diff --git a/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.test.ts b/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.test.ts
index f86b862e28..ebf8f8d26e 100644
--- a/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.test.ts
+++ b/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.test.ts
@@ -2179,3 +2179,76 @@ describe("<hyperframes-slideshow> Fix 4 — back affordance (postMessage only; c
     el.remove();
   });
 });
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Mechanical `interactive` attribute on inner <hyperframes-player>
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// The slideshow auto-applies the `interactive` attribute to every inner
+// <hyperframes-player>, so clickable controls, links, native media controls,
+// and custom players inside the composition iframe receive pointer events
+// without the author having to remember the attribute. The player's default
+// is `pointer-events: none` on the iframe; `interactive` flips it to `auto`
+// via the `:host([interactive])` rule in player styles.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+describe("<hyperframes-slideshow> auto-sets `interactive` on inner <hyperframes-player>", () => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    await import("./hyperframes-slideshow.js");
+  });
+
+  const tick = () => new Promise<void>((r) => setTimeout(r, 0));
+
+  it("inner <hyperframes-player> gets `interactive` attribute after mount", async () => {
+    const el = document.createElement("hyperframes-slideshow");
+    const player = document.createElement("hyperframes-player");
+    el.appendChild(player);
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+
+    // Allow the deferred initTimer macrotask to run.
+    await tick();
+
+    expect(player.hasAttribute("interactive")).toBe(true);
+    expect(player.getAttribute("interactive")).toBe("");
+
+    el.remove();
+  });
+
+  it("preserves any author-supplied `interactive` attribute value verbatim", async () => {
+    const el = document.createElement("hyperframes-slideshow");
+    const player = document.createElement("hyperframes-player");
+    // Preserve any author-supplied `interactive` value verbatim. Note: the
+    // CSS rule `:host([interactive])` is presence-based per HTML
+    // boolean-attribute convention, so the runtime behavior is identical
+    // regardless of the value — the attribute always enables pointer
+    // events. The preservation guarantee here is about DOM hygiene
+    // (idempotent mechanical wire-up, no clobber on re-runs), not a
+    // runtime opt-out — `interactive="false"` is NOT an opt-out.
+    player.setAttribute("interactive", "false");
+    el.appendChild(player);
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+
+    await tick();
+
+    expect(player.getAttribute("interactive")).toBe("false");
+
+    el.remove();
+  });
+
+  it("dynamically-inserted <hyperframes-player> children also get `interactive`", async () => {
+    const el = document.createElement("hyperframes-slideshow");
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+
+    await tick();
+
+    // Late insertion — picked up by the MutationObserver.
+    const player = document.createElement("hyperframes-player");
+    el.appendChild(player);
+
+    // MutationObserver callbacks deliver on a microtask; flush twice to be safe.
+    await tick();
+    await tick();
+
+    expect(player.hasAttribute("interactive")).toBe(true);
+
+    el.remove();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.ts b/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.ts
index 167a2d3213..46f8f60923 100644
--- a/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.ts
+++ b/packages/player/src/slideshow/hyperframes-slideshow.ts
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ export class HyperframesSlideshow extends HTMLElement {
   private initGeneration = 0;
   private _muted = false;
   private mediaWireInterval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+  private playerObserver: MutationObserver | null = null;
   private applyingRemoteMedia = false;
   private lastMediaTimeBroadcastMs = 0;
   private audienceMutedPlaybackKeys = new Set<string>();
@@ -215,6 +216,7 @@ export class HyperframesSlideshow extends HTMLElement {
     window.addEventListener("message", this.onMessage);
     document.addEventListener("fullscreenchange", this.onFsChange);
     this.initChannel();
+    this.observeInteractivePlayers();
     // Defer player-dependent init to a macrotask so that child elements are
     // parsed before we query for <hyperframes-player>. This matters when the
     // bundle is loaded synchronously (e.g. <script src> in <head>), where
@@ -225,7 +227,10 @@ export class HyperframesSlideshow extends HTMLElement {
     // setTimeout(0) macrotask yields to the parser so the children land first.
     this.initTimer = setTimeout(() => {
       this.initTimer = null;
-      if (this.isConnected && !this.disconnected) void this.init();
+      if (this.isConnected && !this.disconnected) {
+        this.ensureInteractivePlayers();
+        void this.init();
+      }
     }, 0);
   }
 
@@ -252,6 +257,10 @@ export class HyperframesSlideshow extends HTMLElement {
       clearInterval(this.mediaWireInterval);
       this.mediaWireInterval = null;
     }
+    if (this.playerObserver !== null) {
+      this.playerObserver.disconnect();
+      this.playerObserver = null;
+    }
     this.audienceMediaUnlockButton?.remove();
     this.audienceMediaUnlockButton = null;
     this.audienceMutedPlaybackKeys.clear();
@@ -490,6 +499,36 @@ export class HyperframesSlideshow extends HTMLElement {
     );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Inner `<hyperframes-player>` instances inside a slideshow need the
+   * `interactive` attribute so clickable controls, links, native media
+   * controls, and custom players inside the composition iframe receive
+   * pointer events (the player's default is `pointer-events: none`).
+   *
+   * Set it mechanically so authors / agents don't have to remember.
+   * Idempotent: if the host already declared `interactive` (any value,
+   * including `interactive="false"`), it is preserved.
+   */
+  private ensureInteractivePlayers(): void {
+    for (const player of this.querySelectorAll("hyperframes-player")) {
+      if (!player.hasAttribute("interactive")) {
+        player.setAttribute("interactive", "");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Watch for `<hyperframes-player>` children added after the initial mount
+   * (dynamic templating, hydration, drag-drop authoring) and apply the
+   * `interactive` attribute to those too.
+   */
+  private observeInteractivePlayers(): void {
+    if (typeof MutationObserver === "undefined") return;
+    if (this.playerObserver !== null) return;
+    this.playerObserver = new MutationObserver(() => this.ensureInteractivePlayers());
+    this.playerObserver.observe(this, { childList: true, subtree: true });
+  }
+
   private playerFrameDocument(player: Partial<PlayerElement> & HTMLElement): Document | null {
     const frame = player.iframeElement;
     if (!(frame instanceof HTMLIFrameElement)) return null;
diff --git a/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md b/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md
index 00c31afddd..1e4726114c 100644
--- a/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/slideshow/SKILL.md
@@ -401,13 +401,13 @@ Wrap the composition in `<hyperframes-slideshow>` around `<hyperframes-player>`
 
 ```html
 <hyperframes-slideshow>
-  <hyperframes-player interactive src="deck.html"></hyperframes-player>
+  <hyperframes-player src="deck.html"></hyperframes-player>
 </hyperframes-slideshow>
 ```
 
 `<hyperframes-slideshow>` provides the navigation chrome (Present, Prev / Next, counter, global mute when `sound` is present, fullscreen), keyboard handling (← / →, Space / Backspace, and P for Present), touch swipe, and hotspot overlays.
 
-Use the `interactive` attribute whenever the source page contains clickable controls, links, native media controls, or custom players. Without it, `<hyperframes-player>` intentionally blocks iframe pointer events; media controls inside the composition cannot be clicked, and clicks on the player host can toggle timeline playback instead of interacting with the slide content.
+The slideshow automatically sets the `interactive` attribute on every inner `<hyperframes-player>` at mount time, so clickable controls, links, native media controls, and custom players inside the composition iframe receive pointer events as expected. (Outside a slideshow wrapper, you must add `interactive` manually on `<hyperframes-player>` — the player defaults to `pointer-events: none` on the iframe so clicks on the player host don't get hijacked into toggling timeline playback.)
 
 **Presenter mode:** use the built-in Present icon button in the slideshow nav capsule, or press P. It calls `window.open('?mode=audience')` for a fullscreen audience window; the originating tab becomes the presenter view (current slide reduced, next-slide preview, notes, elapsed timer). Both windows sync via `BroadcastChannel('hf-slideshow:' + location.pathname)`. Do not add a custom wrapper-level Present button; the shared component owns its placement, icon, styling, and audience-mode hiding.