diff --git a/static/js/app.js b/static/js/app.js
index 799e3c0..b04629b 100644
--- a/static/js/app.js
+++ b/static/js/app.js
@@ -2960,65 +2960,27 @@ async function renderPdf(arrayBuffer, contentEl, scaleOverride) {
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Immersive reader mode — bars slide out after 5 s, return on edge hover/tap
+// Immersive reader mode — tap centre of screen to toggle bars
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-let _immTimer = null;
-let _immTopShowing  = false;
-let _immBottomShowing = false;
-const _IMM_DELAY = 5000;
-const _IMM_EDGE  = 60; // px from top/bottom edge
+let _immBarsVisible = true;
 
-function _immMouseMove(e) {
-  // When bars are already showing, extend threshold to cover their actual height
-  const topThreshold = _immTopShowing
-    ? (document.querySelector('.navbar')?.offsetHeight ?? 0) +
-      (document.querySelector('.reader-header')?.offsetHeight ?? 0) + 12
-    : _IMM_EDGE;
-  const bottomThreshold = _immBottomShowing
-    ? (document.querySelector('.now-playing-bar')?.offsetHeight ?? 0) + 12
-    : _IMM_EDGE;
-
-  const atTop    = e.clientY < topThreshold;
-  const atBottom = e.clientY > window.innerHeight - bottomThreshold;
-  if (atTop !== _immTopShowing) {
-    _immTopShowing = atTop;
-    document.body.classList.toggle('reader-show-top', atTop);
-  }
-  if (atBottom !== _immBottomShowing) {
-    _immBottomShowing = atBottom;
-    document.body.classList.toggle('reader-show-bottom', atBottom);
-  }
-}
-
-function _immTouch(e) {
-  const y = (e.touches[0] ?? e.changedTouches[0])?.clientY;
-  if (y == null) return;
-  if (y < _IMM_EDGE) {
-    document.body.classList.add('reader-show-top');
-    clearTimeout(_immTimer);
-    _immTimer = setTimeout(() => document.body.classList.remove('reader-show-top'), 3000);
-  } else if (y > window.innerHeight - _IMM_EDGE) {
-    document.body.classList.add('reader-show-bottom');
-    clearTimeout(_immTimer);
-    _immTimer = setTimeout(() => document.body.classList.remove('reader-show-bottom'), 3000);
-  }
+function _immHandleTap(e) {
+  // Ignore taps on interactive elements (buttons, links, inputs, settings panel)
+  if (e.target.closest('button, a, input, select, label, #reader-settings-panel, .reader-header')) return;
+  _immBarsVisible = !_immBarsVisible;
+  document.body.classList.toggle('reader-immersive', !_immBarsVisible);
 }
 
 function enterReaderImmersiveMode() {
-  clearTimeout(_immTimer);
-  _immTimer = setTimeout(() => document.body.classList.add('reader-immersive'), _IMM_DELAY);
-  window.addEventListener('mousemove', _immMouseMove);
-  window.addEventListener('touchstart', _immTouch, { passive: true });
+  _immBarsVisible = true;
+  document.body.classList.remove('reader-immersive');
+  document.addEventListener('click', _immHandleTap);
 }
 
 function exitReaderImmersiveMode() {
-  clearTimeout(_immTimer);
-  _immTimer = null;
-  document.body.classList.remove('reader-immersive', 'reader-show-top', 'reader-show-bottom');
-  _immTopShowing = false;
-  _immBottomShowing = false;
-  window.removeEventListener('mousemove', _immMouseMove);
-  window.removeEventListener('touchstart', _immTouch);
+  _immBarsVisible = true;
+  document.body.classList.remove('reader-immersive');
+  document.removeEventListener('click', _immHandleTap);
 }
 
 async function openBook(bookId) {