diff --git a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings.tsx b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings.tsx
index db223b2bf..69b980d3e 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings.tsx
@@ -59,17 +59,19 @@ function SettingsMobile() {
 
         <QuickConnect className='mb-4' />
 
-        <View className='mb-4'>
-          <ListGroup title={t("pairing.pair_with_phone_title")}>
-            <ListItem
-              onPress={() =>
-                router.push("/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/companion-login")
-              }
-              title={t("pairing.pair_with_phone")}
-              textColor='blue'
-            />
-          </ListGroup>
-        </View>
+        {Platform.OS !== "ios" && (
+          <View className='mb-4'>
+            <ListGroup title={t("pairing.pair_with_phone_title")}>
+              <ListItem
+                onPress={() =>
+                  router.push("/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/companion-login")
+                }
+                title={t("pairing.pair_with_phone")}
+                textColor='blue'
+              />
+            </ListGroup>
+          </View>
+        )}
 
         <View className='mb-4'>
           <AppLanguageSelector />
diff --git a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings/plugins/streamystats/page.tsx b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings/plugins/streamystats/page.tsx
index 1c4dcd199..8f0a2c931 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings/plugins/streamystats/page.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(home)/settings/plugins/streamystats/page.tsx
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ export default function StreamystatsPage() {
   };
 
   const handleRefreshFromServer = useCallback(async () => {
-    const newPluginSettings = await refreshStreamyfinPluginSettings(true);
+    const newPluginSettings = await refreshStreamyfinPluginSettings();
     // Update local state with new values
     const newUrl = newPluginSettings?.streamyStatsServerUrl?.value || "";
     setUrl(newUrl);
diff --git a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/_layout.tsx b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/_layout.tsx
index acc7f8173..ed31b438f 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/_layout.tsx
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export default function IndexLayout() {
                 open={dropdownOpen}
                 onOpenChange={setDropdownOpen}
                 trigger={
-                  <View className='pl-1.5'>
+                  <View>
                     <Ionicons
                       name='ellipsis-horizontal-outline'
                       size={24}
diff --git a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/music/[libraryId]/_layout.tsx b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/music/[libraryId]/_layout.tsx
index 66f877d4a..bf21238ad 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/music/[libraryId]/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/(tabs)/(libraries)/music/[libraryId]/_layout.tsx
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ const Layout = () => {
         keyboardDismissMode='none'
         screenOptions={{
           tabBarBounces: true,
+          tabBarActiveTintColor: "#FFFFFF",
+          tabBarInactiveTintColor: "#9CA3AF",
           tabBarLabelStyle: {
             fontSize: TAB_LABEL_FONT_SIZE,
             fontWeight: "600",
diff --git a/app/(auth)/player/direct-player.tsx b/app/(auth)/player/direct-player.tsx
index 937c32092..2b269991b 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/player/direct-player.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/player/direct-player.tsx
@@ -274,6 +274,11 @@ export default function DirectPlayerPage() {
     };
 
     if (itemId) {
+      setItem(null);
+      setDownloadedItem(null);
+      // Clear the previous episode's stream so the loader gate stays closed
+      // until the new item's stream resolves (avoids a stale MPV source frame).
+      setStream(null);
       fetchItemData();
     }
   }, [itemId, offline, api, user?.Id]);
@@ -316,6 +321,12 @@ export default function DirectPlayerPage() {
           return null;
         }
 
+        // Ensure item matches the current itemId to avoid race conditions
+        if (item.Id !== itemId) {
+          setStreamStatus({ isLoading: false, isError: false });
+          return null;
+        }
+
         let result: Stream | null = null;
         if (offline && downloadedItem?.mediaSource) {
           const url = downloadedItem.videoFilePath;
@@ -388,6 +399,7 @@ export default function DirectPlayerPage() {
     item,
     user?.Id,
     downloadedItem,
+    offline,
   ]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -427,21 +439,15 @@ export default function DirectPlayerPage() {
     if (!item?.Id || !stream?.sessionId || offline || !api) return;
 
     const currentTimeInTicks = msToTicks(progress.get());
-    await getPlaystateApi(api).onPlaybackStopped({
-      itemId: item.Id,
-      mediaSourceId: mediaSourceId,
-      positionTicks: currentTimeInTicks,
-      playSessionId: stream.sessionId,
+    await getPlaystateApi(api).reportPlaybackStopped({
+      playbackStopInfo: {
+        ItemId: item.Id,
+        MediaSourceId: mediaSourceId,
+        PositionTicks: currentTimeInTicks,
+        PlaySessionId: stream.sessionId,
+      },
     });
-  }, [
-    api,
-    item,
-    mediaSourceId,
-    stream,
-    progress,
-    offline,
-    revalidateProgressCache,
-  ]);
+  }, [api, item, mediaSourceId, stream, progress, offline]);
 
   const stop = useCallback(() => {
     // Update URL with final playback position before stopping
@@ -459,9 +465,10 @@ export default function DirectPlayerPage() {
   useEffect(() => {
     const beforeRemoveListener = navigation.addListener("beforeRemove", stop);
     return () => {
+      reportPlaybackStopped();
       beforeRemoveListener();
     };
-  }, [navigation, stop]);
+  }, [navigation, stop, reportPlaybackStopped]);
 
   const currentPlayStateInfo = useCallback(():
     | PlaybackProgressInfo
diff --git a/components/PlatformDropdown.tsx b/components/PlatformDropdown.tsx
index aaea71b3f..5487393dd 100644
--- a/components/PlatformDropdown.tsx
+++ b/components/PlatformDropdown.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,7 @@
 import { Ionicons } from "@expo/vector-icons";
 import { BottomSheetScrollView } from "@gorhom/bottom-sheet";
-import React, { useEffect, useState } from "react";
-import {
-  type LayoutChangeEvent,
-  Platform,
-  StyleSheet,
-  TouchableOpacity,
-  View,
-} from "react-native";
+import React, { useEffect } from "react";
+import { Platform, StyleSheet, TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { Text } from "@/components/common/Text";
 import { useGlobalModal } from "@/providers/GlobalModalProvider";
@@ -217,24 +211,6 @@ const PlatformDropdownComponent = ({
 }: PlatformDropdownProps) => {
   const { showModal, hideModal, isVisible } = useGlobalModal();
 
-  // @expo/ui's <Host> (SDK 55) fills its available space by default, and
-  // `matchContents` doesn't help here: it reports the native Menu's size via
-  // setStyleSize and overrides any explicit size. Instead we measure the
-  // trigger's intrinsic size in plain RN (off-layout) and pin it on the Host.
-  const [triggerSize, setTriggerSize] = useState<{
-    width: number;
-    height: number;
-  } | null>(null);
-
-  const handleMeasureTrigger = (e: LayoutChangeEvent) => {
-    const { width, height } = e.nativeEvent.layout;
-    setTriggerSize((prev) =>
-      prev && prev.width === width && prev.height === height
-        ? prev
-        : { width, height },
-    );
-  };
-
   // Handle controlled open state for Android
   useEffect(() => {
     if (Platform.OS === "android" && controlledOpen === true) {
@@ -265,25 +241,11 @@ const PlatformDropdownComponent = ({
   }, [isVisible, controlledOpen, controlledOnOpenChange]);
 
   if (Platform.OS === "ios" && !Platform.isTV) {
-    // Pin the wrapper to the measured trigger size. @expo/ui's <Host> (SDK 55)
-    // fills its parent and reports its own size via setStyleSize, so it can't
-    // size itself to content. If the wrapper has no size, the Host's `flex: 1`
-    // height depends on the parent while the parent depends on the Host — a
-    // circular dependency that collapses to 0 for any selector nested more than
-    // one level deep (so only the first, shallowest dropdown stays visible).
-    // Giving the wrapper the measured size breaks the cycle; the Host then
-    // fills a concrete box.
+    // @expo/ui's <Host> can't size to content, so an in-flow invisible copy of
+    // the trigger sizes the wrapper while the Host overlays the real Menu.
     return (
-      <View style={triggerSize ?? { opacity: 0 }}>
-        {/* Hidden measurer: lays the trigger out off-flow to capture its
-            intrinsic size. Absolutely positioned WITHOUT right/bottom so it
-            sizes to the trigger's content rather than to its parent. */}
-        <View
-          style={{ position: "absolute", top: 0, left: 0, opacity: 0 }}
-          pointerEvents='none'
-          aria-hidden
-          onLayout={handleMeasureTrigger}
-        >
+      <View>
+        <View pointerEvents='none' aria-hidden style={{ opacity: 0 }}>
           {trigger}
         </View>
         <Host style={[StyleSheet.absoluteFill, expoUIConfig?.hostStyle as any]}>
diff --git a/components/chapters/ChapterList.tsx b/components/chapters/ChapterList.tsx
index dd6ef1bd9..e44332095 100644
--- a/components/chapters/ChapterList.tsx
+++ b/components/chapters/ChapterList.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { FlatList, Modal, Pressable, StyleSheet, View } from "react-native";
 import { Text } from "@/components/common/Text";
 import { Colors } from "@/constants/Colors";
+import { useControlsSafeAreaInsets } from "@/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets";
 import {
   type ChapterEntry,
   chapterStartsMs,
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ function ChapterListComponent({
   onClose,
 }: ChapterListProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const safeArea = useControlsSafeAreaInsets();
   const listRef = useRef<FlatList<ChapterEntry>>(null);
 
   const entries = useMemo(() => sortedChapters(chapters), [chapters]);
@@ -79,7 +81,17 @@ function ChapterListComponent({
       supportedOrientations={["portrait", "landscape"]}
     >
       <Pressable onPress={onClose} style={styles.backdrop}>
-        <Pressable onPress={(e) => e.stopPropagation()} style={styles.sheet}>
+        <Pressable
+          onPress={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+          style={[
+            styles.sheet,
+            {
+              marginLeft: safeArea.left,
+              marginRight: safeArea.right,
+              paddingBottom: safeArea.bottom,
+            },
+          ]}
+        >
           <View style={styles.header}>
             <Text style={styles.title}>{t("chapters.title")}</Text>
             <Pressable
@@ -160,14 +172,12 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   backdrop: {
     flex: 1,
     justifyContent: "flex-end",
-    backgroundColor: "rgba(0,0,0,0.6)",
   },
   sheet: {
     backgroundColor: Colors.background,
     borderTopLeftRadius: 16,
     borderTopRightRadius: 16,
     maxHeight: "70%",
-    paddingBottom: 24,
   },
   header: {
     flexDirection: "row",
diff --git a/components/home/Home.tsx b/components/home/Home.tsx
index 637e20418..060dafedb 100644
--- a/components/home/Home.tsx
+++ b/components/home/Home.tsx
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ const HomeMobile = () => {
           onPress={() => {
             router.push("/(auth)/downloads");
           }}
-          className='ml-1.5'
           style={{ marginRight: Platform.OS === "android" ? 16 : 0 }}
         >
           <Feather
diff --git a/components/login/TVAddServerForm.tsx b/components/login/TVAddServerForm.tsx
index 8d0168b23..cf38fa54c 100644
--- a/components/login/TVAddServerForm.tsx
+++ b/components/login/TVAddServerForm.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { t } from "i18next";
 import React, { useCallback, useState } from "react";
-import { ScrollView, View } from "react-native";
+import { Platform, ScrollView, View } from "react-native";
 import { Button } from "@/components/Button";
 import { Text } from "@/components/common/Text";
 import { useScaledTVTypography } from "@/constants/TVTypography";
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export const TVAddServerForm: React.FC<TVAddServerFormProps> = ({
         </View>
 
         {/* Pair with Phone */}
-        {onStartPairing && (
+        {Platform.OS !== "ios" && onStartPairing && (
           <View>
             <Button
               onPress={onStartPairing}
diff --git a/components/search/TVJellyseerrSearchResults.tsx b/components/search/TVJellyseerrSearchResults.tsx
index cba3a5548..699c50401 100644
--- a/components/search/TVJellyseerrSearchResults.tsx
+++ b/components/search/TVJellyseerrSearchResults.tsx
@@ -401,10 +401,6 @@ export const TVJellyseerrSearchResults: React.FC<
 }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
 
-  const hasMovies = movieResults && movieResults.length > 0;
-  const hasTv = tvResults && tvResults.length > 0;
-  const hasPersons = personResults && personResults.length > 0;
-
   if (loading) {
     return null;
   }
@@ -431,22 +427,26 @@ export const TVJellyseerrSearchResults: React.FC<
 
   return (
     <View>
+      {/* No section requests `hasTVPreferredFocus`: the native search field
+          keeps focus while typing, otherwise the first result would re-grab
+          focus on every keystroke as results re-render. The user navigates
+          down to the grid manually. */}
       <TVJellyseerrMovieSection
         title={t("search.request_movies")}
         items={movieResults}
-        isFirstSection={hasMovies}
+        isFirstSection={false}
         onItemPress={onMoviePress}
       />
       <TVJellyseerrTvSection
         title={t("search.request_series")}
         items={tvResults}
-        isFirstSection={!hasMovies && hasTv}
+        isFirstSection={false}
         onItemPress={onTvPress}
       />
       <TVJellyseerrPersonSection
         title={t("search.actors")}
         items={personResults}
-        isFirstSection={!hasMovies && !hasTv && hasPersons}
+        isFirstSection={false}
         onItemPress={onPersonPress}
       />
     </View>
diff --git a/components/search/TVSearchPage.tsx b/components/search/TVSearchPage.tsx
index ab928d845..580e8a002 100644
--- a/components/search/TVSearchPage.tsx
+++ b/components/search/TVSearchPage.tsx
@@ -235,10 +235,13 @@ export const TVSearchPage: React.FC<TVSearchPageProps> = ({
             module). It renders the native search bar + grid keyboard and
             forwards typed text into the existing query pipeline via setSearch;
             our own results grid renders below. */}
+        {/* No horizontal margin here: the native tvOS search bar centers itself
+            and renders a trailing "Hold to Dictate in <Language>" hint. Extra
+            margins squeeze the bar's width and clip that trailing hint, so let
+            the native view span the full width and own its own insets. */}
         <View
           style={{
             marginBottom: 24,
-            marginHorizontal: HORIZONTAL_PADDING,
             height: SEARCH_AREA_HEIGHT,
           }}
         >
@@ -280,13 +283,17 @@ export const TVSearchPage: React.FC<TVSearchPageProps> = ({
         {/* Library Search Results */}
         {isLibraryMode && !loading && (
           <View style={{ gap: SECTION_GAP }}>
-            {sections.map((section, index) => (
+            {sections.map((section) => (
               <TVSearchSection
                 key={section.key}
                 title={section.title}
                 items={section.items!}
                 orientation={section.orientation || "vertical"}
-                isFirstSection={index === 0}
+                // Never auto-focus a result. The native search field owns focus
+                // while typing; `hasTVPreferredFocus` here would re-grab focus on
+                // every keystroke as results re-render. User navigates down to the
+                // grid manually.
+                isFirstSection={false}
                 onItemPress={onItemPress}
                 onItemLongPress={onItemLongPress}
                 imageUrlGetter={
diff --git a/components/search/TVSearchSection.tsx b/components/search/TVSearchSection.tsx
index 3d72de8df..ffaef2366 100644
--- a/components/search/TVSearchSection.tsx
+++ b/components/search/TVSearchSection.tsx
@@ -297,12 +297,12 @@ export const TVSearchSection: React.FC<TVSearchSectionProps> = ({
         removeClippedSubviews={false}
         getItemLayout={getItemLayout}
         style={{ overflow: "visible" }}
-        contentInset={{
-          left: edgePadding,
-          right: edgePadding,
-        }}
-        contentOffset={{ x: -edgePadding, y: 0 }}
+        // Edge padding via contentContainerStyle, NOT contentInset+contentOffset.
+        // contentOffset only applies on initial mount; since this FlatList is
+        // reused across searches (stable key), a second search left the inset
+        // without the offset and the grid snapped flush to the left edge.
         contentContainerStyle={{
+          paddingHorizontal: edgePadding,
           paddingVertical: SCALE_PADDING,
         }}
       />
diff --git a/components/series/SeasonEpisodesCarousel.tsx b/components/series/SeasonEpisodesCarousel.tsx
index bb87ef12e..e3bba0a98 100644
--- a/components/series/SeasonEpisodesCarousel.tsx
+++ b/components/series/SeasonEpisodesCarousel.tsx
@@ -31,8 +31,12 @@ export const SeasonEpisodesCarousel: React.FC<Props> = ({
 }) => {
   const [api] = useAtom(apiAtom);
   const [user] = useAtom(userAtom);
-  const isOffline = useOfflineMode();
   const router = useRouter();
+  const isOffline = useOfflineMode();
+  // Read the live (cached) downloads DB inside the query rather than the
+  // provider's downloadedItems snapshot, so refetches after
+  // updateDownloadedItem() reflect the latest state instead of a stale
+  // refreshKey-gated snapshot. getAllDownloadedItems() is cached, so this stays cheap.
   const { getDownloadedItems } = useDownload();
 
   const scrollRef = useRef<HorizontalScrollRef>(null);
@@ -100,7 +104,7 @@ export const SeasonEpisodesCarousel: React.FC<Props> = ({
           onPress={() => {
             router.setParams({ id: _item.Id });
           }}
-          className={`flex flex-col w-44 
+          className={`flex flex-col w-44
                   ${item?.Id === _item.Id ? "" : "opacity-50"}
                 `}
         >
diff --git a/components/settings/OtherSettings.tsx b/components/settings/OtherSettings.tsx
index 7abf10fbd..bd339c543 100644
--- a/components/settings/OtherSettings.tsx
+++ b/components/settings/OtherSettings.tsx
@@ -196,7 +196,10 @@ export const OtherSettings: React.FC = () => {
             }
           />
         </ListItem>
-        <ListItem title={t("home.settings.other.max_auto_play_episode_count")}>
+        <ListItem
+          title={t("home.settings.other.max_auto_play_episode_count")}
+          disabled={pluginSettings?.maxAutoPlayEpisodeCount?.locked}
+        >
           <PlatformDropdown
             groups={autoPlayEpisodeOptions}
             trigger={
diff --git a/components/settings/PlaybackControlsSettings.tsx b/components/settings/PlaybackControlsSettings.tsx
index ad6a215ec..17ee53679 100644
--- a/components/settings/PlaybackControlsSettings.tsx
+++ b/components/settings/PlaybackControlsSettings.tsx
@@ -229,7 +229,10 @@ export const PlaybackControlsSettings: React.FC = () => {
 
         <ListItem
           title={t("home.settings.other.max_auto_play_episode_count")}
-          disabled={!settings.autoPlayNextEpisode}
+          disabled={
+            !settings.autoPlayNextEpisode ||
+            pluginSettings?.maxAutoPlayEpisodeCount?.locked
+          }
         >
           <PlatformDropdown
             groups={autoPlayEpisodeOptions}
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/BottomControls.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/BottomControls.tsx
index b0e32dad4..81c77ab8c 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/BottomControls.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/BottomControls.tsx
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { Pressable, View } from "react-native";
 import { Slider } from "react-native-awesome-slider";
 import { type SharedValue } from "react-native-reanimated";
-import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { ChapterList } from "@/components/chapters/ChapterList";
 import { ChapterTicks } from "@/components/chapters/ChapterTicks";
 import { Text } from "@/components/common/Text";
+import { useControlsSafeAreaInsets } from "@/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets";
 import { useSettings } from "@/utils/atoms/settings";
 import { chapterMarkers, chapterNameAt } from "@/utils/chapters";
 import NextEpisodeCountDownButton from "./NextEpisodeCountDownButton";
@@ -75,9 +75,6 @@ interface BottomControlsProps {
     minutes: number;
     seconds: number;
   };
-
-  // Chapter props
-  chapterPositions?: number[];
 }
 
 export const BottomControls: FC<BottomControlsProps> = ({
@@ -111,11 +108,10 @@ export const BottomControls: FC<BottomControlsProps> = ({
   trickPlayUrl,
   trickplayInfo,
   time,
-  chapterPositions = [],
 }) => {
   const { settings } = useSettings();
   const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
+  const insets = useControlsSafeAreaInsets();
   const [chapterListVisible, setChapterListVisible] = useState(false);
 
   // Only expose chapter UI when there are at least two real markers.
@@ -146,13 +142,9 @@ export const BottomControls: FC<BottomControlsProps> = ({
       style={[
         {
           position: "absolute",
-          right:
-            (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.right : 0,
-          left: (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.left : 0,
-          bottom:
-            (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true)
-              ? Math.max(insets.bottom - 17, 0)
-              : 0,
+          right: insets.right,
+          left: insets.left,
+          bottom: Math.max(insets.bottom - 17, 0),
         },
       ]}
       className={"flex flex-col px-2"}
@@ -188,17 +180,6 @@ export const BottomControls: FC<BottomControlsProps> = ({
           ) : null}
         </View>
         <View className='flex flex-row items-center space-x-2 shrink-0'>
-          {hasChapters && (
-            <Pressable
-              onPress={() => setChapterListVisible(true)}
-              hitSlop={10}
-              className='justify-center mr-4'
-              accessibilityRole='button'
-              accessibilityLabel={t("chapters.open")}
-            >
-              <Ionicons name='bookmarks' size={24} color='white' />
-            </Pressable>
-          )}
           <SkipButton
             showButton={showSkipButton}
             onPress={skipIntro}
@@ -230,6 +211,17 @@ export const BottomControls: FC<BottomControlsProps> = ({
                 onPress={handleNextEpisodeManual}
               />
             )}
+          {hasChapters && (
+            <Pressable
+              onPress={() => setChapterListVisible(true)}
+              hitSlop={10}
+              className='justify-center ml-4'
+              accessibilityRole='button'
+              accessibilityLabel={t("chapters.open")}
+            >
+              <Ionicons name='bookmarks' size={24} color='white' />
+            </Pressable>
+          )}
         </View>
       </View>
       <View
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/CenterControls.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/CenterControls.tsx
index c668f3d6e..955fb8e57 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/CenterControls.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/CenterControls.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { Ionicons } from "@expo/vector-icons";
 import type { FC } from "react";
 import { Platform, TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
-import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { Text } from "@/components/common/Text";
 import { Loader } from "@/components/Loader";
+import { useControlsSafeAreaInsets } from "@/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets";
 import { useSettings } from "@/utils/atoms/settings";
 import AudioSlider from "./AudioSlider";
 import BrightnessSlider from "./BrightnessSlider";
@@ -42,15 +42,15 @@ export const CenterControls: FC<CenterControlsProps> = ({
   goToNextChapter,
 }) => {
   const { settings } = useSettings();
-  const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
+  const insets = useControlsSafeAreaInsets();
 
   return (
     <View
       style={{
         position: "absolute",
         top: "50%",
-        left: (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.left : 0,
-        right: (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.right : 0,
+        left: insets.left,
+        right: insets.right,
         flexDirection: "row",
         justifyContent: "space-between",
         alignItems: "center",
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tsx
index 1e64f16ad..3651876a4 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tsx
@@ -219,7 +219,6 @@ export const Controls: FC<Props> = ({
     hasNextChapter,
     goToPreviousChapter,
     goToNextChapter,
-    chapterPositions,
   } = useChapterNavigation({
     chapters: item.Chapters,
     progress,
@@ -366,7 +365,9 @@ export const Controls: FC<Props> = ({
         { applyLanguagePreferences: true },
       );
 
-      const queryParams = new URLSearchParams({
+      // Use setParams instead of replace to avoid unmounting/remounting the player,
+      // which would create a new MPV native view and crash with "mp_initialize already initialized".
+      router.setParams({
         ...(offline && { offline: "true" }),
         itemId: item.Id ?? "",
         audioIndex: defaultAudioIndex?.toString() ?? "",
@@ -375,11 +376,17 @@ export const Controls: FC<Props> = ({
         bitrateValue: bitrateValue?.toString(),
         playbackPosition:
           item.UserData?.PlaybackPositionTicks?.toString() ?? "",
-      }).toString();
-
-      router.replace(`player/direct-player?${queryParams}` as any);
+      });
     },
-    [settings, subtitleIndex, audioIndex, mediaSource, bitrateValue, router],
+    [
+      settings,
+      subtitleIndex,
+      audioIndex,
+      mediaSource,
+      bitrateValue,
+      router,
+      offline,
+    ],
   );
 
   const goToPreviousItem = useCallback(() => {
@@ -585,7 +592,6 @@ export const Controls: FC<Props> = ({
               trickPlayUrl={trickPlayUrl}
               trickplayInfo={trickplayInfo}
               time={isSliding || showRemoteBubble ? time : remoteTime}
-              chapterPositions={chapterPositions}
             />
           </Animated.View>
         </>
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tv.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tv.tsx
index 5ddd4bc38..a85f62154 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tv.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/Controls.tv.tsx
@@ -1254,7 +1254,7 @@ export const Controls: FC<Props> = ({
                 <Text
                   style={[styles.endsAtText, { fontSize: typography.callout }]}
                 >
-                  {t("player.ends_at")} {getFinishTime()}
+                  {t("player.ends_at", { time: getFinishTime() })}
                 </Text>
               </View>
             )}
@@ -1448,7 +1448,7 @@ export const Controls: FC<Props> = ({
                 <Text
                   style={[styles.endsAtText, { fontSize: typography.callout }]}
                 >
-                  {t("player.ends_at")} {getFinishTime()}
+                  {t("player.ends_at", { time: getFinishTime() })}
                 </Text>
               </View>
             )}
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/EpisodeList.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/EpisodeList.tsx
index 35a235353..13c02f008 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/EpisodeList.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/EpisodeList.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { atom, useAtom } from "jotai";
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef } from "react";
 import { TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
-import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import ContinueWatchingPoster from "@/components/ContinueWatchingPoster";
 import {
   HorizontalScroll,
@@ -17,10 +16,10 @@ import {
   SeasonDropdown,
   type SeasonIndexState,
 } from "@/components/series/SeasonDropdown";
+import { useControlsSafeAreaInsets } from "@/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets";
 import { useDownload } from "@/providers/DownloadProvider";
 import { apiAtom, userAtom } from "@/providers/JellyfinProvider";
 import { useOfflineMode } from "@/providers/OfflineModeProvider";
-import { useSettings } from "@/utils/atoms/settings";
 import {
   getDownloadedEpisodesForSeason,
   getDownloadedSeasonNumbers,
@@ -46,8 +45,7 @@ export const EpisodeList: React.FC<Props> = ({ item, close, goToItem }) => {
     scrollViewRef.current?.scrollToIndex(index, 100);
   };
   const isOffline = useOfflineMode();
-  const { settings } = useSettings();
-  const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
+  const insets = useControlsSafeAreaInsets();
 
   // Set the initial season index
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -59,6 +57,11 @@ export const EpisodeList: React.FC<Props> = ({ item, close, goToItem }) => {
     }
   }, []);
 
+  // Read the live (cached) downloads DB inside the query rather than the
+  // provider's downloadedItems snapshot. The snapshot only refreshes on the
+  // provider refreshKey, so after updateDownloadedItem() invalidates
+  // ["episodes"]/["seasons"] (e.g. progress/played writes) the refetch would
+  // return stale data. getAllDownloadedItems() is cached, so this stays cheap.
   const { getDownloadedItems } = useDownload();
 
   const seasonIndex = seasonIndexState[item.ParentId ?? ""];
@@ -182,12 +185,9 @@ export const EpisodeList: React.FC<Props> = ({ item, close, goToItem }) => {
         backgroundColor: "black",
         height: "100%",
         width: "100%",
-        paddingTop:
-          (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.top : 0,
-        paddingLeft:
-          (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.left : 0,
-        paddingRight:
-          (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.right : 0,
+        paddingTop: insets.top,
+        paddingLeft: insets.left,
+        paddingRight: insets.right,
       }}
     >
       <View
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/HeaderControls.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/HeaderControls.tsx
index 2b1d6125c..d3cd7a285 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/HeaderControls.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/HeaderControls.tsx
@@ -5,12 +5,11 @@ import type {
 } from "@jellyfin/sdk/lib/generated-client";
 import { type FC, useCallback, useState } from "react";
 import { Platform, TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
-import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import useRouter from "@/hooks/useAppRouter";
+import { useControlsSafeAreaInsets } from "@/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets";
 import { useHaptic } from "@/hooks/useHaptic";
 import { useOrientation } from "@/hooks/useOrientation";
 import { OrientationLock } from "@/packages/expo-screen-orientation";
-import { useSettings } from "@/utils/atoms/settings";
 import { HEADER_LAYOUT, ICON_SIZES } from "./constants";
 import DropdownView from "./dropdown/DropdownView";
 import { PlaybackSpeedScope } from "./utils/playback-speed-settings";
@@ -58,9 +57,8 @@ export const HeaderControls: FC<HeaderControlsProps> = ({
   showTechnicalInfo = false,
   onToggleTechnicalInfo,
 }) => {
-  const { settings } = useSettings();
   const router = useRouter();
-  const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
+  const insets = useControlsSafeAreaInsets();
   const lightHapticFeedback = useHaptic("light");
   const { orientation, lockOrientation } = useOrientation();
   const [isTogglingOrientation, setIsTogglingOrientation] = useState(false);
@@ -99,10 +97,9 @@ export const HeaderControls: FC<HeaderControlsProps> = ({
       style={[
         {
           position: "absolute",
-          top: (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.top : 0,
-          left: (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.left : 0,
-          right:
-            (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true) ? insets.right : 0,
+          top: insets.top,
+          left: insets.left,
+          right: insets.right,
           padding: HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING,
         },
       ]}
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/TechnicalInfoOverlay.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/TechnicalInfoOverlay.tsx
index 20ec1fc47..fe98a16a9 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/TechnicalInfoOverlay.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/TechnicalInfoOverlay.tsx
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import Animated, {
 } from "react-native-reanimated";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { useScaledTVTypography } from "@/constants/TVTypography";
+import { useControlsSafeAreaInsets } from "@/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets";
 import type { TechnicalInfo } from "@/modules/mpv-player";
-import { useSettings } from "@/utils/atoms/settings";
 import { HEADER_LAYOUT } from "./constants";
 
 type PlayMethod = "DirectPlay" | "DirectStream" | "Transcode";
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@ export const TechnicalInfoOverlay: FC<TechnicalInfoOverlayProps> = memo(
     currentAudioIndex,
   }) => {
     const typography = useScaledTVTypography();
-    const { settings } = useSettings();
     const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
+    const safeInsets = useControlsSafeAreaInsets();
     const [info, setInfo] = useState<TechnicalInfo | null>(null);
 
     const opacity = useSharedValue(0);
@@ -268,14 +268,8 @@ export const TechnicalInfoOverlay: FC<TechnicalInfoOverlayProps> = memo(
           left: Math.max(insets.left, 48) + 20,
         }
       : {
-          top:
-            (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true)
-              ? insets.top + HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING + 4
-              : HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING + 4,
-          left:
-            (settings?.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ?? true)
-              ? insets.left + HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING + 20
-              : HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING + 20,
+          top: safeInsets.top + HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING + 4,
+          left: safeInsets.left + HEADER_LAYOUT.CONTAINER_PADDING + 20,
         };
 
     const textStyle = Platform.isTV
diff --git a/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets.ts b/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fa4968e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hooks/useControlsSafeAreaInsets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import {
+  type EdgeInsets,
+  useSafeAreaInsets,
+} from "react-native-safe-area-context";
+import { useSettings } from "@/utils/atoms/settings";
+
+const ZERO_INSETS: EdgeInsets = { top: 0, right: 0, bottom: 0, left: 0 };
+
+/**
+ * Returns safe-area insets to apply to in-player controls, honoring the
+ * `safeAreaInControlsEnabled` user setting. When the setting is disabled,
+ * returns zero insets so controls can sit flush against the screen edges.
+ */
+export const useControlsSafeAreaInsets = (): EdgeInsets => {
+  const { settings } = useSettings();
+  const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
+  return settings.safeAreaInControlsEnabled ? insets : ZERO_INSETS;
+};
diff --git a/hooks/useImageStorage.ts b/hooks/useImageStorage.ts
index ec66c5053..b5b6896ca 100644
--- a/hooks/useImageStorage.ts
+++ b/hooks/useImageStorage.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { File, Paths } from "expo-file-system";
 import { useCallback } from "react";
 import { storage } from "@/utils/mmkv";
 
@@ -12,36 +13,28 @@ const useImageStorage = () => {
     }
   }, []);
 
+  /**
+   * expo-file-system instead of fetch+Blob+FileReader: the latter silently
+   * resolves to an empty payload under RN's New Architecture.
+   */
   const image2Base64 = useCallback(async (url?: string | null) => {
     if (!url) return null;
 
-    let blob: Blob;
+    const tmpFile = new File(
+      Paths.cache,
+      `img-${Date.now()}-${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2)}.jpg`,
+    );
     try {
-      // Fetch the data from the URL
-      const response = await fetch(url);
-      blob = await response.blob();
+      const downloaded = await File.downloadFileAsync(url, tmpFile, {
+        idempotent: true,
+      });
+      return await downloaded.base64();
     } catch (error) {
       console.warn("Error fetching image:", error);
       return null;
+    } finally {
+      if (tmpFile.exists) tmpFile.delete();
     }
-
-    // Create a FileReader instance
-    const reader = new FileReader();
-
-    // Convert blob to base64
-    return new Promise<string>((resolve, reject) => {
-      reader.onloadend = () => {
-        if (typeof reader.result === "string") {
-          // Extract the base64 string (remove the data URL prefix)
-          const base64 = reader.result.split(",")[1];
-          resolve(base64);
-        } else {
-          reject(new Error("Failed to convert image to base64"));
-        }
-      };
-      reader.onerror = reject;
-      reader.readAsDataURL(blob);
-    });
   }, []);
 
   const saveImage = useCallback(
diff --git a/hooks/usePlaybackManager.ts b/hooks/usePlaybackManager.ts
index b4316241a..94abb98b1 100644
--- a/hooks/usePlaybackManager.ts
+++ b/hooks/usePlaybackManager.ts
@@ -109,30 +109,35 @@ export const usePlaybackManager = ({
     staleTime: 0,
   });
 
+  /**
+   * Derive prev/next from the current item's real position in the adjacent
+   * list rather than from the array length. `getEpisodes({ adjacentTo })` does
+   * not guarantee a fixed [prev, current, next] shape — at the first/last
+   * episode it can still return the current item as the first/last entry — so
+   * length-based indexing wrongly surfaces the current episode as "previous".
+   */
+  const currentIndex = useMemo(
+    () => adjacentItems?.findIndex((e) => e.Id === item?.Id) ?? -1,
+    [adjacentItems, item],
+  );
+
+  /** A neighbour is only navigable if it has an actual media file (not a
+   * "Virtual"/missing episode placeholder, e.g. an absent Special). */
+  const isNavigable = (episode?: BaseItemDto | null): episode is BaseItemDto =>
+    !!episode && episode.Id !== item?.Id && episode.LocationType !== "Virtual";
+
   const previousItem = useMemo(() => {
-    if (!adjacentItems || adjacentItems.length <= 1) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    if (adjacentItems.length === 2) {
-      return adjacentItems[0].Id === item?.Id ? null : adjacentItems[0];
-    }
-
-    return adjacentItems[0];
-  }, [adjacentItems, item]);
+    if (!adjacentItems || currentIndex <= 0) return null;
+    const candidate = adjacentItems[currentIndex - 1];
+    return isNavigable(candidate) ? candidate : null;
+  }, [adjacentItems, currentIndex, item]);
 
   /** The next item in the series */
   const nextItem = useMemo(() => {
-    if (!adjacentItems || adjacentItems.length <= 1) {
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    if (adjacentItems.length === 2) {
-      return adjacentItems[1].Id === item?.Id ? null : adjacentItems[1];
-    }
-
-    return adjacentItems[2];
-  }, [adjacentItems, item]);
+    if (!adjacentItems || currentIndex < 0) return null;
+    const candidate = adjacentItems[currentIndex + 1];
+    return isNavigable(candidate) ? candidate : null;
+  }, [adjacentItems, currentIndex, item]);
 
   /**
    * Reports playback progress.
diff --git a/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerModule.swift b/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerModule.swift
index fe43d8968..768916869 100644
--- a/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerModule.swift
+++ b/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerModule.swift
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ public class MpvPlayerModule: Module {
       }
 
       // Defines events that the view can send to JavaScript
-      Events("onLoad", "onPlaybackStateChange", "onProgress", "onError", "onTracksReady")
+      Events("onLoad", "onPlaybackStateChange", "onProgress", "onError", "onTracksReady", "onPictureInPictureChange")
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerView.swift b/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerView.swift
index 0b3158e76..41f19eb07 100644
--- a/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerView.swift
+++ b/modules/mpv-player/ios/MpvPlayerView.swift
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class MpvPlayerView: ExpoView {
 	let onProgress = EventDispatcher()
 	let onError = EventDispatcher()
 	let onTracksReady = EventDispatcher()
+	let onPictureInPictureChange = EventDispatcher()
 
 	private var currentURL: URL?
 	private var cachedPosition: Double = 0
@@ -81,7 +82,6 @@ class MpvPlayerView: ExpoView {
 	private func setupView() {
 		clipsToBounds = true
 		backgroundColor = .black
-		configureAudioSession()
 
 		videoContainer = UIView()
 		videoContainer.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
@@ -141,21 +141,26 @@ class MpvPlayerView: ExpoView {
 		CATransaction.commit()
 	}
 
+	// MARK: - Audio Session & Notifications
+
 	private func configureAudioSession() {
-		let audioSession = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
+		let session = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
 		do {
-			try audioSession.setCategory(
-				.playback,
-				mode: .moviePlayback,
-				policy: .longFormAudio,
-				options: []
-			)
-			try audioSession.setActive(true)
+			try session.setCategory(.playback, mode: .moviePlayback, policy: .longFormAudio, options: [])
+			try session.setActive(true)
 		} catch {
 			print("Failed to configure audio session: \(error)")
 		}
 	}
-	// MARK: - Audio Session & Notifications
+
+	/// Deactivate the session AND reset the category — `setActive(false)` alone
+	/// leaves `.playback`/`.longFormAudio` on the shared singleton, so any later
+	/// reactivation (foreground, route change, other modules) re-steals audio.
+	private func tearDownAudioSession() {
+		let session = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
+		try? session.setActive(false, options: .notifyOthersOnDeactivation)
+		try? session.setCategory(.ambient, mode: .default, options: [.mixWithOthers])
+	}
 
 	private func setupNotifications() {
 		// Handle audio session interruptions (e.g., incoming calls, other apps playing audio)
@@ -270,6 +275,7 @@ class MpvPlayerView: ExpoView {
 
 	func play() {
 		intendedPlayState = true
+		configureAudioSession()
 		setupRemoteCommands()
 		renderer?.play()
 		pipController?.setPlaybackRate(1.0)
@@ -440,6 +446,7 @@ class MpvPlayerView: ExpoView {
 		renderer?.stop()
 		displayLayer.removeFromSuperlayer()
 		clearNowPlayingInfo()
+		tearDownAudioSession()
 		NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(self)
 	}
 }
@@ -519,9 +526,7 @@ extension MpvPlayerView: MPVLayerRendererDelegate {
 	}
 
 	func renderer(_: MPVLayerRenderer, didSelectAudioOutput audioOutput: String) {
-		// Audio output is now active - this is the right time to activate audio session and set Now Playing
-		print("[MPV] Audio output ready (\(audioOutput)), activating audio session and syncing Now Playing")
-		nowPlayingManager.activateAudioSession()
+		print("[MPV] Audio output ready (\(audioOutput)), syncing Now Playing")
 		syncNowPlaying(isPlaying: !isPaused())
 	}
 }
@@ -633,6 +638,9 @@ extension MpvPlayerView: PiPControllerDelegate {
 		print("PiP did start: \(didStartPictureInPicture)")
 		// Ensure current time is synced when PiP starts
 		pipController?.setCurrentTimeFromSeconds(cachedPosition, duration: cachedDuration)
+		// Notify JS of the actual PiP active state. `didStartPictureInPicture`
+		// is `false` when AVKit reports a failure to start, so reflect that.
+		onPictureInPictureChange(["isActive": didStartPictureInPicture])
 	}
 	
 	func pipController(_ controller: PiPController, willStopPictureInPicture: Bool) {
@@ -651,6 +659,9 @@ extension MpvPlayerView: PiPControllerDelegate {
 		if _isZoomedToFill {
 			displayLayer.videoGravity = .resizeAspectFill
 		}
+		// Notify JS that PiP has fully stopped so the controls overlay can
+		// be re-mounted when the user returns to full screen.
+		onPictureInPictureChange(["isActive": false])
 	}
 	
 	func pipController(_ controller: PiPController, restoreUserInterfaceForPictureInPictureStop completionHandler: @escaping (Bool) -> Void) {
diff --git a/providers/Downloads/database.ts b/providers/Downloads/database.ts
index 667a5b4dc..9d77ad2a0 100644
--- a/providers/Downloads/database.ts
+++ b/providers/Downloads/database.ts
@@ -4,28 +4,68 @@ import type { DownloadedItem, DownloadsDatabase } from "./types";
 
 const DOWNLOADS_DATABASE_KEY = "downloads.v2.json";
 
+// Performance optimization: Cache the parsed database to avoid repeated JSON.parse calls
+let cachedDb: DownloadsDatabase | null = null;
+let cacheVersion = 0;
+
+// Performance optimization: Cache the flattened items array
+let cachedItems: DownloadedItem[] | null = null;
+let itemsCacheVersion = -1;
+
+// Performance optimization: Index for O(1) item lookups by ID
+let itemIndex: Map<string, DownloadedItem> | null = null;
+let indexCacheVersion = -1;
+
 /**
  * Get the downloads database from storage
+ * PERFORMANCE: Caches the parsed database to avoid repeated JSON.parse calls.
+ * NOTE: Returns the shared cached instance — do NOT mutate it directly. Go
+ * through addDownloadedItem/updateDownloadedItem/removeDownloadedItem so
+ * saveDownloadsDatabase() runs and the derived caches stay consistent.
  */
 export function getDownloadsDatabase(): DownloadsDatabase {
+  // Return cached database if available
+  if (cachedDb !== null) {
+    return cachedDb;
+  }
+
+  // Parse from storage and cache the result
   const file = storage.getString(DOWNLOADS_DATABASE_KEY);
   if (file) {
-    return JSON.parse(file) as DownloadsDatabase;
+    cachedDb = JSON.parse(file) as DownloadsDatabase;
+    return cachedDb;
   }
-  return { movies: {}, series: {}, other: {} };
+
+  const emptyDb = { movies: {}, series: {}, other: {} };
+  cachedDb = emptyDb;
+  return emptyDb;
 }
 
 /**
  * Save the downloads database to storage
+ * PERFORMANCE: Updates cache and invalidates derived caches
  */
 export function saveDownloadsDatabase(db: DownloadsDatabase): void {
   storage.set(DOWNLOADS_DATABASE_KEY, JSON.stringify(db));
+  // Update the cache with the new database
+  cachedDb = db;
+  // Invalidate derived caches (items array and index)
+  cachedItems = null;
+  itemIndex = null;
+  cacheVersion++;
 }
 
 /**
  * Get all downloaded items as a flat array
+ * PERFORMANCE: Caches the flattened array to avoid rebuilding on every call
  */
 export function getAllDownloadedItems(): DownloadedItem[] {
+  // Return cached items if available and up-to-date
+  if (cachedItems !== null && itemsCacheVersion === cacheVersion) {
+    return cachedItems;
+  }
+
+  // Build the items array from the database
   const db = getDownloadsDatabase();
   const items: DownloadedItem[] = [];
 
@@ -47,34 +87,41 @@ export function getAllDownloadedItems(): DownloadedItem[] {
     }
   }
 
+  // Cache the result
+  cachedItems = items;
+  itemsCacheVersion = cacheVersion;
+
   return items;
 }
 
 /**
- * Get a downloaded item by its ID
+ * Build or refresh the item index for O(1) lookups
  */
-export function getDownloadedItemById(id: string): DownloadedItem | undefined {
-  const db = getDownloadsDatabase();
-
-  if (db.movies[id]) {
-    return db.movies[id];
+function ensureItemIndex(): void {
+  if (itemIndex !== null && indexCacheVersion === cacheVersion) {
+    return; // Index is up-to-date
   }
 
-  for (const series of Object.values(db.series)) {
-    for (const season of Object.values(series.seasons)) {
-      for (const episode of Object.values(season.episodes)) {
-        if (episode.item.Id === id) {
-          return episode;
-        }
-      }
+  // Build new index from all items
+  itemIndex = new Map<string, DownloadedItem>();
+  const items = getAllDownloadedItems();
+
+  for (const item of items) {
+    if (item.item.Id) {
+      itemIndex.set(item.item.Id, item);
     }
   }
 
-  if (db.other?.[id]) {
-    return db.other[id];
-  }
+  indexCacheVersion = cacheVersion;
+}
 
-  return undefined;
+/**
+ * Get a downloaded item by its ID
+ * PERFORMANCE: Uses O(1) index lookup instead of O(n²) iteration
+ */
+export function getDownloadedItemById(id: string): DownloadedItem | undefined {
+  ensureItemIndex();
+  return itemIndex!.get(id);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -221,4 +268,5 @@ export function updateDownloadedItem(
  */
 export function clearAllDownloadedItems(): void {
   saveDownloadsDatabase({ movies: {}, series: {}, other: {} });
+  // saveDownloadsDatabase already invalidates caches
 }
diff --git a/providers/JellyfinProvider.tsx b/providers/JellyfinProvider.tsx
index 8608222b8..185c306c7 100644
--- a/providers/JellyfinProvider.tsx
+++ b/providers/JellyfinProvider.tsx
@@ -619,44 +619,54 @@ export const JellyfinProvider: React.FC<{ children: ReactNode }> = ({
             setUser(storedUser);
           }
 
-          const response = await getUserApi(apiInstance).getCurrentUser();
-          setUser(response.data);
+          // Dismiss splash screen with cached data immediately,
+          // fetch fresh user data in the background
+          setInitialLoaded(true);
 
-          // Migrate current session to secure storage if not already saved
-          if (storedUser?.Id && storedUser?.Name) {
-            const existingCredential = await getAccountCredential(
-              serverUrl,
-              storedUser.Id,
-            );
-            if (!existingCredential) {
-              await saveAccountCredential({
+          try {
+            const response = await getUserApi(apiInstance).getCurrentUser();
+            setUser(response.data);
+
+            // Migrate current session to secure storage if not already saved
+            if (storedUser?.Id && storedUser?.Name) {
+              const existingCredential = await getAccountCredential(
                 serverUrl,
-                serverName: "",
-                token,
-                userId: storedUser.Id,
-                username: storedUser.Name,
-                savedAt: Date.now(),
-                securityType: "none",
-                primaryImageTag: response.data.PrimaryImageTag ?? undefined,
-              });
-            } else if (
-              response.data.PrimaryImageTag !==
-              existingCredential.primaryImageTag
-            ) {
-              // Update image tag if it has changed
-              addAccountToServer(serverUrl, existingCredential.serverName, {
-                userId: existingCredential.userId,
-                username: existingCredential.username,
-                securityType: existingCredential.securityType,
-                savedAt: existingCredential.savedAt,
-                primaryImageTag: response.data.PrimaryImageTag ?? undefined,
-              });
+                storedUser.Id,
+              );
+              if (!existingCredential) {
+                await saveAccountCredential({
+                  serverUrl,
+                  serverName: "",
+                  token,
+                  userId: storedUser.Id,
+                  username: storedUser.Name,
+                  savedAt: Date.now(),
+                  securityType: "none",
+                  primaryImageTag: response.data.PrimaryImageTag ?? undefined,
+                });
+              } else if (
+                response.data.PrimaryImageTag !==
+                existingCredential.primaryImageTag
+              ) {
+                // Update image tag if it has changed
+                addAccountToServer(serverUrl, existingCredential.serverName, {
+                  userId: existingCredential.userId,
+                  username: existingCredential.username,
+                  securityType: existingCredential.securityType,
+                  savedAt: existingCredential.savedAt,
+                  primaryImageTag: response.data.PrimaryImageTag ?? undefined,
+                });
+              }
             }
+          } catch (e) {
+            // Background fetch failed — app already rendered with cached data
+            console.warn("Background user fetch failed, using cached data:", e);
           }
+        } else {
+          setInitialLoaded(true);
         }
       } catch (e) {
         console.error(e);
-      } finally {
         setInitialLoaded(true);
       }
     };
diff --git a/utils/atoms/settings.ts b/utils/atoms/settings.ts
index 8e2bfcf5b..f4c6c7dd1 100644
--- a/utils/atoms/settings.ts
+++ b/utils/atoms/settings.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   type SortOrder,
   SubtitlePlaybackMode,
 } from "@jellyfin/sdk/lib/generated-client";
+import { t } from "i18next";
 import { atom, useAtom, useAtomValue } from "jotai";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo } from "react";
 import { BITRATES, type Bitrate } from "@/components/BitrateSelector";
@@ -121,6 +122,46 @@ export interface MaxAutoPlayEpisodeCount {
   value: number;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The plugin may send object-typed settings as plain primitives.
+ * Resolve to the proper option object from the available choices.
+ */
+const normalizePluginValue = (
+  settingsKey: keyof Settings,
+  value: unknown,
+): unknown => {
+  if (typeof value !== "object" || value === null) {
+    const defaultVal = defaultValues[settingsKey];
+    if (
+      typeof defaultVal === "object" &&
+      defaultVal !== null &&
+      "key" in defaultVal &&
+      "value" in defaultVal
+    ) {
+      // defaultBitrate needs a lookup because its keys are human-readable
+      // (e.g. "8 Mb/s") that can't be derived from the raw value (e.g. 8000000).
+      // Other { key, value } settings like maxAutoPlayEpisodeCount work with
+      // the fallback because their keys are just String(value) (e.g. "5").
+      if (settingsKey === "defaultBitrate") {
+        const match = BITRATES.find(
+          (b) => b.key === value || b.value === value,
+        );
+        if (match) return match;
+      }
+      // maxAutoPlayEpisodeCount: 0 is invalid (breaks autoplay), clamp to -1
+      // -1 key must match the translated dropdown label so the UI shows "Disabled"
+      if (
+        settingsKey === "maxAutoPlayEpisodeCount" &&
+        (value === 0 || value === -1)
+      ) {
+        return { key: t("home.settings.other.disabled"), value: -1 };
+      }
+      return { key: String(value), value };
+    }
+  }
+  return value;
+};
+
 export type HomeSectionLatestResolver = {
   parentId?: string;
   limit?: number;
@@ -427,61 +468,37 @@ export const useSettings = () => {
     [_setPluginSettings],
   );
 
-  const refreshStreamyfinPluginSettings = useCallback(
-    async (forceOverride = false) => {
-      if (!api) {
-        return;
+  const refreshStreamyfinPluginSettings = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!api) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const newPluginSettings = await api.getStreamyfinPluginConfig().then(
+      ({ data }) => {
+        writeInfoLog("Got plugin settings", data?.settings);
+        return data?.settings;
+      },
+      (_err) => undefined,
+    );
+    setPluginSettings(newPluginSettings);
+
+    // Locked/unlocked values are handled by the settings memo, which
+    // applies locked values at runtime without overwriting user storage.
+    // We only handle auto-enabling Streamystats here.
+    if (newPluginSettings && _settings) {
+      const streamyStatsUrl = newPluginSettings.streamyStatsServerUrl;
+      if (streamyStatsUrl?.value && _settings.searchEngine !== "Streamystats") {
+        const newSettings = {
+          ...defaultValues,
+          ..._settings,
+          searchEngine: "Streamystats",
+        } as Settings;
+        setSettings(newSettings);
+        saveSettings(newSettings);
       }
-      const newPluginSettings = await api.getStreamyfinPluginConfig().then(
-        ({ data }) => {
-          writeInfoLog("Got plugin settings", data?.settings);
-          return data?.settings;
-        },
-        (_err) => undefined,
-      );
-      setPluginSettings(newPluginSettings);
+    }
 
-      // Apply plugin values to settings
-      if (newPluginSettings && _settings) {
-        const updates: Partial<Settings> = {};
-        for (const [key, setting] of Object.entries(newPluginSettings)) {
-          if (setting && !setting.locked && setting.value !== undefined) {
-            const settingsKey = key as keyof Settings;
-            const effectiveValue = getEffectiveSettingValue(
-              _settings,
-              settingsKey,
-            );
-            // Apply if forceOverride is true, or if neither persisted settings
-            // nor app defaults provide a meaningful value.
-            if (forceOverride || !hasMeaningfulSettingValue(effectiveValue)) {
-              (updates as any)[settingsKey] = setting.value;
-            }
-          }
-        }
-
-        // Auto-enable Streamystats if server URL is provided
-        const streamyStatsUrl = newPluginSettings.streamyStatsServerUrl;
-        if (
-          streamyStatsUrl?.value &&
-          _settings.searchEngine !== "Streamystats"
-        ) {
-          updates.searchEngine = "Streamystats";
-        }
-        if (Object.keys(updates).length > 0) {
-          const newSettings = {
-            ...defaultValues,
-            ..._settings,
-            ...updates,
-          } as Settings;
-          setSettings(newSettings);
-          saveSettings(newSettings);
-        }
-      }
-
-      return newPluginSettings;
-    },
-    [api, _settings],
-  );
+    return newPluginSettings;
+  }, [api, _settings]);
 
   const updateSettings = (update: Partial<Settings>) => {
     if (!_settings) {
@@ -512,8 +529,13 @@ export const useSettings = () => {
       Partial<Settings>
     >((acc, [key, setting]) => {
       if (setting) {
-        const { value, locked } = setting;
+        let { value } = setting;
+        const { locked } = setting;
         const settingsKey = key as keyof Settings;
+
+        // Normalize object-typed settings from plugin (plain primitive → { key, value })
+        value = normalizePluginValue(settingsKey, value);
+
         const effectiveValue = getEffectiveSettingValue(_settings, settingsKey);
 
         (acc as any)[settingsKey] = locked
diff --git a/utils/pairingService.ts b/utils/pairingService.ts
index d666f6b6a..0a9882a9f 100644
--- a/utils/pairingService.ts
+++ b/utils/pairingService.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export function startPairingListener(
   });
 
   socket.on("error", (err) => {
+    if (!active) return;
     if (__DEV__) console.error("[PairingService] Socket error:", err);
     onError?.(err.message);
     cleanup();