diff --git a/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart b/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
index f1214be5..146e1f51 100644
--- a/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
@@ -1154,7 +1154,13 @@ class VideoPlayerScreenState extends State<VideoPlayerScreen> with WidgetsBindin
     final isInPip = _videoPIPManager!.isPipActive.value;
     // Only handle exit - entry is handled by onBeforeEnterPip callback
     if (!isInPip) {
+      final restoreAmbient = _videoFilterManager!.hadAmbientLightingBeforePip;
       _videoFilterManager!.exitPipMode();
+      // Restore ambient lighting if it was active before PiP
+      if (restoreAmbient) {
+        _videoFilterManager!.clearPipAmbientLightingFlag();
+        _restoreAmbientLighting();
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/services/video_filter_manager.dart b/lib/services/video_filter_manager.dart
index 7eb43aa2..9ad1c732 100644
--- a/lib/services/video_filter_manager.dart
+++ b/lib/services/video_filter_manager.dart
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ class VideoFilterManager {
   /// Store the boxFitMode before entering PiP so it can be restored
   int? _prePipBoxFitMode;
 
+  /// Store whether ambient lighting was active before entering PiP
+  bool? _prePipAmbientLighting;
+
   /// Ambient lighting service reference - when active, video-aspect-override is managed by ambient lighting
   AmbientLightingService? ambientLightingService;
 
@@ -75,6 +78,11 @@ class VideoFilterManager {
 
   /// Force contain mode for PiP (no cropping/stretching)
   void enterPipMode() {
+    // Disable ambient lighting for PiP — it wastes space on blurred borders
+    if (ambientLightingService?.isEnabled == true) {
+      _prePipAmbientLighting = true;
+      ambientLightingService!.disable();
+    }
     if (_boxFitMode != 0) {
       _prePipBoxFitMode = _boxFitMode;
       _boxFitMode = 0; // Contain mode
@@ -91,6 +99,14 @@ class VideoFilterManager {
     }
   }
 
+  /// Whether ambient lighting was active before entering PiP
+  bool get hadAmbientLightingBeforePip => _prePipAmbientLighting == true;
+
+  /// Clear the pre-PiP ambient lighting flag after restore
+  void clearPipAmbientLightingFlag() {
+    _prePipAmbientLighting = null;
+  }
+
   /// Update player size when layout changes
   void updatePlayerSize(Size size) {
     // Check if size actually changed to avoid unnecessary updates