diff --git a/app/phone/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/utils/PlayerGestureHelper.kt b/app/phone/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/utils/PlayerGestureHelper.kt
index 9591abef..e647e9cd 100644
--- a/app/phone/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/utils/PlayerGestureHelper.kt
+++ b/app/phone/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/utils/PlayerGestureHelper.kt
@@ -418,6 +418,8 @@ class PlayerGestureHelper(
             activity.window.attributes.screenBrightness = appPreferences.playerBrightness
         }
 
+        updateZoomMode(appPreferences.playerStartMaximized)
+
         @Suppress("ClickableViewAccessibility")
         playerView.setOnTouchListener { _, event ->
             if (playerView.useController) {
diff --git a/core/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/core/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index ec8684c0..1ce1def7 100644
--- a/core/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/core/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@
     <string name="player_gestures_zoom_summary">Pinch to fill the screen with the video</string>
     <string name="player_gestures_seek_summary">Swipe horizontally to seek forwards or backwards</string>
     <string name="player_brightness_remember">Remember brightness level</string>
+    <string name="player_start_maximized">Start maximized</string>
+    <string name="player_start_maximized_summary">Open video in maximized mode by default</string>
     <string name="sort_by_options_0">Title</string>
     <string name="sort_by_options_1">IMDB Rating</string>
     <string name="sort_by_options_2">Parental Rating</string>
diff --git a/core/src/main/res/xml/fragment_settings_player.xml b/core/src/main/res/xml/fragment_settings_player.xml
index ac367054..495e0388 100644
--- a/core/src/main/res/xml/fragment_settings_player.xml
+++ b/core/src/main/res/xml/fragment_settings_player.xml
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@
             app:dependency="pref_player_gestures_vb"
             app:key="pref_player_brightness_remember"
             app:title="@string/player_brightness_remember" />
+        <SwitchPreferenceCompat
+            app:dependency="pref_player_gestures_zoom"
+            app:key="pref_player_start_maximized"
+            app:summary="@string/player_start_maximized_summary"
+            app:title="@string/player_start_maximized" />
     </PreferenceCategory>
 
     <PreferenceCategory app:title="@string/seeking">
diff --git a/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/AppPreferences.kt b/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/AppPreferences.kt
index 155b23fc..132e3c5d 100644
--- a/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/AppPreferences.kt
+++ b/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/AppPreferences.kt
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ constructor(
     val playerBrightnessRemember get() =
         sharedPreferences.getBoolean(Constants.PREF_PLAYER_BRIGHTNESS_REMEMBER, false)
 
+    val playerStartMaximized get() =
+        sharedPreferences.getBoolean(Constants.PREF_PLAYER_START_MAXIMIZED, false)
+
     var playerBrightness: Float
         get() = sharedPreferences.getFloat(
             Constants.PREF_PLAYER_BRIGHTNESS,
diff --git a/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/Constants.kt b/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/Constants.kt
index b34d6313..89403118 100644
--- a/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/Constants.kt
+++ b/preferences/src/main/java/dev/jdtech/jellyfin/Constants.kt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ object Constants {
     const val PREF_PLAYER_GESTURES_ZOOM = "pref_player_gestures_zoom"
     const val PREF_PLAYER_GESTURES_SEEK = "pref_player_gestures_seek"
     const val PREF_PLAYER_BRIGHTNESS_REMEMBER = "pref_player_brightness_remember"
+    const val PREF_PLAYER_START_MAXIMIZED = "pref_player_start_maximized"
     const val PREF_PLAYER_BRIGHTNESS = "pref_player_brightness"
     const val PREF_PLAYER_SEEK_BACK_INC = "pref_player_seek_back_inc"
     const val PREF_PLAYER_SEEK_FORWARD_INC = "pref_player_seek_forward_inc"