diff --git a/src/components/TipCarousel.tsx b/src/components/TipCarousel.tsx
index f1633eca2..5fd158660 100644
--- a/src/components/TipCarousel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/TipCarousel.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useEffect, useState, useRef } from "react";
-import { ShieldCheck, Zap, Keyboard, Cpu, SlidersHorizontal } from "lucide-react";
+import { useEffect, useState, useRef, useCallback } from "react";
+import { ShieldCheck, Zap, Keyboard, Cpu, SlidersHorizontal, Pause, Play } from "lucide-react";
 
 interface Tip {
   category: string;
@@ -46,27 +46,57 @@ const TIPS: Tip[] = [
 export default function TipCarousel() {
   const [activeIdx, setActiveIdx] = useState(0);
   const [isFading, setIsFading] = useState(false);
+  const [isHovered, setIsHovered] = useState(false);
+  const [isFocused, setIsFocused] = useState(false);
+  const [isManuallyPaused, setIsManuallyPaused] = useState(() => {
+    if (typeof window !== "undefined" && typeof window.matchMedia === "function") {
+      return window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;
+    }
+    return false;
+  });
+
   const timeoutRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
   const intervalRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null>(null);
 
-  const rotateTip = () => {
+  // Subscribe to prefers-reduced-motion media query changes
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (typeof window === "undefined" || typeof window.matchMedia !== "function") return;
+    const mediaQuery = window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)");
+    const handleChange = (e: MediaQueryListEvent) => {
+      setIsManuallyPaused(e.matches);
+    };
+    mediaQuery.addEventListener("change", handleChange);
+    return () => {
+      mediaQuery.removeEventListener("change", handleChange);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  const isPaused = isManuallyPaused || isHovered || isFocused;
+
+  const rotateTip = useCallback(() => {
     setIsFading(true);
     timeoutRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
       setActiveIdx((prev) => (prev + 1) % TIPS.length);
       setIsFading(false);
     }, 160);
-  };
+  }, []);
 
+  // Manage auto-rotation interval based on pause state
   useEffect(() => {
-    // Auto-advancing content is motion the user didn't ask for; under
-    // reduced motion the tips change only when a dot is chosen.
-    if (window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches) return;
+    if (isPaused) {
+      if (intervalRef.current) {
+        clearInterval(intervalRef.current);
+        intervalRef.current = null;
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
     intervalRef.current = setInterval(rotateTip, 6000);
     return () => {
       if (intervalRef.current) clearInterval(intervalRef.current);
       if (timeoutRef.current) clearTimeout(timeoutRef.current);
     };
-  }, []);
+  }, [isPaused, rotateTip]);
 
   const handleDotClick = (idx: number) => {
     if (idx === activeIdx || isFading) return;
@@ -78,43 +108,75 @@ export default function TipCarousel() {
     timeoutRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
       setActiveIdx(idx);
       setIsFading(false);
-      if (!window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches) {
+      if (!isPaused) {
         intervalRef.current = setInterval(rotateTip, 6000);
       }
     }, 160);
   };
 
+  const togglePlayPause = () => {
+    setIsManuallyPaused((prev) => !prev);
+  };
+
   const activeTip = TIPS[activeIdx];
   if (!activeTip) return null;
-  const IconComponent = activeTip.icon; 
+  const IconComponent = activeTip.icon;
 
   return (
-    <div data-tip-carousel="" className="mt-5 border-t border-[var(--border)] pt-4 text-left">
+    <section
+      data-tip-carousel=""
+      aria-roledescription="carousel"
+      aria-label="Workflow tips"
+      onMouseEnter={() => setIsHovered(true)}
+      onMouseLeave={() => setIsHovered(false)}
+      onFocus={() => setIsFocused(true)}
+      onBlur={(e) => {
+        if (!e.currentTarget.contains(e.relatedTarget)) {
+          setIsFocused(false);
+        }
+      }}
+      className="mt-5 border-t border-[var(--border)] pt-4 text-left"
+    >
       <div
         className={`min-h-[92px] transition-opacity duration-base ${isFading ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-100"}`}
-        aria-live="off"
+        aria-live={isPaused ? "polite" : "off"}
+        aria-atomic="true"
       >
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-[var(--selected)]">
-          <IconComponent size={13} aria-hidden="true" />
-          {activeTip.category}
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-[var(--selected)]">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+            <IconComponent size={13} aria-hidden="true" />
+            {activeTip.category}
+          </div>
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={togglePlayPause}
+            aria-label={isManuallyPaused ? "Resume auto-rotation" : "Pause auto-rotation"}
+            aria-pressed={isManuallyPaused}
+            className="p-1 rounded text-[var(--muted)] hover:text-[var(--text)] transition-colors focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-[var(--selected)] cursor-pointer"
+          >
+            {isManuallyPaused ? (
+              <Play size={12} aria-hidden="true" />
+            ) : (
+              <Pause size={12} aria-hidden="true" />
+            )}
+          </button>
         </div>
         <h3 className="serif mt-1.5 text-lg leading-snug text-[var(--text)]">{activeTip.title}</h3>
         <p className="mt-1 text-xs leading-relaxed text-[var(--muted)]">{activeTip.description}</p>
       </div>
 
       <div className="mt-3 flex items-center justify-center gap-1">
-        {TIPS.map((_, idx) => (
+        {TIPS.map((tip, idx) => (
           <button
             key={idx}
             type="button"
             onClick={() => handleDotClick(idx)}
-            aria-label={`Show tip ${idx + 1} of ${TIPS.length}`}
+            aria-label={`Show tip ${idx + 1} of ${TIPS.length}: ${tip.title}`}
             aria-current={idx === activeIdx ? "true" : undefined}
             className="flex h-6 w-6 items-center justify-center rounded-full"
           >
             <span
               aria-hidden="true"
-              // Active tip: a short bar rather than a red dot (red is reserved).
               className={`block h-[3px] rounded-full transition-[width,background-color] duration-base ${
                 idx === activeIdx ? "w-4 bg-[var(--text)]" : "w-1.5 bg-[var(--border-strong)]"
               }`}
@@ -122,6 +184,6 @@ export default function TipCarousel() {
           </button>
         ))}
       </div>
-    </div>
+    </section>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/components/__tests__/TipCarousel.test.tsx b/src/components/__tests__/TipCarousel.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a2b769333
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/__tests__/TipCarousel.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+import React from "react";
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import { render, screen, act, fireEvent } from "@testing-library/react";
+import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
+import TipCarousel from "../TipCarousel";
+
+describe("TipCarousel Accessibility (WCAG 2.2.2)", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it("renders with carousel region role and accessible label", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    const region = screen.getByRole("region", { name: "Workflow tips" });
+    expect(region).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(region).toHaveAttribute("aria-roledescription", "carousel");
+  });
+
+  it("renders the first tip initially and exposes pagination indicators", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    expect(screen.getByText("Everything stays on this device")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Privacy")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    const dotButtons = screen.getAllByRole("button", { name: /Show tip/i });
+    expect(dotButtons).toHaveLength(5);
+    expect(dotButtons[0]).toHaveAttribute("aria-current", "true");
+    expect(dotButtons[1]).not.toHaveAttribute("aria-current");
+  });
+
+  it("auto-advances to the next tip every 6000ms when unpaused", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    expect(screen.getByText("Everything stays on this device")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Advance 6000ms for rotation interval, plus 300ms for fade transition
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(6000);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Keep this tab in front")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("pauses auto-rotation on mouse hover and resumes on mouse leave", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    const region = screen.getByRole("region", { name: "Workflow tips" });
+
+    // Hover to pause
+    fireEvent.mouseEnter(region);
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(12000);
+    });
+
+    // Should stay on the first tip
+    expect(screen.getByText("Everything stays on this device")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Mouse leave to resume
+    fireEvent.mouseLeave(region);
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(6000);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Keep this tab in front")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("pauses auto-rotation on focus and resumes on blur", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    const region = screen.getByRole("region", { name: "Workflow tips" });
+
+    // Focus into carousel
+    fireEvent.focus(region);
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(12000);
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Everything stays on this device")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Blur out of carousel
+    fireEvent.blur(region, { relatedTarget: document.body });
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(6000);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Keep this tab in front")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("toggles pause and play via the visible pause button", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    const pauseBtn = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Pause auto-rotation/i });
+    expect(pauseBtn).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "false");
+
+    // Click pause button
+    fireEvent.click(pauseBtn);
+    expect(pauseBtn).toHaveAttribute("aria-label", "Resume auto-rotation");
+    expect(pauseBtn).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "true");
+
+    // Advancing time should not change tip
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(12000);
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText("Everything stays on this device")).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Click resume button
+    fireEvent.click(pauseBtn);
+    expect(pauseBtn).toHaveAttribute("aria-label", "Pause auto-rotation");
+    expect(pauseBtn).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "false");
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(6000);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText("Keep this tab in front")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("jumps to selected tip when clicking a pagination dot", () => {
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    const thirdDot = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Show tip 3/i });
+
+    fireEvent.click(thirdDot);
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(300);
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Keyboard shortcuts")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(thirdDot).toHaveAttribute("aria-current", "true");
+  });
+
+  it("initializes in paused state when prefers-reduced-motion is enabled", () => {
+    window.matchMedia = vi.fn().mockImplementation((query) => ({
+      matches: query.includes("prefers-reduced-motion: reduce"),
+      media: query,
+      onchange: null,
+      addListener: vi.fn(),
+      removeListener: vi.fn(),
+      addEventListener: vi.fn(),
+      removeEventListener: vi.fn(),
+      dispatchEvent: vi.fn(),
+    }));
+
+    render(<TipCarousel />);
+    const button = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /Resume auto-rotation/i });
+    expect(button).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(button).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "true");
+
+    act(() => {
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(12000);
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText("Everything stays on this device")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});