diff --git a/Jellyfin.Plugin.MediaBarEnhanced/Web/mediaBarEnhanced.js b/Jellyfin.Plugin.MediaBarEnhanced/Web/mediaBarEnhanced.js
index cabce35..9d99188 100644
--- a/Jellyfin.Plugin.MediaBarEnhanced/Web/mediaBarEnhanced.js
+++ b/Jellyfin.Plugin.MediaBarEnhanced/Web/mediaBarEnhanced.js
@@ -1709,13 +1709,6 @@ const SlideCreator = {
                   event.target._endTime = playerVars.end || undefined;
                   event.target._videoId = videoId;
 
-                  if (STATE.slideshow.isMuted) {
-                    event.target.mute();
-                  } else {
-                    event.target.unMute();
-                    event.target.setVolume(40);
-                  }
-
                   if (typeof event.target.setPlaybackQuality === 'function') {
                     event.target.setPlaybackQuality(quality);
                   }
@@ -1725,6 +1718,14 @@ const SlideCreator = {
                   const isVideoPlayerOpen = document.querySelector('.videoPlayerContainer') || document.querySelector('.youtubePlayerContainer');
 
                   if (slide && slide.classList.contains('active') && !document.hidden && (!isVideoPlayerOpen || isVideoPlayerOpen.classList.contains('hide'))) {
+                    // Set mute state only for active slide
+                    if (STATE.slideshow.isMuted) {
+                      event.target.mute();
+                    } else {
+                      event.target.unMute();
+                      event.target.setVolume(40);
+                    }
+
                     event.target.playVideo();
                     
                     // Check if it actually started playing after a short delay (handling autoplay blocks)
@@ -1754,11 +1755,16 @@ const SlideCreator = {
                     if (CONFIG.waitForTrailerToEnd && STATE.slideshow.slideInterval) {
                       STATE.slideshow.slideInterval.stop();
                     }
+                  } else {
+                    event.target.mute();
                   }
                 },
                 'onStateChange': (event) => {
                   if (event.data === YT.PlayerState.ENDED) {
-                    SlideshowManager.nextSlide();
+                    const slide = document.querySelector(`.slide[data-item-id="${itemId}"]`);
+                    if (slide && slide.classList.contains('active')) {
+                      SlideshowManager.nextSlide();
+                    }
                   }
                 },
                 'onError': (event) => {
@@ -2297,13 +2303,20 @@ const SlideshowManager = {
 
       // Manage Video Playback: Stop others, Play current
 
-      // 1. Pause all other YouTube players
+      // 1. Pause and mute all other YouTube players
       if (STATE.slideshow.videoPlayers) {
         Object.keys(STATE.slideshow.videoPlayers).forEach(id => {
           if (id !== currentItemId) {
             const p = STATE.slideshow.videoPlayers[id];
-            if (p && typeof p.pauseVideo === 'function') {
-              p.pauseVideo();
+            if (p) {
+              try {
+                if (typeof p.pauseVideo === 'function') {
+                  p.pauseVideo();
+                  if (typeof p.mute === 'function') {
+                    p.mute();
+                  }
+                }
+              } catch (e) { console.warn("Error pausing player", id, e); }
             }
           }
         });
@@ -2339,8 +2352,8 @@ const SlideshowManager = {
           videoBackdrop.play().catch(e => {
             // Check if it actually started playing after a short delay (handling autoplay blocks)
             setTimeout(() => {
-              if (videoBackdrop.paused) {
-                console.warn(`Autoplay blocked for ${itemId}, attempting muted fallback`);
+              if (videoBackdrop.paused && currentSlide.classList.contains('active')) {
+                console.warn(`Autoplay blocked for ${currentItemId}, attempting muted fallback`);
                 videoBackdrop.muted = true;
                 videoBackdrop.play().catch(err => console.error("Muted fallback failed", err));
               }
@@ -2349,12 +2362,28 @@ const SlideshowManager = {
         } else if (STATE.slideshow.videoPlayers && STATE.slideshow.videoPlayers[currentItemId]) {
           const player = STATE.slideshow.videoPlayers[currentItemId];
           if (player && typeof player.loadVideoById === 'function' && player._videoId) {
-            // Use loadVideoById to enforce start and end times
-            player.loadVideoById({
-              videoId: player._videoId,
-              startSeconds: player._startTime || 0,
-              endSeconds: player._endTime
-            });
+            // If same video is already loaded, just seek and play (much faster)
+            let isAlreadyLoaded = false;
+            if (typeof player.getVideoData === 'function') {
+              try {
+                const data = player.getVideoData();
+                if (data && data.video_id === player._videoId) {
+                  isAlreadyLoaded = true;
+                }
+              } catch (e) { /* player not fully ready */ }
+            }
+
+            if (isAlreadyLoaded) {
+              player.seekTo(player._startTime || 0);
+              player.playVideo();
+            } else {
+              // Full load needed (first time or different video)
+              player.loadVideoById({
+                videoId: player._videoId,
+                startSeconds: player._startTime || 0,
+                endSeconds: player._endTime
+              });
+            }
 
             if (STATE.slideshow.isMuted) {
               player.mute();
@@ -2365,6 +2394,7 @@ const SlideshowManager = {
 
             // Check if playback successfully started, otherwise fallback to muted
             setTimeout(() => {
+              if (!currentSlide.classList.contains('active')) return;
               if (player.getPlayerState &&
                 player.getPlayerState() !== YT.PlayerState.PLAYING &&
                 player.getPlayerState() !== YT.PlayerState.BUFFERING) {