diff --git a/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart b/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
index 607b01fa..25583d6c 100644
--- a/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/video_player_screen.dart
@@ -1891,8 +1891,8 @@ class VideoPlayerScreenState extends State<VideoPlayerScreen> with WidgetsBindin
                         builder: (context, hasFrame, child) {
                           if ((!isBuffering && hasFrame) || _isExiting.value) return const SizedBox.shrink();
                           // Show spinner only - controls overlay provides its own black background during loading
-                          return IgnorePointer(
-                            child: Positioned.fill(
+                          return Positioned.fill(
+                            child: IgnorePointer(
                               child: Center(
                                 child: Container(
                                   padding: const EdgeInsets.all(20),
diff --git a/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart b/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart
index 0a535315..887d6d78 100644
--- a/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart
+++ b/lib/widgets/video_controls/video_controls.dart
@@ -426,6 +426,12 @@ class _PlexVideoControlsState extends State<PlexVideoControls> with WindowListen
         _clickVideoTogglesPlayback = settingsService.getClickVideoTogglesPlayback();
       });
 
+      // Focus play/pause if navigation is now enabled and controls are visible
+      // (handles case where initState focus attempt failed due to async settings load)
+      if (_videoPlayerNavigationEnabled && _showControls) {
+        _focusPlayPauseIfKeyboardMode();
+      }
+
       // Apply rotation lock setting
       if (_isRotationLocked) {
         SystemChrome.setPreferredOrientations([DeviceOrientation.landscapeLeft, DeviceOrientation.landscapeRight]);