diff --git a/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.android.kt b/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.android.kt
index 502c14b1..52c7e112 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.android.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.android.kt
@@ -168,6 +168,24 @@ internal actual object DownloadsPlatformDownloader {
         if (!tempFile.exists()) return true
         return runCatching { tempFile.delete() }.getOrDefault(false)
     }
+
+    actual fun resolveLocalFileUri(localFileUri: String?, destinationFileName: String): String? {
+        localFileUri
+            ?.toLocalFileOrNull()
+            ?.takeIf { it.exists() }
+            ?.let { return it.toURI().toString() }
+
+        val context = appContext ?: return null
+        val fileName = destinationFileName.trim().takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+            ?: localFileUri
+                ?.toLocalFileOrNull()
+                ?.name
+                ?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+            ?: return null
+        val downloadsDir = File(context.filesDir, "downloads")
+        val localFile = File(downloadsDir, fileName)
+        return localFile.takeIf { it.exists() }?.toURI()?.toString()
+    }
 }
 
 private class AndroidDownloadsTaskHandle(
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/App.kt b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/App.kt
index f3095f59..f9e85f6c 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/App.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/App.kt
@@ -596,7 +596,9 @@ private fun MainAppContent(
             NetworkCondition.ServersUnreachable,
             -> {
                 offlineLaunchRouteHandled = true
-                val hasPlayableDownload = downloadsUiState.completedItems.any { it.isPlayable }
+                val hasPlayableDownload = downloadsUiState.completedItems.any {
+                    DownloadsRepository.playableLocalFileUri(it) != null
+                }
                 if (hasPlayableDownload) {
                     selectedTab = AppScreenTab.Settings
                     navController.navigate(DownloadsSettingsRoute) {
@@ -689,7 +691,7 @@ private fun MainAppContent(
                     episodeNumber = episodeNumber,
                     videoId = videoId,
                 )
-                val localSourceUrl = downloadedItem?.localFileUri
+                val localSourceUrl = downloadedItem?.let(DownloadsRepository::playableLocalFileUri)
                 if (!localSourceUrl.isNullOrBlank()) {
                     val launchId = PlayerLaunchStore.put(
                         PlayerLaunch(
@@ -1533,7 +1535,7 @@ private fun MainAppContent(
                     DownloadsScreen(
                         onBack = onBack,
                         onOpenDownload = { item ->
-                            val sourceUrl = item.localFileUri ?: return@DownloadsScreen
+                            val sourceUrl = DownloadsRepository.playableLocalFileUri(item) ?: return@DownloadsScreen
                             val resumeEntry = item.videoId
                                 .takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
                                 ?.let(WatchProgressRepository::progressForVideo)
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.kt b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.kt
index b2a331ad..9fb32ced 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.kt
@@ -21,4 +21,6 @@ internal expect object DownloadsPlatformDownloader {
     fun removeFile(localFileUri: String?): Boolean
 
     fun removePartialFile(destinationFileName: String): Boolean
+
+    fun resolveLocalFileUri(localFileUri: String?, destinationFileName: String): String?
 }
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsRepository.kt b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsRepository.kt
index f6e715ba..7ed74677 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsRepository.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsRepository.kt
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
         val normalizedVideoId = videoId?.trim().orEmpty()
         if (normalizedVideoId.isBlank()) return null
         return _uiState.value.items.firstOrNull { item ->
-            item.videoId == normalizedVideoId && item.isPlayable && !item.localFileUri.isNullOrBlank()
+            item.videoId == normalizedVideoId && item.hasPlayableLocalFile()
         }
     }
 
@@ -64,20 +64,42 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
                 item.parentMetaId == normalizedParentMetaId &&
                     item.seasonNumber == seasonNumber &&
                     item.episodeNumber == episodeNumber &&
-                    item.isPlayable &&
-                    !item.localFileUri.isNullOrBlank()
+                    item.hasPlayableLocalFile()
             }
         } else {
             items.firstOrNull { item ->
                 item.parentMetaId == normalizedParentMetaId &&
                     item.seasonNumber == null &&
                     item.episodeNumber == null &&
-                    item.isPlayable &&
-                    !item.localFileUri.isNullOrBlank()
+                    item.hasPlayableLocalFile()
             }
         }
     }
 
+    fun playableLocalFileUri(item: DownloadItem): String? {
+        ensureLoaded()
+        if (item.status != DownloadStatus.Completed) return null
+        val resolvedUri = DownloadsPlatformDownloader.resolveLocalFileUri(
+            localFileUri = item.localFileUri,
+            destinationFileName = item.fileName,
+        ) ?: return null
+
+        if (resolvedUri != item.localFileUri) {
+            mutateItem(item.id) { current ->
+                if (current.fileName == item.fileName) {
+                    current.copy(
+                        localFileUri = resolvedUri,
+                        updatedAtEpochMs = DownloadsClock.nowEpochMs(),
+                    )
+                } else {
+                    current
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return resolvedUri
+    }
+
     fun enqueueFromStream(
         contentType: String,
         videoId: String,
@@ -117,7 +139,7 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
         if (existing != null) {
             replacedExisting = true
             activeHandles.remove(existing.id)?.cancel()
-            DownloadsPlatformDownloader.removeFile(existing.localFileUri)
+            DownloadsPlatformDownloader.removeFile(playableLocalFileUri(existing) ?: existing.localFileUri)
             DownloadsPlatformDownloader.removePartialFile(existing.fileName)
             currentItems.removeAll { it.id == existing.id }
         }
@@ -191,6 +213,14 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
         }
     }
 
+    fun pauseActiveDownloads() {
+        ensureLoaded()
+        _uiState.value.items
+            .filter { it.status == DownloadStatus.Downloading }
+            .map { it.id }
+            .forEach(::pauseDownload)
+    }
+
     fun resumeDownload(downloadId: String) {
         ensureLoaded()
         val item = _uiState.value.items.firstOrNull { it.id == downloadId } ?: return
@@ -217,7 +247,7 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
         val item = _uiState.value.items.firstOrNull { it.id == downloadId } ?: return
 
         activeHandles.remove(downloadId)?.cancel()
-        DownloadsPlatformDownloader.removeFile(item.localFileUri)
+        DownloadsPlatformDownloader.removeFile(playableLocalFileUri(item) ?: item.localFileUri)
         DownloadsPlatformDownloader.removePartialFile(item.fileName)
 
         publish(_uiState.value.items.filterNot { it.id == downloadId })
@@ -233,9 +263,10 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
             return
         }
 
+        var shouldPersistNormalized = false
         val normalized = DownloadsCodec.decodeItems(payload)
             .map { item ->
-                if (item.status == DownloadStatus.Downloading) {
+                val statusNormalized = if (item.status == DownloadStatus.Downloading) {
                     item.copy(
                         status = DownloadStatus.Paused,
                         errorMessage = null,
@@ -243,10 +274,19 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
                 } else {
                     item
                 }
+
+                val localUriNormalized = normalizeCompletedLocalFileUri(statusNormalized)
+                if (localUriNormalized != item) {
+                    shouldPersistNormalized = true
+                }
+                localUriNormalized
             }
 
         _uiState.value = DownloadsUiState(normalized)
         notifyLiveStatusPlatform()
+        if (shouldPersistNormalized) {
+            persist()
+        }
     }
 
     private fun startDownload(item: DownloadItem) {
@@ -359,6 +399,26 @@ object DownloadsRepository {
             append(nextDownloadOrdinal.toString(36))
         }
     }
+
+    private fun normalizeCompletedLocalFileUri(item: DownloadItem): DownloadItem {
+        if (item.status != DownloadStatus.Completed) return item
+        val resolvedUri = DownloadsPlatformDownloader.resolveLocalFileUri(
+            localFileUri = item.localFileUri,
+            destinationFileName = item.fileName,
+        ) ?: return item
+        return if (resolvedUri != item.localFileUri) {
+            item.copy(localFileUri = resolvedUri)
+        } else {
+            item
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun DownloadItem.hasPlayableLocalFile(): Boolean =
+        status == DownloadStatus.Completed &&
+            DownloadsPlatformDownloader.resolveLocalFileUri(
+                localFileUri = localFileUri,
+                destinationFileName = fileName,
+            ) != null
 }
 
 @Serializable
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/player/PlayerScreen.kt b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/player/PlayerScreen.kt
index c3c5dd75..3dea8937 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/player/PlayerScreen.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/player/PlayerScreen.kt
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ fun PlayerScreen(
         }
 
         fun switchToDownloadedEpisode(downloadItem: DownloadItem, episode: MetaVideo) {
-            val localFileUri = downloadItem.localFileUri ?: return
+            val localFileUri = DownloadsRepository.playableLocalFileUri(downloadItem) ?: return
             showNextEpisodeCard = false
             showSourcesPanel = false
             showEpisodesPanel = false
diff --git a/composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.ios.kt b/composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.ios.kt
index 2ce2b26a..733bec21 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.ios.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/iosMain/kotlin/com/nuvio/app/features/downloads/DownloadsPlatformDownloader.ios.kt
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 package com.nuvio.app.features.downloads
 
 import kotlinx.cinterop.ExperimentalForeignApi
-import kotlinx.cinterop.addressOf
+import kotlinx.cinterop.CPointer
 import kotlinx.cinterop.convert
-import kotlinx.cinterop.usePinned
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CancellationException
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CompletableDeferred
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.SupervisorJob
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import platform.Foundation.NSError
 import platform.Foundation.NSDate
+import platform.Foundation.NSData
 import platform.Foundation.NSFileManager
 import platform.Foundation.NSHTTPURLResponse
 import platform.Foundation.NSHomeDirectory
@@ -23,16 +23,17 @@ import platform.Foundation.NSURLRequestReloadIgnoringLocalCacheData
 import platform.Foundation.NSURLResponse
 import platform.Foundation.NSURLSession
 import platform.Foundation.NSURLSessionConfiguration
-import platform.Foundation.NSURLSessionDownloadDelegateProtocol
-import platform.Foundation.NSURLSessionDownloadTask
+import platform.Foundation.NSURLSessionDataDelegateProtocol
+import platform.Foundation.NSURLSessionDataTask
 import platform.Foundation.NSURLSessionTask
 import platform.Foundation.setHTTPMethod
 import platform.Foundation.setValue
 import platform.Foundation.timeIntervalSince1970
 import platform.darwin.NSObject
-import platform.posix.fopen
+import platform.posix.FILE
 import platform.posix.fclose
-import platform.posix.fread
+import platform.posix.fflush
+import platform.posix.fopen
 import platform.posix.fwrite
 
 private const val DOWNLOAD_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 60.0
@@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ fun handleDownloadsBackgroundEvents(
     backgroundSessionCompletionHandlers[identifier] = completionHandler
 }
 
+fun pauseDownloadsForAppBackground() {
+    DownloadsRepository.pauseActiveDownloads()
+}
+
 @OptIn(ExperimentalForeignApi::class)
 internal actual object DownloadsPlatformDownloader {
     actual fun start(
@@ -132,22 +137,45 @@ internal actual object DownloadsPlatformDownloader {
     actual fun removeFile(localFileUri: String?): Boolean {
         if (localFileUri.isNullOrBlank()) return false
         val path = localFileUri.toLocalPath() ?: return false
-        return removePathIfExists(path)
+        if (NSFileManager.defaultManager.fileExistsAtPath(path)) {
+            return removePathIfExists(path)
+        }
+
+        val fileName = path.substringAfterLast('/').takeIf { it.isNotBlank() } ?: return false
+        return removePathIfExists("${downloadsDirectoryPath()}/$fileName")
     }
 
     actual fun removePartialFile(destinationFileName: String): Boolean {
         val tempPath = "${downloadsDirectoryPath()}/$destinationFileName.part"
         return removePathIfExists(tempPath)
     }
+
+    actual fun resolveLocalFileUri(localFileUri: String?, destinationFileName: String): String? {
+        localFileUri?.toLocalPath()
+            ?.takeIf { NSFileManager.defaultManager.fileExistsAtPath(it) }
+            ?.let { path ->
+                return NSURL.fileURLWithPath(path).absoluteString ?: "file://$path"
+            }
+
+        val fileName = destinationFileName.trim().takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+            ?: localFileUri?.toLocalPath()?.substringAfterLast('/')?.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+            ?: return null
+        val currentPath = "${downloadsDirectoryPath()}/$fileName"
+        return if (NSFileManager.defaultManager.fileExistsAtPath(currentPath)) {
+            NSURL.fileURLWithPath(currentPath).absoluteString ?: "file://$currentPath"
+        } else {
+            null
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 private class IosDownloadsTaskHandle(
     private val job: Job,
 ) : DownloadsTaskHandle {
-    private var task: NSURLSessionDownloadTask? = null
+    private var task: NSURLSessionTask? = null
     private var session: NSURLSession? = null
 
-    fun attach(task: NSURLSessionDownloadTask, session: NSURLSession) {
+    fun attach(task: NSURLSessionTask, session: NSURLSession) {
         this.task = task
         this.session = session
     }
@@ -177,10 +205,14 @@ private class IosDownloadDelegate(
     private val resumeFromBytes: Long,
     private val tempPath: String,
     private val onProgress: (downloadedBytes: Long, totalBytes: Long?) -> Unit,
-) : NSObject(), NSURLSessionDownloadDelegateProtocol {
+) : NSObject(), NSURLSessionDataDelegateProtocol {
     private val completion = CompletableDeferred<IosDownloadResult>()
     private var result: IosDownloadResult? = null
     private var fileError: Throwable? = null
+    private var outputFile: CPointer<FILE>? = null
+    private var startingBytesForResponse = 0L
+    private var bytesWrittenForResponse = 0L
+    private var totalBytesForResponse: Long? = null
     private var lastProgressBytes = -1L
     private var lastProgressTimestampSeconds = 0.0
 
@@ -188,12 +220,13 @@ private class IosDownloadDelegate(
 
     override fun URLSession(
         session: NSURLSession,
-        downloadTask: NSURLSessionDownloadTask,
-        didFinishDownloadingToURL: NSURL,
+        dataTask: NSURLSessionDataTask,
+        didReceiveResponse: NSURLResponse,
+        completionHandler: (Long) -> Unit,
     ) {
-        val httpResponse = downloadTask.response as? NSHTTPURLResponse
+        val httpResponse = didReceiveResponse as? NSHTTPURLResponse
         val statusCode = httpResponse?.statusCode?.toInt() ?: 200
-        result = IosDownloadResult(
+        val nextResult = IosDownloadResult(
             statusCode = statusCode,
             contentRange = httpResponse?.valueForHTTPHeaderField("Content-Range"),
             contentLength = httpResponse
@@ -201,51 +234,59 @@ private class IosDownloadDelegate(
                 ?.toLongOrNull()
                 ?.takeIf { it > 0L },
         )
+        result = nextResult
 
-        if (statusCode !in 200..299) return
+        if (statusCode in 200..299) {
+            val isPartialResume = attemptedRangeRequest && statusCode == 206 && resumeFromBytes > 0L
+            startingBytesForResponse = if (isPartialResume) resumeFromBytes else 0L
+            bytesWrittenForResponse = 0L
+            totalBytesForResponse = resolveTotalBytes(
+                startingBytes = startingBytesForResponse,
+                isPartialResume = isPartialResume,
+                contentRangeHeader = nextResult.contentRange,
+                contentLength = nextResult.contentLength,
+            )
 
-        val sourcePath = didFinishDownloadingToURL.path
-        if (sourcePath.isNullOrBlank()) {
-            fileError = IllegalStateException("Downloaded file was not available")
-            return
+            outputFile = fopen(tempPath, if (isPartialResume) "ab" else "wb") ?: run {
+                fileError = IllegalStateException("Failed to open partial download file")
+                null
+            }
+
+            reportProgress(startingBytesForResponse, totalBytesForResponse)
         }
 
-        val isPartialResume = attemptedRangeRequest && statusCode == 206 && resumeFromBytes > 0L
-        val stored = if (isPartialResume) {
-            appendFile(sourcePath, tempPath)
-        } else {
-            removePathIfExists(tempPath) &&
-                NSFileManager.defaultManager.moveItemAtPath(
-                    srcPath = sourcePath,
-                    toPath = tempPath,
-                    error = null,
-                )
-        }
-
-        if (!stored) {
-            fileError = IllegalStateException("Failed to store download file")
-        }
+        completionHandler(1L)
     }
 
     override fun URLSession(
         session: NSURLSession,
-        downloadTask: NSURLSessionDownloadTask,
-        didWriteData: Long,
-        totalBytesWritten: Long,
-        totalBytesExpectedToWrite: Long,
+        dataTask: NSURLSessionDataTask,
+        didReceiveData: NSData,
     ) {
-        val statusCode = (downloadTask.response as? NSHTTPURLResponse)?.statusCode?.toInt()
-        val startingBytes = if (attemptedRangeRequest && statusCode == 206 && resumeFromBytes > 0L) {
-            resumeFromBytes
-        } else {
-            0L
+        if (fileError != null) return
+
+        val file = outputFile ?: run {
+            fileError = IllegalStateException("Partial download file is not open")
+            return
         }
-        val expectedTotal = totalBytesExpectedToWrite
-            .takeIf { it > 0L }
-            ?.let { startingBytes + it }
+
+        val bytesToWrite = didReceiveData.length.toLong()
+        val wrote = fwrite(
+            didReceiveData.bytes,
+            1.convert(),
+            bytesToWrite.convert(),
+            file,
+        ).toLong()
+        if (wrote != bytesToWrite) {
+            fileError = IllegalStateException("Failed to write partial download file")
+            return
+        }
+        fflush(file)
+
+        bytesWrittenForResponse += bytesToWrite
         reportProgress(
-            downloadedBytes = startingBytes + totalBytesWritten.coerceAtLeast(0L),
-            totalBytes = expectedTotal,
+            downloadedBytes = startingBytesForResponse + bytesWrittenForResponse,
+            totalBytes = totalBytesForResponse,
         )
     }
 
@@ -254,6 +295,8 @@ private class IosDownloadDelegate(
         task: NSURLSessionTask,
         didCompleteWithError: NSError?,
     ) {
+        closeOutputFile()
+
         if (didCompleteWithError != null) {
             completion.completeExceptionally(
                 IllegalStateException(didCompleteWithError.localizedDescription),
@@ -275,6 +318,14 @@ private class IosDownloadDelegate(
         backgroundSessionCompletionHandlers.remove(identifier)?.invoke()
     }
 
+    private fun closeOutputFile() {
+        outputFile?.let { file ->
+            fflush(file)
+            fclose(file)
+        }
+        outputFile = null
+    }
+
     private fun reportProgress(
         downloadedBytes: Long,
         totalBytes: Long?,
@@ -374,9 +425,11 @@ private suspend fun performDownloadRequest(
     val session = NSURLSession.sessionWithConfiguration(
         configuration = configuration,
         delegate = delegate,
-        delegateQueue = NSOperationQueue(),
+        delegateQueue = NSOperationQueue().apply {
+            maxConcurrentOperationCount = 1
+        },
     )
-    val task = session.downloadTaskWithRequest(nativeRequest)
+    val task = session.dataTaskWithRequest(nativeRequest)
 
     handle.attach(task, session)
     onProgress(resumeFromBytes.coerceAtLeast(0L), null)
@@ -389,44 +442,6 @@ private suspend fun performDownloadRequest(
     }
 }
 
-@OptIn(ExperimentalForeignApi::class)
-private fun appendFile(sourcePath: String, destinationPath: String): Boolean {
-    val source = fopen(sourcePath, "rb") ?: return false
-    val destination = fopen(destinationPath, "ab") ?: run {
-        fclose(source)
-        return false
-    }
-    val buffer = ByteArray(16 * 1024)
-
-    return try {
-        while (true) {
-            val read = buffer.usePinned { pinned ->
-                fread(
-                    pinned.addressOf(0),
-                    1.convert(),
-                    buffer.size.convert(),
-                    source,
-                ).toInt()
-            }
-            if (read <= 0) break
-
-            val wrote = buffer.usePinned { pinned ->
-                fwrite(
-                    pinned.addressOf(0),
-                    1.convert(),
-                    read.convert(),
-                    destination,
-                ).toInt()
-            }
-            if (wrote != read) return false
-        }
-        true
-    } finally {
-        fclose(source)
-        fclose(destination)
-    }
-}
-
 @OptIn(ExperimentalForeignApi::class)
 private fun fileSizeOrNull(path: String): Long? {
     val attrs = NSFileManager.defaultManager.attributesOfItemAtPath(path, error = null)
@@ -439,10 +454,11 @@ private fun fileSizeOrNull(path: String): Long? {
 }
 
 private fun String.toLocalPath(): String? {
-    if (startsWith("file://")) {
-        return removePrefix("file://")
+    val value = trim()
+    if (value.startsWith("file:")) {
+        return NSURL(string = value).path ?: value.removePrefix("file://")
     }
-    return takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
+    return value.takeIf { it.isNotBlank() }
 }
 
 private fun resolveTotalBytes(
diff --git a/iosApp/iosApp/OrientationLockCoordinator.swift b/iosApp/iosApp/OrientationLockCoordinator.swift
index cf78e051..26d80c43 100644
--- a/iosApp/iosApp/OrientationLockCoordinator.swift
+++ b/iosApp/iosApp/OrientationLockCoordinator.swift
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ final class OrientationLockAppDelegate: NSObject, UIApplicationDelegate, UNUserN
         )
     }
 
+    func applicationDidEnterBackground(_ application: UIApplication) {
+        DownloadsPlatformDownloader_iosKt.pauseDownloadsForAppBackground()
+    }
+
     func userNotificationCenter(
         _ center: UNUserNotificationCenter,
         willPresent notification: UNNotification,
diff --git a/iosApp/iosApp/Player/MPVPlayerBridge.swift b/iosApp/iosApp/Player/MPVPlayerBridge.swift
index ae08f457..9839d1f0 100644
--- a/iosApp/iosApp/Player/MPVPlayerBridge.swift
+++ b/iosApp/iosApp/Player/MPVPlayerBridge.swift
@@ -137,12 +137,22 @@ struct TrackInfo {
     let selected: Bool
 }
 
+private struct PendingLoadRequest {
+    let urlString: String
+    let audioUrl: String?
+    let requestHeaders: [String: String]
+    let queuedAtUptime: TimeInterval
+}
+
 // MARK: - MPV Player View Controller
 
 final class MPVPlayerViewController: UIViewController {
 
     private let errorStateLock = NSLock()
     private var metalLayer = MetalLayer()
+    private var lastAppliedDrawableSize: CGSize = .zero
+    private var pendingLoadRequest: PendingLoadRequest?
+    private var pendingLoadRetryWorkItem: DispatchWorkItem?
     private var mpv: OpaquePointer?
     private lazy var eventQueue = DispatchQueue(label: "mpv-events", qos: .userInitiated)
     private var recentPlaybackLogs: [String] = []
@@ -188,12 +198,14 @@ final class MPVPlayerViewController: UIViewController {
     override func viewDidLoad() {
         super.viewDidLoad()
         view.backgroundColor = .black
+        view.layer.masksToBounds = true
 
-        metalLayer.frame = view.bounds
-        metalLayer.contentsScale = UIScreen.main.nativeScale
+        metalLayer.contentsGravity = .resize
+        metalLayer.contentsScale = view.window?.screen.nativeScale ?? UIScreen.main.nativeScale
         metalLayer.framebufferOnly = true
         metalLayer.backgroundColor = UIColor.black.cgColor
         view.layer.addSublayer(metalLayer)
+        layoutMetalLayer()
 
         setupMpv()
         setupNotifications()
@@ -207,17 +219,42 @@ final class MPVPlayerViewController: UIViewController {
 
     override func viewDidLayoutSubviews() {
         super.viewDidLayoutSubviews()
-        metalLayer.frame = view.bounds
+        layoutMetalLayer()
+        attemptStartPendingLoad()
     }
 
     override func viewDidAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
         super.viewDidAppear(animated)
         refreshImmersiveSystemUI()
+        attemptStartPendingLoad()
     }
 
     override func viewSafeAreaInsetsDidChange() {
         super.viewSafeAreaInsetsDidChange()
+        layoutMetalLayer()
         refreshImmersiveSystemUI()
+        attemptStartPendingLoad()
+    }
+
+    private func layoutMetalLayer() {
+        let bounds = view.bounds
+        guard bounds.width > 1, bounds.height > 1 else { return }
+
+        let scale = view.window?.screen.nativeScale ?? UIScreen.main.nativeScale
+        let drawableSize = CGSize(
+            width: (bounds.width * scale).rounded(.toNearestOrAwayFromZero),
+            height: (bounds.height * scale).rounded(.toNearestOrAwayFromZero)
+        )
+
+        CATransaction.begin()
+        CATransaction.setDisableActions(true)
+        metalLayer.contentsScale = scale
+        metalLayer.frame = CGRect(origin: .zero, size: bounds.size)
+        if drawableSize != lastAppliedDrawableSize {
+            metalLayer.drawableSize = drawableSize
+            lastAppliedDrawableSize = drawableSize
+        }
+        CATransaction.commit()
     }
 
     // MARK: - MPV Setup
@@ -287,21 +324,80 @@ final class MPVPlayerViewController: UIViewController {
     // MARK: - Playback API
 
     func loadFile(_ urlString: String, audioUrl: String? = nil, requestHeaders: [String: String] = [:]) {
+        let request = PendingLoadRequest(
+            urlString: urlString,
+            audioUrl: audioUrl,
+            requestHeaders: requestHeaders,
+            queuedAtUptime: ProcessInfo.processInfo.systemUptime
+        )
+
+        if Thread.isMainThread {
+            queueLoad(request)
+        } else {
+            DispatchQueue.main.async { [weak self] in
+                self?.queueLoad(request)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func queueLoad(_ request: PendingLoadRequest) {
+        pendingLoadRequest = request
+        attemptStartPendingLoad()
+    }
+
+    private func attemptStartPendingLoad() {
+        guard let request = pendingLoadRequest else { return }
         guard mpv != nil else { return }
+        layoutMetalLayer()
+        guard isViewportReadyForPlayback(queuedAtUptime: request.queuedAtUptime) else {
+            schedulePendingLoadRetry()
+            return
+        }
+
+        pendingLoadRequest = nil
+        pendingLoadRetryWorkItem?.cancel()
+        pendingLoadRetryWorkItem = nil
+        startLoad(request)
+    }
+
+    private func startLoad(_ request: PendingLoadRequest) {
+        guard mpv != nil else { return }
+        layoutMetalLayer()
         clearPlaybackError()
-        let sanitizedHeaders = sanitizeRequestHeaders(requestHeaders)
+        let sanitizedHeaders = sanitizeRequestHeaders(request.requestHeaders)
         activeRequestHeaders = sanitizedHeaders
         applyRequestHeaders(sanitizedHeaders)
         isPlayerLoading = true
         isPlayerEnded = false
-        command("loadfile", args: [urlString, "replace"])
-        if let audioUrl, !audioUrl.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty {
+        command("loadfile", args: [request.urlString, "replace"])
+        if let audioUrl = request.audioUrl, !audioUrl.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty {
             DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.2) { [weak self] in
                 self?.command("audio-add", args: [audioUrl, "select"], checkForErrors: false)
             }
         }
     }
 
+    private func isViewportReadyForPlayback(queuedAtUptime: TimeInterval) -> Bool {
+        guard isViewLoaded, view.window != nil else { return false }
+        let bounds = view.bounds
+        guard bounds.width > 1, bounds.height > 1 else { return false }
+        if bounds.width >= bounds.height { return true }
+
+        let age = ProcessInfo.processInfo.systemUptime - queuedAtUptime
+        return age >= 0.9
+    }
+
+    private func schedulePendingLoadRetry() {
+        guard pendingLoadRetryWorkItem == nil else { return }
+
+        let workItem = DispatchWorkItem { [weak self] in
+            self?.pendingLoadRetryWorkItem = nil
+            self?.attemptStartPendingLoad()
+        }
+        pendingLoadRetryWorkItem = workItem
+        DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + 0.05, execute: workItem)
+    }
+
     func playPlayback() {
         guard mpv != nil else { return }
         setFlag("pause", false)
@@ -350,8 +446,8 @@ final class MPVPlayerViewController: UIViewController {
             checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "panscan", "1.0"))
             checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "video-unscaled", "no"))
         case 2: // Zoom
-            checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "panscan", "0.0"))
-            checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "video-unscaled", "downscale-big"))
+            checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "panscan", "1.0"))
+            checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "video-unscaled", "no"))
         default: // Fit
             checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "panscan", "0.0"))
             checkError(mpv_set_option_string(mpv, "video-unscaled", "no"))
@@ -432,6 +528,9 @@ final class MPVPlayerViewController: UIViewController {
 
     func destroyPlayer() {
         NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(self)
+        pendingLoadRetryWorkItem?.cancel()
+        pendingLoadRetryWorkItem = nil
+        pendingLoadRequest = nil
         clearPlaybackError()
         guard let ctx = mpv else { return }
         mpv = nil  // nil first so event loop stops reading