diff --git a/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx b/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx
index 485ac44..2495275 100644
--- a/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/player/AndroidVideoPlayer.tsx
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
   const [currentSubtitle, setCurrentSubtitle] = useState<string>('');
   const [customSubtitleVersion, setCustomSubtitleVersion] = useState<number>(0);
   const [subtitleSize, setSubtitleSize] = useState<number>(DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE);
-  const [subtitleBackground, setSubtitleBackground] = useState<boolean>(true);
+  const [subtitleBackground, setSubtitleBackground] = useState<boolean>(false);
   // iOS seeking helpers
   const iosWasPausedDuringSeekRef = useRef<boolean | null>(null);
   const wasPlayingBeforeDragRef = useRef<boolean>(false);
@@ -409,11 +409,11 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
   const [subtitleTextColor, setSubtitleTextColor] = useState<string>('#FFFFFF');
   const [subtitleBgOpacity, setSubtitleBgOpacity] = useState<number>(0.7);
   const [subtitleTextShadow, setSubtitleTextShadow] = useState<boolean>(true);
-  const [subtitleOutline, setSubtitleOutline] = useState<boolean>(false);
+  const [subtitleOutline, setSubtitleOutline] = useState<boolean>(true);
   const [subtitleOutlineColor, setSubtitleOutlineColor] = useState<string>('#000000');
-  const [subtitleOutlineWidth, setSubtitleOutlineWidth] = useState<number>(2);
+  const [subtitleOutlineWidth, setSubtitleOutlineWidth] = useState<number>(4);
   const [subtitleAlign, setSubtitleAlign] = useState<'center' | 'left' | 'right'>('center');
-  const [subtitleBottomOffset, setSubtitleBottomOffset] = useState<number>(20);
+  const [subtitleBottomOffset, setSubtitleBottomOffset] = useState<number>(10);
   const [subtitleLetterSpacing, setSubtitleLetterSpacing] = useState<number>(0);
   const [subtitleLineHeightMultiplier, setSubtitleLineHeightMultiplier] = useState<number>(1.2);
   const [subtitleOffsetSec, setSubtitleOffsetSec] = useState<number>(0);
@@ -2309,9 +2309,14 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
           } catch {}
         }
         try { await AsyncStorage.removeItem(SUBTITLE_SIZE_KEY); } catch {}
+        return;
       }
+      // If no saved settings, use default
+      setSubtitleSize(DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE);
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error('[AndroidVideoPlayer] Error loading subtitle size:', error);
+      // Fallback to default on error
+      setSubtitleSize(DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE);
     }
   };
 
@@ -2950,7 +2955,7 @@ const AndroidVideoPlayer: React.FC = () => {
   ]);
 
   const increaseSubtitleSize = () => {
-    const newSize = Math.min(subtitleSize + 2, 32);
+    const newSize = Math.min(subtitleSize + 2, 80);
     saveSubtitleSize(newSize);
   };
 
diff --git a/src/components/player/KSPlayerCore.tsx b/src/components/player/KSPlayerCore.tsx
index 0d63312..760f144 100644
--- a/src/components/player/KSPlayerCore.tsx
+++ b/src/components/player/KSPlayerCore.tsx
@@ -159,16 +159,16 @@ const KSPlayerCore: React.FC = () => {
   const [customSubtitles, setCustomSubtitles] = useState<SubtitleCue[]>([]);
   const [currentSubtitle, setCurrentSubtitle] = useState<string>('');
   const [subtitleSize, setSubtitleSize] = useState<number>(DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE);
-  const [subtitleBackground, setSubtitleBackground] = useState<boolean>(true);
+  const [subtitleBackground, setSubtitleBackground] = useState<boolean>(false);
   // External subtitle customization
   const [subtitleTextColor, setSubtitleTextColor] = useState<string>('#FFFFFF');
   const [subtitleBgOpacity, setSubtitleBgOpacity] = useState<number>(0.7);
   const [subtitleTextShadow, setSubtitleTextShadow] = useState<boolean>(true);
-  const [subtitleOutline, setSubtitleOutline] = useState<boolean>(false);
+  const [subtitleOutline, setSubtitleOutline] = useState<boolean>(true);
   const [subtitleOutlineColor, setSubtitleOutlineColor] = useState<string>('#000000');
-  const [subtitleOutlineWidth, setSubtitleOutlineWidth] = useState<number>(2);
+  const [subtitleOutlineWidth, setSubtitleOutlineWidth] = useState<number>(4);
   const [subtitleAlign, setSubtitleAlign] = useState<'center' | 'left' | 'right'>('center');
-  const [subtitleBottomOffset, setSubtitleBottomOffset] = useState<number>(20);
+  const [subtitleBottomOffset, setSubtitleBottomOffset] = useState<number>(10);
   const [subtitleLetterSpacing, setSubtitleLetterSpacing] = useState<number>(0);
   const [subtitleLineHeightMultiplier, setSubtitleLineHeightMultiplier] = useState<number>(1.2);
   const [subtitleOffsetSec, setSubtitleOffsetSec] = useState<number>(0);
@@ -1694,9 +1694,14 @@ const KSPlayerCore: React.FC = () => {
           } catch {}
         }
         try { await AsyncStorage.removeItem(SUBTITLE_SIZE_KEY); } catch {}
+        return;
       }
+      // If no saved settings, use default
+      setSubtitleSize(DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE);
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error('[VideoPlayer] Error loading subtitle size:', error);
+      // Fallback to default on error
+      setSubtitleSize(DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE);
     }
   };
 
@@ -2260,7 +2265,7 @@ const KSPlayerCore: React.FC = () => {
   }, [selectedAudioTrack, ksAudioTracks]);
 
   const increaseSubtitleSize = () => {
-    const newSize = Math.min(subtitleSize + 2, 32);
+    const newSize = Math.min(subtitleSize + 2, 80);
     saveSubtitleSize(newSize);
   };
 
diff --git a/src/components/player/modals/SubtitleModals.tsx b/src/components/player/modals/SubtitleModals.tsx
index 8019096..d3269b8 100644
--- a/src/components/player/modals/SubtitleModals.tsx
+++ b/src/components/player/modals/SubtitleModals.tsx
@@ -599,11 +599,11 @@ export const SubtitleModals: React.FC<SubtitleModalsProps> = ({
                         setSubtitleTextColor('#FFFFFF');
                         setSubtitleBgOpacity(0.7);
                         setSubtitleTextShadow(true);
-                        setSubtitleOutline(false);
+                        setSubtitleOutline(true);
                         setSubtitleOutlineColor('#000000');
-                        setSubtitleOutlineWidth(2);
+                        setSubtitleOutlineWidth(4);
                         setSubtitleAlign('center');
-                        setSubtitleBottomOffset(20);
+                        setSubtitleBottomOffset(10);
                         setSubtitleLetterSpacing(0);
                         setSubtitleLineHeightMultiplier(1.2);
                       }}
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ export const SubtitleModals: React.FC<SubtitleModalsProps> = ({
                         setSubtitleTextColor('#FFD700');
                         setSubtitleOutline(true);
                         setSubtitleOutlineColor('#000000');
-                        setSubtitleOutlineWidth(2);
+                        setSubtitleOutlineWidth(4);
                         setSubtitleBgOpacity(0.3);
                         setSubtitleTextShadow(false);
                       }}
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ export const SubtitleModals: React.FC<SubtitleModalsProps> = ({
                         setSubtitleTextColor('#FFFFFF');
                         setSubtitleBgOpacity(0.6);
                         setSubtitleTextShadow(true);
-                        setSubtitleOutline(false);
+                        setSubtitleOutline(true);
                         setSubtitleAlign('center');
                         setSubtitleLineHeightMultiplier(1.3);
                       }}
@@ -765,39 +765,12 @@ export const SubtitleModals: React.FC<SubtitleModalsProps> = ({
                     </View>
                   </View>
 
-                  {/* Shadow & Outline */}
-                  <View style={{ flexDirection: isCompact ? 'column' : 'row', justifyContent: 'space-between', gap: 12 }}>
-                    {/* Shadow */}
-                    <View style={{ flex: 1, gap: 8 }}>
-                      <Text style={{ color: 'white', fontWeight: '600' }}>Text Shadow</Text>
-                      <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => setSubtitleTextShadow(!subtitleTextShadow)} style={{ paddingHorizontal: 10, paddingVertical: 8, borderRadius: 10, backgroundColor: subtitleTextShadow ? 'rgba(255,255,255,0.18)' : 'rgba(255,255,255,0.08)', borderWidth: 1, borderColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.15)', alignItems: 'center' }}>
-                        <Text style={{ color: '#fff', fontWeight: '700' }}>{subtitleTextShadow ? 'On' : 'Off'}</Text>
-                      </TouchableOpacity>
-                    </View>
-                    {/* Outline */}
-                    <View style={{ flex: 1, gap: 8 }}>
-                      <Text style={{ color: 'white', fontWeight: '600' }}>Outline</Text>
-                      <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => {
-                        const next = !subtitleOutline;
-                        setSubtitleOutline(next);
-                        if (next) {
-                          // Apply sensible defaults when enabling outline unless user already set larger values
-                          if (subtitleSize < 24) {
-                            // increase by calling increase handler enough times or provide a direct setter via size controls
-                            // We only have +/- handlers here, so set via stepping until >= 24
-                            const steps = Math.ceil((24 - subtitleSize) / 1); // size is integer steps
-                            for (let i = 0; i < steps; i++) {
-                              increaseSubtitleSize();
-                            }
-                          }
-                          if (subtitleBottomOffset < 40) {
-                            setSubtitleBottomOffset(40);
-                          }
-                        }
-                      }} style={{ paddingHorizontal: 10, paddingVertical: 8, borderRadius: 10, backgroundColor: subtitleOutline ? 'rgba(255,255,255,0.18)' : 'rgba(255,255,255,0.08)', borderWidth: 1, borderColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.15)', alignItems: 'center' }}>
-                        <Text style={{ color: '#fff', fontWeight: '700' }}>{subtitleOutline ? 'On' : 'Off'}</Text>
-                      </TouchableOpacity>
-                    </View>
+                  {/* Shadow */}
+                  <View style={{ flexDirection: 'row', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between' }}>
+                    <Text style={{ color: 'white', fontWeight: '600' }}>Text Shadow</Text>
+                    <TouchableOpacity onPress={() => setSubtitleTextShadow(!subtitleTextShadow)} style={{ paddingHorizontal: 10, paddingVertical: 8, borderRadius: 10, backgroundColor: subtitleTextShadow ? 'rgba(255,255,255,0.18)' : 'rgba(255,255,255,0.08)', borderWidth: 1, borderColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.15)', alignItems: 'center' }}>
+                      <Text style={{ color: '#fff', fontWeight: '700' }}>{subtitleTextShadow ? 'On' : 'Off'}</Text>
+                    </TouchableOpacity>
                   </View>
                   {/* Outline color & width */}
                   <View style={{ flexDirection: 'row', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between' }}>
@@ -881,11 +854,11 @@ export const SubtitleModals: React.FC<SubtitleModalsProps> = ({
                         setSubtitleTextColor('#FFFFFF');
                         setSubtitleBgOpacity(0.7);
                         setSubtitleTextShadow(true);
-                        setSubtitleOutline(false);
+                        setSubtitleOutline(true);
                         setSubtitleOutlineColor('#000000');
-                        setSubtitleOutlineWidth(2);
+                        setSubtitleOutlineWidth(4);
                         setSubtitleAlign('center');
-                        setSubtitleBottomOffset(20);
+                        setSubtitleBottomOffset(10);
                         setSubtitleLetterSpacing(0);
                         setSubtitleLineHeightMultiplier(1.2);
                         setSubtitleOffsetSec(0);
diff --git a/src/components/player/utils/playerTypes.ts b/src/components/player/utils/playerTypes.ts
index 3f2c5d8..a65f854 100644
--- a/src/components/player/utils/playerTypes.ts
+++ b/src/components/player/utils/playerTypes.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export const RESUME_PREF = {
 };
 
 export const SUBTITLE_SIZE_KEY = '@subtitle_size_preference';
-export const DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE = 16;
+export const DEFAULT_SUBTITLE_SIZE = 50;
 
 // Define the TrackPreferenceType for audio/text tracks
 export type TrackPreferenceType = 'system' | 'disabled' | 'title' | 'language' | 'index';