diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/constructor.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/constructor.tsx
index 40796d5..dc268a6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/constructor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/constructor.tsx
@@ -392,18 +392,7 @@ const resolveDurationWithFallback = async (
   }
 
   try {
-    const requestUrl =
-      playbackUrl.startsWith('http://') || playbackUrl.startsWith('https://')
-        ? playbackUrl
-        : playbackUrl.replace(/^\/api(?=\/)/, '');
-
-    const token =
-      typeof window !== 'undefined' ? localStorage.getItem('token') || '' : '';
-    const response = await axios.get(requestUrl, {
-      responseType: 'blob',
-      headers: token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : undefined,
-    });
-
+    const response = await axios.get(playbackUrl, { responseType: 'blob' });
     const blobUrl = URL.createObjectURL(response.data);
     try {
       const blobDuration = await readMediaDuration(blobUrl, mediaType);
@@ -549,6 +538,7 @@ const createDefaultElement = (
       navType: getNavigationButtonKind(type),
       iconUrl: '',
       transitionReverseMode: 'auto_reverse',
+      transitionDurationSec: 0.7,
     };
   }
 
@@ -749,7 +739,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
     useState<EditorMenuItem>('none');
   const [transitionPreview, setTransitionPreview] =
     useState<TransitionPreviewState | null>(null);
-  const [pendingNavigationPageId, setPendingNavigationPageId] = useState('');
 
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
   const [isSaving, setIsSaving] = useState(false);
@@ -759,6 +748,7 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
   const [newTransitionVideoUrl, setNewTransitionVideoUrl] = useState('');
   const [newTransitionSupportsReverse, setNewTransitionSupportsReverse] =
     useState(true);
+  const [newTransitionDurationSec, setNewTransitionDurationSec] = useState(0.7);
   const [errorMessage, setErrorMessage] = useState('');
   const [successMessage, setSuccessMessage] = useState('');
   const [resolvedDurationBySource, setResolvedDurationBySource] = useState<
@@ -994,28 +984,8 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
       });
     }
 
-    if (newTransitionVideoUrl) {
-      targets.push({ source: newTransitionVideoUrl, mediaType: 'video' });
-    }
-
-    elements.forEach((element) => {
-      if (!isNavigationElementType(element.type)) return;
-      if (element.transitionVideoUrl) {
-        targets.push({ source: element.transitionVideoUrl, mediaType: 'video' });
-      }
-      if (element.reverseVideoUrl) {
-        targets.push({ source: element.reverseVideoUrl, mediaType: 'video' });
-      }
-    });
-
     return targets;
-  }, [
-    backgroundAudioUrl,
-    backgroundVideoUrl,
-    elements,
-    newTransitionVideoUrl,
-    selectedElement,
-  ]);
+  }, [backgroundAudioUrl, backgroundVideoUrl, selectedElement]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     let isCancelled = false;
@@ -1080,19 +1050,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
       getKnownDurationForSource(selectedElement.mediaUrl || ''),
     );
   }, [getKnownDurationForSource, selectedElement]);
-  const newTransitionDurationNote = useMemo(
-    () => formatDurationNote(getKnownDurationForSource(newTransitionVideoUrl)),
-    [getKnownDurationForSource, newTransitionVideoUrl],
-  );
-  const selectedTransitionDurationNote = useMemo(() => {
-    if (!selectedElement || !isNavigationElementType(selectedElement.type)) {
-      return 'Duration: unknown';
-    }
-
-    return formatDurationNote(
-      getKnownDurationForSource(selectedElement.transitionVideoUrl || ''),
-    );
-  }, [getKnownDurationForSource, selectedElement]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (newTransitionVideoUrl) return;
@@ -1100,32 +1057,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
     setNewTransitionVideoUrl(transitionVideoAssetOptions[0].value);
   }, [newTransitionVideoUrl, transitionVideoAssetOptions]);
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    setElements((prev) => {
-      let hasChanges = false;
-      const next = prev.map((element) => {
-        if (!isNavigationElementType(element.type)) return element;
-
-        const resolvedDuration = getKnownDurationForSource(
-          element.transitionVideoUrl || '',
-        );
-        const nextDuration =
-          Number.isFinite(resolvedDuration) && Number(resolvedDuration) > 0
-            ? Number(resolvedDuration)
-            : undefined;
-        if (element.transitionDurationSec === nextDuration) return element;
-
-        hasChanges = true;
-        return {
-          ...element,
-          transitionDurationSec: nextDuration,
-        };
-      });
-
-      return hasChanges ? next : prev;
-    });
-  }, [getKnownDurationForSource]);
-
   const loadData = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!projectId || !router.isReady || !isAuthReady) return;
 
@@ -1712,13 +1643,7 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
     const sanitizedName =
       String(newTransitionName || '').trim() ||
       `Transition ${Date.now().toString().slice(-4)}`;
-    const resolvedDurationSec = getKnownDurationForSource(sanitizedVideoUrl);
-    if (!resolvedDurationSec) {
-      setErrorMessage(
-        'Could not resolve transition video duration yet. Please wait a moment and try again.',
-      );
-      return;
-    }
+    const parsedDuration = Number(newTransitionDurationSec);
 
     try {
       setIsCreatingTransition(true);
@@ -1734,7 +1659,10 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
         video_url: sanitizedVideoUrl,
         audio_url: '',
         supports_reverse: Boolean(newTransitionSupportsReverse),
-        duration_sec: resolvedDurationSec,
+        duration_sec:
+          Number.isFinite(parsedDuration) && parsedDuration > 0
+            ? parsedDuration
+            : 0.7,
       };
 
       await axios.post('/transitions', { data: payload });
@@ -1752,7 +1680,7 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
     }
   }, [
     activePage?.environment,
-    getKnownDurationForSource,
+    newTransitionDurationSec,
     newTransitionName,
     newTransitionSupportsReverse,
     newTransitionVideoUrl,
@@ -1996,44 +1924,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
           element.navType === 'back' || element.type === 'navigation_prev'
             ? 'back'
             : 'forward';
-        const configuredTargetId = String(element.targetPageId || '').trim();
-        const fallbackTargetId = (() => {
-          const currentPageIndex = pages.findIndex(
-            (page) => page.id === activePageId,
-          );
-          if (currentPageIndex < 0) return '';
-
-          const nextPageIndex =
-            direction === 'back' ? currentPageIndex - 1 : currentPageIndex + 1;
-          const nextPage = pages[nextPageIndex];
-          return nextPage ? String(nextPage.id || '').trim() : '';
-        })();
-        const targetPageId = configuredTargetId || fallbackTargetId;
-
-        if (!targetPageId) {
-          setErrorMessage('No target page available for this navigation button.');
-          return;
-        }
-
-        const hasPlayableTransition =
-          Boolean(element.transitionVideoUrl) &&
-          !(
-            direction === 'back' &&
-            element.transitionReverseMode === 'separate_video' &&
-            !element.reverseVideoUrl
-          );
-
-        if (!hasPlayableTransition) {
-          setPendingNavigationPageId('');
-          setTransitionPreview(null);
-          setActivePageId(targetPageId);
-          setSelectedElementId('');
-          setSelectedMenuItem('none');
-          setErrorMessage('');
-          return;
-        }
-
-        setPendingNavigationPageId(targetPageId);
         openTransitionPreviewForElement(element, direction);
       }
       return;
@@ -2376,16 +2266,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
     const finishPreview = () => {
       cleanupReverseFrame();
       setTransitionPreview(null);
-      setPendingNavigationPageId((pendingPageId) => {
-        const nextPageId = String(pendingPageId || '').trim();
-        if (nextPageId) {
-          setActivePageId(nextPageId);
-          setSelectedElementId('');
-          setSelectedMenuItem('none');
-          setErrorMessage('');
-        }
-        return '';
-      });
     };
 
     const configuredDurationMs =
@@ -2820,10 +2700,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
                         </option>
                       ))}
                     </select>
-                    <p className='text-[11px] text-gray-500'>
-                      Transition duration is automatic from video metadata.{' '}
-                      {newTransitionDurationNote}
-                    </p>
                     <label className='flex items-center gap-2 text-[11px] text-gray-700'>
                       <input
                         type='checkbox'
@@ -2834,6 +2710,18 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
                       />
                       Supports reverse playback
                     </label>
+                    <input
+                      className='w-full rounded border border-gray-300 px-2 py-1 text-xs'
+                      type='number'
+                      min='0.2'
+                      step='0.1'
+                      value={newTransitionDurationSec}
+                      onChange={(event) =>
+                        setNewTransitionDurationSec(
+                          Number(event.target.value || 0.7),
+                        )
+                      }
+                    />
                     <button
                       type='button'
                       className='menu-action-btn'
@@ -3000,9 +2888,6 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
                             </option>
                           ))}
                         </select>
-                        <p className='mt-1 text-[11px] text-gray-500'>
-                          {selectedMediaDurationNote}
-                        </p>
                       </div>
                       <div>
                         <label className='mb-1 block text-[11px] font-semibold text-gray-600'>
@@ -3034,15 +2919,11 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
                         <select
                           className='w-full rounded border border-gray-300 px-2 py-1 text-xs'
                           value={selectedElement.transitionVideoUrl || ''}
-                          onChange={(event) => {
-                            const nextVideoUrl = event.target.value;
-                            const resolvedDuration =
-                              getKnownDurationForSource(nextVideoUrl);
+                          onChange={(event) =>
                             updateSelectedElement({
-                              transitionVideoUrl: nextVideoUrl,
-                              transitionDurationSec: resolvedDuration || undefined,
-                            });
-                          }}
+                              transitionVideoUrl: event.target.value,
+                            })
+                          }
                         >
                           <option value=''>Not selected</option>
                           {addFallbackAssetOption(
@@ -3056,7 +2937,7 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
                           ))}
                         </select>
                         <p className='mt-1 text-[11px] text-gray-500'>
-                          {selectedTransitionDurationNote}
+                          {selectedMediaDurationNote}
                         </p>
                       </div>
                       <div>
@@ -3114,10 +2995,25 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
                           </select>
                         </div>
                       )}
-                      <p className='text-[11px] text-gray-500'>
-                        Transition duration is set automatically from the selected
-                        video. {selectedTransitionDurationNote}
-                      </p>
+                      <div>
+                        <label className='mb-1 block text-[11px] font-semibold text-gray-600'>
+                          Transition duration (sec)
+                        </label>
+                        <input
+                          className='w-full rounded border border-gray-300 px-2 py-1 text-xs'
+                          type='number'
+                          min='0.2'
+                          step='0.1'
+                          value={selectedElement.transitionDurationSec ?? 0.7}
+                          onChange={(event) =>
+                            updateSelectedElement({
+                              transitionDurationSec: Number(
+                                event.target.value || 0.7,
+                              ),
+                            })
+                          }
+                        />
+                      </div>
                       <div className='flex gap-2 pt-1'>
                         <BaseButton
                           small
@@ -3688,19 +3584,7 @@ const ConstructorPage = ({ mode = 'constructor' }: ConstructorPageProps) => {
           <button
             type='button'
             className='absolute top-4 right-4 rounded bg-white/20 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-white hover:bg-white/30'
-            onClick={() => {
-              setTransitionPreview(null);
-              setPendingNavigationPageId((pendingPageId) => {
-                const nextPageId = String(pendingPageId || '').trim();
-                if (nextPageId) {
-                  setActivePageId(nextPageId);
-                  setSelectedElementId('');
-                  setSelectedMenuItem('none');
-                  setErrorMessage('');
-                }
-                return '';
-              });
-            }}
+            onClick={() => setTransitionPreview(null)}
           >
             Close
           </button>