diff --git a/packages/pl-fe/src/modals/media-modal.tsx b/packages/pl-fe/src/modals/media-modal.tsx
index 8c71b1ff5..7ba851be9 100644
--- a/packages/pl-fe/src/modals/media-modal.tsx
+++ b/packages/pl-fe/src/modals/media-modal.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-import { animated, useSpring } from '@react-spring/web';
 import { Link } from '@tanstack/react-router';
-import { useDrag } from '@use-gesture/react';
 import clsx from 'clsx';
 import React, { type RefCallback, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { defineMessages, useIntl, FormattedMessage } from 'react-intl';
@@ -26,8 +24,6 @@ import { makeGetStatus } from 'pl-fe/selectors';
 import type { MediaAttachment } from 'pl-api';
 import type { BaseModalProps } from 'pl-fe/features/ui/components/modal-root';
 
-const MIN_SWIPE_DISTANCE = 400;
-
 const messages = defineMessages({
   close: { id: 'lightbox.close', defaultMessage: 'Close' },
   expand: { id: 'lightbox.expand', defaultMessage: 'Expand' },
@@ -67,12 +63,8 @@ const MediaModal: React.FC<MediaModalProps & BaseModalProps> = (props) => {
   const [navigationHidden, setNavigationHidden] = useState(false);
   const [isFullScreen, setIsFullScreen] = useState(!status);
 
-  const [wrapperStyles, api] = useSpring(() => ({
-    x: `-${index * 100}%`,
-  }));
-
   const handleChangeIndex = useCallback(
-    (newIndex: number, animate = false) => {
+    (newIndex: number) => {
       if (newIndex < 0) {
         newIndex = media.length + newIndex;
       } else if (newIndex >= media.length) {
@@ -80,17 +72,18 @@ const MediaModal: React.FC<MediaModalProps & BaseModalProps> = (props) => {
       }
       setIndex(newIndex);
       setZoomedIn(false);
-      if (animate) {
-        void api.start({ x: `calc(-${newIndex * 100}% + 0px)` });
-      }
     },
-    [api, media.length],
+    [media.length],
   );
-  const handlePrevClick = useCallback(() => {
-    handleChangeIndex(index - 1, true);
+
+  const handlePrevClick = useCallback((e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    e.stopPropagation();
+    handleChangeIndex(index - 1);
   }, [handleChangeIndex, index]);
-  const handleNextClick = useCallback(() => {
-    handleChangeIndex(index + 1, true);
+
+  const handleNextClick = useCallback((e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    e.stopPropagation();
+    handleChangeIndex(index + 1);
   }, [handleChangeIndex, index]);
 
   const [viewportDimensions, setViewportDimensions] = useState<{
@@ -111,44 +104,20 @@ const MediaModal: React.FC<MediaModalProps & BaseModalProps> = (props) => {
 
   const navigationHiddenClassName = navigationHidden ? 'pointer-events-none opacity-0' : '';
 
-  const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+  const handleKeyDown = useCallback((e: KeyboardEvent) => {
     switch (e.key) {
       case 'ArrowLeft':
-        handlePrevClick();
+        handleChangeIndex(index - 1);
         e.preventDefault();
         e.stopPropagation();
         break;
       case 'ArrowRight':
-        handleNextClick();
+        handleChangeIndex(index + 1);
         e.preventDefault();
         e.stopPropagation();
         break;
     }
-  };
-
-  const bind = useDrag(
-    ({ active, movement: [mx], direction: [xDir], cancel }) => {
-      // Disable swipe when zoomed in.
-      if (zoomedIn) {
-        return;
-      }
-
-      // If dragging and swipe distance is enough, change the index.
-      if (
-        active &&
-          Math.abs(mx) > Math.min(window.innerWidth / 4, MIN_SWIPE_DISTANCE)
-      ) {
-        handleChangeIndex(index - xDir);
-        cancel();
-      }
-      // Set the x position via calc to ensure proper centering regardless of screen size.
-      const x = active ? mx : 0;
-      void api.start({
-        x: `calc(-${index * 100}% + ${x}px)`,
-      });
-    },
-    { pointer: { capture: false } },
-  );
+  }, [handleChangeIndex, index]);
 
   const handleDownload = () => {
     const mediaItem = hasMultipleImages ? media[index as number] : media[0];
@@ -289,10 +258,9 @@ const MediaModal: React.FC<MediaModalProps & BaseModalProps> = (props) => {
         role='presentation'
       >
         <Stack
-          {...bind()}
           onClick={handleClickOutside}
           className={
-            clsx('⁂-media-modal__content fixed inset-0 h-full grow touch-pan-y transition-all', {
+            clsx('⁂-media-modal__content fixed inset-0 h-full grow transition-all', {
               'xl:pr-96': !isFullScreen,
               'xl:pr-0': isFullScreen,
             })
@@ -365,14 +333,18 @@ const MediaModal: React.FC<MediaModalProps & BaseModalProps> = (props) => {
               </div>
             )}
 
-            <animated.div
-              style={wrapperStyles}
-              className='media-modal__closer'
-              role='presentation'
-              onClick={() => onClose()}
-            >
-              {content}
-            </animated.div>
+            <div className='absolute inset-0 overflow-hidden'>
+              <div
+                style={{
+                  width: `${media.length * 100}%`,
+                  transform: `translateX(-${index * (100 / media.length)}%)`,
+                }}
+                className='media-modal__closer transition-transform duration-300 ease-out'
+                role='presentation'
+              >
+                {content}
+              </div>
+            </div>
 
             {hasMultipleImages && (
               <div className={clsx('absolute inset-y-0 right-5 z-10 flex items-center transition-opacity', navigationHiddenClassName)}>
diff --git a/packages/pl-fe/src/styles/components/modal.scss b/packages/pl-fe/src/styles/components/modal.scss
index ed0d9a701..c5fee2a85 100644
--- a/packages/pl-fe/src/styles/components/modal.scss
+++ b/packages/pl-fe/src/styles/components/modal.scss
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 .media-modal {
-  touch-action: pan-y;
+  touch-action: none;
 
   .audio-player.detailed,
   .extended-video-player {
@@ -19,20 +19,21 @@
   }
 
   &__closer {
-    display: flex;
     position: absolute;
     top: 0;
-    inset-inline-start: 0;
-    inset-inline-end: 0;
     bottom: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-wrap: nowrap;
+    height: 100%;
 
     > div {
-      flex-shrink: 0;
-      overflow: auto;
+      flex: 1 0 0;
+      min-width: 0;
       display: flex;
       align-items: center;
       justify-content: center;
-      width: 100%;
+      overflow: hidden;
     }
   }
 }