diff --git a/src/content/inject.js b/src/content/inject.js
index f28c2f2b..71ecb75d 100644
--- a/src/content/inject.js
+++ b/src/content/inject.js
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ class VideoSpeedExtension {
 
       this.injectControllerCSS();
       this.setupCSSLiveUpdates();
+      this.setupControllerExpansionLiveUpdates();
       this.siteHandlerManager.initialize(document);
 
       this.eventManager = new this.EventManager(this.config, null);
@@ -291,6 +292,27 @@ class VideoSpeedExtension {
     });
   }
 
+  /** Live-update expanded controls on every attached controller. */
+  setupControllerExpansionLiveUpdates() {
+    document.documentElement.addEventListener('VSC_STORAGE_CHANGED', (event) => {
+      const changes = event.detail;
+      if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(changes || {}, 'keepControlsExpanded')) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const expanded = changes.keepControlsExpanded?.newValue === true;
+      this.config.settings.keepControlsExpanded = expanded;
+
+      const mediaElements = window.VSC.stateManager?.getAllMediaElements() || [];
+      for (const media of mediaElements) {
+        const shadow = media.vsc?.div?.shadowRoot;
+        if (shadow) {
+          window.VSC.ShadowDOMManager.setControlsExpanded(shadow, expanded);
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
   /**
    * Set up observers for DOM changes and video detection
    */
diff --git a/src/core/settings.js b/src/core/settings.js
index 4312afc7..b555e450 100644
--- a/src/core/settings.js
+++ b/src/core/settings.js
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ if (!window.VSC.VideoSpeedConfig) {
         this.settings.exclusiveKeys = Boolean(storage.exclusiveKeys);
         this.settings.audioBoolean = Boolean(storage.audioBoolean);
         this.settings.startHidden = Boolean(storage.startHidden);
+        this.settings.keepControlsExpanded = Boolean(storage.keepControlsExpanded);
         this.settings.controllerOpacity = Number(storage.controllerOpacity);
         this.settings.controllerButtonSize = Number(storage.controllerButtonSize);
         // One-time migration: drop legacy controllerCSS key, reset to new model.
diff --git a/src/core/video-controller.js b/src/core/video-controller.js
index d48fcec8..4b4fefb0 100644
--- a/src/core/video-controller.js
+++ b/src/core/video-controller.js
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ class VideoController {
       speed: speed,
       opacity: this.config.settings.controllerOpacity,
       buttonSize: this.config.settings.controllerButtonSize,
+      keepControlsExpanded: this.config.settings.keepControlsExpanded,
     });
 
     // Set up control events
diff --git a/src/ui/options/options.html b/src/ui/options/options.html
index c463ad2f..cc7efc4f 100644
--- a/src/ui/options/options.html
+++ b/src/ui/options/options.html
@@ -57,6 +57,16 @@ <h3>Preferences</h3>
           >
           <input id="startHidden" type="checkbox" />
         </div>
+        <div class="row">
+          <label for="keepControlsExpanded"
+            >Keep controls expanded<br />
+            <em
+              >Always show the rewind, speed, and advance buttons instead of revealing them only on
+              hover.</em
+            ></label
+          >
+          <input id="keepControlsExpanded" type="checkbox" />
+        </div>
         <div class="row">
           <label for="exclusiveKeys"
             >Exclusive keyboard shortcuts<br />
diff --git a/src/ui/options/options.js b/src/ui/options/options.js
index 24b40bf4..6e1d1e0b 100644
--- a/src/ui/options/options.js
+++ b/src/ui/options/options.js
@@ -725,6 +725,7 @@ async function save_options() {
     const exclusiveKeys = document.getElementById('exclusiveKeys').checked;
     const audioBoolean = document.getElementById('audioBoolean').checked;
     const startHidden = document.getElementById('startHidden').checked;
+    const keepControlsExpanded = document.getElementById('keepControlsExpanded').checked;
     const controllerOpacity = Number(document.getElementById('controllerOpacity').value);
     const controllerButtonSize = Number(document.getElementById('controllerButtonSize').value);
     const logLevel = parseInt(document.getElementById('logLevel').value);
@@ -765,6 +766,7 @@ async function save_options() {
       exclusiveKeys: exclusiveKeys,
       audioBoolean: audioBoolean,
       startHidden: startHidden,
+      keepControlsExpanded: keepControlsExpanded,
       controllerOpacity: controllerOpacity,
       controllerButtonSize: controllerButtonSize,
       logLevel: logLevel,
@@ -811,6 +813,7 @@ async function restore_options() {
     document.getElementById('exclusiveKeys').checked = storage.exclusiveKeys;
     document.getElementById('audioBoolean').checked = storage.audioBoolean;
     document.getElementById('startHidden').checked = storage.startHidden;
+    document.getElementById('keepControlsExpanded').checked = storage.keepControlsExpanded;
     document.getElementById('controllerOpacity').value = storage.controllerOpacity;
     document.getElementById('controllerButtonSize').value = storage.controllerButtonSize;
     document.getElementById('logLevel').value = storage.logLevel;
diff --git a/src/ui/shadow-dom.js b/src/ui/shadow-dom.js
index a6d680b8..652264ad 100644
--- a/src/ui/shadow-dom.js
+++ b/src/ui/shadow-dom.js
@@ -12,7 +12,14 @@ class ShadowDOMManager {
    * @returns {ShadowRoot} Created shadow root
    */
   static createShadowDOM(wrapper, options = {}) {
-    const { top = '0px', left = '0px', speed = '1.00', opacity = 0.3, buttonSize = 14 } = options;
+    const {
+      top = '0px',
+      left = '0px',
+      speed = '1.00',
+      opacity = 0.3,
+      buttonSize = 14,
+      keepControlsExpanded = false,
+    } = options;
 
     const shadow = wrapper.attachShadow({ mode: 'open' });
 
@@ -25,7 +32,8 @@ class ShadowDOMManager {
         font-size: 13px;
       }
       
-      :host(:hover) #controls {
+      :host(:hover) #controls,
+      #controller.vsc-expanded #controls {
         display: inline-block;
       }
       
@@ -72,7 +80,8 @@ class ShadowDOMManager {
         opacity: 0.7;
       }
       
-      #controller:hover>.draggable {
+      #controller:hover>.draggable,
+      #controller.vsc-expanded>.draggable {
         margin-right: 0.8em;
       }
       
@@ -183,6 +192,7 @@ class ShadowDOMManager {
 
     controller.appendChild(controls);
     shadow.appendChild(controller);
+    this.setControlsExpanded(shadow, keepControlsExpanded);
 
     window.VSC.logger.debug('Shadow DOM created for video controller');
     return shadow;
@@ -206,6 +216,16 @@ class ShadowDOMManager {
     return shadow.querySelector('#controls');
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Keep the controller button row expanded without changing controller visibility.
+   * @param {ShadowRoot} shadow - Shadow root containing the controller
+   * @param {boolean} expanded - Whether controls should remain expanded
+   */
+  static setControlsExpanded(shadow, expanded) {
+    const controller = this.getController(shadow);
+    controller?.classList.toggle('vsc-expanded', Boolean(expanded));
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get draggable speed indicator from shadow DOM
    * @param {ShadowRoot} shadow - Shadow root
diff --git a/src/utils/constants.js b/src/utils/constants.js
index 21e69e9b..14d8ce20 100644
--- a/src/utils/constants.js
+++ b/src/utils/constants.js
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ if (!window.VSC.Constants.DEFAULT_SETTINGS) {
     exclusiveKeys: false, // default: false
     audioBoolean: true, // default: true (enable audio controller support)
     startHidden: false, // default: false
+    keepControlsExpanded: false, // default: false
     controllerOpacity: 0.3, // default: 0.3
     controllerButtonSize: 14,
     customCSS: '', // user's additional CSS injected alongside the built-in defaults
diff --git a/tests/e2e/display-toggle.e2e.js b/tests/e2e/display-toggle.e2e.js
index d278f944..6582d435 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/display-toggle.e2e.js
+++ b/tests/e2e/display-toggle.e2e.js
@@ -72,6 +72,50 @@ async function waitForState(page, expected, context) {
   assertState(await getControllerState(page), expected, context);
 }
 
+async function getControlsExpansionState(page) {
+  return page.evaluate(() => {
+    const host = document.querySelector('vsc-controller');
+    const controller = host?.shadowRoot?.querySelector('#controller');
+    const controls = host?.shadowRoot?.querySelector('#controls');
+    const draggable = host?.shadowRoot?.querySelector('.draggable');
+    return {
+      found: !!controller && !!controls && !!draggable,
+      expanded: !!controller?.classList.contains('vsc-expanded'),
+      controlsVisible: controls ? getComputedStyle(controls).display !== 'none' : false,
+      indicatorMarginRight: draggable ? parseFloat(getComputedStyle(draggable).marginRight) : 0,
+    };
+  });
+}
+
+async function waitForControlsExpansion(page, expected, context) {
+  await page.waitForFunction(
+    (expanded) => {
+      const host = document.querySelector('vsc-controller');
+      const controller = host?.shadowRoot?.querySelector('#controller');
+      const controls = host?.shadowRoot?.querySelector('#controls');
+      if (!controller || !controls) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      return (
+        controller.classList.contains('vsc-expanded') === expanded &&
+        (getComputedStyle(controls).display !== 'none') === expanded
+      );
+    },
+    { timeout: 2000, polling: 50 },
+    expected
+  );
+
+  const state = await getControlsExpansionState(page);
+  if (
+    !state.found ||
+    state.expanded !== expected ||
+    state.controlsVisible !== expected ||
+    (expected && state.indicatorMarginRight <= 0)
+  ) {
+    throw new Error(`${context}: unexpected expansion state ${JSON.stringify(state)}`);
+  }
+}
+
 async function installControllerCSSForDomain(page, hostname) {
   const autohideRuleLoaded = await page.evaluate((domain) => {
     const sheet = new CSSStyleSheet();
@@ -267,6 +311,39 @@ async function testDisplayToggle() {
       throw new Error('Controller never appeared');
     }
 
+    // Keep the pointer outside the controller so computed display reflects the
+    // preference rather than the existing hover behavior.
+    await page.mouse.move(1200, 700);
+    await waitForControlsExpansion(page, false, 'controls collapsed by default');
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      document.documentElement.dispatchEvent(
+        new CustomEvent('VSC_STORAGE_CHANGED', {
+          detail: { keepControlsExpanded: { oldValue: false, newValue: true } },
+        })
+      );
+    });
+    await waitForControlsExpansion(page, true, 'live preference enables expanded controls');
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      document
+        .querySelector('vsc-controller')
+        ?.shadowRoot?.querySelector('button[data-action="advance"]')
+        ?.click();
+    });
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1200));
+    await waitForControlsExpansion(page, true, 'expanded controls remain after use and timeout');
+
+    await page.evaluate(() => {
+      document.documentElement.dispatchEvent(
+        new CustomEvent('VSC_STORAGE_CHANGED', {
+          detail: { keepControlsExpanded: { oldValue: true, newValue: false } },
+        })
+      );
+    });
+    await waitForControlsExpansion(page, false, 'live preference restores hover behavior');
+    console.log('   ✅ Live controls expansion preference');
+
     // The fixture is file://, so install the actual production defaults after
     // resolving their domain markers as YouTube. This keeps the matrix on the
     // shipped light-DOM selector instead of a test-only approximation.
diff --git a/tests/helpers/chrome-mock.js b/tests/helpers/chrome-mock.js
index 763a411d..69446fb1 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/chrome-mock.js
+++ b/tests/helpers/chrome-mock.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const mockStorage = {
 
   audioBoolean: false,
   startHidden: false,
+  keepControlsExpanded: false,
   controllerOpacity: 0.3,
   controllerButtonSize: 14,
   blacklist: 'www.instagram.com\nx.com',
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ export function resetMockStorage() {
 
     audioBoolean: false,
     startHidden: false,
+    keepControlsExpanded: false,
     controllerOpacity: 0.3,
     controllerButtonSize: 14,
     blacklist: 'www.instagram.com\nx.com',
diff --git a/tests/unit/content/inject.test.js b/tests/unit/content/inject.test.js
index 991f9b45..1bbe515b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/content/inject.test.js
+++ b/tests/unit/content/inject.test.js
@@ -379,4 +379,35 @@ describe('Inject', () => {
     expect(extension._customSheet).toBeNull();
     expect(document.adoptedStyleSheets).toContain(extension._controllerSheet);
   });
+
+  it('applies keepControlsExpanded changes to existing controllers immediately', async () => {
+    extension = window.VSC_controller;
+    await extension.config.load();
+
+    const eventManager = new window.VSC.EventManager(extension.config, null);
+    const actionHandler = new window.VSC.ActionHandler(extension.config, eventManager);
+    const video = createMockVideo();
+    mockDOM.container.appendChild(video);
+    const controller = new window.VSC.VideoController(video, null, extension.config, actionHandler);
+    const innerController = controller.div.shadowRoot.querySelector('#controller');
+    extension.setupControllerExpansionLiveUpdates();
+
+    document.documentElement.dispatchEvent(
+      new CustomEvent('VSC_STORAGE_CHANGED', {
+        detail: { keepControlsExpanded: { newValue: true } },
+      })
+    );
+
+    expect(extension.config.settings.keepControlsExpanded).toBe(true);
+    expect(innerController.classList.contains('vsc-expanded')).toBe(true);
+
+    document.documentElement.dispatchEvent(
+      new CustomEvent('VSC_STORAGE_CHANGED', {
+        detail: { keepControlsExpanded: { newValue: false } },
+      })
+    );
+
+    expect(extension.config.settings.keepControlsExpanded).toBe(false);
+    expect(innerController.classList.contains('vsc-expanded')).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/settings-race-condition.test.js b/tests/unit/core/settings-race-condition.test.js
index 18cdb3c6..7d5179c1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/settings-race-condition.test.js
+++ b/tests/unit/core/settings-race-condition.test.js
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ describe('SettingsRaceCondition', () => {
       rememberSpeed: true,
       audioBoolean: true,
       startHidden: false,
+      keepControlsExpanded: true,
       controllerOpacity: 0.5,
       controllerButtonSize: 16,
       logLevel: 4,
@@ -238,6 +239,7 @@ describe('SettingsRaceCondition', () => {
 
     // But options settings should be saved
     expect(storage.rememberSpeed).toBe(true);
+    expect(storage.keepControlsExpanded).toBe(true);
     expect(storage.controllerOpacity).toBe(0.5);
   });
 
@@ -251,10 +253,11 @@ describe('SettingsRaceCondition', () => {
     await config.load();
 
     // Options-page style change in another context
-    simulateExternalStorageWrite({ controllerOpacity: 0.8 });
+    simulateExternalStorageWrite({ controllerOpacity: 0.8, keepControlsExpanded: true });
 
     // In-memory should be updated via onChanged
     expect(config.settings.controllerOpacity).toBe(0.8);
+    expect(config.settings.keepControlsExpanded).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it('onChanged listener never adopts remote lastSpeed (session isolation, #1559)', async () => {
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/video-controller.test.js b/tests/unit/core/video-controller.test.js
index 60e05c5d..aec8b0b5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/video-controller.test.js
+++ b/tests/unit/core/video-controller.test.js
@@ -141,6 +141,29 @@ describe('VideoController', () => {
     expect(controller.speedIndicator).toBeDefined();
   });
 
+  it('keeps controls collapsed by default and expands them when configured', async () => {
+    const config = window.VSC.videoSpeedConfig;
+    await config.load();
+    const eventManager = new window.VSC.EventManager(config, null);
+    const actionHandler = new window.VSC.ActionHandler(config, eventManager);
+
+    const collapsedVideo = createMockVideo();
+    mockDOM.container.appendChild(collapsedVideo);
+    const collapsed = new window.VSC.VideoController(collapsedVideo, null, config, actionHandler);
+    expect(
+      collapsed.div.shadowRoot.querySelector('#controller').classList.contains('vsc-expanded')
+    ).toBe(false);
+    collapsed.remove();
+
+    config.settings.keepControlsExpanded = true;
+    const expandedVideo = createMockVideo();
+    mockDOM.container.appendChild(expandedVideo);
+    const expanded = new window.VSC.VideoController(expandedVideo, null, config, actionHandler);
+    expect(
+      expanded.div.shadowRoot.querySelector('#controller').classList.contains('vsc-expanded')
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('tracks automatic media visibility beneath an explicit override', async () => {
     const config = window.VSC.videoSpeedConfig;
     await config.load();