diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 72d25b6..e3edd51 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -525,9 +525,13 @@ GET /photos?path=...&recursive=true&sort=DateTakenDesc&camera_make=Canon&gps_lat
 //   ExifDao::query_by_exif — shared by /photos, /photos/exif and unified search.
 //   A calendar-day range = that day's bounds in the owner's display zone.
 
-// Video streaming (HLS)
-POST /video/generate (creates .m3u8 playlist + .ts segments)
-GET  /video/stream?path=... (serves playlist)
+// Video streaming (HLS, the default playback path)
+POST /video/generate (queues .m3u8 playlist + .ts segments, returns playlist_url)
+GET  /video/hls/<hash>/<file> (serves playlist / segments)
+
+// Original-quality video (opt-in; short-lived signed URL, no auth header needed)
+POST /video/original (body: {path, library}) -> {url, expires_at}
+GET  /video/original/stream?token=... (Range-capable original bytes)
 
 // Tags
 GET    /image/tags/all
diff --git a/src/handlers/video.rs b/src/handlers/video.rs
index ec14880..4506c12 100644
--- a/src/handlers/video.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/video.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use actix_web::{
 use log::{debug, error, info, warn};
 use opentelemetry::KeyValue;
 use opentelemetry::trace::Status;
-use serde::Serialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::content_hash;
 use crate::data::{
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use crate::data::{
     ThumbnailRequest,
 };
 use crate::database::{ExifDao, PreviewDao};
+use crate::file_types;
 use crate::files::is_valid_full_path;
 use crate::libraries;
 use crate::state::AppState;
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ use crate::video::actors::{
     GeneratePreviewClipMessage, QueueVideosMessage, VideoToQueue, probe_video_stream_meta,
 };
 use crate::video::hls_paths;
+use crate::video::original_url;
 
 /// Response body for `POST /video/generate`. Clients consume
 /// `playlist_url` (hash-keyed, stable across libraries and renames)
@@ -65,31 +67,7 @@ pub async fn generate_video(
 ) -> impl Responder {
     let span = tracing::Span::current();
 
-    let preferred_library =
-        libraries::resolve_library_param_state(&app_state, body.library.as_deref())
-            .ok()
-            .flatten()
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| app_state.primary_library());
-
-    // Try the resolved library first, then fall back to any other library
-    // that actually contains the file — handles union-mode requests where
-    // the mobile client passes no library but the file lives in a
-    // non-primary library. Track which library won so the DB lookup is
-    // scoped correctly.
-    let resolved = is_valid_full_path(&preferred_library.root_path, &body.path, false)
-        .filter(|p| p.exists())
-        .map(|p| (preferred_library.id, preferred_library.root_path.clone(), p))
-        .or_else(|| {
-            app_state.libraries.iter().find_map(|lib| {
-                if lib.id == preferred_library.id {
-                    return None;
-                }
-                is_valid_full_path(&lib.root_path, &body.path, false)
-                    .filter(|p| p.exists())
-                    .map(|p| (lib.id, lib.root_path.clone(), p))
-            })
-        });
-
+    let resolved = resolve_request_path(&app_state, &body.path, body.library.as_deref());
     let Some((resolved_library_id, resolved_root, full_path)) = resolved else {
         span.set_status(Status::error(format!("invalid path {:?}", &body.path)));
         return HttpResponse::BadRequest().finish();
@@ -284,6 +262,126 @@ fn is_valid_hash(s: &str) -> bool {
 /// `Melissa\clip.mp4`. `get_exif_batch` does an exact match with no
 /// normalization, so the backslash form misses and the handler falls back
 /// to re-hashing the entire file on every request.
+/// Response body for `POST /video/original`.
+#[derive(Serialize, Debug)]
+struct OriginalVideoUrlResponse {
+    /// `/video/original/stream?token=…` — works without an Authorization
+    /// header, so it can go straight into a native player.
+    url: String,
+    /// Unix seconds. Clients should mint a fresh URL rather than reuse one
+    /// past this.
+    expires_at: i64,
+}
+
+/// Mint a short-lived URL for streaming the original bytes of a video.
+/// HLS (`/video/generate`) stays the default playback path; this is the
+/// opt-in full-quality path for clients on a fast network.
+#[post("/video/original")]
+#[tracing::instrument(name = "original_video_url", skip_all)]
+pub async fn original_video_url(
+    claims: Claims,
+    app_state: Data<AppState>,
+    body: web::Json<ThumbnailRequest>,
+) -> impl Responder {
+    let span = tracing::Span::current();
+
+    let Some((library_id, root, full_path)) =
+        resolve_request_path(&app_state, &body.path, body.library.as_deref())
+    else {
+        span.set_status(Status::error(format!("invalid path {:?}", &body.path)));
+        return HttpResponse::BadRequest().finish();
+    };
+    if !file_types::is_video_file(&full_path) {
+        span.set_status(Status::error("not a video"));
+        return HttpResponse::BadRequest().body("not a video");
+    }
+
+    let rel_path = rel_path_for_lookup(&full_path.to_string_lossy(), &root);
+    let (token, expires_at) = original_url::sign(&claims.sub, library_id, &rel_path);
+
+    span.set_status(Status::Ok);
+    HttpResponse::Ok().json(OriginalVideoUrlResponse {
+        url: format!("/video/original/stream?token={}", token),
+        expires_at,
+    })
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+struct OriginalStreamQuery {
+    token: String,
+}
+
+/// Stream an original video named by a token from `POST /video/original`.
+/// Authenticated by the token alone (no Claims). `NamedFile` honours Range,
+/// so players can seek.
+#[get("/video/original/stream")]
+#[tracing::instrument(name = "stream_original_video", skip_all)]
+pub async fn stream_original_video(
+    request: HttpRequest,
+    query: web::Query<OriginalStreamQuery>,
+    app_state: Data<AppState>,
+) -> impl Responder {
+    let span = tracing::Span::current();
+
+    let Some(claims) = original_url::verify(&query.token) else {
+        span.set_status(Status::error("bad token"));
+        return HttpResponse::Unauthorized().finish();
+    };
+    let Some(path) = app_state
+        .libraries
+        .iter()
+        .find(|lib| lib.id == claims.lib)
+        .and_then(|lib| is_valid_full_path(&lib.root_path, &claims.path, false))
+        .filter(|p| p.is_file())
+    else {
+        span.set_status(Status::error("not found"));
+        return HttpResponse::NotFound().finish();
+    };
+
+    match NamedFile::open(&path) {
+        Ok(f) => {
+            span.set_status(Status::Ok);
+            f.use_etag(true)
+                .use_last_modified(true)
+                .into_response(&request)
+        }
+        Err(_) => {
+            span.set_status(Status::error("not found"));
+            HttpResponse::NotFound().finish()
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Resolve a client `path` + optional `library` to `(library_id, root,
+/// full_path)`. Tries the requested library first, then falls back to any
+/// other library that actually contains the file — handles union-mode
+/// requests where the mobile client passes no library but the file lives
+/// in a non-primary library.
+fn resolve_request_path(
+    app_state: &AppState,
+    path: &str,
+    library: Option<&str>,
+) -> Option<(i32, String, PathBuf)> {
+    let preferred_library = libraries::resolve_library_param_state(app_state, library)
+        .ok()
+        .flatten()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| app_state.primary_library());
+
+    is_valid_full_path(&preferred_library.root_path, &path.to_string(), false)
+        .filter(|p| p.exists())
+        .map(|p| (preferred_library.id, preferred_library.root_path.clone(), p))
+        .or_else(|| {
+            app_state.libraries.iter().find_map(|lib| {
+                if lib.id == preferred_library.id {
+                    return None;
+                }
+                is_valid_full_path(&lib.root_path, &path.to_string(), false)
+                    .filter(|p| p.exists())
+                    .map(|p| (lib.id, lib.root_path.clone(), p))
+            })
+        })
+}
+
 fn rel_path_for_lookup(full_path_str: &str, resolved_root: &str) -> String {
     full_path_str
         .strip_prefix(resolved_root)
@@ -635,6 +733,98 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap()
     }
 
+    fn write_library_file(app_state: &AppState, rel: &str, bytes: &[u8]) {
+        let path = std::path::Path::new(&app_state.primary_library().root_path).join(rel);
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(path.parent().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(path, bytes).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[actix_rt::test]
+    async fn original_video_url_streams_with_range_and_no_auth_header() {
+        let app_state = Data::new(AppState::test_state());
+        write_library_file(&app_state, "clips/a.mp4", b"0123456789");
+        let app = actix_web::test::init_service(
+            App::new()
+                .service(original_video_url)
+                .service(stream_original_video)
+                .app_data(app_state),
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        let req = actix_web::test::TestRequest::post()
+            .uri("/video/original")
+            .insert_header(("Authorization", format!("Bearer {}", make_token())))
+            .set_json(serde_json::json!({"path": "clips/a.mp4"}))
+            .to_request();
+        let resp = actix_web::test::call_service(&app, req).await;
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 200);
+        let body: serde_json::Value = actix_web::test::read_body_json(resp).await;
+        let url = body["url"].as_str().unwrap().to_string();
+        assert!(url.starts_with("/video/original/stream?token="));
+        assert!(body["expires_at"].as_i64().unwrap() > chrono::Utc::now().timestamp());
+
+        // No Authorization header: the token alone grants access.
+        let req = actix_web::test::TestRequest::get()
+            .uri(&url)
+            .insert_header(("Range", "bytes=2-5"))
+            .to_request();
+        let resp = actix_web::test::call_service(&app, req).await;
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), 206);
+        assert_eq!(actix_web::test::read_body(resp).await.as_ref(), b"2345");
+    }
+
+    #[actix_rt::test]
+    async fn original_video_url_rejects_non_video_and_unauthenticated() {
+        let app_state = Data::new(AppState::test_state());
+        write_library_file(&app_state, "notes.txt", b"hi");
+        let app = actix_web::test::init_service(
+            App::new().service(original_video_url).app_data(app_state),
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        let req = actix_web::test::TestRequest::post()
+            .uri("/video/original")
+            .insert_header(("Authorization", format!("Bearer {}", make_token())))
+            .set_json(serde_json::json!({"path": "notes.txt"}))
+            .to_request();
+        assert_eq!(actix_web::test::call_service(&app, req).await.status(), 400);
+
+        let req = actix_web::test::TestRequest::post()
+            .uri("/video/original")
+            .set_json(serde_json::json!({"path": "notes.txt"}))
+            .to_request();
+        assert_eq!(actix_web::test::call_service(&app, req).await.status(), 401);
+    }
+
+    #[actix_rt::test]
+    async fn stream_original_video_rejects_bad_tokens() {
+        let app_state = Data::new(AppState::test_state());
+        write_library_file(&app_state, "clips/a.mp4", b"0123456789");
+        let app = actix_web::test::init_service(
+            App::new()
+                .service(stream_original_video)
+                .app_data(app_state),
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        // A login JWT is not a stream token.
+        let req = actix_web::test::TestRequest::get()
+            .uri(&format!("/video/original/stream?token={}", make_token()))
+            .to_request();
+        assert_eq!(actix_web::test::call_service(&app, req).await.status(), 401);
+
+        // A valid token for a path that escapes the library root.
+        let (token, _) = original_url::sign(
+            "1",
+            crate::libraries::PRIMARY_LIBRARY_ID,
+            "../../etc/passwd",
+        );
+        let req = actix_web::test::TestRequest::get()
+            .uri(&format!("/video/original/stream?token={}", token))
+            .to_request();
+        assert_eq!(actix_web::test::call_service(&app, req).await.status(), 404);
+    }
+
     fn make_preview_dao(dao: TestPreviewDao) -> Data<Mutex<Box<dyn PreviewDao>>> {
         Data::new(Mutex::new(Box::new(dao) as Box<dyn PreviewDao>))
     }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 9203d65..9b89ed3 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -352,6 +352,8 @@ fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
                 .service(handlers::image::upload_image)
                 .service(handlers::video::generate_video)
                 .service(handlers::video::stream_hls_file)
+                .service(handlers::video::original_video_url)
+                .service(handlers::video::stream_original_video)
                 .service(handlers::video::get_video_preview)
                 .service(handlers::video::get_preview_status)
                 .service(hls_stats::hls_stats_handler)
diff --git a/src/video/mod.rs b/src/video/mod.rs
index 0a4a072..380b179 100644
--- a/src/video/mod.rs
+++ b/src/video/mod.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ pub mod actors;
 pub mod ffmpeg;
 pub mod hls_paths;
 pub mod legacy_migration;
+pub mod original_url;
 
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 pub async fn generate_video_gifs() {
diff --git a/src/video/original_url.rs b/src/video/original_url.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1627ef7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/video/original_url.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+//! Short-lived signed URLs for streaming an original video file.
+//!
+//! Native players (`<video src>`, the mobile player's direct-URL mode) can't
+//! attach an `Authorization` header. `POST /video/original` (authenticated)
+//! mints a URL whose token names one library + rel_path and an expiry;
+//! `GET /video/original/stream?token=` accepts only that token, so a leaked
+//! URL grants a single file for a few hours rather than the whole API.
+
+use chrono::{Duration, Utc};
+use jsonwebtoken::{Algorithm, DecodingKey, EncodingKey, Header, Validation, decode, encode};
+use log::debug;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+use crate::data::secret_key;
+
+/// Long enough to watch (and seek around) a long video in one sitting;
+/// players keep issuing Range requests against the same URL the whole time.
+pub const ORIGINAL_URL_TTL_HOURS: i64 = 6;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
+pub struct OriginalVideoClaims {
+    pub sub: String,
+    pub lib: i32,
+    pub path: String,
+    pub exp: i64,
+}
+
+/// Derived from SECRET_KEY but distinct from the login-token key, so a
+/// login JWT can't be replayed as a stream token or the reverse.
+fn signing_key() -> Vec<u8> {
+    format!("{}:video-original", secret_key()).into_bytes()
+}
+
+/// Returns the token and its expiry (unix seconds).
+pub fn sign(sub: &str, library_id: i32, rel_path: &str) -> (String, i64) {
+    let exp = (Utc::now() + Duration::hours(ORIGINAL_URL_TTL_HOURS)).timestamp();
+    let claims = OriginalVideoClaims {
+        sub: sub.to_string(),
+        lib: library_id,
+        path: rel_path.to_string(),
+        exp,
+    };
+    let token = encode(
+        &Header::new(Algorithm::HS256),
+        &claims,
+        &EncodingKey::from_secret(&signing_key()),
+    )
+    .expect("HS256 encoding of plain claims cannot fail");
+    (token, exp)
+}
+
+pub fn verify(token: &str) -> Option<OriginalVideoClaims> {
+    decode::<OriginalVideoClaims>(
+        token,
+        &DecodingKey::from_secret(&signing_key()),
+        &Validation::new(Algorithm::HS256),
+    )
+    .map(|data| data.claims)
+    .map_err(|e| debug!("Rejected original-video token: {}", e))
+    .ok()
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::data::Claims;
+    use std::str::FromStr;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn round_trips_library_and_path() {
+        let (token, exp) = sign("1", 3, "2024/clip.mp4");
+        let claims = verify(&token).expect("fresh token verifies");
+        assert_eq!(claims.lib, 3);
+        assert_eq!(claims.path, "2024/clip.mp4");
+        assert_eq!(claims.exp, exp);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_tampered_token() {
+        let (token, _) = sign("1", 3, "2024/clip.mp4");
+        let mut parts: Vec<&str> = token.split('.').collect();
+        let (forged, _) = sign("1", 3, "2024/other.mp4");
+        // Swap in another token's payload under the original signature.
+        let forged_payload = forged.split('.').nth(1).unwrap().to_string();
+        parts[1] = &forged_payload;
+        assert!(verify(&parts.join(".")).is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rejects_expired_token() {
+        let claims = OriginalVideoClaims {
+            sub: "1".into(),
+            lib: 1,
+            path: "clip.mp4".into(),
+            exp: (Utc::now() - Duration::hours(1)).timestamp(),
+        };
+        let token = encode(
+            &Header::new(Algorithm::HS256),
+            &claims,
+            &EncodingKey::from_secret(&signing_key()),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert!(verify(&token).is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn keys_are_not_interchangeable_with_login_tokens() {
+        let login = encode(
+            &Header::default(),
+            &Claims::valid_user("1".into()),
+            &EncodingKey::from_secret(secret_key().as_bytes()),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert!(verify(&login).is_none());
+
+        let (stream_token, _) = sign("1", 1, "clip.mp4");
+        assert!(Claims::from_str(&format!("Bearer {}", stream_token)).is_err());
+    }
+}