diff --git a/app/(auth)/items/[id]/page.tsx b/app/(auth)/items/[id]/page.tsx
index a770f38f..a9bcea02 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/items/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/items/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ import CastContext, {
 } from "react-native-google-cast";
 import { chromecastProfile } from "@/utils/profiles/chromecast";
 import ios12 from "@/utils/profiles/ios12";
-import { currentlyPlayingItemAtom } from "@/components/CurrentlyPlayingBar";
+import {
+  currentlyPlayingItemAtom,
+  triggerPlayAtom,
+} from "@/components/CurrentlyPlayingBar";
 import { AudioTrackSelector } from "@/components/AudioTrackSelector";
 import { SubtitleTrackSelector } from "@/components/SubtitleTrackSelector";
 import { NextEpisodeButton } from "@/components/series/NextEpisodeButton";
@@ -130,6 +133,7 @@ const page: React.FC = () => {
 
   const [, setCp] = useAtom(currentlyPlayingItemAtom);
   const client = useRemoteMediaClient();
+  const [, setPlayTrigger] = useAtom(triggerPlayAtom);
 
   const onPressPlay = useCallback(
     async (type: "device" | "cast" = "device") => {
@@ -159,6 +163,9 @@ const page: React.FC = () => {
           item,
           playbackUrl,
         });
+
+        // Use this trigger to initiate playback in another component (CurrentlyPlayingBar)
+        setPlayTrigger((prev) => prev + 1);
       }
     },
     [playbackUrl, item],
diff --git a/components/CurrentlyPlayingBar.tsx b/components/CurrentlyPlayingBar.tsx
index 0160fcd2..e2ba26df 100644
--- a/components/CurrentlyPlayingBar.tsx
+++ b/components/CurrentlyPlayingBar.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,15 @@ import {
 } from "react-native";
 import { Text } from "./common/Text";
 import { Ionicons } from "@expo/vector-icons";
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import {
+  Ref,
+  RefObject,
+  useCallback,
+  useEffect,
+  useMemo,
+  useRef,
+  useState,
+} from "react";
 import Video, { OnProgressData, VideoRef } from "react-native-video";
 import { BaseItemDto } from "@jellyfin/sdk/lib/generated-client/models";
 import { atom, useAtom } from "jotai";
@@ -34,6 +42,8 @@ export const currentlyPlayingItemAtom = atom<{
   playbackUrl: string;
 } | null>(null);
 
+export const triggerPlayAtom = atom(0);
+
 export const CurrentlyPlayingBar: React.FC = () => {
   const [api] = useAtom(apiAtom);
   const [user] = useAtom(userAtom);
@@ -41,7 +51,7 @@ export const CurrentlyPlayingBar: React.FC = () => {
 
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const segments = useSegments();
-  const [settings, updateSettings] = useSettings();
+  const [settings] = useSettings();
 
   const videoRef = useRef<VideoRef | null>(null);
   const [paused, setPaused] = useState(true);
@@ -191,12 +201,29 @@ export const CurrentlyPlayingBar: React.FC = () => {
     [item],
   );
 
+  /**
+   * These two useEffects are used to start playing the
+   * video when the playbackUrl is available.
+   *
+   * The trigger playback is triggered from the button component.
+   */
   useEffect(() => {
     if (cp?.playbackUrl) {
       play();
+      if (settings?.openFullScreenVideoPlayerByDefault) {
+        videoRef.current?.presentFullscreenPlayer();
+      }
     }
   }, [cp?.playbackUrl]);
 
+  const [triggerPlay] = useAtom(triggerPlayAtom);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    play();
+    if (settings?.openFullScreenVideoPlayerByDefault) {
+      videoRef.current?.presentFullscreenPlayer();
+    }
+  }, [triggerPlay]);
+
   if (!cp || !api) return null;
 
   return (
diff --git a/components/settings/SettingToggles.tsx b/components/settings/SettingToggles.tsx
index 258a84ce..64fa083f 100644
--- a/components/settings/SettingToggles.tsx
+++ b/components/settings/SettingToggles.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,15 @@ export const SettingToggles: React.FC = () => {
           onValueChange={(value) => updateSettings({ autoRotate: value })}
         />
       </View>
+      <View className="flex flex-row items-center justify-between bg-neutral-900 p-4">
+        <Text>Start videos in fullscreen</Text>
+        <Switch
+          value={settings?.openFullScreenVideoPlayerByDefault}
+          onValueChange={(value) =>
+            updateSettings({ openFullScreenVideoPlayerByDefault: value })
+          }
+        />
+      </View>
     </View>
   );
 };
diff --git a/utils/atoms/settings.ts b/utils/atoms/settings.ts
index 708f0063..80dfd624 100644
--- a/utils/atoms/settings.ts
+++ b/utils/atoms/settings.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { useEffect } from "react";
 type Settings = {
   autoRotate?: boolean;
   forceLandscapeInVideoPlayer?: boolean;
+  openFullScreenVideoPlayerByDefault?: boolean;
 };
 
 /**