownloadsState: React.FC<{ navigation: NavigationProp<RootStackParamL
       <Text style={[styles.emptySubtitle, { color: currentTheme.colors.mediumEmphasis }]}>
         Downloaded content will appear here for offline viewing
       </Text>
-      <TouchableOpacity 
+      <TouchableOpacity
         style={[styles.exploreButton, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.primary }]}
         onPress={() => {
           navigation.navigate('Search');
@@ -129,12 +132,12 @@ const DownloadItemComponent: React.FC<{
 
   const formatBytes = (bytes?: number) => {
     if (!bytes || bytes <= 0) return '0 B';
-    const sizes = ['B','KB','MB','GB','TB'];
+    const sizes = ['B', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB', 'TB'];
     const i = Math.floor(Math.log(bytes) / Math.log(1024));
     const v = bytes / Math.pow(1024, i);
     return `${v.toFixed(v >= 100 ? 0 : v >= 10 ? 1 : 2)} ${sizes[i]}`;
   };
-  
+
   const getStatusColor = () => {
     switch (item.status) {
       case 'downloading':
@@ -218,10 +221,10 @@ const DownloadItemComponent: React.FC<{
           <MaterialCommunityIcons
             name={
               item.status === 'completed' ? 'check' :
-              item.status === 'downloading' ? 'download' :
-              item.status === 'paused' ? 'pause' :
-              item.status === 'error' ? 'alert-circle' :
-              'clock'
+                item.status === 'downloading' ? 'download' :
+                  item.status === 'paused' ? 'pause' :
+                    item.status === 'error' ? 'alert-circle' :
+                      'clock'
             }
             size={12}
             color="white"
@@ -234,10 +237,10 @@ const DownloadItemComponent: React.FC<{
         <View style={styles.downloadHeader}>
           <View style={styles.titleContainer}>
             <Text style={[styles.downloadTitle, { color: currentTheme.colors.text }]} numberOfLines={1}>
-              {item.title}{item.type === 'series' && item.season && item.episode ? `  S${String(item.season).padStart(2,'0')}E${String(item.episode).padStart(2,'0')}` : ''}
+              {item.title}{item.type === 'series' && item.season && item.episode ? `  S${String(item.season).padStart(2, '0')}E${String(item.episode).padStart(2, '0')}` : ''}
             </Text>
           </View>
-          
+
           {item.type === 'series' && (
             <Text style={[styles.episodeInfo, { color: currentTheme.colors.mediumEmphasis }]} numberOfLines={1}>
               S{item.season?.toString().padStart(2, '0')}E{item.episode?.toString().padStart(2, '0')} • {item.episodeTitle}
@@ -293,7 +296,7 @@ const DownloadItemComponent: React.FC<{
               ]}
             />
           </View>
-          
+
           <View style={styles.progressDetails}>
             <Text style={[styles.progressPercentage, { color: currentTheme.colors.text }]}>
               {item.progress || 0}%
@@ -322,7 +325,7 @@ const DownloadItemComponent: React.FC<{
             />
           </TouchableOpacity>
         )}
-        
+
         <TouchableOpacity
           style={[styles.actionButton, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.elevation2 }]}
           onPress={() => onRequestRemove(item)}
@@ -342,6 +345,7 @@ const DownloadItemComponent: React.FC<{
 const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
   const navigation = useNavigation<NavigationProp<RootStackParamList>>();
   const { currentTheme } = useTheme();
+  const { settings } = useSettings();
   const { top: safeAreaTop } = useSafeAreaInsets();
   const { downloads, pauseDownload, resumeDownload, cancelDownload } = useDownloads();
   const { showSuccess, showInfo } = useToast();
@@ -394,7 +398,7 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
     setIsRefreshing(false);
   }, []);
 
-  const handleDownloadPress = useCallback((item: DownloadItem) => {
+  const handleDownloadPress = useCallback(async (item: DownloadItem) => {
     Haptics.impactAsync(Haptics.ImpactFeedbackStyle.Light);
     if (item.status !== 'completed') {
       Alert.alert('Download not ready', 'Please wait until the download completes.');
@@ -411,33 +415,132 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
     const isMp4 = /\.mp4(\?|$)/i.test(lower);
     const videoType = isM3u8 ? 'm3u8' : isMpd ? 'mpd' : isMp4 ? 'mp4' : undefined;
 
-    // Build episodeId for series progress tracking (format: contentId:season:episode)
-    const episodeId = item.type === 'series' && item.season && item.episode
-      ? `${item.contentId}:${item.season}:${item.episode}`
-      : undefined;
+    // Use external player if enabled in settings
+    if (settings.useExternalPlayerForDownloads) {
+      if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
+        try {
+          // Use VideoPlayerService for Android external playback
+          const success = await VideoPlayerService.playVideo(uri, {
+            useExternalPlayer: true,
+            title: item.title,
+            episodeTitle: item.type === 'series' ? item.episodeTitle : undefined,
+            episodeNumber: item.type === 'series' && item.season && item.episode ? `S${item.season}E${item.episode}` : undefined,
+          });
 
-    const playerRoute = Platform.OS === 'ios' ? 'PlayerIOS' : 'PlayerAndroid';
-    navigation.navigate(playerRoute as any, {
-      uri,
-      title: item.title,
-      episodeTitle: item.type === 'series' ? item.episodeTitle : undefined,
-      season: item.type === 'series' ? item.season : undefined,
-      episode: item.type === 'series' ? item.episode : undefined,
-      quality: item.quality,
-      year: undefined,
-      streamProvider: 'Downloads',
-      streamName: item.providerName || 'Offline',
-      headers: undefined,
-      forceVlc: Platform.OS === 'android' ? isMkv : false,
-      id: item.contentId, // Use contentId (base ID) instead of compound id for progress tracking
-      type: item.type,
-      episodeId: episodeId, // Pass episodeId for series progress tracking
-      imdbId: (item as any).imdbId || item.contentId, // Use imdbId if available, fallback to contentId
-      availableStreams: {},
-      backdrop: undefined,
-      videoType,
-    } as any);
-  }, [navigation]);
+          if (success) return;
+          // Fall through to internal player if external fails
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.error('External player failed:', error);
+          // Fall through to internal player
+        }
+      } else if (Platform.OS === 'ios') {
+        const streamUrl = encodeURIComponent(uri);
+        let externalPlayerUrls: string[] = [];
+
+        switch (settings.preferredPlayer) {
+          case 'vlc':
+            externalPlayerUrls = [
+              `vlc://${uri}`,
+              `vlc-x-callback://x-callback-url/stream?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `vlc://${streamUrl}`
+            ];
+            break;
+
+          case 'outplayer':
+            externalPlayerUrls = [
+              `outplayer://${uri}`,
+              `outplayer://${streamUrl}`,
+              `outplayer://play?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `outplayer://stream?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `outplayer://play/browser?url=${streamUrl}`
+            ];
+            break;
+
+          case 'infuse':
+            externalPlayerUrls = [
+              `infuse://x-callback-url/play?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `infuse://play?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `infuse://${streamUrl}`
+            ];
+            break;
+
+          case 'vidhub':
+            externalPlayerUrls = [
+              `vidhub://play?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `vidhub://${streamUrl}`
+            ];
+            break;
+
+          case 'infuse_livecontainer':
+            const infuseUrls = [
+              `infuse://x-callback-url/play?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `infuse://play?url=${streamUrl}`,
+              `infuse://${streamUrl}`
+            ];
+            externalPlayerUrls = infuseUrls.map(infuseUrl => {
+              const encoded = Buffer.from(infuseUrl).toString('base64');
+              return `livecontainer://open-url?url=${encoded}`;
+            });
+            break;
+
+          default:
+            // Internal logic will handle 'internal' choice
+            break;
+        }
+
+        if (settings.preferredPlayer !== 'internal') {
+          // Try each URL format in sequence
+          const tryNextUrl = (index: number) => {
+            if (index >= externalPlayerUrls.length) {
+              // Fallback to internal player if all external attempts fail
+              openInternalPlayer();
+              return;
+            }
+
+            const url = externalPlayerUrls[index];
+            Linking.openURL(url)
+              .catch(() => tryNextUrl(index + 1));
+          };
+
+          if (externalPlayerUrls.length > 0) {
+            tryNextUrl(0);
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    const openInternalPlayer = () => {
+      // Build episodeId for series progress tracking (format: contentId:season:episode)
+      const episodeId = item.type === 'series' && item.season && item.episode
+        ? `${item.contentId}:${item.season}:${item.episode}`
+        : undefined;
+
+      const playerRoute = Platform.OS === 'ios' ? 'PlayerIOS' : 'PlayerAndroid';
+      navigation.navigate(playerRoute as any, {
+        uri,
+        title: item.title,
+        episodeTitle: item.type === 'series' ? item.episodeTitle : undefined,
+        season: item.type === 'series' ? item.season : undefined,
+        episode: item.type === 'series' ? item.episode : undefined,
+        quality: item.quality,
+        year: undefined,
+        streamProvider: 'Downloads',
+        streamName: item.providerName || 'Offline',
+        headers: undefined,
+        forceVlc: Platform.OS === 'android' ? isMkv : false,
+        id: item.contentId, // Use contentId (base ID) instead of compound id for progress tracking
+        type: item.type,
+        episodeId: episodeId, // Pass episodeId for series progress tracking
+        imdbId: (item as any).imdbId || item.contentId, // Use imdbId if available, fallback to contentId
+        availableStreams: {},
+        backdrop: undefined,
+        videoType,
+      } as any);
+    };
+
+    openInternalPlayer();
+  }, [navigation, settings]);
 
   const handleDownloadAction = useCallback((item: DownloadItem, action: 'pause' | 'resume' | 'cancel' | 'retry') => {
     if (action === 'pause') pauseDownload(item.id);
@@ -479,8 +582,8 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
       style={[
         styles.filterButton,
         {
-          backgroundColor: selectedFilter === filter 
-            ? currentTheme.colors.primary 
+          backgroundColor: selectedFilter === filter
+            ? currentTheme.colors.primary
             : currentTheme.colors.elevation1,
         }
       ]}
@@ -490,8 +593,8 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
       <Text style={[
         styles.filterButtonText,
         {
-          color: selectedFilter === filter 
-            ? currentTheme.colors.white 
+          color: selectedFilter === filter
+            ? currentTheme.colors.white
             : currentTheme.colors.text,
         }
       ]}>
@@ -501,16 +604,16 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
         <View style={[
           styles.filterBadge,
           {
-            backgroundColor: selectedFilter === filter 
-              ? currentTheme.colors.white 
+            backgroundColor: selectedFilter === filter
+              ? currentTheme.colors.white
               : currentTheme.colors.primary,
           }
         ]}>
           <Text style={[
             styles.filterBadgeText,
             {
-              color: selectedFilter === filter 
-                ? currentTheme.colors.primary 
+              color: selectedFilter === filter
+                ? currentTheme.colors.primary
                 : currentTheme.colors.white,
             }
           ]}>
@@ -534,8 +637,8 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
         styles.header,
         {
           backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.darkBackground,
-          paddingTop: (Platform.OS === 'android' 
-            ? (StatusBar.currentHeight || 0) + 26 
+          paddingTop: (Platform.OS === 'android'
+            ? (StatusBar.currentHeight || 0) + 26
             : safeAreaTop + 15) + (isTablet ? 64 : 0),
           borderBottomColor: currentTheme.colors.border,
         },
@@ -557,7 +660,7 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
             />
           </TouchableOpacity>
         </View>
-        
+
         {downloads.length > 0 && (
           <View style={styles.filterContainer}>
             {renderFilterButton('all', 'All', stats.total)}
@@ -624,10 +727,10 @@ const DownloadsScreen: React.FC = () => {
       <CustomAlert
         visible={showRemoveAlert}
         title="Remove Download"
-        message={pendingRemoveItem ? `Remove \"${pendingRemoveItem.title}\"${pendingRemoveItem.type === 'series' && pendingRemoveItem.season && pendingRemoveItem.episode ? ` S${String(pendingRemoveItem.season).padStart(2,'0')}E${String(pendingRemoveItem.episode).padStart(2,'0')}` : ''}?` : 'Remove this download?'}
+        message={pendingRemoveItem ? `Remove \"${pendingRemoveItem.title}\"${pendingRemoveItem.type === 'series' && pendingRemoveItem.season && pendingRemoveItem.episode ? ` S${String(pendingRemoveItem.season).padStart(2, '0')}E${String(pendingRemoveItem.episode).padStart(2, '0')}` : ''}?` : 'Remove this download?'}
         actions={[
           { label: 'Cancel', onPress: () => setShowRemoveAlert(false) },
-          { label: 'Remove', onPress: () => { if (pendingRemoveItem) { cancelDownload(pendingRemoveItem.id); } setShowRemoveAlert(false); setPendingRemoveItem(null); }, style: { } },
+          { label: 'Remove', onPress: () => { if (pendingRemoveItem) { cancelDownload(pendingRemoveItem.id); } setShowRemoveAlert(false); setPendingRemoveItem(null); }, style: {} },
         ]}
         onClose={() => { setShowRemoveAlert(false); setPendingRemoveItem(null); }}
       />
diff --git a/src/screens/PlayerSettingsScreen.tsx b/src/screens/PlayerSettingsScreen.tsx
index 821791f8..a3e57cb8 100644
--- a/src/screens/PlayerSettingsScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/PlayerSettingsScreen.tsx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const SettingItem: React.FC<SettingItemProps> = ({
   isLast,
 }) => {
   const { currentTheme } = useTheme();
-  
+
   return (
     <TouchableOpacity
       onPress={onPress}
@@ -175,17 +175,17 @@ const PlayerSettingsScreen: React.FC = () => {
             Settings
           </Text>
         </TouchableOpacity>
-        
+
         <View style={styles.headerActions}>
           {/* Empty for now, but ready for future actions */}
         </View>
       </View>
-      
+
       <Text style={[styles.headerTitle, { color: currentTheme.colors.text }]}>
         Video Player
       </Text>
 
-      <ScrollView 
+      <ScrollView
         style={styles.scrollView}
         contentContainerStyle={styles.scrollContent}
       >
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ const PlayerSettingsScreen: React.FC = () => {
             ))}
           </View>
         </View>
-        
+
         <View style={styles.section}>
           <Text
             style={[
@@ -322,6 +322,48 @@ const PlayerSettingsScreen: React.FC = () => {
                 />
               </View>
             </View>
+
+            {/* External Player for Downloads */}
+            {((Platform.OS === 'android' && settings.useExternalPlayer) ||
+              (Platform.OS === 'ios' && settings.preferredPlayer !== 'internal')) && (
+                <View style={[styles.settingItem, styles.settingItemBorder, { borderBottomWidth: 0, borderTopWidth: 1, borderTopColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.08)' }]}>
+                  <View style={styles.settingContent}>
+                    <View style={[
+                      styles.settingIconContainer,
+                      { backgroundColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.1)' }
+                    ]}>
+                      <MaterialIcons
+                        name="open-in-new"
+                        size={20}
+                        color={currentTheme.colors.primary}
+                      />
+                    </View>
+                    <View style={styles.settingText}>
+                      <Text
+                        style={[
+                          styles.settingTitle,
+                          { color: currentTheme.colors.text },
+                        ]}
+                      >
+                        External Player for Downloads
+                      </Text>
+                      <Text
+                        style={[
+                          styles.settingDescription,
+                          { color: currentTheme.colors.textMuted },
+                        ]}
+                      >
+                        Play downloaded content in your preferred external player.
+                      </Text>
+                    </View>
+                    <Switch
+                      value={settings.useExternalPlayerForDownloads}
+                      onValueChange={(value) => updateSetting('useExternalPlayerForDownloads', value)}
+                      thumbColor={settings.useExternalPlayerForDownloads ? currentTheme.colors.primary : undefined}
+                    />
+                  </View>
+                </View>
+              )}
           </View>
         </View>
       </ScrollView>