diff --git a/src/components/player/display/base.ts b/src/components/player/display/base.ts
index 9e6e81a7..cd7cbbca 100644
--- a/src/components/player/display/base.ts
+++ b/src/components/player/display/base.ts
@@ -259,6 +259,60 @@ export function makeVideoElementDisplayInterface(): DisplayInterface {
       return;
     }
 
+    // For MP4 files, ensure we use partial loading (206 responses)
+    if (src.url.toLowerCase().endsWith(".mp4")) {
+      vid.preload = "metadata";
+
+      if (vid.buffered && vid.duration) {
+        vid.addEventListener("progress", () => {
+          const currentTime = vid.currentTime;
+          const buffered = vid.buffered;
+
+          // Check if we need to pause loading temporarily
+          // If we've buffered more than 3 minutes ahead, pause loading
+          for (let i = 0; i < buffered.length; i += 1) {
+            if (
+              buffered.start(i) <= currentTime &&
+              buffered.end(i) > currentTime
+            ) {
+              // We're in this buffer range
+              const bufferedAhead = buffered.end(i) - currentTime;
+
+              // If we have more than 3 minutes buffered ahead, pause loading
+              // This prevents excessive range requests
+              if (bufferedAhead > 180) {
+                // Pause loading temporarily
+                vid.preload = "none";
+
+                // Resume loading when buffered content drops below 2 minutes
+                setTimeout(() => {
+                  if (buffered.end(i) - vid.currentTime < 120) {
+                    vid.preload = "auto";
+                  }
+                }, 5000);
+              }
+              break;
+            }
+          }
+        });
+      }
+
+      vid.addEventListener(
+        "loadedmetadata",
+        () => {
+          if (startAt > 0) {
+            vid.currentTime = startAt;
+          }
+          // Set to a moderate preload after metadata is loaded
+          vid.preload = "auto";
+        },
+        { once: true },
+      );
+      vid.src = processCdnLink(src.url);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Default handling for other source types
     vid.src = processCdnLink(src.url);
     vid.currentTime = startAt;
   }