diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 661e59c..d06ce66 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -296,6 +296,20 @@
               </div>
             </div>
 
+            <div class="settings-section">
+              <h3>Streaming</h3>
+              <div class="setting-item">
+                <label class="setting-toggle">
+                  <input type="checkbox" id="setting-force-proxy">
+                  <span class="toggle-slider"></span>
+                </label>
+                <div class="setting-info">
+                  <span class="setting-label">Force Backend Proxy</span>
+                  <span class="setting-hint">Route all streams through the proxy server. Enable if streams don't play directly.</span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+
             <div class="settings-section">
               <h3>Keyboard Shortcuts</h3>
               <div class="shortcuts-grid">
diff --git a/public/js/components/VideoPlayer.js b/public/js/components/VideoPlayer.js
index 40bb7c8..ba3d52a 100644
--- a/public/js/components/VideoPlayer.js
+++ b/public/js/components/VideoPlayer.js
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ class VideoPlayer {
             defaultVolume: 80, // 0-100
             rememberVolume: true, // Persist volume between sessions
             lastVolume: 80, // Last used volume (if rememberVolume is true)
-            autoPlayNextEpisode: false // Auto-play next episode in series
+            autoPlayNextEpisode: false, // Auto-play next episode in series
+            forceProxy: false // Force all streams through backend proxy
         };
         try {
             const saved = localStorage.getItem('nodecast_tv_player_settings');
@@ -201,10 +202,12 @@ class VideoPlayer {
             // Determine if HLS or direct stream
             this.currentUrl = streamUrl;
 
-            // Proactively use proxy for known CORS-restricted domains (like Pluto TV)
+            // Proactively use proxy for:
+            // 1. User enabled "Force Proxy" in settings
+            // 2. Known CORS-restricted domains (like Pluto TV)
             // Note: Xtream sources are NOT auto-proxied because many providers IP-lock streams
             const proxyRequiredDomains = ['pluto.tv'];
-            const needsProxy = proxyRequiredDomains.some(domain => streamUrl.includes(domain));
+            const needsProxy = this.settings.forceProxy || proxyRequiredDomains.some(domain => streamUrl.includes(domain));
 
             this.isUsingProxy = needsProxy;
             const finalUrl = needsProxy ? this.getProxiedUrl(streamUrl) : streamUrl;
diff --git a/public/js/pages/Settings.js b/public/js/pages/Settings.js
index 7896a74..2ced51d 100644
--- a/public/js/pages/Settings.js
+++ b/public/js/pages/Settings.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ class SettingsPage {
         const volumeValueDisplay = document.getElementById('volume-value');
         const rememberVolumeToggle = document.getElementById('setting-remember-volume');
         const autoPlayNextToggle = document.getElementById('setting-autoplay-next');
+        const forceProxyToggle = document.getElementById('setting-force-proxy');
 
         // Load current settings
         if (this.app.player?.settings) {
@@ -37,6 +38,9 @@ class SettingsPage {
             volumeValueDisplay.textContent = this.app.player.settings.defaultVolume + '%';
             rememberVolumeToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.rememberVolume;
             autoPlayNextToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.autoPlayNextEpisode;
+            if (forceProxyToggle) {
+                forceProxyToggle.checked = this.app.player.settings.forceProxy || false;
+            }
         }
 
         // Arrow keys toggle
@@ -73,6 +77,12 @@ class SettingsPage {
             this.app.player.saveSettings();
         });
 
+        // Force proxy toggle
+        forceProxyToggle?.addEventListener('change', () => {
+            this.app.player.settings.forceProxy = forceProxyToggle.checked;
+            this.app.player.saveSettings();
+        });
+
         // EPG refresh interval
         const epgRefreshSelect = document.getElementById('epg-refresh-interval');
         if (epgRefreshSelect) {
diff --git a/server/routes/proxy.js b/server/routes/proxy.js
index 8e57ec7..1dae91e 100644
--- a/server/routes/proxy.js
+++ b/server/routes/proxy.js
@@ -295,17 +295,19 @@ router.get('/stream', async (req, res) => {
         // Check if it's an HLS manifest by looking at first bytes (#EXTM3U = 23 45 58 54 4D 33 55)
         const textPrefix = String.fromCharCode(...bytes.slice(0, 7));
         const contentLooksLikeHls = textPrefix === '#EXTM3U';
-        const urlLooksLikeHls = contentType.includes('mpegurl') || contentType.includes('application/x-mpegURL') || url.toLowerCase().includes('.m3u8');
 
         if (contentLooksLikeHls) {
-            console.log(`[Proxy] Processing HLS manifest from: ${url.substring(0, 80)}...`);
+            // Use the final URL after redirects for base URL calculation
+            // This is critical for Xtream CDNs that redirect to different servers
+            const finalUrl = response.url || url;
+            console.log(`[Proxy] Processing HLS manifest from: ${finalUrl.substring(0, 80)}...`);
             res.set('Content-Type', 'application/vnd.apple.mpegurl');
 
             let manifest = Buffer.from(buffer).toString('utf-8');
             // Rewrite URLs inside manifest
 
-            const urlObj = new URL(url);
-            const baseUrl = urlObj.origin + urlObj.pathname.substring(0, urlObj.pathname.lastIndexOf('/') + 1);
+            const finalUrlObj = new URL(finalUrl);
+            const baseUrl = finalUrlObj.origin + finalUrlObj.pathname.substring(0, finalUrlObj.pathname.lastIndexOf('/') + 1);
             console.log(`[Proxy] Base URL for rewriting: ${baseUrl}`);
 
             manifest = manifest.split('\n').map(line => {