diff --git a/docs/provider-playbook.md b/docs/provider-playbook.md
index 1a5c657..ef3778e 100644
--- a/docs/provider-playbook.md
+++ b/docs/provider-playbook.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ These rules cut across every step below. They are intentionally grouped at the t
 
 ### Output Shape
 
+- **Never put a redirecting URL in `formats[].url`**: the Hot Tub app cannot follow redirects there. Redirect proxies (`REDIRECT_PROXIES` in `src/proxy.rs`) are for `video.url`; `api.rs` moves such formats to `url` for verified app clients as a safety net.
 - Use `formats` for real media URLs (HLS, multi-quality, signed token), and keep `video.url` on a stable page URL. Never set `video.url` to a tokenized stream that needs a `Referer` to play — the `url` field has no header contract.
 - If thumbnails need a `Referer` and the player has no per-thumb header mechanism, proxy them via `/proxy/<id>-thumb/...`. The same applies to manifests with relative URIs.
 - Keep filter `id` values stable and machine-targeted. Display `title`s change; ids route.
diff --git a/src/api.rs b/src/api.rs
index f95a182..ca95893 100644
--- a/src/api.rs
+++ b/src/api.rs
@@ -714,6 +714,15 @@ async fn videos_post(
             .collect();
     }
 
+    // The Hot Tub app cannot follow a redirect in `formats[].url`: for verified
+    // app clients, formats that point at a redirecting `/proxy/...` become the
+    // item's `url` instead.
+    if clientversion.is_verified_hottub() {
+        for video in video_items.iter_mut() {
+            move_redirect_formats_to_url(video);
+        }
+    }
+
     if let Some(literal_query) = literal_query.as_deref() {
         #[cfg(feature = "debug")]
         let before = video_items.len();
@@ -794,6 +803,30 @@ async fn videos_post(
     Ok(web::HttpResponse::Ok().json(&videos))
 }
 
+/// Moves formats that point at a redirecting proxy to `video.url`.
+///
+/// If direct (non-redirecting) formats remain they are kept and `url` is left
+/// alone; otherwise `url` becomes the first (best-listed) redirecting proxy URL
+/// and `formats` is dropped entirely.
+pub(crate) fn move_redirect_formats_to_url(video: &mut VideoItem) {
+    let Some(formats) = video.formats.take() else {
+        return;
+    };
+    let (redirecting, direct): (Vec<_>, Vec<_>) = formats
+        .into_iter()
+        .partition(|format| crate::proxy::is_redirect_proxy_url(&format.url));
+    if redirecting.is_empty() {
+        video.formats = Some(direct);
+        return;
+    }
+    if direct.is_empty() {
+        video.url = redirecting[0].url.clone();
+        video.formats = None;
+    } else {
+        video.formats = Some(direct);
+    }
+}
+
 async fn uploaders_post(
     uploader_request: web::types::Json<UploadersRequest>,
     cache: web::types::State<VideoCache>,
@@ -1082,4 +1115,53 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(item.uploader.as_deref(), Some("FreeusePorn"));
         assert_eq!(item.formats.as_ref().map(|formats| formats.len()), Some(2));
     }
+
+    fn item_with_formats(urls: &[&str]) -> VideoItem {
+        let mut item = VideoItem::new(
+            "id".to_string(),
+            "t".to_string(),
+            "https://site.example/watch/1".to_string(),
+            "c".to_string(),
+            "https://thumb".to_string(),
+            10,
+        );
+        item.formats = Some(
+            urls.iter()
+                .map(|u| crate::videos::VideoFormat::new(u.to_string(), "q".to_string(), "mp4".to_string()))
+                .collect(),
+        );
+        item
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn redirect_only_formats_move_to_url() {
+        let mut item = item_with_formats(&[
+            "http://h/proxy/hqporner/1080",
+            "http://h/proxy/hqporner/720",
+        ]);
+        move_redirect_formats_to_url(&mut item);
+        assert_eq!(item.url, "http://h/proxy/hqporner/1080");
+        assert!(item.formats.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn direct_formats_are_kept_and_redirect_ones_dropped() {
+        let mut item = item_with_formats(&[
+            "http://h/proxy/hqporner/1080",
+            "https://cdn.example/v.mp4",
+        ]);
+        move_redirect_formats_to_url(&mut item);
+        assert_eq!(item.url, "https://site.example/watch/1");
+        let formats = item.formats.expect("direct format kept");
+        assert_eq!(formats.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(formats[0].url, "https://cdn.example/v.mp4");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn media_proxy_formats_are_untouched() {
+        let mut item = item_with_formats(&["http://h/proxy/noodlemagazine/x.mp4"]);
+        move_redirect_formats_to_url(&mut item);
+        assert_eq!(item.url, "https://site.example/watch/1");
+        assert_eq!(item.formats.map(|f| f.len()), Some(1));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/proxy.rs b/src/proxy.rs
index 7b3b11b..80d2aa7 100644
--- a/src/proxy.rs
+++ b/src/proxy.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,40 @@ use crate::proxies::thaiporntv::ThaipornTvProxy;
 use crate::proxies::*;
 use crate::util::requester::Requester;
 
+/// Proxies that answer with a `302` to the real media instead of streaming it.
+/// The Hot Tub app cannot follow a redirect inside `formats[].url`, so for app
+/// clients a format pointing at one of these is moved to `video.url` (see
+/// `move_redirect_formats_to_url`). Keep in sync with the `proxy2redirect`
+/// routes below; `redirect_proxy_list_matches_routes` enforces it.
+pub const REDIRECT_PROXIES: &[&str] = &[
+    "archivebate",
+    "clapdat",
+    "doodstream",
+    "lulustream",
+    "sxyprn",
+    "javtiful",
+    "spankbang",
+    "porndish",
+    "hqporner",
+    "heavyfetish",
+    "vjav",
+    "pornhd3x",
+    "vidara",
+    "pimpbunny",
+    "thaiporntv",
+    "tube8",
+    "supjav",
+];
+
+/// True for a `/proxy/<redirect proxy>/...` URL (absolute or host-relative).
+pub fn is_redirect_proxy_url(url: &str) -> bool {
+    let Some(rest) = url.split_once("/proxy/").map(|(_, rest)| rest) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    let name = rest.split('/').next().unwrap_or_default();
+    REDIRECT_PROXIES.contains(&name)
+}
+
 pub fn config(cfg: &mut web::ServiceConfig) {
     cfg.service(
         web::resource("/archivebate/{endpoint}*")
@@ -239,3 +273,39 @@ fn get_proxy(proxy: &str) -> Option<AnyProxy> {
         _ => None,
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod redirect_proxy_tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn recognises_redirect_proxy_urls() {
+        assert!(is_redirect_proxy_url("http://h/proxy/archivebate/archivebate.com/watch/1"));
+        assert!(is_redirect_proxy_url("/proxy/hqporner/x"));
+        assert!(!is_redirect_proxy_url("http://h/proxy/noodlemagazine/x"));
+        assert!(!is_redirect_proxy_url("https://cdn.example/video.mp4"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn redirect_proxy_list_matches_routes() {
+        let source = include_str!("proxy.rs");
+        let config_body = source
+            .split("pub fn config(")
+            .nth(1)
+            .and_then(|rest| rest.split("async fn proxy2redirect(").next())
+            .expect("config body");
+        let mut from_routes: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+        for block in config_body.split("web::resource(\"/").skip(1) {
+            let name = block.split("/{endpoint}").next().unwrap_or_default();
+            let until_next = block.split("web::resource(").next().unwrap_or(block);
+            if until_next.contains("proxy2redirect") {
+                from_routes.push(name.to_string());
+            }
+        }
+        let mut listed: Vec<String> = REDIRECT_PROXIES.iter().map(|s| s.to_string()).collect();
+        from_routes.sort();
+        from_routes.dedup();
+        listed.sort();
+        assert_eq!(listed, from_routes);
+    }
+}