diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ Hosted URLs remain the preferred playback path, and you can still add a magnet o
 2. **WebTorrent fallback**: If the URL probe fails or returns an error status, bitvid falls back to WebTorrent using the raw magnet. The helpers append HTTPS `ws=`/`xs=` hints so peers seed quickly.
 3. **Safety checks**: Magnets are decoded with `safeDecodeMagnet()` and normalized via `normalizeAndAugmentMagnet()` before reaching WebTorrent. Trackers remain WSS-only to satisfy browser constraints.
 4. **Operator playbook**: If a deployment causes playback regressions, flip the relevant feature flags back to their default values in `js/constants.js` and redeploy. Capture the rollback steps in AGENTS.md and the PR description so the Main channel stays stable.
+5. **Deep dive**: See [`docs/playback-fallback.md`](docs/playback-fallback.md) for the call flow into `playbackService`, magnet normalization details, and fallback hand-off points.
 
 ### Watch history & view counts
 
diff --git a/docs/playback-fallback.md b/docs/playback-fallback.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# URL-first playback fallback orchestration
+
+This document explains how `bitvidApp.playVideoWithFallback` in `js/app.js` coordinates hosted URL playback first and falls back to WebTorrent when needed. It also covers the supporting helpers in `js/services/playbackService.js`, `js/playbackUtils.js`, and `js/magnetUtils.js`, including how tracker lists and `ws=`/`xs=` hints are applied.
+
+## High-level flow
+
+1. `bitvidApp.playVideoWithFallback({ url, magnet })` trims inputs, ensures the video modal is ready, and constructs a playback session via `playbackService.createSession(...)`.
+2. The session (from `js/services/playbackService.js`) derives a canonical magnet payload using `deriveTorrentPlaybackConfig` (from `js/playbackUtils.js`).
+3. Playback starts with the hosted URL when `URL_FIRST_ENABLED` is true and a URL is available; otherwise, it goes directly to torrent playback.
+4. If URL playback stalls or errors, the session triggers `playViaWebTorrent` with the normalized magnet and optional web seed hints.
+
+## Call flow into playbackService
+
+`bitvidApp.playVideoWithFallback` performs UI preparation and delegates the decision-making to a `PlaybackSession`:
+
+- **Session setup**
+  - `playbackService.createSession({ url, magnet, videoElement, probeUrl, playViaWebTorrent, ... })`
+  - The session captures `url`, `magnet`, and a request signature to de-duplicate duplicate calls.
+- **Hosted URL probe**
+  - `PlaybackSession.execute()` calls `probeUrl(url)` to check availability and decides whether to attempt direct playback.
+- **Hosted URL playback**
+  - On a successful probe, the session assigns `video.src = url` and calls `video.play()`.
+  - It registers watchdogs (`registerUrlPlaybackWatchdogs`) to detect stalls, errors, or aborts.
+- **Fallback to WebTorrent**
+  - If watchdogs trigger or direct playback fails, `PlaybackSession` calls `playViaWebTorrent(magnet, { fallbackMagnet, urlList })`.
+  - `urlList` includes the hosted URL (if present) so it becomes a WebTorrent web seed.
+
+## Magnet helpers and normalization
+
+`playbackService` doesn’t manipulate magnets directly. It relies on `deriveTorrentPlaybackConfig` in `js/playbackUtils.js`, which does the following:
+
+- Calls `safeDecodeMagnet()` from `js/magnetUtils.js` so URL-encoded magnets become raw `magnet:?xt=urn:btih:...` strings.
+- Accepts bare info hashes and promotes them to full magnet URIs when needed.
+- Runs `normalizeAndAugmentMagnet()` (from `js/magnetUtils.js`) to:
+  - Append `ws=` web seed hints when a hosted URL is present.
+  - Append `xs=` torrent hints when supplied.
+  - Ensure WSS-only tracker URLs are present.
+
+The result is a canonical magnet used by WebTorrent, plus an optional `fallbackMagnet` that preserves the original raw input if normalization changed it.
+
+## Tracker lists, ws/xs hints, and constants
+
+Tracker and hint behavior is centralized in `js/constants.js` and `js/magnetUtils.js`:
+
+- `WSS_TRACKERS` in `js/constants.js` is the canonical browser-safe tracker list. `normalizeAndAugmentMagnet()` merges this list into the magnet if trackers are missing.
+- `normalizeAndAugmentMagnet()` also applies `ws=` web seed hints (from the hosted URL) and `xs=` torrent hints (from user input), enforcing HTTPS when appropriate.
+- `URL_FIRST_ENABLED` (also in `js/constants.js`) controls whether the hosted URL probe is attempted before torrent fallback.
+
+## Failure detection and hand-off points
+
+The fallback hand-off happens in these places inside `PlaybackSession.execute()`:
+
+1. **URL probe fails**: `probeUrl(url)` reports a bad outcome → session skips direct playback and goes straight to WebTorrent.
+2. **Playback errors**: `video.play()` throws or fires `error` → session triggers the fallback.
+3. **Playback stalls**: the watchdog timer (`registerUrlPlaybackWatchdogs`) detects `stalled`, `abort`, or no progress → session triggers the fallback.
+4. **Autoplay blocked**: the browser blocks autoplay → session waits for a user gesture, re-enables watchdogs, and only falls back if playback still fails.
+
+## Sequence diagram
+
+```mermaid
+sequenceDiagram
+  participant App as bitvidApp (js/app.js)
+  participant Service as PlaybackService (js/services/playbackService.js)
+  participant Session as PlaybackSession
+  participant Video as HTMLVideoElement
+  participant Magnet as magnetUtils/playbackUtils
+
+  App->>Service: createSession({ url, magnet, videoElement, ... })
+  Service->>Session: new PlaybackSession(...)
+  Session->>Magnet: deriveTorrentPlaybackConfig()
+  Magnet-->>Session: normalized magnet + fallbackMagnet
+
+  Session->>App: showModalWithPoster()
+  Session->>App: probeUrl(url)
+  alt URL probe ok + URL_FIRST_ENABLED
+    Session->>Video: src=url; play()
+    Session->>Session: registerUrlPlaybackWatchdogs()
+    alt hosted playback succeeds
+      Session-->>App: sourcechange("url")
+    else watchdog/error triggers
+      Session->>App: playViaWebTorrent(magnet, { urlList })
+      Session-->>App: sourcechange("torrent")
+    end
+  else URL probe fails or URL-first disabled
+    Session->>App: playViaWebTorrent(magnet, { urlList })
+    Session-->>App: sourcechange("torrent")
+  end
+```
+
+## Implementation notes
+
+- The playback session is responsible for cleanup and emits events (`status`, `sourcechange`, `error`, `finished`) that `bitvidApp` listens to for UI updates.
+- `bitvidApp.playVideoWithFallback` keeps the current video card and modal state in sync with the normalized magnet values so copy actions and stats reflect the actual playback payload.
+