diff --git a/src-tauri/src/repository/online.rs b/src-tauri/src/repository/online.rs
index 01bc3f7..b87aeb7 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/repository/online.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/repository/online.rs
@@ -193,9 +193,16 @@ impl OnlineRepository {
         })
     }
 
-    /// Get a video stream URL for playback with optional seeking support.
-    /// For direct streams, uses /Videos/{id}/stream.mp4 with transcoding to support seeking.
-    /// For transcoded streams (HEVC/10-bit), includes StartTimeTicks parameter.
+    /// Get a video stream URL for playback at an arbitrary position (resume,
+    /// transcoded seeking, audio-track switching).
+    ///
+    /// Returns an HLS master playlist (`/Videos/{id}/master.m3u8`) transcoded to
+    /// h264/aac. HLS is used rather than a progressive `stream.mp4` because the
+    /// HTML5 `<video>` element (via HLS.js) starts playing within seconds and can
+    /// seek within the stream, whereas a progressive MP4 transcode of HEVC source
+    /// forces the server to transcode the whole file before playback can begin —
+    /// which manifests as playback never starting. `StartTimeTicks` makes the
+    /// server begin the transcode at the requested position.
     pub async fn get_video_stream_url(
         &self,
         item_id: &str,
@@ -210,12 +217,11 @@ impl OnlineRepository {
         // Use provided audio stream index, or default to 0
         let audio_index = audio_stream_index.unwrap_or(0).to_string();
 
-        // Build URL with progressive MP4 transcoding for seeking support
-        // This works for both direct streams and HEVC content
+        // Build an HLS transcode URL. VideoCodec lists h264 first so the server
+        // transcodes HEVC/10-bit/unsupported sources to h264 the WebView can decode.
         let mut params = vec![
             ("api_key", self.access_token.clone()),
             ("DeviceId", "jellytau-tauri".to_string()),
-            ("Container", "mp4".to_string()),
             ("VideoCodec", "h264".to_string()),
             ("AudioCodec", "aac".to_string()),
             ("AudioStreamIndex", audio_index),
@@ -223,6 +229,9 @@ impl OnlineRepository {
             ("VideoBitrate", "18000000".to_string()),
             ("AudioBitrate", "384000".to_string()),
             ("TranscodingMaxAudioChannels", "2".to_string()),
+            ("SegmentContainer", "ts".to_string()),
+            ("TranscodingContainer", "ts".to_string()),
+            ("TranscodingProtocol", "hls".to_string()),
         ];
 
         if let Some(source_id) = media_source_id {
@@ -241,7 +250,7 @@ impl OnlineRepository {
             .join("&");
 
         let url = format!(
-            "{}/Videos/{}/stream.mp4?{}",
+            "{}/Videos/{}/master.m3u8?{}",
             self.server_url, item_id, query
         );
 
@@ -1403,6 +1412,46 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_get_video_stream_url_returns_hls_with_position() {
+        // Transcoded video resume/seek must produce an HLS master playlist with
+        // StartTimeTicks, not a progressive stream.mp4 (which never starts playing
+        // for HEVC sources). See get_video_stream_url docs.
+        let repo = create_test_repository();
+
+        let url = repo
+            .get_video_stream_url("vid-1", Some("source-1"), Some(193.0), Some(1))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(
+            url.starts_with("https://test.server.com/Videos/vid-1/master.m3u8?"),
+            "expected HLS master playlist, got: {url}"
+        );
+        assert!(url.contains("VideoCodec=h264"));
+        assert!(url.contains("MediaSourceId=source-1"));
+        assert!(url.contains("AudioStreamIndex=1"));
+        // 193.0 seconds * 10_000_000 ticks/sec
+        assert!(url.contains("StartTimeTicks=1930000000"), "url: {url}");
+        assert!(!url.contains("stream.mp4"));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_get_video_stream_url_omits_position_when_absent() {
+        let repo = create_test_repository();
+
+        let url = repo
+            .get_video_stream_url("vid-1", None, None, None)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(url.starts_with("https://test.server.com/Videos/vid-1/master.m3u8?"));
+        assert!(!url.contains("StartTimeTicks"));
+        assert!(!url.contains("MediaSourceId"));
+        // Defaults to first audio stream
+        assert!(url.contains("AudioStreamIndex=0"));
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_get_audio_stream_url_with_special_characters() {
         let repo = create_test_repository();