diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/components/MobileBackButton.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/components/MobileBackButton.kt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6b70f7300
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/components/MobileBackButton.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package com.arflix.tv.ui.components
+
+import androidx.compose.foundation.background
+import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.statusBarsPadding
+import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.automirrored.filled.ArrowBack
+import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
+import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import com.arflix.tv.util.DeviceType
+import com.arflix.tv.util.LocalDeviceType
+
+/**
+ * A persistent, visible back button for phone layouts.
+ *
+ * On Android phones and tablets running gesture navigation, the system nav bar
+ * auto-hides after a short idle, leaving users with no visible way to go back
+ * until they swipe up to re-reveal it. On TV this is a non-issue (Back key on
+ * the remote is always available) but on touch devices it makes deep screens
+ * feel trapped \u2014 the exact complaint in issue #43.
+ *
+ * This composable renders an IconButton-shaped circle in the top-start corner
+ * of the screen, inset from the status bar, but only when the device type is
+ * [DeviceType.PHONE]. On TV and tablet it returns an empty Box so callers can
+ * drop it unconditionally into their UI without per-device branching.
+ *
+ * Callers should place this inside a `Box` root (or similar) that fills the
+ * screen, so the absolute `.align(Alignment.TopStart)` positioning lands above
+ * their main content.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ * ```
+ * Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
+ *     MyScreenContent(...)
+ *     MobileBackButton(onBack = onBack)
+ * }
+ * ```
+ */
+@Composable
+fun MobileBackButton(
+    onBack: () -> Unit,
+    modifier: Modifier = Modifier
+) {
+    val deviceType = LocalDeviceType.current
+    if (deviceType != DeviceType.PHONE) return
+
+    Box(
+        modifier = modifier
+            .statusBarsPadding()
+            .padding(start = 12.dp, top = 12.dp)
+            .size(40.dp)
+            .clip(CircleShape)
+            .background(Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.55f))
+            .clickable(onClick = onBack),
+        contentAlignment = Alignment.Center
+    ) {
+        Icon(
+            imageVector = Icons.AutoMirrored.Filled.ArrowBack,
+            contentDescription = "Back",
+            tint = Color.White,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(22.dp)
+        )
+    }
+}
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/details/DetailsScreen.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/details/DetailsScreen.kt
index bed3da458..09690f7ef 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/details/DetailsScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/details/DetailsScreen.kt
@@ -597,6 +597,7 @@ fun DetailsScreen(
                     contentHasFocus = !isSidebarFocused,
                     usePosterCards = usePosterCards,
                     isMobile = isMobile,
+                    onBack = onBack,
                     onButtonClick = { idx ->
                         when (idx) {
                             0 -> { // Play
@@ -935,6 +936,9 @@ private fun DetailsContent(
     contentHasFocus: Boolean = true,
     usePosterCards: Boolean = false,
     isMobile: Boolean = false,
+    // Persistent back callback used by the phone-layout back button overlay
+    // (issue #43). No-op by default so tablet/TV callers don't need to pass it.
+    onBack: () -> Unit = {},
     onButtonClick: (Int) -> Unit = {},
     onSeasonClick: (Int) -> Unit = {},
     onEpisodeClick: (Int) -> Unit = {},
@@ -1272,6 +1276,14 @@ private fun DetailsContent(
                 // Bottom spacing
                 Spacer(modifier = Modifier.height(32.dp))
             }
+
+            // Persistent back button for phone users (hidden on tablet/TV).
+            // Sits on top of the scrolling Column so it's always reachable even
+            // when the system nav bar auto-hides. Issue #43.
+            com.arflix.tv.ui.components.MobileBackButton(
+                onBack = onBack,
+                modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.TopStart)
+            )
         }
         return
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/search/SearchScreen.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/search/SearchScreen.kt
index 159eba793..cc028fe00 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/search/SearchScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/search/SearchScreen.kt
@@ -345,6 +345,12 @@ fun SearchScreen(
                 }
             }
         }
+
+        // Persistent back button for phone users (hidden on tablet/TV). Issue #43.
+        com.arflix.tv.ui.components.MobileBackButton(
+            onBack = onBack,
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.TopStart)
+        )
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/settings/SettingsScreen.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/settings/SettingsScreen.kt
index d6f96b516..3156f040d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/settings/SettingsScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/settings/SettingsScreen.kt
@@ -1130,6 +1130,14 @@ fun SettingsScreen(
                 onDismiss = { viewModel.dismissToast() }
             )
         }
+
+        // Persistent back button for phone users (hidden on tablet/TV).
+        // Always visible in the top-start corner even when the system nav bar
+        // auto-hides. Issue #43.
+        com.arflix.tv.ui.components.MobileBackButton(
+            onBack = onBack,
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.TopStart)
+        )
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/watchlist/WatchlistScreen.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/watchlist/WatchlistScreen.kt
index ec9db3764..693405cfa 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/watchlist/WatchlistScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/arflix/tv/ui/screens/watchlist/WatchlistScreen.kt
@@ -388,5 +388,11 @@ fun WatchlistScreen(
                 onDismiss = { viewModel.dismissToast() }
             )
         }
+
+        // Persistent back button for phone users (hidden on tablet/TV). Issue #43.
+        com.arflix.tv.ui.components.MobileBackButton(
+            onBack = onBack,
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.TopStart)
+        )
     }
 }