Match pages offer layout tools so you can widen the watch area, hide chat, or go true full screen without losing the player. These controls do not fix a stream that never starts — use playback help for that.
Open Controls
Use the cog beside the player for the side Controls panel. If it disappeared after Hide sidebar, refresh the match page. Layout options (chat, Theater, Full Screen) live there.
Hide or show chat
Hide chat for this visit from Controls, or enable Hide chat by default under My Account → Preferences so every stream starts cleaner. Chat remains available from Controls when you want it. Some pages simply do not offer chat — that is not a site-wide outage.
Theater vs Full Screen
Theater reduces header/footer and extra page chrome so video grows while browser tabs stay — a wider watch without leaving the normal window. Full Screen is stronger: the stream fills the monitor. Entering Full Screen exits Theater first if Theater was on. Double-click the player when the page allows. Exit Full restores the window. If layout feels stuck after Theater, Exit Theater, then hard-refresh once.
Casting and TV login
Theater and chat tools are not Chromecast, AirPlay, or QR TV login. Those Premium features are covered in How do I use Chromecast, AirPlay, or QR TV login?.
Need help?
Layout issues rarely need tickets. If Controls never return, note browser and device and whether another browser restored the panel. If the stream itself never starts, use Stream buffers or will not load — then Contact Us → Bug Report or Premium Support.
Preferences overview: How do notification and email preferences work?.