diff --git a/extension/content/inject.js b/extension/content/inject.js
index 662d652..ab6b0cf 100644
--- a/extension/content/inject.js
+++ b/extension/content/inject.js
@@ -3567,7 +3567,10 @@ function defineVideoController() {
       // YouTube adds ytp-autohide class to the player when controls should be hidden
       // We mirror this class state to enable CSS-based hiding
       // The vsc-hidden class (from V key) takes precedence via CSS specificity
-      if (ytPlayer.classList.contains("ytp-autohide")) {
+      if (
+        ytPlayer.classList.contains("ytp-autohide") &&
+        !this.controllerInteractionActive
+      ) {
         wrapper.classList.add("ytp-autohide");
 
         // Immediately end any temporary "vsc-show" state to hide with YouTube
@@ -3612,6 +3615,16 @@ function defineVideoController() {
       showController(wrapper, tc.settings.hideWithControlsTimer * 1000);
     };
 
+    const handleControllerInteractionChange = (active) => {
+      if (active) {
+        wrapper.classList.remove("ytp-autohide");
+        showController(wrapper, tc.settings.hideWithControlsTimer * 1000);
+      } else {
+        syncControllerVisibility();
+      }
+    };
+    this.controllerInteractionChanged = handleControllerInteractionChange;
+
     const activityEvents = ["mousemove", "mousedown", "touchstart"];
     activityEvents.forEach((type) => {
       video.addEventListener(type, resetTimer, { passive: true });
@@ -3626,6 +3639,9 @@ function defineVideoController() {
         wrapper.removeEventListener(type, resetTimer);
         ytPlayer.removeEventListener(type, resetTimer);
       });
+      if (this.controllerInteractionChanged === handleControllerInteractionChange) {
+        this.controllerInteractionChanged = null;
+      }
     };
   };
 
@@ -3642,6 +3658,8 @@ function defineVideoController() {
         clearTimeout(timer);
       }
       timer = setTimeout(() => {
+        timer = null;
+        if (this.controllerInteractionActive) return;
         // Only hide if the video is not paused
         // (Many players keep controls visible while paused)
         // However, the user said "Reveal on every mouse and keyboard input"
@@ -3652,6 +3670,20 @@ function defineVideoController() {
       }, tc.settings.hideWithControlsTimer * 1000);
     };
 
+    const handleControllerInteractionChange = (active) => {
+      if (active) {
+        wrapper.classList.remove("vsc-idle-hidden");
+        showController(wrapper, tc.settings.hideWithControlsTimer * 1000);
+        if (timer) {
+          clearTimeout(timer);
+          timer = null;
+        }
+      } else {
+        resetTimer();
+      }
+    };
+    this.controllerInteractionChanged = handleControllerInteractionChange;
+
     // Initial show/timer
     resetTimer();
 
@@ -3685,6 +3717,9 @@ function defineVideoController() {
       });
       video.removeEventListener("play", resetTimer);
       video.removeEventListener("pause", resetTimer);
+      if (this.controllerInteractionChanged === handleControllerInteractionChange) {
+        this.controllerInteractionChanged = null;
+      }
     };
 
     log(`Generic auto-hide setup complete with ${tc.settings.hideWithControlsTimer}s timer`, 4);
@@ -3758,6 +3793,27 @@ function defineVideoController() {
     controller.appendChild(nudgeFlashIndicator);
     shadow.appendChild(controller);
 
+    const setControllerInteractionActive = (active) => {
+      this.controllerInteractionActive = active === true;
+      controller.classList.toggle(
+        "vsc-controls-hovered",
+        this.controllerInteractionActive
+      );
+      wrapper.classList.toggle(
+        "vsc-controls-hovered",
+        this.controllerInteractionActive
+      );
+      if (typeof this.controllerInteractionChanged === "function") {
+        this.controllerInteractionChanged(this.controllerInteractionActive);
+      }
+    };
+    controller.addEventListener("pointerenter", () => {
+      setControllerInteractionActive(true);
+    });
+    controller.addEventListener("pointerleave", () => {
+      setControllerInteractionActive(false);
+    });
+
     this.speedIndicator = dragHandle;
     this.subtitleNudgeIndicator = subtitleNudgeIndicator;
     this.nudgeFlashIndicator = nudgeFlashIndicator;
diff --git a/extension/content/shadow.css b/extension/content/shadow.css
index b618054..9d06da0 100644
--- a/extension/content/shadow.css
+++ b/extension/content/shadow.css
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
    after a mouse click kept #controls visible while hover-only rules (e.g. draggable
    margin) turned off when the pointer left the bar. */
 #controller:hover #controls,
+#controller.vsc-controls-hovered #controls,
 #controller:focus-within:has(:focus-visible) #controls,
 :host(:hover) #controls {
   display: inline-flex;
@@ -85,6 +86,10 @@
   margin-right: 5px;
 }
 
+#controller.vsc-controls-hovered > .draggable {
+  margin-right: 5px;
+}
+
 /* Center presets: midpoint between left- and right-preset inset lines; center bar on that X. */
 #controller[data-location="top-center"]:not([data-position-mode="manual"]) {
   transform: translate(-50%, 0) !important;
diff --git a/tests/inject-lifecycle.regression.test.js b/tests/inject-lifecycle.regression.test.js
index cbd2c44..ab49cd1 100644
--- a/tests/inject-lifecycle.regression.test.js
+++ b/tests/inject-lifecycle.regression.test.js
@@ -562,6 +562,56 @@ describe("inject.js media/controller lifecycle regressions", () => {
     expect(mount.lastElementChild).toBe(wrapper);
   });
 
+  it("keeps expanded controls visible and disables auto-hide while hovered", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    bootInject({
+      syncData: {
+        hideWithControls: true,
+        hideWithControlsTimer: 1
+      }
+    });
+    await settleLifecycle();
+
+    const { controller, wrapper } = createControlledVideo();
+    const controllerElement = window.getControllerElement(controller);
+    controllerElement.dispatchEvent(new Event("pointerenter"));
+
+    expect(controller.controllerInteractionActive).toBe(true);
+    expect(controllerElement.classList.contains("vsc-controls-hovered")).toBe(true);
+    expect(wrapper.classList.contains("vsc-controls-hovered")).toBe(true);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1500);
+    expect(wrapper.classList.contains("vsc-idle-hidden")).toBe(false);
+
+    controllerElement.dispatchEvent(new Event("pointerleave"));
+    expect(controller.controllerInteractionActive).toBe(false);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1000);
+    expect(wrapper.classList.contains("vsc-idle-hidden")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("does not let YouTube auto-hide collapse controls under the pointer", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    bootInject({
+      url: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hover-lock",
+      syncData: {
+        hideWithControls: true,
+        hideWithControlsTimer: 1
+      }
+    });
+    await settleLifecycle();
+
+    const player = document.createElement("div");
+    player.className = "html5-video-player ytp-autohide";
+    const { controller, wrapper } = createControlledVideo({ mount: player });
+    const controllerElement = window.getControllerElement(controller);
+
+    expect(wrapper.classList.contains("ytp-autohide")).toBe(true);
+    controllerElement.dispatchEvent(new Event("pointerenter"));
+    expect(wrapper.classList.contains("ytp-autohide")).toBe(false);
+
+    controllerElement.dispatchEvent(new Event("pointerleave"));
+    expect(wrapper.classList.contains("ytp-autohide")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("suppresses a zero-size host and reveals it when the video becomes visible", async () => {
     bootInject();
     await settleLifecycle();