diff --git a/.agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/00_phase.md b/.agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/00_phase.md
similarity index 100%
rename from .agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/00_phase.md
rename to .agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/00_phase.md
diff --git a/.agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.md b/.agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.md
similarity index 100%
rename from .agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.md
rename to .agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.md
diff --git a/.agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/02_reveal_on_activity.md b/.agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/02_reveal_on_activity.md
similarity index 100%
rename from .agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/02_reveal_on_activity.md
rename to .agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/02_reveal_on_activity.md
diff --git a/.agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.md b/.agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.md
similarity index 100%
rename from .agents/phases/todo/05_autohide_stage_controls/03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.md
rename to .agents/phases/complete/05_autohide_stage_controls/03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.md
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.err b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.md b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58c1640
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+**Phase 05 final verification pass — all green.**
+
+- Verified implementation in tree: staged `.cap`/`.actions` hidden at rest with container+children `pointer-events: none` (`app.css`); `revealStageControls()` with 3 s idle timer, `pointermove`/`pointerdown` + wall-keypress wiring, `unstage()` timer/attribute cleanup (`watch.js`); `tests/e2e/test_stage_autofade.py` (5 tests) present; `test_keyboard_wall.py` rest-state assertion updated per task 01.
+- Gates: `uv run ruff check . && uv run ruff format --check .` — clean; `uv run pyright` — 0 errors; `uv run pytest` — **274 passed, 4 skipped** (realdisplay-gated), coverage **95%** (>90% ✓); `MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 uv run pytest -m realdisplay` — **3 passed, 1 skipped** (documented platform skip: no audio source on host).
+- Dedicated phase suite `uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_stage_autofade.py` — **5/5 in isolation**.
+- Criteria: idle opacity 0 + bottom-edge hit probe ✓; mouse reveal → 1 → idle fade → 0 ✓; keypress reveal + Exit visible/clickable/unstages ✓; grid rules byte-for-byte unchanged (CSS diff touches only the staged block; grid guard tests green) ✓; suite green, coverage >90% ✓; phases 01–04 suites all green (no regression) ✓.
+- Documentation: README.md reviewed in full — all commands, env vars (incl. `DEBUGPY_*`, 25 Mbit/s default), `--allow-cidr`, kiosk/share key tables, index-page and auto-hide descriptions match the code; the only stale "12 Mbit/s" default lives in locked PLAN.md §6, README is correct — no change made. AGENTS.md: all facts (gates, test names, starlette 1.10, e2e flags, ~95% coverage) current — verified, no changes needed.
+- Notable: no code changes were required this pass — the phase work was already complete and correct; nothing to fix.
+- Next pending phase: none — phase 05 is the last in `todo/`.
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.md.status b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.md.status
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9766475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.md.status
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ok
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.validate b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.validate
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bee37f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__00_phase.a1.validate
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+........................................................................ [ 25%]
+......................ssss.............................................. [ 51%]
+........................................................................ [ 77%]
+..............................................................           [100%]
+=============================== warnings summary ===============================
+.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1
+  /home/ducoterra/Projects/Personal/mirror/.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1: StarletteDeprecationWarning: Using `httpx` with `starlette.testclient` is deprecated; install `httpx2` instead.
+    from starlette.testclient import TestClient as TestClient  # noqa
+
+-- Docs: https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/capture-warnings.html
+================================ tests coverage ================================
+_______________ coverage: platform linux, python 3.14.8-final-0 ________________
+
+Name                     Stmts   Miss  Cover   Missing
+------------------------------------------------------
+src/mirror/__init__.py       3      0   100%
+src/mirror/__main__.py      72      3    96%   129, 145, 156
+src/mirror/access.py        60      0   100%
+src/mirror/app.py          185     12    94%   108, 113, 116-117, 182-183, 212-216, 245
+src/mirror/config.py        68      5    93%   110-111, 118-120
+src/mirror/debug.py         15     10    33%   19-28
+src/mirror/protocol.py      59      0   100%
+src/mirror/registry.py     191      3    98%   166, 180, 355
+------------------------------------------------------
+TOTAL                      653     33    95%
+=========================== short test summary info ============================
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:281: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:321: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:364: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:446: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+274 passed, 4 skipped, 1 warning in 96.65s (0:01:36)
+All checks passed!
+31 files already formatted
+0 errors, 0 warnings, 0 informations
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.err b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.md b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b327c41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+All gates verified green after the final code changes. Done.
+
+**Report — Task 01 (phase 05): hide the staged overlay at rest**
+
+- `app.css`: staged `.cap` `opacity: 0.28 → 0`; deleted the three staged reveal rules and staged `.actions { opacity: 1 }`; added id-scoped `#watch-stage .tile .actions { opacity: 0 }` (outranks the grid `data-selected`/`focus-within`/`hover:none` rules — verified by the E2E computed-opacity assertion, not assumption); `pointer-events: none` scoped to both containers *and their children* (no dead zones); comment block replaced with the new contract (hidden at rest, task-02 `data-reveal` is the only staged reveal, `::after` audio mark untouched)
+- `test_keyboard_wall.py`: `test_focus_moves_to_the_stage_and_back_with_g` now waits (10 s) for staged `.cap` **and** `.actions` computed opacity `0`; grid guard test untouched
+- `test_live_mirror.py` ×2 + `test_audio_share.py` ×1 (deviation, forced by the task's own CSS): with the overlay pointer-transparent at rest and no reveal yet, the existing `#watch-stage .exit` / staged `.audio` clicks are impossible — replaced those unstage/mute actions with the `g`/`m` keys (comment notes the revealed-state Exit click is asserted by task 03's E2E); `to_be_visible` assertions kept
+- README: one accurate-now-and-still-true line — staged caption/controls are hidden at rest so the video is never covered. No AGENTS.md impact (no statement touched by this task went stale)
+
+Gates (all green, in order):
+- `uv run ruff check . && uv run ruff format --check .` → passed / 30 files formatted
+- `uv run pyright` → 0 errors
+- `uv run pytest` → **269 passed, 4 skipped** (realdisplay marker)
+- `MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 uv run pytest -m realdisplay` → **3 passed, 1 skipped** (host has no audio source for real capture — documented platform limit)
+
+Next pending task: `02_reveal_on_activity.md`
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.md.status b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.md.status
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9766475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.md.status
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ok
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.validate b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.validate
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c206807
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__01_hide_staged_overlay_at_rest.a1.validate
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+........................................................................ [ 26%]
+.................ssss................................................... [ 52%]
+........................................................................ [ 79%]
+.........................................................                [100%]
+=============================== warnings summary ===============================
+.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1
+  /home/ducoterra/Projects/Personal/mirror/.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1: StarletteDeprecationWarning: Using `httpx` with `starlette.testclient` is deprecated; install `httpx2` instead.
+    from starlette.testclient import TestClient as TestClient  # noqa
+
+-- Docs: https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/capture-warnings.html
+================================ tests coverage ================================
+_______________ coverage: platform linux, python 3.14.8-final-0 ________________
+
+Name                     Stmts   Miss  Cover   Missing
+------------------------------------------------------
+src/mirror/__init__.py       3      0   100%
+src/mirror/__main__.py      72      3    96%   129, 145, 156
+src/mirror/access.py        60      0   100%
+src/mirror/app.py          185     11    94%   108, 113, 117, 182-183, 212-216, 245
+src/mirror/config.py        68      5    93%   110-111, 118-120
+src/mirror/debug.py         15     10    33%   19-28
+src/mirror/protocol.py      59      0   100%
+src/mirror/registry.py     191      3    98%   166, 180, 355
+------------------------------------------------------
+TOTAL                      653     32    95%
+=========================== short test summary info ============================
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:281: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:321: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:364: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:446: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+269 passed, 4 skipped, 1 warning in 92.81s (0:01:32)
+All checks passed!
+30 files already formatted
+0 errors, 0 warnings, 0 informations
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.err b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.md b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..88c1e7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+Everything is green and in order. Final report:
+
+**Implemented (task 02 — reveal on activity, auto-hide when idle)**
+- `watch.js`: `STAGE_REVEAL_IDLE_MS = 3000` + `let stageRevealTimer = 0` + `revealStageControls()` — sets `data-reveal` on the staged tile, clears/re-arms the timer; callback deletes the attribute only if `state.staged === tile.id` (tile may be unstaged/replaced before it fires)
+- Triggers wired per spec: `pointermove` + `pointerdown` (touch tap, A5) on `#watch-stage`; `if (state.staged) revealStageControls()` in `onWallKey` after bail-outs, before the `switch`, never `preventDefault`
+- `unstage()`: clears the pending timer and deletes `data-reveal` from the departing tile — no stale reveal can leak into the grid (grid rules never read it; re-staging starts hidden)
+- `app.css`: id-scoped `[data-reveal]` reveal pair for `.cap`/`.actions` + children (`opacity: 1; pointer-events: auto`), outranking the task-01 hide rules; existing transitions give the fade, `prefers-reduced-motion` already degrades it to instant
+
+**Verification (temporary E2E, deleted after — the dedicated suite is task 03's deliverable)**
+- 5 browser tests on a real staged tile (fake-media capture): mouse reveal → 3 s idle fade, `m`-keypress reveal → fade, unstage clears attribute+timer (survived 3.6 s timer window), n/p + 1-9 replacement leaves no stale `data-reveal`, Exit clickable while revealed and unstages — all passed
+- `uv run ruff check . && uv run ruff format --check .` — clean; `uv run pyright` — 0 errors
+- `uv run pytest` — 269 passed, 4 skipped (realdisplay-gated), coverage 95% (no Python code changed; JS/CSS verified in-browser per convention)
+- `MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 uv run pytest -m realdisplay` — 3 passed, 1 env skip (host has no audio source)
+
+**Docs**: README.md — staged-overlay paragraph extended with the reveal/~3 s auto-hide behaviour; AGENTS.md — no impact (no statement became stale)
+
+**Notable**: a keypress that *causes* staging (Enter) doesn't reveal — `state.staged` is null pre-switch, so the overlay stays hidden at rest, keeping task 01's 10 s rest-state test green.
+
+**Next pending task**: `03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.md`
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.md.status b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.md.status
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9766475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.md.status
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ok
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.validate b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.validate
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff90d81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__02_reveal_on_activity.a1.validate
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+........................................................................ [ 26%]
+.................ssss................................................... [ 52%]
+........................................................................ [ 79%]
+.........................................................                [100%]
+=============================== warnings summary ===============================
+.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1
+  /home/ducoterra/Projects/Personal/mirror/.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1: StarletteDeprecationWarning: Using `httpx` with `starlette.testclient` is deprecated; install `httpx2` instead.
+    from starlette.testclient import TestClient as TestClient  # noqa
+
+-- Docs: https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/capture-warnings.html
+================================ tests coverage ================================
+_______________ coverage: platform linux, python 3.14.8-final-0 ________________
+
+Name                     Stmts   Miss  Cover   Missing
+------------------------------------------------------
+src/mirror/__init__.py       3      0   100%
+src/mirror/__main__.py      72      3    96%   129, 145, 156
+src/mirror/access.py        60      0   100%
+src/mirror/app.py          185     11    94%   108, 113, 117, 182-183, 212-216, 245
+src/mirror/config.py        68      5    93%   110-111, 118-120
+src/mirror/debug.py         15     10    33%   19-28
+src/mirror/protocol.py      59      0   100%
+src/mirror/registry.py     191      3    98%   166, 180, 355
+------------------------------------------------------
+TOTAL                      653     32    95%
+=========================== short test summary info ============================
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:281: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:321: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:364: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:446: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+269 passed, 4 skipped, 1 warning in 95.80s (0:01:35)
+All checks passed!
+30 files already formatted
+0 errors, 0 warnings, 0 informations
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.err b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.md b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38c031b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+All four gates green. Task complete.
+
+**Report**
+
+- **Implemented:** `tests/e2e/test_stage_autofade.py` — 5-test suite pinning the staged overlay lifecycle on a real capture: `rest` (opacity 0 for `.cap`/`.actions` + `elementFromPoint` bottom-centre hit is the `<video>` itself), `mouse reveal`, `idle fade` (3 s + transition), `key reveal + Exit` (`m` mute flip tolerated/asserted; Exit visible + clickable while revealed; click unstages; no stale `data-reveal` leaks to the grid), `grid guard` (unselected `.actions` 0 / `data-selected` 1). `device` fixture, `share_one_and_stage` helper, `staged_overlay` probe; `pageerror`+`console` asserted `[]` in every test; docstring names the bug (staged tile kept `data-selected`/focus → grid rules forced `.cap` opaque over a shared terminal's bottom line) and its repro probe.
+- **Gates:** `uv run ruff check . && uv run ruff format --check .` → clean (31 files); `uv run pyright` → 0 errors; `uv run pytest` → 274 passed, 4 skipped (realdisplay, env-gated); `uv run pytest -m e2e` → 94 passed, 4 skipped; `MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 uv run pytest -m realdisplay` → 3 passed, 1 skipped (host audio, documented); suite in isolation: 5 passed.
+- **Regressions:** `test_keyboard_wall.py` 35/35 passed — phases 01–04 intact.
+- **Docs:** no doc impact — README already documented the auto-hide behaviour (updated in tasks 01/02); AGENTS.md has no stale statements.
+- **Decisions:** one Playwright API fix — `wait_for_function` takes `arg` keyword-only in this version. No Python behaviour changes, no new assets/dependencies.
+- **Next pending task:** none — this was the last task of phase 05; phase completion criteria are met.
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.md.status b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.md.status
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9766475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.md.status
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ok
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.validate b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.validate
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f01659
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a1.validate
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+...F.................................................................... [ 25%]
+......................ssss.............................................. [ 51%]
+........................................................................ [ 77%]
+..............................................................           [100%]
+=================================== FAILURES ===================================
+_ TestStagedAudioPlayback.test_unstaging_re_mutes_and_re_staging_does_not_revive_audio _
+
+self = <tests.e2e.test_audio_share.TestStagedAudioPlayback object at 0x7f1fdf890cd0>
+base_url = 'http://127.0.0.1:38615'
+browser = <Browser type=<BrowserType name=chromium executable_path=/home/ducoterra/.cache/ms-playwright/chromium-1248/chrome-linux64/chrome> version=156.0.8078.4>
+request = <FixtureRequest for <Function test_unstaging_re_mutes_and_re_staging_does_not_revive_audio>>
+device = <function device.<locals>._open at 0x7f1fdf2e9590>
+
+    def test_unstaging_re_mutes_and_re_staging_does_not_revive_audio(
+        self, base_url, browser, request, device
+    ):
+        """`g` returns the wall to silence, and re-staging the same mirror does
+        not revive the sound — every audible state must trace back to a
+        gesture (SECURITY.md §4)."""
+        errors: list = []
+        sharer = device("/mirror", errors)
+        start_sharing(sharer)
+        viewer = open_viewer(browser, base_url, request, errors=errors)
+        expect(viewer.locator(".tile")).to_have_count(1, timeout=15_000)
+    
+        viewer.keyboard.press("Enter")  # nothing selected yet: the first tile
+        expect(viewer.locator("body")).to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
+        time.sleep(2.0)
+        assert viewer.evaluate(f"() => {self.STAGE_MUTED}") is True
+        viewer.keyboard.press("m")
+        assert viewer.evaluate(f"() => {self.STAGE_MUTED}") is False
+    
+        # Back to the wall: the tile the stage leaves behind is muted.
+        viewer.keyboard.press("g")
+        expect(viewer.locator("body")).not_to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
+        assert viewer.evaluate(f"() => {self.GRID_MUTED}") is True
+    
+        # Re-staging the same mirror does not bring the sound back.
+        viewer.keyboard.press("Enter")
+>       expect(viewer.locator("body")).to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
+E       AssertionError: Locator expected to have class 're.compile('staged')'
+E       Actual value:  
+E       Call log:
+E         - Expect "to_have_class" locator("body") with timeout 5000ms
+E         - waiting for locator("body")
+E           14 × locator resolved to <body class="">…</body>
+E              - unexpected value ""
+E       
+E       Aria snapshot:
+E       - banner:
+E         - text: mirror 1 mirror · 1 live online
+E         - link "Share a screen":
+E           - /url: http://127.0.0.1:38615/mirror
+E       - main:
+E         - article "Watch screen:-3:0"
+
+tests/e2e/test_audio_share.py:448: AssertionError
+=============================== warnings summary ===============================
+.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1
+  /home/ducoterra/Projects/Personal/mirror/.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1: StarletteDeprecationWarning: Using `httpx` with `starlette.testclient` is deprecated; install `httpx2` instead.
+    from starlette.testclient import TestClient as TestClient  # noqa
+
+-- Docs: https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/capture-warnings.html
+================================ tests coverage ================================
+_______________ coverage: platform linux, python 3.14.8-final-0 ________________
+
+Name                     Stmts   Miss  Cover   Missing
+------------------------------------------------------
+src/mirror/__init__.py       3      0   100%
+src/mirror/__main__.py      72      3    96%   129, 145, 156
+src/mirror/access.py        60      0   100%
+src/mirror/app.py          185     12    94%   108, 113, 116-117, 182-183, 212-216, 245
+src/mirror/config.py        68      5    93%   110-111, 118-120
+src/mirror/debug.py         15     10    33%   19-28
+src/mirror/protocol.py      59      0   100%
+src/mirror/registry.py     191      3    98%   166, 180, 355
+------------------------------------------------------
+TOTAL                      653     33    95%
+=========================== short test summary info ============================
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:281: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:321: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:364: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:446: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+FAILED tests/e2e/test_audio_share.py::TestStagedAudioPlayback::test_unstaging_re_mutes_and_re_staging_does_not_revive_audio
+1 failed, 273 passed, 4 skipped, 1 warning in 102.56s (0:01:42)
+All checks passed!
+31 files already formatted
+0 errors, 0 warnings, 0 informations
+validation FAILED (see output above)
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.err b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.err
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.md b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..90a6262
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+All checks complete. Final verification of the full gate state:
+
+- `validate.sh` (harness gate: full pytest + ruff + format + pyright + repo hygiene): **274 passed, 4 skipped** (realdisplay, env-gated), `All checks passed!`, `31 files already formatted`, `0 errors`, no hygiene findings
+- `MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 uv run pytest -m realdisplay`: **3 passed, 1 skipped** (host audio, documented in the module docstring)
+- Failing test `test_unstaging_re_mutes_and_re_staging_does_not_revive_audio`: 6/6 clean runs after the fix (plus 6/6 pre-fix runs were green when isolated — the failure is load/timing-dependent, exposed under the full-suite run)
+- README consistency review: verified against code — all routes (`/`, `/mirror`, `/share`, `/watch`, `/api/config`, `/api/streams`, `/healthz`, `/ws`), all 11 config variables with defaults (`0.0.0.0`, `8055`, `25000000`, `20`, `127.0.0.0/8, ::1/128`, …), both key tables, the audio states (`shared`/`silent`/`not offered` in `share.js`), and the staged-overlay auto-hide paragraph. No inconsistencies found — no README change needed.
+- AGENTS.md stale-fact check: every referenced file/test/command (`registry.py`, `access.py`, `test_nothing_is_loaded_from_a_cdn`, the gates, `DEBUGPY=1` on 5678, `--allow-cidr`) still holds; nothing stale — no AGENTS.md change.
+
+**Report**
+
+- **Fixed:** pre-existing race in `src/mirror/static/watch.js` — `unstage()`'s async `exitFullscreen()` settling after an immediate re-stage (`g` → `Enter`): the late `fullscreenchange` (element null, `state.staged` = the *new* tile) tore down the fresh stage, so `body` never kept `staged`. Added a `fullscreenExitInFlight` flag set in `unstage()`: the handler now ignores the exit of an exit we initiated, clears the flag when the document re-enters fullscreen (re-stage's request won) or the exit settles, and still unstages on a genuine external/WM exit; a rejected exit clears the stale flag when the document is still fullscreen. `restoreFocus` hand-back unchanged.
+- **Gates:** `.agents/validate.sh` (full suite + linters) → 274 passed, 4 skipped (realdisplay), ruff clean, 31 files formatted, pyright 0 errors, hygiene clean; `MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 uv run pytest -m realdisplay` → 3 passed, 1 skipped (host audio, documented); failing audio test 6/6 green post-fix.
+- **Docs:** README fully cross-checked against code (routes, config defaults, keys, audio states, overlay auto-hide) — no inconsistencies, no change; AGENTS.md stale-fact check — no stale statements, no change.
+- **Decisions:** fixed the defect in app code (not the test) — the test's `g`→`Enter` sequence is legitimate user behaviour; the old-exit event must not kill a new stage.
+- **Next pending task:** none — phase 05 complete.
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.md.status b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.md.status
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9766475
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.md.status
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ok
diff --git a/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.validate b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.validate
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ef8e12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.agents/reports/05_autohide_stage_controls/05_autohide_stage_controls__03_e2e_autofade_lifecycle.a2.validate
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+........................................................................ [ 25%]
+......................ssss.............................................. [ 51%]
+........................................................................ [ 77%]
+..............................................................           [100%]
+=============================== warnings summary ===============================
+.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1
+  /home/ducoterra/Projects/Personal/mirror/.venv/lib64/python3.14/site-packages/fastapi/testclient.py:1: StarletteDeprecationWarning: Using `httpx` with `starlette.testclient` is deprecated; install `httpx2` instead.
+    from starlette.testclient import TestClient as TestClient  # noqa
+
+-- Docs: https://docs.pytest.org/en/stable/how-to/capture-warnings.html
+================================ tests coverage ================================
+_______________ coverage: platform linux, python 3.14.8-final-0 ________________
+
+Name                     Stmts   Miss  Cover   Missing
+------------------------------------------------------
+src/mirror/__init__.py       3      0   100%
+src/mirror/__main__.py      72      3    96%   129, 145, 156
+src/mirror/access.py        60      0   100%
+src/mirror/app.py          185     12    94%   108, 113, 116-117, 182-183, 212-216, 245
+src/mirror/config.py        68      5    93%   110-111, 118-120
+src/mirror/debug.py         15     10    33%   19-28
+src/mirror/protocol.py      59      0   100%
+src/mirror/registry.py     191      3    98%   166, 180, 355
+------------------------------------------------------
+TOTAL                      653     33    95%
+=========================== short test summary info ============================
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:281: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:321: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:364: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+SKIPPED [1] tests/e2e/test_x11_capture.py:446: set MIRROR_REALDISPLAY=1 to exercise the real X11 capture backend
+274 passed, 4 skipped, 1 warning in 100.65s (0:01:40)
+All checks passed!
+31 files already formatted
+0 errors, 0 warnings, 0 informations
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4311c9c..a8ee935 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -169,6 +169,12 @@ in. On `/watch`:
 | `?` | Show / hide this list on screen. |
 | `Esc` | Close the key list, then leave the stage. |
 
+A staged mirror's caption bar and control cluster are **hidden at rest**, so
+the shared video — a terminal's bottom line included — is never covered by
+them. A pointer move over the stage (a tap, for touch) or any key press
+while staged reveals them briefly; after ~3 s without activity they fade
+back, so a parked pointer or a one-time key press never pins them up.
+
 A mirror's audio is only heard while it is on the stage: every mirror starts
 muted, unmuting one (the tile's audio button or `m`) mutes the others, and
 leaving the stage re-mutes it. Sound never starts without a click or a
diff --git a/src/mirror/static/app.css b/src/mirror/static/app.css
index 70b13d0..b045025 100644
--- a/src/mirror/static/app.css
+++ b/src/mirror/static/app.css
@@ -599,17 +599,40 @@ body.staged #watch-stage { display: block; }
   background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(4, 6, 10, 0.92), rgba(4, 6, 10, 0));
   border-top: 0;
   padding: 26px 16px 12px;
-  opacity: 0.28;
+  opacity: 0;
   transition: opacity 0.2s ease;
 }
 
-/* The staged caption is quiet (0.28) so the video is what is being watched;
-   a kiosk has no mouse, so keyboard focus and the selection state are the
-   way to read it back. */
-#watch-stage .tile:hover .cap,
-#watch-stage .tile:focus-within .cap,
-#watch-stage .tile[data-selected] .cap { opacity: 1; }
-#watch-stage .tile .actions { opacity: 1; }
+/* The staged overlay is hidden at rest so the shared video — a terminal's
+   bottom line included — is never covered. `data-reveal` (pointer activity
+   or a wall keypress) is the only staged reveal: it shows the caption and
+   the control cluster briefly and fades them back on idle. The small
+   `::after` audio mark is a separate rule and is untouched. The id-scoped
+   selectors outrank the grid rules (`.tile[data-selected] .actions`,
+   `.tile:focus-within .actions`, the `hover: none` media rule) which also
+   match the staged tile — it keeps `data-selected` and holds focus. */
+#watch-stage .tile .actions { opacity: 0; }
+
+/* A `pointer-events: none` container does not shield children whose default
+   is `auto`: scope it to the container *and its children* so the hidden
+   Exit/mute buttons are not live dead zones over the video. */
+#watch-stage .tile .cap, #watch-stage .tile .cap *,
+#watch-stage .tile .actions, #watch-stage .tile .actions * { pointer-events: none; }
+
+/* `data-reveal` (pointer activity on the stage, or a wall keypress while
+   staged) is the only staged reveal: it restores opacity and makes the
+   Exit/mute buttons clickable again the moment the overlay is up — the
+   `pointer-events: auto` on the children, since a `none` container never
+   shields an `auto` child (setting `opacity: 1` on the children themselves
+   is harmless). The transitions on the base rules give the fade in and
+   out; under `prefers-reduced-motion` the global transition-kill makes the
+   reveal instant, which is the correct degraded behaviour. The id-scoped
+   selectors outrank every grid rule that also matches the staged tile. */
+#watch-stage .tile[data-reveal] .cap, #watch-stage .tile[data-reveal] .cap *,
+#watch-stage .tile[data-reveal] .actions, #watch-stage .tile[data-reveal] .actions * {
+  opacity: 1;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+}
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   * { animation: none !important; transition: none !important; }
diff --git a/src/mirror/static/watch.js b/src/mirror/static/watch.js
index 3b452d8..aad17a4 100644
--- a/src/mirror/static/watch.js
+++ b/src/mirror/static/watch.js
@@ -318,6 +318,41 @@ function setMuted(tile, muted) {
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ stage */
 
+/* The staged overlay (caption bar + control cluster) is hidden at rest so a
+   shared terminal's bottom line is never covered. Pointer activity on the
+   stage, and any wall keypress while staged (the kiosk has no mouse),
+   reveal it via `data-reveal`; this timeout is what fades it back, so a
+   parked pointer or a one-time keypress never pins it up. */
+const STAGE_REVEAL_IDLE_MS = 3000;
+let stageRevealTimer = 0;
+
+function revealStageControls() {
+  if (!state.staged) return;
+  const tile = tiles.get(state.staged);
+  if (!tile) return;
+  tile.el.dataset.reveal = "";
+  clearTimeout(stageRevealTimer);
+  stageRevealTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    stageRevealTimer = 0;
+    // The tile may have been unstaged or replaced (n/p, 1-9, a click)
+    // before the timer fires; only the tile still on stage loses the
+    // attribute. (unstage() clears the timer, so this guard also covers
+    // a replacement whose keepFullscreen unstage ran in between.)
+    if (state.staged === tile.id) delete tile.el.dataset.reveal;
+  }, STAGE_REVEAL_IDLE_MS);
+}
+
+/* A `document.exitFullscreen()` that `unstage()` started is in flight.
+   The exit settles asynchronously, and a keypress in that window (g followed
+   by an immediate Enter) stages a new tile before the exit's
+   `fullscreenchange` event lands: `state.staged` is then the NEW tile, and
+   the handler would tear the fresh stage down with the old exit. While the
+   flag is set, an exit event belongs to the unstage that already tore the
+   stage down synchronously, so it is ignored; the flag is cleared when the
+   document becomes fullscreen again (a re-stage's request won over the exit)
+   or when the exit settles. */
+let fullscreenExitInFlight = false;
+
 export function stage(streamId, options = {}) {
   const tile = tiles.get(streamId);
   if (!tile) return;
@@ -361,6 +396,14 @@ export function unstage(options = {}) {
   const tile = state.staged ? tiles.get(state.staged) : null;
   state.staged = null;
   document.body.classList.remove("staged");
+  // The reveal belongs to the stage: every exit (Exit click, `g`, Esc, or a
+  // replacement's keepFullscreen) clears the pending timeout and the
+  // departing tile's `data-reveal`, so a stale reveal can never leak back
+  // into the grid — grid tiles never read the attribute, and re-staging
+  // must start hidden.
+  clearTimeout(stageRevealTimer);
+  stageRevealTimer = 0;
+  if (tile) delete tile.el.dataset.reveal;
   if (tile) {
     tile.exitBtn.hidden = true;
     if (state.stageParent) {
@@ -393,18 +436,49 @@ export function unstage(options = {}) {
     // Exiting fullscreen makes the browser re-validate focus and drops it to
     // <body>, which would cancel a focus() made earlier in this tick — so
     // the cursor is handed back to the tile only after the exit has settled.
-    document.exitFullscreen().then(restoreFocus).catch(restoreFocus);
+    // The in-flight flag keeps the exit's late `fullscreenchange` from
+    // tearing down a stage re-entered in the meantime (see the handler).
+    fullscreenExitInFlight = true;
+    document.exitFullscreen().then(restoreFocus).catch(() => {
+      // A rejected exit never settles: if the document is still fullscreen
+      // the exit was pre-empted (or lost user activation) and the flag is
+      // stale — drop it so a genuine later exit still unstages.
+      if (document.fullscreenElement) fullscreenExitInFlight = false;
+      restoreFocus();
+    });
   } else {
     restoreFocus();
   }
 }
 
 document.addEventListener("fullscreenchange", () => {
-  if (!document.fullscreenElement && state.staged) unstage();
+  if (document.fullscreenElement) {
+    // (Re-)entered fullscreen — a re-stage's request won over our exit, so
+    // the in-flight flag is stale from this point on.
+    fullscreenExitInFlight = false;
+    return;
+  }
+  if (fullscreenExitInFlight) {
+    // Our own unstage's exit settling: the stage was already torn down
+    // synchronously, and a keypress in the exit window may have re-staged —
+    // the event must not take that new stage down with it.
+    fullscreenExitInFlight = false;
+    return;
+  }
+  // The browser (or the kiosk's window manager) left fullscreen on its own;
+  // the in-page stage is what the operator asked to leave.
+  if (state.staged) unstage();
 });
 
 if (ui.unstage) ui.unstage.addEventListener("click", unstage);
 
+// Pointer activity on the stage reveals the overlay. `pointerdown` — not
+// just `pointermove` — is a deliberate touch tap, so a phone watcher can
+// reach the controls without a hover; the idle timeout is what fades them
+// again, so a parked pointer never pins the overlay up.
+ui.stage.addEventListener("pointermove", revealStageControls);
+ui.stage.addEventListener("pointerdown", revealStageControls);
+
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ socket */
 
 function subscribe(streamId) {
@@ -606,6 +680,12 @@ function onWallKey(event) {
   ) {
     return; // a key typed in a text field is text, not a command
   }
+  // Any wall keypress while staged reveals the overlay, handled or not: a
+  // key in a mouseless kiosk is the only way to read the caption and reach
+  // the controls (a silent no-op key flashing the caption is the
+  // debuggable outcome). The idle timeout fades it again, and this call
+  // never preventDefaults, so unhandled keys keep their defaults.
+  if (state.staged) revealStageControls();
   // Match case-insensitively: a caps-locked kiosk keyboard, or a remote hand
   // holding Shift, must drive the wall exactly the same. "?" is the only key
   // that needs Shift; it lowercases to itself, so the same match covers it.
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_audio_share.py b/tests/e2e/test_audio_share.py
index 2bd9d32..5160444 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_audio_share.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_audio_share.py
@@ -481,8 +481,10 @@ class TestStagedAudioPlayback:
         # Button and `m` cannot disagree: the glyph and aria-pressed come from
         # setMuted(), so the button shows the live state.
         expect(stage_tile.locator(".audio")).to_have_attribute("aria-pressed", "true")
-        # A second click on the button mutes again (stayed on stage).
-        stage_tile.locator(".audio").click()
+        # A second toggle mutes again (stayed on stage). The staged button is
+        # not clickable yet — phase 05 hides the overlay at rest — so `m`
+        # drives the same `setMuted()` path the button would.
+        viewer.keyboard.press("m")
         expect(stage_tile).to_have_attribute("data-audio", "off")
 
         # Back to the wall: silent again.
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_keyboard_wall.py b/tests/e2e/test_keyboard_wall.py
index b02e988..3c94247 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_keyboard_wall.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_keyboard_wall.py
@@ -618,12 +618,17 @@ class TestFocusVisibleControls:
             " && document.activeElement.parentElement.id === 'watch-stage'"
         ), "staging must hand focus to the staged tile"
 
-        # The staged caption is legible while the tile holds focus (the
-        # opacity transition is 200 ms; wait for the settled value).
+        # The staged overlay is hidden at rest — caption bar and control
+        # cluster alike — so a shared terminal's bottom line is never
+        # covered (phase 05). 10 s stays green under task 02 as well: an
+        # Enter-press reveal lasts 3 s + 200 ms fade, so the settled `0`
+        # is always reachable inside the window.
         viewer.wait_for_function(
-            "() => document.activeElement !== null"
-            " && getComputedStyle(document.activeElement.querySelector('.cap')).opacity === '1'",
-            timeout=5_000,
+            "() => { const tile = document.querySelector('#watch-stage .tile');"
+            " if (!tile) return false;"
+            " return getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.cap')).opacity === '0'"
+            " && getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.actions')).opacity === '0'; }",
+            timeout=10_000,
         )
 
         # m still works with focus sitting on the stage.
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_live_mirror.py b/tests/e2e/test_live_mirror.py
index 751a5f8..82f26fa 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_live_mirror.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_live_mirror.py
@@ -390,9 +390,14 @@ class TestStageSizing:
         expect(viewer.locator(".tile .exit")).not_to_be_visible()
 
         viewer.locator(".tile").click()
+        # Phase 05: the Exit button still exists on the staged tile (and is
+        # still absent from the grid), but the overlay is hidden at rest and
+        # pointer-transparent until the phase's activity reveal lands, so the
+        # button itself is not clickable yet. `g` leaves the stage the same
+        # way; the revealed-state click is asserted by the phase 03 E2E.
         expect(viewer.locator("#watch-stage .exit")).to_be_visible()
 
-        viewer.locator("#watch-stage .exit").click()
+        viewer.keyboard.press("g")
         expect(viewer.locator("body")).not_to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
         expect(viewer.locator(".tile .exit")).not_to_be_visible()
         # Leaving the stage must not have disturbed the stream.
@@ -445,7 +450,9 @@ class TestManyToMany:
         staged = viewer.locator("#watch-stage .tile").get_attribute("data-stream")
         assert staged == ids[1]
 
-        viewer.locator("#watch-stage .exit").click()
+        # The staged overlay is pointer-transparent at rest (phase 05), so
+        # `g` leaves the stage in place of the Exit click for now.
+        viewer.keyboard.press("g")
         expect(viewer.locator("body")).not_to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
 
         viewer.locator(".tile").nth(0).click()
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_stage_autofade.py b/tests/e2e/test_stage_autofade.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f97fab9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_stage_autofade.py
@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+"""End-to-end: the staged overlay's auto-hide lifecycle.
+
+Phase 05, the bug this pins: while a tile was on stage it kept
+``data-selected`` and held focus, so the *grid* reveal rules
+(``.tile[data-selected] .actions``, ``.tile:focus-within .actions``) matched
+the staged tile too and the caption bar (``.cap``: label; device · surface ·
+dims · bitrate · fps) and the control cluster (``.actions``: mute/expand,
+and the ``.cap``-side "Exit" button) sat over the shared video at all
+times. The motivating case (TODO.md L3): sharing a terminal window — the
+caption line and the word "Exit" covered the video, so the terminal's bottom
+line could not be read. The repro probe: the computed opacity of ``.cap`` on
+the staged tile while it is idle — it must be ``0``.
+
+The fix contract this suite pins, per PLAN.md §5 asserted on the **viewer's**
+side (computed opacity, the ``data-reveal`` attribute, the ``staged`` class,
+the ``hidden`` flag, ``elementFromPoint``) — never on the sharer's preview,
+never on whether a handler "ran":
+
+- ``rest`` — hidden at rest; the stage's bottom edge is the ``<video>``
+  itself (the strongest form of the repro probe: nothing else answers a hit
+  probe at the bottom centre of the stage).
+- ``mouse reveal`` — a pointer move inside ``#watch-stage`` brings both back
+  (opacity ``1``).
+- ``idle fade`` — a parked pointer fades them again (3 s + transition).
+- ``key reveal + Exit`` — a wall keypress (``m``; its mute flip is tolerated
+  and asserted, as the keyboard suite does) reveals the overlay, and the Exit
+  button is visible and clickable while revealed — clicking it unstages.
+- ``grid guard`` — the grid's kiosk reveal rules survive the id-scoped
+  staged overrides: an unselected tile stays quiet, the selected tile
+  carries its controls.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+
+import pytest
+from playwright.sync_api import expect
+
+from .conftest import start_sharing
+
+pytestmark = [pytest.mark.e2e, pytest.mark.timeout(180)]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def device(base_url, browser, request):
+    """Open a page as its own device (isolated context, fresh peer id).
+
+    Uncaught page errors and console errors are captured from the first line of
+    the test and surfaced through the ``errors == []`` assertion
+    (AGENTS.md §8: print pageerror/console from the first line of the test).
+    """
+    opened = []
+
+    def _open(path: str = "/", errors: list | None = None):
+        context = browser.new_context(viewport={"width": 1100, "height": 720})
+        opened.append(context)
+        request.addfinalizer(context.close)
+        page = context.new_page()
+        if errors is not None:
+            page.on("pageerror", lambda error: errors.append(f"pageerror: {error}"))
+            page.on(
+                "console",
+                lambda message: (
+                    errors.append(f"console: {message.text}") if message.type == "error" else None
+                ),
+            )
+        page.goto(f"{base_url}{path}", wait_until="domcontentloaded")
+        expect(page.locator("#net")).to_have_attribute("data-state", "online", timeout=10_000)
+        return page
+
+    return _open
+
+
+def share_one_and_stage(device, errors: list):
+    """Stand up one mirror and stage it the kiosk way (Enter)."""
+    start_sharing(device("/mirror", errors))
+    viewer = device("/watch", errors)
+    expect(viewer.locator(".tile")).to_have_count(1, timeout=15_000)
+    viewer.keyboard.press("Enter")
+    expect(viewer.locator("body")).to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
+    return viewer
+
+
+STAGE_OVERLAY_PROBE = """
+() => {
+  const tile = document.querySelector('#watch-stage .tile');
+  if (!tile) return { missing: true };
+  return {
+    cap: getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.cap')).opacity,
+    actions: getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.actions')).opacity,
+    reveal: tile.hasAttribute('data-reveal'),
+  };
+}
+"""
+
+
+def staged_overlay(page) -> dict:
+    """The staged tile's overlay state: computed opacities + data-reveal."""
+    return page.evaluate(STAGE_OVERLAY_PROBE)
+
+
+# Settled-state probes. The fade is the existing opacity transition (~200 ms
+# on .cap, ~150 ms on .actions), so "settled" is the exact 0 / 1 value, not a
+# range.
+OVERLAY_HIDDEN = (
+    "() => { const tile = document.querySelector('#watch-stage .tile');"
+    " if (!tile) return false;"
+    " return getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.cap')).opacity === '0'"
+    " && getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.actions')).opacity === '0'; }"
+)
+OVERLAY_REVEALED = (
+    "() => { const tile = document.querySelector('#watch-stage .tile');"
+    " if (!tile) return false;"
+    " return tile.hasAttribute('data-reveal')"
+    " && getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.cap')).opacity === '1'"
+    " && getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.actions')).opacity === '1'; }"
+)
+OVERLAY_FADING = (
+    "() => { const tile = document.querySelector('#watch-stage .tile');"
+    " if (!tile) return false;"
+    " return !tile.hasAttribute('data-reveal')"
+    " && getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.cap')).opacity === '0'"
+    " && getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.actions')).opacity === '0'; }"
+)
+
+
+class TestStageAutoHideLifecycle:
+    """The staged overlay's auto-hide lifecycle, on a real capture.
+
+    Hidden at rest → mouse reveal → idle fade → key reveal → Exit usable
+    while revealed → the grid's kiosk rules unchanged. Every test ends with
+    ``assert errors == []``: the wall must stay free of uncaught page and
+    console errors through the whole lifecycle.
+    """
+
+    def test_staged_overlay_is_hidden_at_rest(self, device):
+        errors: list = []
+        viewer = share_one_and_stage(device, errors)
+
+        # Settled rest state. An Enter stage does not reveal: the reveal
+        # trigger runs before the key's command, when nothing is staged yet,
+        # so the post-staging steady state is the one under test.
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_HIDDEN, timeout=10_000)
+        overlay = staged_overlay(viewer)
+        assert overlay["reveal"] is False, "an Enter stage must start hidden"
+        assert overlay["cap"] == "0"
+        assert overlay["actions"] == "0"
+
+        # The motivating case: the shared video's bottom edge is unobstructed.
+        # Nothing other than the <video> itself may answer a hit probe at the
+        # bottom centre of the stage — the caption bar and the control
+        # cluster must be pointer-transparent, not merely invisible.
+        probe = viewer.evaluate(
+            """() => {
+              const stage = document.querySelector('#watch-stage');
+              const r = stage.getBoundingClientRect();
+              const el = document.elementFromPoint(r.left + r.width / 2, r.bottom - 4);
+              return el ? el.tagName : null;
+            }"""
+        )
+        assert probe == "VIDEO", f"the stage's bottom edge must be the video itself (got {probe!r})"
+
+        assert errors == [], f"uncaught browser errors: {errors}"
+
+    def test_a_pointer_move_over_the_stage_reveals_the_overlay(self, device):
+        errors: list = []
+        viewer = share_one_and_stage(device, errors)
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_HIDDEN, timeout=10_000)
+
+        # A pointer move inside #watch-stage: the stage covers the viewport,
+        # so the centre is deep inside it. (The kiosk's own reveal is the
+        # keypress; this is the path a human watcher with a mouse gets.)
+        viewer.mouse.move(550, 360)
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_REVEALED, timeout=5_000)
+
+        overlay = staged_overlay(viewer)
+        assert overlay["reveal"] is True
+        assert overlay["cap"] == "1"
+        assert overlay["actions"] == "1"
+
+        assert errors == [], f"uncaught browser errors: {errors}"
+
+    def test_a_parked_pointer_fades_the_overlay_again(self, device):
+        errors: list = []
+        viewer = share_one_and_stage(device, errors)
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_HIDDEN, timeout=10_000)
+
+        viewer.mouse.move(550, 360)
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_REVEALED, timeout=5_000)
+
+        # Now sit idle: the 3 s timeout fires, the ~200 ms fade follows, and
+        # the attribute is gone — a parked pointer must not pin the overlay up.
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_FADING, timeout=8_000)
+
+        overlay = staged_overlay(viewer)
+        assert overlay["reveal"] is False
+        assert overlay["cap"] == "0"
+        assert overlay["actions"] == "0"
+
+        assert errors == [], f"uncaught browser errors: {errors}"
+
+    def test_a_wall_keypress_reveals_the_overlay_and_exit_unstages(self, device):
+        errors: list = []
+        viewer = share_one_and_stage(device, errors)
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_HIDDEN, timeout=10_000)
+
+        # `m` is a real wall command: tolerate and assert its mute flip, as
+        # the keyboard suite does. The same keypress also reveals the
+        # overlay — the kiosk's (mouseless) way to read the caption and
+        # reach the controls.
+        before = viewer.evaluate("() => document.querySelector('#watch-stage video').muted")
+        viewer.keyboard.press("m")
+        after = viewer.evaluate("() => document.querySelector('#watch-stage video').muted")
+        assert after == (not before), f"m must flip muted ({before} -> {after})"
+        viewer.wait_for_function(OVERLAY_REVEALED, timeout=5_000)
+
+        # While revealed, Exit is visible (its `hidden` flag was cleared by
+        # stage()) and the reveal's pointer-events:auto is what makes it
+        # clickable.
+        assert (
+            viewer.evaluate("() => document.querySelector('#watch-stage .exit').hidden") is False
+        ), "Exit must be visible while the overlay is revealed"
+
+        # Clicking it unstages — the grid comes back.
+        viewer.click("#watch-stage .exit")
+        expect(viewer.locator("body")).not_to_have_class(re.compile("staged"), timeout=5_000)
+        # The departing tile must not leak its reveal into the grid.
+        assert viewer.evaluate("() => document.querySelector('.tile[data-reveal]') === null"), (
+            "a stale data-reveal must not leak back into the grid"
+        )
+
+        assert errors == [], f"uncaught browser errors: {errors}"
+
+    def test_grid_tile_reveal_rules_survive_the_staged_overrides(self, device):
+        errors: list = []
+        for _ in range(2):
+            start_sharing(device("/mirror", errors))
+        viewer = device("/watch", errors)
+        expect(viewer.locator(".tile")).to_have_count(2, timeout=15_000)
+
+        # Nothing is staged here, so the id-scoped staged rules cannot be
+        # what reveals anything: the kiosk screenshot rule must hold on its
+        # own — the selected tile carries its controls, the rest stay quiet.
+        viewer.keyboard.press("j")
+        selected = viewer.evaluate(
+            "() => document.querySelector('.tile[data-selected]').dataset.stream"
+        )
+        viewer.wait_for_function(
+            """(id) => {
+              const el = document.querySelector(`.tile[data-stream="${id}"] .actions`);
+              return el !== null && getComputedStyle(el).opacity === '1';
+            }""",
+            arg=selected,
+            timeout=5_000,
+        )
+
+        # The unselected tile: hover, focus and selection all absent → 0.
+        other = viewer.evaluate(
+            """(id) => {
+              const tile = [...document.querySelectorAll('.tile')]
+                .find((e) => e.dataset.stream !== id);
+              return tile ? getComputedStyle(tile.querySelector('.actions')).opacity : null;
+            }""",
+            selected,
+        )
+        assert other == "0", f"an unselected grid tile must stay quiet (got {other!r})"
+
+        assert errors == [], f"uncaught browser errors: {errors}"