diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx
index 82d8772723..44be475543 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function VideoEmbed({source}: {source: string}) {
         a.my_xs,
       ]}>
       {active ? (
-        <VideoEmbedInner source={source} />
+        <VideoEmbedInner source={source} active={active} />
       ) : (
         <Button
           style={[a.flex_1, t.atoms.bg_contrast_25]}
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.web.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.web.tsx
index a0d5dfa2c5..58bb9b23ee 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.web.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.web.tsx
@@ -1,47 +1,35 @@
 import React, {useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react'
 import {View} from 'react-native'
-import Hls from 'hls.js'
+import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
+import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 
 import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
+import {Button, ButtonIcon} from '#/components/Button'
+import {Play_Filled_Corner2_Rounded as PlayIcon} from '#/components/icons/Play'
 import {useActiveVideoView} from './ActiveVideoContext'
+import {VideoEmbedInner} from './VideoEmbedInner'
 
 export function VideoEmbed({source}: {source: string}) {
-  const [hls] = useState(() => new Hls())
-  const hasLoaded = useRef(false)
-  const ref = useRef<HTMLVideoElement>(null)
+  const t = useTheme()
+  const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const {active, setActive} = useActiveVideoView({
     source,
-    measure: useCallback(() => {
+    measure: () => {
       if (ref.current) {
         return ref.current.getBoundingClientRect()
       }
-    }, []),
+    },
   })
-  const t = useTheme()
+  const [hasBeenActive, setHasBeenActive] = useState(false)
+  const {_} = useLingui()
+
+  const onPress = useCallback(() => setActive(), [setActive])
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (ref.current && active && !hasLoaded.current) {
-      hasLoaded.current = true
-      if (ref.current.canPlayType('application/vnd.apple.mpegurl')) {
-        ref.current.src = source
-      } else if (Hls.isSupported()) {
-        hls.loadSource(source)
-      } else {
-        // TODO: fallback
-      }
+    if (active) {
+      setHasBeenActive(true)
     }
-  }, [source, active, hls])
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (ref.current) {
-      if (
-        !ref.current.canPlayType('application/vnd.apple.mpegurl') &&
-        Hls.isSupported()
-      ) {
-        hls.attachMedia(ref.current)
-      }
-    }
-  }, [source, active, hls])
+  }, [active])
 
   return (
     <View
@@ -50,23 +38,24 @@ export function VideoEmbed({source}: {source: string}) {
         a.rounded_sm,
         {aspectRatio: 16 / 9},
         a.overflow_hidden,
-        active ? t.atoms.bg_contrast_25 : t.atoms.bg_contrast_200,
+        t.atoms.bg_contrast_25,
         a.my_xs,
       ]}>
-      <video
-        ref={ref}
-        style={a.flex_1}
-        playsInline
-        preload="none"
-        loop
-        muted
-        autoPlay={active}
-        onClick={() => {
-          if (!active) {
-            setActive()
-          }
-        }}
-      />
+      <div ref={ref} style={{display: 'flex', flex: 1}}>
+        {hasBeenActive ? (
+          <VideoEmbedInner source={source} active={active} />
+        ) : (
+          <Button
+            style={[a.flex_1, t.atoms.bg_contrast_25]}
+            onPress={onPress}
+            label={_(msg`Play video`)}
+            variant="ghost"
+            color="secondary"
+            size="large">
+            <ButtonIcon icon={PlayIcon} />
+          </Button>
+        )}
+      </div>
     </View>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.tsx
index ef06787097..07d111d1ba 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {atoms as a} from '#/alf'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 import {useVideoPlayer} from './VideoPlayerContext'
 
-export const VideoEmbedInner = ({}: {source: string}) => {
+export function VideoEmbedInner({}: {source: string; active: boolean}) {
   const player = useVideoPlayer()
   const aref = useAnimatedRef<Animated.View>()
   const {height: windowHeight} = useWindowDimensions()
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.web.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.web.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..05c45af74d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner.web.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import React, {useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react'
+import {View} from 'react-native'
+import Hls from 'hls.js'
+
+import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
+
+export function VideoEmbedInner({
+  source,
+  active,
+}: {
+  source: string
+  active: boolean
+}) {
+  const [hls] = useState(() => new Hls())
+  const ref = useRef<HTMLVideoElement>(null)
+  const t = useTheme()
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (ref.current) {
+      if (ref.current.canPlayType('application/vnd.apple.mpegurl')) {
+        ref.current.src = source
+      } else if (Hls.isSupported()) {
+        hls.loadSource(source)
+      } else {
+        // TODO: fallback
+      }
+    }
+  }, [source, hls])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (ref.current) {
+      if (
+        !ref.current.canPlayType('application/vnd.apple.mpegurl') &&
+        Hls.isSupported()
+      ) {
+        hls.attachMedia(ref.current)
+      }
+    }
+  }, [source, hls])
+
+  return (
+    <View
+      style={[
+        a.w_full,
+        a.rounded_sm,
+        {aspectRatio: 16 / 9},
+        a.overflow_hidden,
+        t.atoms.bg_contrast_25,
+        a.my_xs,
+      ]}>
+      <video
+        src={source}
+        ref={ref}
+        style={a.flex_1}
+        playsInline
+        preload="none"
+        loop
+        muted
+        autoPlay={active}
+      />
+    </View>
+  )
+}