diff --git a/modules/video_output/apple/VLCSampleBufferDisplay.m b/modules/video_output/apple/VLCSampleBufferDisplay.m
index f13a4f4f8a..567a03a7b1 100644
--- a/modules/video_output/apple/VLCSampleBufferDisplay.m
+++ b/modules/video_output/apple/VLCSampleBufferDisplay.m
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSUInteger, VLCSampleBufferPixelFlip) {
             kCVPixelBufferMetalCompatibilityKey,
 #if TARGET_OS_OSX
             kCVPixelBufferOpenGLCompatibilityKey,
-#elif !defined(TARGET_OS_VISION) || !TARGET_OS_VISION
+#elif (!defined(TARGET_OS_VISION) || !TARGET_OS_VISION) && !TARGET_OS_MACCATALYST
             kCVPixelBufferOpenGLESCompatibilityKey,
 #endif
         };
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ typedef NS_ENUM(NSUInteger, VLCSampleBufferPixelFlip) {
             (__bridge CFNumberRef)(@(dstHeight)),
             (__bridge CFDictionaryRef)@{},
             kCFBooleanTrue,
-#if !defined(TARGET_OS_VISION) || !TARGET_OS_VISION
+#if (!defined(TARGET_OS_VISION) || !TARGET_OS_VISION) && !TARGET_OS_MACCATALYST
             kCFBooleanTrue
 #endif
         };
@@ -660,8 +660,59 @@ shouldInheritContentsScale:(CGFloat)newScale
     - (instancetype)initWithVoutDisplay:(vout_display_t *)vd;
 @end
 
+/* The sample-buffer layer fits its enqueued frames by gravity, not by the
+ * core-computed place rectangle, so the display fitting mode is mapped to a
+ * gravity: the larger ("fit outside") mode covers and crops, every other mode
+ * preserves aspect inside the surface. */
+static AVLayerVideoGravity VLCGravityForDisplayCfg(const vout_display_cfg_t *cfg)
+{
+    if (cfg->display.fitting == VLC_VIDEO_FIT_LARGER)
+        return AVLayerVideoGravityResizeAspectFill;
+    return AVLayerVideoGravityResizeAspect;
+}
+
 @implementation VLCSampleBufferDisplay
 
+/* A forced display aspect (libvlc_video_set_aspect_ratio) reaches the vout as a
+ * target place rectangle, but AVSampleBufferDisplayLayer still fits the natural
+ * pixel shape. Scale the natural aspect-fit box into VLC's computed place box so
+ * forced ratios visibly stretch while the default path remains identity. The
+ * fill (cover) path keeps its identity transform and uses layer gravity. */
+- (void)applyAspectStretch
+{
+    AVSampleBufferDisplayLayer *layer = self.displayLayer;
+    if (!layer)
+        return;
+    const vout_display_place_t *p = self.vd->place;
+    const video_format_t *source = self.vd->source;
+    const vout_display_cfg_t *cfg = self.vd->cfg;
+    CGAffineTransform t = CGAffineTransformIdentity;
+    if (source && cfg && p->width > 0 && p->height > 0
+        && cfg->display.width > 0 && cfg->display.height > 0
+        && source->i_visible_width > 0 && source->i_visible_height > 0
+        && cfg->display.fitting != VLC_VIDEO_FIT_LARGER)
+    {
+        const double displayW = (double)cfg->display.width;
+        const double displayH = (double)cfg->display.height;
+        const double naturalAR =
+            (double)source->i_visible_width / (double)source->i_visible_height;
+        const double displayAR = displayW / displayH;
+        double naturalW;
+        double naturalH;
+        if (naturalAR > displayAR) {
+            naturalW = displayW;
+            naturalH = displayW / naturalAR;
+        } else {
+            naturalW = displayH * naturalAR;
+            naturalH = displayH;
+        }
+        if (naturalW > 0.0 && naturalH > 0.0)
+            t = CGAffineTransformMakeScale((double)p->width / naturalW,
+                                           (double)p->height / naturalH);
+    }
+    layer.affineTransform = t;
+}
+
 - (id<VLCPixelBufferRotationContext>)rotationContext
 {
     if (_rotationContext)
@@ -742,6 +793,8 @@ shouldInheritContentsScale:(CGFloat)newScale
         @synchronized(sys.displayLayer) {
             sys.displayLayer = displayView.displayLayer;
         }
+        sys.displayLayer.videoGravity = VLCGravityForDisplayCfg(sys.vd->cfg);
+        [sys applyAspectStretch];
         [sys preparePictureInPicture];
     });
 }
@@ -1055,7 +1108,16 @@ static int Control (vout_display_t *vd, int query)
         case VOUT_DISPLAY_CHANGE_SOURCE_ASPECT:
         case VOUT_DISPLAY_CHANGE_SOURCE_CROP:
         case VOUT_DISPLAY_CHANGE_SOURCE_PLACE:
+        {
+            AVLayerVideoGravity gravity = VLCGravityForDisplayCfg(vd->cfg);
+            dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
+                @synchronized(sys.displayLayer) {
+                    sys.displayLayer.videoGravity = gravity;
+                }
+                [sys applyAspectStretch];
+            });
             break;
+        }
         default:
             msg_Err (vd, "Unhandled request %d", query);
             return VLC_EGENERIC;