diff --git a/documentation/global-ui-controls.md b/documentation/global-ui-controls.md
index 1d94f56..046ed06 100644
--- a/documentation/global-ui-controls.md
+++ b/documentation/global-ui-controls.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ sound mute, and offline mode. They are not regular canvas elements and are not
 stored in `tour_pages.ui_schema_json.elements`.
 
 They behave like runtime chrome:
+
 - button dimensions use canvas-relative percentages
 - button positions are relative to the visible canvas using `xPercent/yPercent`
 - constructor edit mode renders controls even when hidden
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ They behave like runtime chrome:
 ## Implementation Files
 
 Backend:
+
 - `backend/src/db/models/global_ui_control_defaults.js`
 - `backend/src/db/models/project_ui_control_settings.js`
 - `backend/src/db/api/global_ui_control_defaults.ts`
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ Backend:
 - `backend/src/services/project_ui_control_settings.ts`
 
 Frontend:
+
 - `frontend/src/types/uiControls.ts`
 - `frontend/src/components/UiControls/UiControlsSettingsForm.tsx`
 - `frontend/src/components/Runtime/RuntimeControls.tsx`
@@ -58,27 +61,39 @@ hardcoded defaults are only a safety fallback.
 
 Each control (`fullscreen`, `sound`, `offline`) supports:
 
-| Field | Purpose |
-|-------|---------|
-| `enabled` | Disable action while keeping the control selectable in edit mode |
-| `hidden` | Hide in runtime/preview; still render as ghost in constructor edit mode |
-| `xPercent`, `yPercent` | Canvas-relative position |
-| `anchor` | Which button point is placed at the coordinate |
-| `buttonSizePercent`, `iconSizePercent`, `borderRadiusPercent` | Canvas-width-relative dimensions |
-| `defaultIconUrl`, `activeIconUrl` | Optional custom asset URL/storage key per state |
-| `defaultBackgroundColor`, `activeBackgroundColor` | Button background color per state |
-| `defaultBorderColor`, `activeBorderColor` | Button border color per state |
-| `hoverBackgroundColor`, `color` | Shared hover background and icon color |
-| `opacity`, `boxShadow`, `zIndex`, `order` | Presentation and initial ordering |
+| Field                                                         | Purpose                                                                 |
+| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `enabled`                                                     | Disable action while keeping the control selectable in edit mode        |
+| `hidden`                                                      | Hide in runtime/preview; still render as ghost in constructor edit mode |
+| `xPercent`, `yPercent`                                        | Canvas-relative position                                                |
+| `anchor`                                                      | Which button point is placed at the coordinate                          |
+| `buttonSizePercent`, `iconSizePercent`, `borderRadiusPercent` | Canvas-width-relative dimensions                                        |
+| `defaultIconUrl`, `activeIconUrl`                             | Optional custom asset URL/storage key per state                         |
+| `defaultBackgroundColor`, `activeBackgroundColor`             | Button background color per state                                       |
+| `defaultBorderColor`, `activeBorderColor`                     | Button border color per state                                           |
+| `hoverBackgroundColor`, `color`                               | Shared hover background and icon color                                  |
+| `opacity`, `boxShadow`, `zIndex`, `order`                     | Presentation and initial ordering                                       |
 
 Active state means downloaded/offline for the offline button, muted for the
 sound button, and fullscreen for the fullscreen button.
 
-When runtime is embedded in an iframe, the fullscreen control first tries the
-browser Fullscreen API for the presentation document, then tries to fullscreen
-the embedding iframe when same-origin access is available. For cross-origin
-wrappers it posts `tour-builder:request-fullscreen` to `window.parent`; exit
-attempts post `tour-builder:exit-fullscreen`.
+When runtime is embedded in an iframe, the fullscreen control requests
+fullscreen on the embedding iframe first when same-origin access is available.
+For cross-origin wrappers it posts `tour-builder:request-fullscreen` to
+`window.parent` before attempting child-document fullscreen, because a
+permissions-policy rejection inside the iframe can consume the user activation
+needed by the parent fallback. If the iframe itself grants fullscreen but the
+parent does not listen for the message, the child-document fullscreen fallback
+can still enter fullscreen. Standalone runtime pages use the browser Fullscreen
+API for the presentation document. Exit attempts post
+`tour-builder:exit-fullscreen`.
+
+Browser fullscreen is not equivalent for top-level pages and iframes. A
+top-level runtime page can request document fullscreen from a user click, while
+a cross-origin iframe normally needs `allow="fullscreen"` / `allowfullscreen`
+or a parent page that handles `tour-builder:request-fullscreen` and fullscreens
+the iframe element.
+
 The runtime keeps a local fullscreen-active state after an embedded parent
 fullscreen request because the child document may not expose a local
 `document.fullscreenElement` while the parent iframe is fullscreen. The hook
@@ -86,16 +101,24 @@ listens to both `fullscreenchange` and `webkitfullscreenchange` for native
 fullscreen exits.
 
 ```html
-<iframe id="tour-frame" src="https://example.com/p/project" allow="fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
+<iframe
+  id="tour-frame"
+  src="https://example.com/p/project"
+  allow="fullscreen"
+  allowfullscreen
+></iframe>
 <script>
-  window.addEventListener('message', async (event) => {
-    const frame = document.getElementById('tour-frame');
+  window.addEventListener("message", async (event) => {
+    const frame = document.getElementById("tour-frame");
 
-    if (event.data?.type === 'tour-builder:request-fullscreen') {
+    if (event.data?.type === "tour-builder:request-fullscreen") {
       await frame?.requestFullscreen?.();
     }
 
-    if (event.data?.type === 'tour-builder:exit-fullscreen' && document.fullscreenElement) {
+    if (
+      event.data?.type === "tour-builder:exit-fullscreen" &&
+      document.fullscreenElement
+    ) {
       await document.exitFullscreen();
     }
   });
@@ -109,11 +132,11 @@ non-16:9 projects as well.
 
 Default global values:
 
-| Control | X | Y | Size | Icon | Radius | Order |
-|---------|---|---|------|------|--------|-------|
-| `offline` | `89.5` | `6` | `2.6` | `1.35` | `0.42` | `1` |
-| `fullscreen` | `92.75` | `6` | `2.6` | `1.35` | `0.42` | `2` |
-| `sound` | `96` | `6` | `2.6` | `1.35` | `0.42` | `3` |
+| Control      | X       | Y   | Size  | Icon   | Radius | Order |
+| ------------ | ------- | --- | ----- | ------ | ------ | ----- |
+| `offline`    | `89.5`  | `6` | `2.6` | `1.35` | `0.42` | `1`   |
+| `fullscreen` | `92.75` | `6` | `2.6` | `1.35` | `0.42` | `2`   |
+| `sound`      | `96`    | `6` | `2.6` | `1.35` | `0.42` | `3`   |
 
 ## APIs
 
@@ -143,6 +166,7 @@ Constructor renders controls through `RuntimeControls` with `editMode=true`.
 Selecting a system control opens the element editor in system-control mode.
 
 System controls:
+
 - can be dragged to update `xPercent/yPercent`
 - can be edited with coordinate inputs
 - can choose separate default and active custom icons
@@ -162,6 +186,7 @@ rendered as ghost controls so authors can reselect and unhide them.
 
 Global defaults are listed at `/global-ui-control-defaults` and edited per
 control:
+
 - `/global-ui-control-defaults/offline`
 - `/global-ui-control-defaults/fullscreen`
 - `/global-ui-control-defaults/sound`
@@ -171,6 +196,7 @@ Project-level overrides are edited from
 
 The per-control global pages and project page use `UiControlsSettingsForm`, a
 typed editor with the same tab model used by element defaults:
+
 - **General Settings**: enabled/hidden state, canvas-relative position, anchor,
   order, and default/active icon URLs
 - **CSS Styles**: button/icon sizing, radius, icon color, background colors,
diff --git a/frontend/docs/runtime-presentation.md b/frontend/docs/runtime-presentation.md
index 53546ac..e342131 100644
--- a/frontend/docs/runtime-presentation.md
+++ b/frontend/docs/runtime-presentation.md
@@ -165,10 +165,18 @@ across screens for projects with the same canvas ratio.
 
 Custom icons use each control's `defaultIconUrl` and `activeIconUrl`; empty
 values fall back to the built-in MDI icons.
-Embedded runtime fullscreen uses the same wrapper fallback as Info Panel image
-detail fullscreen: native document fullscreen first, same-origin iframe
-fullscreen second, then parent `tour-builder:request-fullscreen` postMessage.
-Exit from cross-origin wrapper fullscreen posts `tour-builder:exit-fullscreen`.
+Embedded runtime fullscreen requests the embedding iframe first when same-origin
+access is available. For cross-origin wrappers it posts
+`tour-builder:request-fullscreen` to the parent before attempting
+child-document fullscreen, so a permissions-policy rejection inside the iframe
+does not consume the user activation needed by the parent fallback. If the
+iframe itself grants fullscreen but the parent does not listen for the message,
+the child-document fullscreen fallback can still enter fullscreen. Standalone
+runtime pages use native document fullscreen. Exit from cross-origin wrapper
+fullscreen posts `tour-builder:exit-fullscreen`.
+Top-level runtime pages can request document fullscreen from a user click, but
+cross-origin iframe embeds normally require `allow="fullscreen"` /
+`allowfullscreen` or a parent listener that fullscreens the iframe element.
 After a parent iframe fullscreen request, `useRuntimeFullscreen` keeps the
 fullscreen button in its active state even when the child document does not
 expose `document.fullscreenElement`; native enter/exit events still clear or set
@@ -641,11 +649,11 @@ const handleElementClick = useCallback(
 
 ### Navigation Helpers (`lib/navigationHelpers.ts`)
 
-| Helper                                     | Purpose                                                                                                  |
-| ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| Helper                                     | Purpose                                                                                                                              |
+| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
 | `resolveNavigationTarget(element, pages)`  | Resolves forward targets by slug; for back buttons, resolves history and returns transition fields from the incoming forward element |
-| `isTransitionBlocking(phase, isBuffering)` | Returns `true` if navigation should be blocked (transition playing)                                      |
-| `getNavigationDirection(element)`          | Returns `'forward'` or `'back'` based on `navType` or element type                                       |
+| `isTransitionBlocking(phase, isBuffering)` | Returns `true` if navigation should be blocked (transition playing)                                                                  |
+| `getNavigationDirection(element)`          | Returns `'forward'` or `'back'` based on `navType` or element type                                                                   |
 
 **Note:** Navigation elements store `targetPageSlug` (not UUID) because slugs are consistent across environments (dev/stage/production). Back navigation uses page history and the incoming forward element's pre-generated `reverseVideoUrl`; runtime does not perform client-side reverse generation.
 
@@ -843,7 +851,7 @@ useEffect(() => {
 | **useBackgroundTransition**          | Shared hook handles crossfade (non-video nav)                |
 | **isBackgroundReady state**          | Tracks when new page background is fully rendered            |
 | **pendingTransitionComplete state**  | Signals video ended, waiting for background                  |
-| **Blob URL support**                 | Enables direct playback of preloaded forward/reverse videos   |
+| **Blob URL support**                 | Enables direct playback of preloaded forward/reverse videos  |
 | **Video cleanup**                    | `removeAttribute('src')` + `load()` prevents memory leaks    |
 | **Navigation blocking**              | `isTransitionBlocking()` prevents navigation during playback |
 
@@ -1222,8 +1230,10 @@ Runtime fullscreen is owned by `useRuntimeFullscreen`. The hook delegates the
 actual browser operations to `runtimeFullscreen.actions.ts` and
 `lib/fullscreen.ts`:
 
-- enter: request document fullscreen, then same-origin embedding iframe
-  fullscreen, then parent `tour-builder:request-fullscreen`
+- enter standalone: request document fullscreen
+- enter embedded: request same-origin embedding iframe fullscreen or post parent
+  `tour-builder:request-fullscreen`, then fall back to child-document fullscreen
+  when iframe permissions allow it
 - exit: exit native fullscreen when the child document owns it; otherwise post
   `tour-builder:exit-fullscreen` to the parent wrapper
 - state: preserve active fullscreen state for parent iframe fullscreen requests
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.test.ts b/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de33882
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import test from 'node:test';
+
+import { requestDocumentFullscreen } from './fullscreen';
+
+const setBrowserGlobals = ({
+  windowValue,
+  documentValue,
+}: {
+  windowValue: unknown;
+  documentValue: unknown;
+}) => {
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'window', {
+    configurable: true,
+    value: windowValue,
+  });
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, 'document', {
+    configurable: true,
+    value: documentValue,
+  });
+};
+
+test('requestDocumentFullscreen uses document fullscreen for standalone pages', async () => {
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  const windowValue: { parent?: unknown } = {};
+  windowValue.parent = windowValue;
+
+  setBrowserGlobals({
+    windowValue,
+    documentValue: {
+      documentElement: {
+        requestFullscreen: async () => {
+          calls.push('document-fullscreen');
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  });
+
+  const entered = await requestDocumentFullscreen('runtime-global-control');
+
+  assert.equal(entered, true);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, ['document-fullscreen']);
+});
+
+test('requestDocumentFullscreen asks the parent before child fullscreen when embedded', async () => {
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  const parent = {
+    postMessage: (message: unknown, targetOrigin: string) => {
+      calls.push(`post:${targetOrigin}:${JSON.stringify(message)}`);
+    },
+  };
+
+  setBrowserGlobals({
+    windowValue: {
+      parent,
+      frameElement: null,
+    },
+    documentValue: {
+      documentElement: {
+        requestFullscreen: async () => {
+          calls.push('document-fullscreen');
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  });
+
+  const entered = await requestDocumentFullscreen('runtime-global-control');
+
+  assert.equal(entered, true);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, [
+    'post:*:{"type":"tour-builder:request-fullscreen","source":"runtime-global-control"}',
+    'document-fullscreen',
+  ]);
+});
+
+test('requestDocumentFullscreen returns parent request when embedded child fullscreen is blocked', async () => {
+  const calls: string[] = [];
+  const parent = {
+    postMessage: (message: unknown, targetOrigin: string) => {
+      calls.push(`post:${targetOrigin}:${JSON.stringify(message)}`);
+    },
+  };
+
+  setBrowserGlobals({
+    windowValue: {
+      parent,
+      frameElement: null,
+    },
+    documentValue: {
+      documentElement: {
+        requestFullscreen: async () => {
+          calls.push('document-fullscreen');
+          throw new TypeError('Disallowed by permissions policy');
+        },
+      },
+    },
+  });
+
+  const entered = await requestDocumentFullscreen('runtime-global-control');
+
+  assert.equal(entered, true);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, [
+    'post:*:{"type":"tour-builder:request-fullscreen","source":"runtime-global-control"}',
+    'document-fullscreen',
+  ]);
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.ts b/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.ts
index f2a72f1..dab39b6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/fullscreen.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ export const exitNativeFullscreen = async (): Promise<void> => {
 
 const isEmbeddedWindow = (): boolean => window.parent !== window;
 
+type FullscreenCapableElement = HTMLElement & {
+  webkitRequestFullscreen?: () => Promise<void>;
+};
+
 export const requestElementFullscreen = async (
   element: HTMLElement,
 ): Promise<void> => {
@@ -40,11 +44,8 @@ export const requestElementFullscreen = async (
     return;
   }
 
-  const webkitRequestFullscreen = (
-    element as HTMLElement & {
-      webkitRequestFullscreen?: () => Promise<void>;
-    }
-  ).webkitRequestFullscreen;
+  const webkitRequestFullscreen = (element as FullscreenCapableElement)
+    .webkitRequestFullscreen;
 
   if (webkitRequestFullscreen) {
     await webkitRequestFullscreen.call(element);
@@ -54,25 +55,24 @@ export const requestElementFullscreen = async (
   throw new Error('Fullscreen API is not available');
 };
 
-export const requestEmbeddingFrameFullscreen = async (
-  source = 'runtime',
-): Promise<boolean> => {
-  if (!isEmbeddedWindow()) return false;
+const requestSameOriginEmbeddingFrameFullscreen =
+  async (): Promise<boolean> => {
+    try {
+      const frame = window.frameElement as FullscreenCapableElement | null;
 
-  try {
-    const frame = window.frameElement as
-      | (HTMLElement & {
-          webkitRequestFullscreen?: () => Promise<void>;
-        })
-      | null;
-
-    if (frame) {
-      await requestElementFullscreen(frame);
-      return true;
+      if (frame) {
+        await requestElementFullscreen(frame);
+        return true;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Cross-origin parents are not directly accessible from the iframe.
     }
-  } catch {
-    // Cross-origin parents are not directly accessible from the iframe.
-  }
+
+    return false;
+  };
+
+const requestParentFullscreen = (source: string): boolean => {
+  if (!isEmbeddedWindow()) return false;
 
   window.parent.postMessage(
     {
@@ -85,9 +85,37 @@ export const requestEmbeddingFrameFullscreen = async (
   return true;
 };
 
+const requestEmbeddedDocumentFullscreen = async (
+  source: string,
+): Promise<boolean> => {
+  if (await requestSameOriginEmbeddingFrameFullscreen()) return true;
+
+  const parentRequestSent = requestParentFullscreen(source);
+
+  try {
+    await requestElementFullscreen(document.documentElement);
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return parentRequestSent;
+  }
+};
+
+export const requestEmbeddingFrameFullscreen = async (
+  source = 'runtime',
+): Promise<boolean> => {
+  if (!isEmbeddedWindow()) return false;
+
+  if (await requestSameOriginEmbeddingFrameFullscreen()) return true;
+  return requestParentFullscreen(source);
+};
+
 export const requestDocumentFullscreen = async (
   source = 'runtime',
 ): Promise<boolean> => {
+  if (isEmbeddedWindow()) {
+    return requestEmbeddedDocumentFullscreen(source);
+  }
+
   try {
     await requestElementFullscreen(document.documentElement);
     return true;