diff --git a/Yattee/Views/Player/ExpandedPlayerSheet+Layouts.swift b/Yattee/Views/Player/ExpandedPlayerSheet+Layouts.swift
index 0fdef1a5..cf8c48cf 100644
--- a/Yattee/Views/Player/ExpandedPlayerSheet+Layouts.swift
+++ b/Yattee/Views/Player/ExpandedPlayerSheet+Layouts.swift
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                         closeVideo()
                     },
                     onTogglePiP: {
-                        if let mpvBackend = backend as? MPVBackend {
+                        if let mpvBackend = playerService.currentBackend as? MPVBackend {
                             mpvBackend.togglePiP()
                         }
                     },
@@ -873,9 +873,9 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                 .offset(y: controlsVerticalOffset)
             }
             #elseif os(macOS)
-            if let backend = playerService?.currentBackend,
-               backend.backendType == .mpv,
-               let playerState,
+            // No backend gate: the backend is created only after the video
+            // details fetch, and controls should be visible while loading.
+            if let playerState,
                let playerService,
                playerState.pipState != .active && !playerState.showDebugOverlay {
                 MacOSPlayerControlsView(
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                         closeVideo()
                     },
                     onTogglePiP: {
-                        if let mpvBackend = backend as? MPVBackend {
+                        if let mpvBackend = playerService.currentBackend as? MPVBackend {
                             mpvBackend.togglePiP()
                         }
                     },
@@ -1142,9 +1142,9 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
             .frame(width: controlsWidth, height: controlsHeight)
         }
         #elseif os(macOS)
-        if let backend = playerService?.currentBackend,
-           backend.backendType == .mpv,
-           let playerState,
+        // No backend gate: the backend is created only after the video
+        // details fetch, and controls should be visible while loading.
+        if let playerState,
            let playerService,
            playerState.pipState != .active && !playerState.showDebugOverlay {
             MacOSPlayerControlsView(
@@ -1166,7 +1166,7 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                     closeVideo()
                 },
                 onTogglePiP: {
-                    if let mpvBackend = backend as? MPVBackend {
+                    if let mpvBackend = playerService.currentBackend as? MPVBackend {
                         mpvBackend.togglePiP()
                     }
                 },
@@ -1447,7 +1447,7 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                         closeVideo()
                     },
                     onTogglePiP: {
-                        if let mpvBackend = backend as? MPVBackend {
+                        if let mpvBackend = playerService.currentBackend as? MPVBackend {
                             mpvBackend.togglePiP()
                         }
                     },
@@ -1551,9 +1551,9 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                 }
             }
             #elseif os(macOS)
-            if let backend = playerService?.currentBackend,
-               backend.backendType == .mpv,
-               let playerState,
+            // No backend gate: the backend is created only after the video
+            // details fetch, and controls should be visible while loading.
+            if let playerState,
                let playerService,
                playerState.pipState != .active && !playerState.showDebugOverlay {
                 MacOSPlayerControlsView(
@@ -1585,7 +1585,7 @@ extension ExpandedPlayerSheet {
                         closeVideo()
                     },
                     onTogglePiP: {
-                        if let mpvBackend = backend as? MPVBackend {
+                        if let mpvBackend = playerService.currentBackend as? MPVBackend {
                             mpvBackend.togglePiP()
                         }
                     },
diff --git a/Yattee/Views/Player/macOS/MacOSPlayerControlsView.swift b/Yattee/Views/Player/macOS/MacOSPlayerControlsView.swift
index 97104d55..76e2aadb 100644
--- a/Yattee/Views/Player/macOS/MacOSPlayerControlsView.swift
+++ b/Yattee/Views/Player/macOS/MacOSPlayerControlsView.swift
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ struct MacOSPlayerControlsView: View {
 
     /// Controls visibility - show when hovering, interacting, or paused
     private var shouldShowControls: Bool {
+        // Ended/failed overlays take over the surface; controls stay hidden
+        // regardless of hover or manual toggles.
+        if playerState.playbackState == .ended || playerState.isFailed {
+            return false
+        }
         if let showControls {
             return showControls
         }
@@ -96,11 +101,9 @@ struct MacOSPlayerControlsView: View {
         if isHovering || isInteracting {
             return true
         }
-        // Show when paused, loading, or failed
+        // Show when paused or loading
         return playerState.playbackState == .paused ||
-               playerState.playbackState == .loading ||
-               playerState.playbackState == .ended ||
-               playerState.isFailed
+               playerState.playbackState == .loading
     }
 
     /// Yattee Server URL used by `ChannelAvatarView` for avatar fallback.
@@ -295,14 +298,13 @@ struct MacOSPlayerControlsView: View {
             if newState == .playing && shouldShowControls {
                 startHideTimer()
             }
-            // Hide controls when video ends (ended overlay takes over)
-            if newState == .ended {
-                showControls = false
-                cancelHideTimer()
+            // A new load resets any manual show/hide override (e.g. hidden
+            // after ended/failed) so controls are visible while loading.
+            if newState == .loading {
+                showControls = nil
             }
-            // Hide controls when video fails
-            if case .failed = newState {
-                showControls = false
+            // Ended/failed hide via shouldShowControls; just stop the timer.
+            if newState == .ended || playerState.isFailed {
                 cancelHideTimer()
             }
         }