diff --git a/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart b/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
index f12659b3..206cc32f 100644
--- a/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
@@ -876,12 +876,14 @@ class VideoPlayerScreenState extends State<VideoPlayerScreen> with WidgetsBindin
 
         // Check whether any thumbnails exist by requesting the first one
         if (_currentMediaInfo?.partId != null && !widget.isOffline) {
-          final url = _buildThumbnailUrl(context, Duration.zero);
-          if (url != null) {
-            HttpClient().getUrl(Uri.parse(url)).then((req) => req.close()).then((res) {
-              if (mounted) setState(() => _hasThumbnails = res.statusCode == 200);
-            }).catchError((_) {});
-          }
+          final partId = _currentMediaInfo!.partId!;
+          final client = _getClientForMetadata(context);
+          client.checkThumbnailsAvailable(partId).then((available) {
+            // Guard against media having changed while the probe was in flight
+            if (mounted && _currentMediaInfo?.partId == partId) {
+              setState(() => _hasThumbnails = available);
+            }
+          });
         }
 
         // Initialize video PIP and filter manager with player and available versions
@@ -1888,7 +1890,9 @@ class VideoPlayerScreenState extends State<VideoPlayerScreen> with WidgetsBindin
                         controlsVisible: _controlsVisible,
                         shaderService: _shaderService,
                         onShaderChanged: () => setState(() {}),
-                        thumbnailUrlBuilder: _hasThumbnails ? (Duration time) => _buildThumbnailUrl(context, time)! : null,
+                        thumbnailUrlBuilder: _hasThumbnails && _currentMediaInfo?.partId != null
+                            ? (Duration time) => _buildThumbnailUrl(context, time)!
+                            : null,
                       ),
                     );
                   },
diff --git a/lib/services/plex_client.dart b/lib/services/plex_client.dart
index a307fdbf..40b4bdb4 100644
--- a/lib/services/plex_client.dart
+++ b/lib/services/plex_client.dart
@@ -754,6 +754,20 @@ class PlexClient {
     return '${config.baseUrl}/$path'.withPlexToken(config.token);
   }
 
+  /// Check whether thumbnail previews are available for a given part.
+  /// Returns true if the server responds with 200 to the first thumbnail.
+  Future<bool> checkThumbnailsAvailable(int partId) async {
+    try {
+      final response = await _dio.get(
+        '/library/parts/$partId/indexes/sd/0',
+        options: Options(responseType: ResponseType.bytes, receiveTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 5)),
+      );
+      return response.statusCode == 200;
+    } catch (_) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
   /// Get chapters for a media item
   Future<List<PlexChapter>> getChapters(String ratingKey) async {
     final response = await _dio.get('/library/metadata/$ratingKey', queryParameters: {'includeChapters': 1});