diff --git a/great_docs/assets/great-docs.scss b/great_docs/assets/great-docs.scss
index eef8c1d..84a53f1 100644
--- a/great_docs/assets/great-docs.scss
+++ b/great_docs/assets/great-docs.scss
@@ -6270,55 +6270,6 @@ html[data-bs-theme="dark"] .quarto-video {
     border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.15);
 }
 
-/* Placeholder that replaces a YouTube iframe until the user clicks */
-.gd-video-placeholder {
-    position: absolute;
-    top: 0;
-    left: 0;
-    width: 100%;
-    height: 100%;
-    cursor: pointer;
-    background: #000;
-
-    &:focus-visible {
-        outline: 3px solid var(--bs-primary);
-        outline-offset: -3px;
-    }
-}
-
-/* Thumbnail stretches to fill the ratio container */
-.gd-video-thumb {
-    display: block;
-    width: 100%;
-    height: 100%;
-    object-fit: cover;
-}
-
-/* Centered play button overlay */
-.gd-video-play {
-    position: absolute;
-    top: 50%;
-    left: 50%;
-    transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
-    transition: opacity 0.15s ease;
-    opacity: 0.9;
-    line-height: 0;
-
-    .gd-video-placeholder:hover &,
-    .gd-video-placeholder:focus-visible & {
-        opacity: 1;
-    }
-
-    .gd-play-bg {
-        transition: fill 0.15s ease;
-    }
-
-    .gd-video-placeholder:hover & .gd-play-bg {
-        fill: #f00;
-        fill-opacity: 1;
-    }
-}
-
 
 /* ---- Keyboard Shortcuts Help Overlay ---- */
 
diff --git a/great_docs/assets/video-embed.js b/great_docs/assets/video-embed.js
index a9620fb..2e8a0dd 100644
--- a/great_docs/assets/video-embed.js
+++ b/great_docs/assets/video-embed.js
@@ -2,110 +2,13 @@
  * Video embedding enhancements for Great Docs
  *
  * Improves performance and UX for embedded videos:
- *  - YouTube: lightweight thumbnail placeholder with click-to-play
- *    (avoids loading heavy YouTube iframe until the user requests it)
+ *  - YouTube: uses the standard YouTube embedded player with native controls
  *  - Vimeo / other service iframes: IntersectionObserver lazy loading
  *  - Local <video> elements: sets preload="metadata" for faster page loads
  */
 (function () {
   "use strict";
 
-  // YouTube play-button SVG (same style as YouTube's own overlay)
-  var PLAY_SVG =
-    '<svg viewBox="0 0 68 48" width="68" height="48" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">' +
-    '<path class="gd-play-bg" d="M66.52 7.74c-.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79.13 34 0 34 0S12.21.13 6.9 1.55' +
-    "C3.97 2.33 2.27 4.81 1.48 7.74.06 13.05 0 24 0 24s.06 10.95 1.48 16.26c.78 2.93 2.49 5.41 5.42 6.19" +
-    'C12.21 47.87 34 48 34 48s21.79-.13 27.1-1.55c2.93-.78 4.64-3.26 5.42-6.19C67.94 34.95 68 24 68 24' +
-    's-.06-10.95-1.48-16.26z" fill="#212121" fill-opacity="0.8"/>' +
-    '<path d="M45 24 27 14v20z" fill="#fff"/>' +
-    "</svg>";
-
-  /**
-   * Extract a YouTube video ID from an embed URL.
-   */
-  function getYouTubeId(src) {
-    var m = src.match(
-      /(?:youtube\.com|youtube-nocookie\.com)\/embed\/([^?&#/]+)/
-    );
-    return m ? m[1] : null;
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Replace YouTube iframes with a static thumbnail + play button.
-   * The real iframe is loaded only when the user clicks or presses Enter/Space.
-   */
-  function enhanceYouTube() {
-    var iframes = document.querySelectorAll(
-      '.quarto-video iframe[src*="youtube.com/embed"],' +
-        '.quarto-video iframe[src*="youtube-nocookie.com/embed"]'
-    );
-
-    for (var i = 0; i < iframes.length; i++) {
-      (function (iframe) {
-        var videoId = getYouTubeId(iframe.src);
-        if (!videoId) return;
-
-        var wrapper = iframe.closest(".quarto-video");
-        if (!wrapper) return;
-
-        var originalSrc = iframe.src;
-        var title =
-          iframe.getAttribute("title") ||
-          iframe.getAttribute("aria-label") ||
-          "Video";
-
-        // Build placeholder
-        var ph = document.createElement("div");
-        ph.className = "gd-video-placeholder";
-        ph.setAttribute("role", "button");
-        ph.setAttribute("aria-label", "Play video: " + title);
-        ph.setAttribute("tabindex", "0");
-
-        // Thumbnail image (try maxresdefault, fall back to hqdefault)
-        var thumb = document.createElement("img");
-        thumb.className = "gd-video-thumb";
-        thumb.alt = title;
-        thumb.loading = "lazy";
-        thumb.src =
-          "https://img.youtube.com/vi/" + videoId + "/maxresdefault.jpg";
-        thumb.onerror = function () {
-          this.src =
-            "https://img.youtube.com/vi/" + videoId + "/hqdefault.jpg";
-          this.onerror = null;
-        };
-
-        // Play button overlay
-        var play = document.createElement("div");
-        play.className = "gd-video-play";
-        play.innerHTML = PLAY_SVG;
-
-        ph.appendChild(thumb);
-        ph.appendChild(play);
-
-        // Swap: hide iframe (and prevent it from loading), show placeholder
-        iframe.removeAttribute("src");
-        iframe.style.display = "none";
-        wrapper.appendChild(ph);
-
-        function load() {
-          ph.remove();
-          iframe.style.display = "";
-          // Append autoplay so the video starts immediately after click
-          var sep = originalSrc.indexOf("?") === -1 ? "?" : "&";
-          iframe.src = originalSrc + sep + "autoplay=1";
-        }
-
-        ph.addEventListener("click", load);
-        ph.addEventListener("keydown", function (e) {
-          if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") {
-            e.preventDefault();
-            load();
-          }
-        });
-      })(iframes[i]);
-    }
-  }
-
   /**
    * Lazy-load non-YouTube iframes (Vimeo, Loom, etc.) via IntersectionObserver.
    * The src is deferred until the iframe scrolls near the viewport.
@@ -157,7 +60,6 @@
 
   // --- Entry point ---
   function init() {
-    enhanceYouTube();
     lazyLoadIframes();
     enhanceVideoElements();
   }
diff --git a/tests/test_great_docs.py b/tests/test_great_docs.py
index b47be94..71d70ef 100644
--- a/tests/test_great_docs.py
+++ b/tests/test_great_docs.py
@@ -39421,23 +39421,6 @@ def test_video_embed_js_is_iife():
         assert content.rstrip().endswith("})();")
 
 
-def test_video_embed_js_has_youtube_enhancement():
-    """video-embed.js contains YouTube thumbnail placeholder logic."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "video-embed.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        assert "enhanceYouTube" in content
-        assert "getYouTubeId" in content
-        assert "gd-video-placeholder" in content
-        assert "gd-video-thumb" in content
-        assert "gd-video-play" in content
-        assert "img.youtube.com" in content
-
-
 def test_video_embed_js_has_lazy_loading():
     """video-embed.js contains IntersectionObserver lazy-loading for non-YouTube iframes."""
 
@@ -39466,85 +39449,8 @@ def test_video_embed_js_has_video_element_enhancement():
         assert '"preload"' in content
 
 
-def test_video_embed_js_youtube_id_extraction():
-    """video-embed.js can extract YouTube IDs from embed URLs."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "video-embed.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        # The regex should match both youtube.com and youtube-nocookie.com
-        assert "youtube.com" in content
-        assert "youtube-nocookie.com" in content
-
-
-def test_video_embed_js_accessibility():
-    """video-embed.js includes proper accessibility attributes."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "video-embed.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        # Placeholder should have role="button" for screen readers
-        assert '"button"' in content
-
-        # Should support keyboard activation
-        assert '"Enter"' in content
-        assert '" "' in content  # Space key
-
-        # Should have aria-label
-        assert "aria-label" in content
-
-        # Should have tabindex for keyboard focus
-        assert "tabindex" in content
-
-
-def test_video_embed_js_autoplay_on_click():
-    """video-embed.js appends autoplay=1 when loading the player after click."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "video-embed.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        assert "autoplay=1" in content
-
-
-def test_video_embed_js_thumbnail_fallback():
-    """video-embed.js falls back from maxresdefault to hqdefault thumbnail."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "video-embed.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        assert "maxresdefault" in content
-        assert "hqdefault" in content
-        assert "onerror" in content
-
-
-def test_video_embed_js_play_button_svg():
-    """video-embed.js includes an inline SVG play button."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "video-embed.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        assert "PLAY_SVG" in content
-        assert "<svg" in content
-        assert "gd-play-bg" in content
-
-
 def test_scss_has_video_styles():
-    """great-docs.scss contains styling for video containers and placeholders."""
+    """great-docs.scss contains styling for video containers."""
 
     from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
 
@@ -39555,12 +39461,6 @@ def test_scss_has_video_styles():
         # Video container border
         assert ".quarto-video" in content
 
-        # Placeholder styles
-        assert ".gd-video-placeholder" in content
-        assert ".gd-video-thumb" in content
-        assert ".gd-video-play" in content
-        assert ".gd-play-bg" in content
-
 
 def test_scss_video_container_has_border():
     """The .quarto-video container has a border and border-radius."""
@@ -39593,20 +39493,6 @@ def test_scss_video_dark_mode():
         )
 
 
-def test_scss_video_placeholder_positioning():
-    """The placeholder overlay is positioned absolutely to fill the container."""
-
-    from great_docs.core import GreatDocs
-
-    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
-        docs = GreatDocs(project_path=tmp_dir)
-        content = (docs.assets_path / "great-docs.scss").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-
-        # The placeholder must cover the entire ratio container
-        assert "position: absolute" in content
-        assert "cursor: pointer" in content
-
-
 def test_scss_video_focus_visible():
     """The placeholder has :focus-visible styling for keyboard accessibility."""
 
diff --git a/user_guide/22-videos.qmd b/user_guide/22-videos.qmd
index adebd08..9e829ef 100644
--- a/user_guide/22-videos.qmd
+++ b/user_guide/22-videos.qmd
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ Here's a live example:
 {{< video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8-Jyh-NaMw >}}
 
 ::: {.callout-tip}
-## Performance
+## YouTube Controls
 
-YouTube embeds are automatically optimized. Instead of loading the full YouTube player on page load, Great Docs displays a lightweight thumbnail image with a play button. The player loads only when a visitor clicks, which significantly improves page load times (especially on pages with multiple videos).
+YouTube embeds use the standard YouTube player, giving visitors full access to native controls including ad skipping, captions, playback speed, and quality settings.
 :::
 
 ### Start Time