diff --git a/settings.py b/settings.py
index 118b13d..3fd96ac 100644
--- a/settings.py
+++ b/settings.py
@@ -261,6 +261,17 @@ For security reasons, enabling this is not recommended.''',
         'category': 'interface',
     }),
 
+    ('native_player_storyboard', {
+        'type': bool,
+        'default': False,
+        'label': 'Storyboard preview (native)',
+        'comment': '''Show thumbnail preview on hover (native player modes).
+    Positioning is heuristic; may misalign in Firefox/Safari.
+    Works best on Chromium browsers.
+    No effect in Plyr.''',
+        'category': 'interface',
+    }),
+
     ('use_video_download', {
         'type': int,
         'default': 0,
diff --git a/youtube/templates/embed.html b/youtube/templates/embed.html
index f9177fe..b1ad63f 100644
--- a/youtube/templates/embed.html
+++ b/youtube/templates/embed.html
@@ -105,5 +105,10 @@
         {% if use_dash %}
           <script src="/youtube.com/static/js/av-merge.js"></script>
         {% endif %}
+
+        <!-- Storyboard Preview Thumbnails (native players only; Plyr handles this internally) -->
+        {% if settings.use_video_player != 2 and settings.native_player_storyboard %}
+          <script src="/youtube.com/static/js/storyboard-preview.js"></script>
+        {% endif %}
     </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/youtube/templates/watch.html b/youtube/templates/watch.html
index fe12d18..94dc8aa 100644
--- a/youtube/templates/watch.html
+++ b/youtube/templates/watch.html
@@ -304,8 +304,8 @@
         <!-- /plyr -->
     {% endif %}
 
-    <!-- Storyboard Preview Thumbnails -->
-    {% if settings.use_video_player != 2 %}
+    <!-- Storyboard Preview Thumbnails (native players only; Plyr handles this internally) -->
+    {% if settings.use_video_player != 2 and settings.native_player_storyboard %}
       <script src="/youtube.com/static/js/storyboard-preview.js"></script>
     {% endif %}