diff --git a/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.css b/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.css
index 07508b6..f1e0daf 100644
--- a/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.css
+++ b/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.css
@@ -16,34 +16,3 @@
   height: 100%;
   display: block;
 }
-
-.custom-cursor {
-  position: fixed;
-  top: 0;
-  left: 0;
-  width: 26px;
-  height: 26px;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.9);
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  transform: translate3d(-9999px, -9999px, 0);
-  margin-left: -13px;
-  margin-top: -13px;
-  box-shadow: 0 0 24px rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.28);
-  background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(96, 165, 250, 0.25) 0%, rgba(96, 165, 250, 0) 70%);
-  transition: width 130ms ease, height 130ms ease, margin 130ms ease, border-color 130ms ease;
-}
-
-.custom-cursor.pointer-down {
-  width: 38px;
-  height: 38px;
-  margin-left: -19px;
-  margin-top: -19px;
-  border-color: rgba(196, 181, 253, 0.95);
-}
-
-@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-  .custom-cursor {
-    transition: none;
-  }
-}
-
diff --git a/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.html b/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.html
index 17cb4f8..f8ec183 100644
--- a/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.html
+++ b/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.html
@@ -1,11 +1,3 @@
 <div class="background-layer" aria-hidden="true">
   <canvas #canvas class="particle-canvas"></canvas>
-  @if (isCursorVisible) {
-    <div
-      class="custom-cursor"
-      [class.pointer-down]="isPointerDown"
-      [style.transform]="cursorTransform"
-    ></div>
-  }
 </div>
-
diff --git a/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.ts b/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.ts
index 2831d55..d02c93e 100644
--- a/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.ts
+++ b/src/components/interactive-background/interactive-background.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import { AfterViewInit, Component, ElementRef, OnDestroy, ViewChild, inject } from '@angular/core';
-import { NavigationStart, Router } from '@angular/router';
+import { AfterViewInit, Component, ElementRef, OnDestroy, ViewChild } from '@angular/core';
 
 type PointerState = {
   x: number;
@@ -277,11 +276,8 @@ class ParticleEngine {
 })
 export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   @ViewChild('canvas', { static: true }) private readonly canvasRef!: ElementRef<HTMLCanvasElement>;
-  private readonly router = inject(Router);
 
-  isCursorVisible = InteractiveBackground.detectFinePointer();
   isPointerDown = false;
-  cursorTransform = 'translate3d(-9999px, -9999px, 0)';
 
   private particleEngine: ParticleEngine | null = null;
   private destroyCallbacks: Array<() => void> = [];
@@ -293,6 +289,7 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   private activeTouchId: number | null = null;
   private reducedMotion = false;
   private mediaQuery!: MediaQueryList;
+  private readonly pointerExcludeSelector = '[data-disable-bg-pointer]';
 
   ngAfterViewInit(): void {
     const canvas = this.canvasRef.nativeElement;
@@ -332,11 +329,6 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     const onTouchCancel = () => this.handlePointerLeave();
 
     const onMotionChange = (event: MediaQueryListEvent) => this.handleMotionPreferenceChange(event.matches);
-    const routerSubscription = this.router.events.subscribe((event) => {
-      if (event instanceof NavigationStart) {
-        this.resetPointerInteraction();
-      }
-    });
 
     window.addEventListener('resize', onResize);
 
@@ -375,7 +367,6 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
       () => window.removeEventListener('touchend', onTouchEnd),
       () => window.removeEventListener('touchcancel', onTouchCancel),
       () => this.mediaQuery.removeEventListener('change', onMotionChange),
-      () => routerSubscription.unsubscribe(),
     ];
   }
 
@@ -435,6 +426,11 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   private handlePointerMove(event: PointerEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (event.pointerType === 'touch' && this.activeTouchId !== null && event.pointerId !== this.activeTouchId) {
       return;
     }
@@ -443,6 +439,11 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   private handlePointerDown(event: PointerEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (event.pointerType === 'touch') {
       this.activeTouchId = event.pointerId;
     }
@@ -452,6 +453,11 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   private handlePointerUp(event: PointerEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     this.isPointerDown = false;
 
     if (event.pointerType === 'touch') {
@@ -460,27 +466,42 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
       }
 
       this.activeTouchId = null;
-      this.resetPointerInteraction();
+      this.pointerActive = false;
       return;
     }
 
-    this.resetPointerInteraction();
+    this.updatePointer(event.clientX, event.clientY, true);
   }
 
   private handleMouseMove(event: MouseEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     this.updatePointer(event.clientX, event.clientY, true);
   }
 
   private handleMouseDown(event: MouseEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     this.isPointerDown = true;
     this.updatePointer(event.clientX, event.clientY, true);
   }
 
   private handleMouseUp(): void {
-    this.resetPointerInteraction();
+    this.isPointerDown = false;
   }
 
   private handleTouchStart(event: TouchEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     const touch = event.changedTouches.item(0);
     if (!touch) {
       return;
@@ -492,6 +513,11 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   private handleTouchMove(event: TouchEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (this.activeTouchId === null) {
       return;
     }
@@ -505,6 +531,11 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   private handleTouchEnd(event: TouchEvent): void {
+    if (this.isPointerExcluded(event.target)) {
+      this.handlePointerLeave();
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (this.activeTouchId === null) {
       return;
     }
@@ -515,25 +546,20 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     }
 
     this.isPointerDown = false;
-    this.resetPointerInteraction();
+    this.activeTouchId = null;
+    this.pointerActive = false;
   }
 
   private handlePointerLeave(): void {
-    this.resetPointerInteraction();
-  }
-
-  private resetPointerInteraction(): void {
     this.pointerActive = false;
     this.isPointerDown = false;
     this.activeTouchId = null;
-    this.cursorTransform = 'translate3d(-9999px, -9999px, 0)';
   }
 
   private updatePointer(x: number, y: number, active: boolean): void {
     this.pointerX = x;
     this.pointerY = y;
     this.pointerActive = active;
-    this.cursorTransform = `translate3d(${x}px, ${y}px, 0)`;
   }
 
   private findTouch(touches: TouchList, identifier: number): Touch | null {
@@ -547,6 +573,14 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     return null;
   }
 
+  private isPointerExcluded(target: EventTarget | null): boolean {
+    if (!(target instanceof Element)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    return target.closest(this.pointerExcludeSelector) !== null;
+  }
+
   private syncPointer(): void {
     this.particleEngine?.setPointer({
       x: this.pointerX,
@@ -591,13 +625,6 @@ export class InteractiveBackground implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     };
   }
 
-  private static detectFinePointer(): boolean {
-    if (typeof window === 'undefined' || typeof window.matchMedia !== 'function') {
-      return false;
-    }
-
-    return window.matchMedia('(pointer: fine)').matches;
-  }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/pages/home/home.css b/src/pages/home/home.css
index c14b749..4fd31d6 100644
--- a/src/pages/home/home.css
+++ b/src/pages/home/home.css
@@ -237,7 +237,19 @@ h2 {
   background: rgba(33, 38, 45, 0.8);
   color: #e6edf3;
   cursor: pointer;
-  transition: border-color 120ms ease, background-color 120ms ease, transform 120ms ease;
+  opacity: 0;
+  visibility: hidden;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  transform: translateY(2px);
+  transition: border-color 120ms ease, background-color 120ms ease, transform 120ms ease, opacity 120ms ease;
+}
+
+.stack-carousel-shell:hover .carousel-btn,
+.stack-carousel-shell:focus-within .carousel-btn {
+  opacity: 1;
+  visibility: visible;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+  transform: translateY(0);
 }
 
 .carousel-btn:hover {
diff --git a/src/pages/home/home.html b/src/pages/home/home.html
index eac0311..2ecbc06 100644
--- a/src/pages/home/home.html
+++ b/src/pages/home/home.html
@@ -34,7 +34,16 @@
       <h2>Tech Stack</h2>
       <p>Primary technologies I use to deliver production-ready software.</p>
     </div>
-    <div class="stack-carousel-shell">
+    <div
+      class="stack-carousel-shell"
+      data-disable-bg-pointer
+      (mouseenter)="pauseAutoScroll()"
+      (mouseleave)="resumeAutoScroll()"
+      (focusin)="pauseAutoScroll()"
+      (focusout)="onCarouselFocusOut($event)"
+      (touchstart)="pauseAutoScroll()"
+      (touchend)="resumeAutoScroll()"
+    >
       <button class="carousel-btn" type="button" aria-label="Previous technologies" (click)="scrollStack(-1)">
         <span aria-hidden="true">&larr;</span>
       </button>
diff --git a/src/pages/home/home.ts b/src/pages/home/home.ts
index ee1bdb1..85dd1c4 100644
--- a/src/pages/home/home.ts
+++ b/src/pages/home/home.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Component, ElementRef, ViewChild } from '@angular/core';
+import { AfterViewInit, Component, ElementRef, OnDestroy, ViewChild } from '@angular/core';
 import { RouterLink } from '@angular/router';
 import { CardComponent } from '../../components/card/card';
 import { PROJECTS, Project } from '../projects/project-data';
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ interface Skill {
   templateUrl: './home.html',
   styleUrl: './home.css',
 })
-export class Home {
+export class Home implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   @ViewChild('stackCarousel') private readonly stackCarousel?: ElementRef<HTMLElement>;
+  private autoScrollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
 
   readonly hero = {
     name: 'Tim Kainz',
@@ -44,14 +45,56 @@ export class Home {
 
   readonly projects: Project[] = PROJECTS;
 
+  ngAfterViewInit(): void {
+    const prefersReducedMotion =
+      typeof window.matchMedia === 'function' && window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches;
+
+    if (prefersReducedMotion) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.resumeAutoScroll();
+  }
+
+  ngOnDestroy(): void {
+    this.pauseAutoScroll();
+  }
+
   scrollStack(direction: -1 | 1): void {
     const carousel = this.stackCarousel?.nativeElement;
     if (!carousel) {
       return;
     }
 
-    const cardWidth = Math.max(carousel.clientWidth * 0.82, 260);
-    carousel.scrollBy({ left: cardWidth * direction, behavior: 'smooth' });
+    carousel.scrollBy({ left: this.getScrollStep(carousel) * direction, behavior: 'smooth' });
+  }
+
+  pauseAutoScroll(): void {
+    if (!this.autoScrollTimer) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    clearInterval(this.autoScrollTimer);
+    this.autoScrollTimer = null;
+  }
+
+  resumeAutoScroll(): void {
+    if (this.autoScrollTimer) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.autoScrollTimer = setInterval(() => {
+      this.autoAdvanceStack();
+    }, 3200);
+  }
+
+  onCarouselFocusOut(event: FocusEvent): void {
+    const next = event.relatedTarget as Node | null;
+    const shell = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement | null;
+
+    if (!shell?.contains(next)) {
+      this.resumeAutoScroll();
+    }
   }
 
   onLogoError(event: Event): void {
@@ -59,4 +102,27 @@ export class Home {
     const wrapper = image?.closest('.skill-icon');
     wrapper?.classList.add('is-fallback');
   }
+
+  private autoAdvanceStack(): void {
+    const carousel = this.stackCarousel?.nativeElement;
+    if (!carousel) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const maxScroll = carousel.scrollWidth - carousel.clientWidth;
+    if (maxScroll <= 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (carousel.scrollLeft >= maxScroll - 4) {
+      carousel.scrollTo({ left: 0, behavior: 'smooth' });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    carousel.scrollBy({ left: this.getScrollStep(carousel), behavior: 'smooth' });
+  }
+
+  private getScrollStep(carousel: HTMLElement): number {
+    return Math.max(carousel.clientWidth * 0.82, 260);
+  }
 }