diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index c9e4152..c8f6bb4 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ const {
   ipcMain,
   dialog,
   screen,
+  powerMonitor,
   nativeImage
 } = require('electron');
 const path = require('path');
@@ -17,10 +18,12 @@ const fs = require('fs');
 const settingsPath = path.join(app.getPath('userData'), 'settings.json');
 
 const DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
-  version: 3,  // Increment when defaults change to trigger migration
+  version: 4,  // Increment when defaults change to trigger migration
   workInterval: 50,  // minutes (HSE: 5-10 min break per hour)
   breakDuration: 300, // seconds (5 minutes - HSE guideline)
   snoozeDuration: 300, // seconds (5 minutes default)
+  autoPauseOnIdle: true,
+  idlePauseThreshold: 180, // seconds (3 minutes)
   soundEnabled: false,
   multiMonitor: true,
   videoPath: '',           // empty = use bundled default
@@ -74,6 +77,13 @@ function migrateSettings(oldData, currentSettings) {
     currentSettings.snoozeDuration = DEFAULT_SETTINGS.snoozeDuration;
   }
 
+  // Migration from v3 to v4: Add automatic idle pause
+  if (version < 4) {
+    console.log('Adding automatic idle pause defaults (v3 → v4)');
+    currentSettings.autoPauseOnIdle = DEFAULT_SETTINGS.autoPauseOnIdle;
+    currentSettings.idlePauseThreshold = DEFAULT_SETTINGS.idlePauseThreshold;
+  }
+
   // Update version to latest
   currentSettings.version = DEFAULT_SETTINGS.version;
 
@@ -147,6 +157,8 @@ let breakSecondsRemaining = 0;
 let breakSecondsTotal = 0;
 let isBreakActive = false;
 let isPaused = false;
+let pauseReason = null; // null | 'manual' | 'idle'
+let idlePauseStartedAt = null;
 let audioWindow = null;  // persistent hidden window for sound playback
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -215,7 +227,7 @@ function createSettingsWindow() {
 
   settingsWindow = new BrowserWindow({
     width: 520,
-    height: 620,
+    height: 720,
     resizable: false,
     title: 'Cat Gatekeeper Settings',
     autoHideMenuBar: true,
@@ -253,9 +265,12 @@ function startTimer() {
   workSecondsRemaining = settings.workInterval * 60;
   isBreakActive = false;
   isPaused = false;
+  pauseReason = null;
+  idlePauseStartedAt = null;
   broadcastTimerStatus();
 
   timerInterval = setInterval(() => {
+    updateIdlePauseState();
     if (isPaused) return;
 
     if (!isBreakActive) {
@@ -335,6 +350,8 @@ function resetTimer() {
   workSecondsRemaining = settings.workInterval * 60;
   isBreakActive = false;
   isPaused = false;
+  pauseReason = null;
+  idlePauseStartedAt = null;
   closeOverlayWindows();
   startTimer();
   updateTrayMenu();
@@ -372,7 +389,8 @@ function broadcastTimerStatus() {
     breakSecondsRemaining: Math.max(0, breakSecondsRemaining),
     breakSecondsTotal: breakSecondsTotal,
     isBreakActive,
-    isPaused
+    isPaused,
+    pauseReason
   };
 
   for (const win of overlayWindows) {
@@ -468,6 +486,12 @@ function getTimeDisplay() {
     const s = breakSecondsRemaining % 60;
     return `Break ends in ${m}:${s.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
   }
+  if (pauseReason === 'idle') {
+    return 'Paused while away';
+  }
+  if (pauseReason === 'manual') {
+    return 'Paused';
+  }
   const m = Math.floor(workSecondsRemaining / 60);
   const s = workSecondsRemaining % 60;
   return `Next break in ${m}:${s.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
@@ -475,16 +499,59 @@ function getTimeDisplay() {
 
 function pauseTimer() {
   isPaused = true;
+  pauseReason = 'manual';
   updateTrayMenu();
   broadcastTimerStatus();
 }
 
 function resumeTimer() {
   isPaused = false;
+  pauseReason = null;
+  idlePauseStartedAt = null;
   updateTrayMenu();
   broadcastTimerStatus();
 }
 
+function updateIdlePauseState() {
+  const settings = loadSettings();
+
+  if (!settings.autoPauseOnIdle || isBreakActive) {
+    if (pauseReason === 'idle') {
+      resumeTimer();
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  let idleSeconds = 0;
+  try {
+    idleSeconds = powerMonitor.getSystemIdleTime();
+  } catch (_) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (pauseReason === 'idle') {
+    if (idleSeconds <= 1) {
+      const idlePauseSeconds = idlePauseStartedAt
+        ? Math.floor((Date.now() - idlePauseStartedAt) / 1000)
+        : 0;
+
+      if (idlePauseSeconds >= settings.breakDuration) {
+        workSecondsRemaining = settings.workInterval * 60;
+      }
+      resumeTimer();
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!isPaused && idleSeconds >= settings.idlePauseThreshold) {
+    isPaused = true;
+    pauseReason = 'idle';
+    idlePauseStartedAt = Date.now();
+    updateTrayMenu();
+    broadcastTimerStatus();
+  }
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // IPC handlers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -509,7 +576,8 @@ function setupIPC() {
     breakSecondsRemaining: Math.max(0, breakSecondsRemaining),
     breakSecondsTotal,
     isBreakActive,
-    isPaused
+    isPaused,
+    pauseReason
   }));
 
   ipcMain.on('dismiss-break', () => {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 665b071..20a75b6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
   ],
   "scripts": {
     "start": "electron .",
-    "start:dev": "cross-env WORK_INTERVAL=1 BREAK_DURATION=15 electron .",
+    "start:dev": "cross-env WORK_INTERVAL=2 BREAK_DURATION=180 electron .",
     "pack": "electron-builder --dir",
     "dist": "electron-builder --win --mac --linux",
     "dist:mac": "electron-builder --mac",
diff --git a/src/settings.html b/src/settings.html
index f485554..eb222b4 100644
--- a/src/settings.html
+++ b/src/settings.html
@@ -62,6 +62,31 @@ <h1>Cat Gatekeeper</h1>
       </div>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- Away Detection -->
+    <div class="setting-row">
+      <div class="setting-label">
+        <span class="label-text">Pause When Away</span>
+        <span class="label-desc">Pause the timer when there is no keyboard or mouse input</span>
+      </div>
+      <div class="setting-control">
+        <label class="toggle">
+          <input type="checkbox" id="autoPauseOnIdle" checked>
+          <span class="toggle-slider"></span>
+        </label>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <div class="setting-row" id="idlePauseThresholdRow">
+      <div class="setting-label">
+        <span class="label-text">Away After</span>
+        <span class="label-desc">If away for a full break, the next work interval starts fresh</span>
+      </div>
+      <div class="setting-control">
+        <input type="range" id="idlePauseThreshold" min="60" max="900" value="300" step="60">
+        <span class="range-value" id="idlePauseThresholdValue">5 min</span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
     <!-- HSE Health Info -->
     <div class="health-info">
       <div class="health-info-title">Health Guidelines</div>
@@ -155,4 +180,4 @@ <h1>Cat Gatekeeper</h1>
   <script src="settings.js"></script>
 </body>
 
-</html>
\ No newline at end of file
+</html>
diff --git a/src/settings.js b/src/settings.js
index 087c242..c31ea54 100644
--- a/src/settings.js
+++ b/src/settings.js
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@
   const breakDurationValue = document.getElementById('breakDurationValue');
   const snoozeDurationInput = document.getElementById('snoozeDuration');
   const snoozeDurationValue = document.getElementById('snoozeDurationValue');
+  const autoPauseOnIdleInput = document.getElementById('autoPauseOnIdle');
+  const idlePauseThresholdInput = document.getElementById('idlePauseThreshold');
+  const idlePauseThresholdValue = document.getElementById('idlePauseThresholdValue');
+  const idlePauseThresholdRow = document.getElementById('idlePauseThresholdRow');
   const soundEnabledInput = document.getElementById('soundEnabled');
   const multiMonitorInput = document.getElementById('multiMonitor');
   const selectVideoBtn = document.getElementById('selectVideoBtn');
@@ -49,6 +53,11 @@
       snoozeDurationInput.value = settings.snoozeDuration || 300;
       snoozeDurationValue.textContent = `${Math.round((settings.snoozeDuration || 300) / 60)} min`;
 
+      autoPauseOnIdleInput.checked = settings.autoPauseOnIdle !== false;
+      idlePauseThresholdInput.value = settings.idlePauseThreshold || 300;
+      idlePauseThresholdValue.textContent = `${Math.round((settings.idlePauseThreshold || 300) / 60)} min`;
+      idlePauseThresholdRow.style.opacity = settings.autoPauseOnIdle !== false ? '1' : '0.35';
+
       soundEnabledInput.checked = settings.soundEnabled;
       multiMonitorInput.checked = settings.multiMonitor;
 
@@ -75,6 +84,8 @@
     const currentWorkInterval = parseInt(workIntervalInput.value, 10);
     const currentBreakDuration = parseInt(breakDurationInput.value, 10);
     const currentSnoozeDuration = parseInt(snoozeDurationInput.value, 10);
+    const currentAutoPauseOnIdle = autoPauseOnIdleInput.checked;
+    const currentIdlePauseThreshold = parseInt(idlePauseThresholdInput.value, 10);
     const currentSoundEnabled = soundEnabledInput.checked;
     const currentMultiMonitor = multiMonitorInput.checked;
     const currentVideoPath = selectedVideoPath || '';
@@ -85,6 +96,8 @@
       currentWorkInterval !== currentSettings.workInterval ||
       currentBreakDuration !== currentSettings.breakDuration ||
       currentSnoozeDuration !== (currentSettings.snoozeDuration || 300) ||
+      currentAutoPauseOnIdle !== (currentSettings.autoPauseOnIdle !== false) ||
+      currentIdlePauseThreshold !== (currentSettings.idlePauseThreshold || 300) ||
       currentSoundEnabled !== currentSettings.soundEnabled ||
       currentMultiMonitor !== currentSettings.multiMonitor ||
       currentVideoPath !== (currentSettings.videoPath || '') ||
@@ -105,6 +118,8 @@
       workInterval: parseInt(workIntervalInput.value, 10),
       breakDuration: parseInt(breakDurationInput.value, 10),
       snoozeDuration: parseInt(snoozeDurationInput.value, 10),
+      autoPauseOnIdle: autoPauseOnIdleInput.checked,
+      idlePauseThreshold: parseInt(idlePauseThresholdInput.value, 10),
       soundEnabled: soundEnabledInput.checked,
       multiMonitor: multiMonitorInput.checked,
       videoPath: selectedVideoPath || '',
@@ -145,6 +160,9 @@
     if (data.isBreakActive) {
       statusValue.textContent = `Break ends in ${formatTime(data.breakSecondsRemaining)}`;
       statusValue.style.color = '#d4a373';
+    } else if (data.pauseReason === 'idle') {
+      statusValue.textContent = `Paused while away, ${formatTime(data.workSecondsRemaining)} left`;
+      statusValue.style.color = '#f39c12';
     } else if (data.isPaused) {
       statusValue.textContent = 'Paused';
       statusValue.style.color = '#e74c3c';
@@ -185,6 +203,17 @@
       checkForChanges();
     });
 
+    autoPauseOnIdleInput.addEventListener('change', () => {
+      const enabled = autoPauseOnIdleInput.checked;
+      idlePauseThresholdRow.style.opacity = enabled ? '1' : '0.35';
+      checkForChanges();
+    });
+
+    idlePauseThresholdInput.addEventListener('input', () => {
+      idlePauseThresholdValue.textContent = `${Math.round(idlePauseThresholdInput.value / 60)} min`;
+      checkForChanges();
+    });
+
     // Save
     saveBtn.addEventListener('click', saveSettings);