diff --git a/components/player/hooks/desktop/usePlaybackControls.ts b/components/player/hooks/desktop/usePlaybackControls.ts
index a182517..9e90777 100644
--- a/components/player/hooks/desktop/usePlaybackControls.ts
+++ b/components/player/hooks/desktop/usePlaybackControls.ts
@@ -64,9 +64,12 @@ export function usePlaybackControls({
         setIsLoading(false);
 
         // Fix for stuck at 00:00:00:
-        // If initialTime is 0, we seek to a tiny offset to help the browser/HLS buffer start.
-        const startPosition = initialTime > 0 ? initialTime : 0.1;
-        videoRef.current.currentTime = startPosition;
+        // Only seek if we are at the very start (to avoid overwriting a previous seek)
+        if (videoRef.current.currentTime < 0.5) {
+            // If initialTime is 0, we seek to a tiny offset to help the browser/HLS buffer start.
+            const startPosition = initialTime > 0 ? initialTime : 0.1;
+            videoRef.current.currentTime = startPosition;
+        }
 
         videoRef.current.play().catch((err: Error) => {
             console.warn('Autoplay was prevented:', err);
diff --git a/components/player/hooks/mobile/useMobilePlaybackControls.ts b/components/player/hooks/mobile/useMobilePlaybackControls.ts
index fa83734..9682f89 100644
--- a/components/player/hooks/mobile/useMobilePlaybackControls.ts
+++ b/components/player/hooks/mobile/useMobilePlaybackControls.ts
@@ -79,9 +79,12 @@ export function useMobilePlaybackControls({
         setIsLoading(false);
 
         // Fix for stuck at 00:00:00:
-        // If initialTime is 0, we seek to a tiny offset to help the browser/HLS buffer start.
-        const startPosition = initialTime > 0 ? initialTime : 0.1;
-        videoRef.current.currentTime = startPosition;
+        // Only seek if we are at the very start (to avoid overwriting a previous seek)
+        if (videoRef.current.currentTime < 0.5) {
+            // If initialTime is 0, we seek to a tiny offset to help the browser/HLS buffer start.
+            const startPosition = initialTime > 0 ? initialTime : 0.1;
+            videoRef.current.currentTime = startPosition;
+        }
 
         videoRef.current.play().catch((err: Error) => {
             console.warn('Autoplay was prevented:', err);
diff --git a/components/player/hooks/useHLSPreloader.ts b/components/player/hooks/useHLSPreloader.ts
index feeeaf3..c698e18 100644
--- a/components/player/hooks/useHLSPreloader.ts
+++ b/components/player/hooks/useHLSPreloader.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ export function useHLSPreloader({ src, currentTime }: UseHLSPreloaderProps) {
                 }
             }
 
+            // Offset start index by 3 segments to avoid competing with browser playback
+            // The browser needs the immediate segments NOW; we preload the future.
+            startIndex = Math.min(startIndex + 3, segmentsRef.current.length - 1);
+
             if (startIndex >= segmentsRef.current.length) return;
 
             // Check if this is sequential playback or a seek