diff --git a/backend/app/downloads/formats.py b/backend/app/downloads/formats.py
index 0fb927f..ef38ef9 100644
--- a/backend/app/downloads/formats.py
+++ b/backend/app/downloads/formats.py
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ _DEFAULTS = {
     "sponsorblock": False,
 }
 
+# Bump when the spec→output-bytes mapping changes so an identical spec gets a fresh cache
+# identity instead of hitting a stale asset produced by the old rule. v2: mp4 downloads now
+# prefer H.264+AAC (browser/iOS-compatible) rather than yt-dlp's default VP9/Opus best.
+_SIG_VERSION = 2
+
 _SPONSORBLOCK_CATEGORIES = ["sponsor", "selfpromo", "interaction"]
 _VCODEC_SORT = {"h264": "vcodec:h264", "vp9": "vcodec:vp9", "av1": "vcodec:av01"}
 
@@ -69,7 +74,9 @@ def normalize(spec: dict) -> dict:
 def format_sig(spec: dict) -> str:
     """Stable short hash of the output-affecting spec — the MediaAsset cache key component."""
     s = normalize(spec)
-    payload = json.dumps({k: s[k] for k in _SIG_KEYS}, sort_keys=True, separators=(",", ":"))
+    data = {k: s[k] for k in _SIG_KEYS}
+    data["_v"] = _SIG_VERSION
+    payload = json.dumps(data, sort_keys=True, separators=(",", ":"))
     return hashlib.sha256(payload.encode()).hexdigest()[:24]
 
 
@@ -145,6 +152,16 @@ def build_ydl_opts(
         if s["container"]:
             opts["merge_output_format"] = s["container"]
         sort = []
+        # Compatibility-first for mp4 (the universal container): prefer H.264 video + AAC
+        # audio so shared/downloaded files play in EVERY browser, including iOS/Safari.
+        # WebKit (which every iOS browser, Brave included, is forced to use) decodes only
+        # H.264/H.265 + AAC inside mp4 — a VP9/Opus-in-mp4 file shows a broken player there,
+        # even though Chromium plays it fine. These sort keys rank codec ABOVE resolution, so
+        # a 720p H.264 stream is chosen over a 1080p-VP9-only one; VP9/AV1 remain a graceful
+        # fallback only when no H.264 stream exists. A custom profile that explicitly sets
+        # `vcodec` opts out (its codec choice wins over the compatibility default).
+        if s["container"] == "mp4" and s["vcodec"] is None:
+            sort += ["vcodec:h264", "acodec:aac"]
         if h:
             sort.append(f"res:{h}")
         if s["vcodec"] in _VCODEC_SORT: