diff --git a/Assets/Translations/en.json b/Assets/Translations/en.json
index c4ff50ae..d3a3b630 100644
--- a/Assets/Translations/en.json
+++ b/Assets/Translations/en.json
@@ -354,6 +354,10 @@
           "label": "Use App2Unit to launch applications",
           "description": "Uses an alternative launch method to better manage app processes and prevent issues."
         },
+        "ignore-initial-mouse": {
+          "label": "Ignore initial mouse position",
+          "description": "When enabled, the launcher always defaults to the first item, ignoring where your mouse cursor is positioned. Selection only changes when you move the mouse."
+        },
         "terminal-command": {
           "label": "Terminal command",
           "description": "Command to launch a terminal. E.g., 'kitty -e' or 'gnome-terminal --'."
diff --git a/Assets/settings-default.json b/Assets/settings-default.json
index 9b63d3ae..1df70c5a 100644
--- a/Assets/settings-default.json
+++ b/Assets/settings-default.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "settingsVersion": 15,
+  "settingsVersion": 16,
   "bar": {
     "position": "top",
     "backgroundOpacity": 1,
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@
     "pinnedExecs": [],
     "useApp2Unit": false,
     "sortByMostUsed": true,
-    "terminalCommand": "xterm -e"
+    "terminalCommand": "xterm -e",
+    "ignoreInitialMousePosition": false
   },
   "controlCenter": {
     "position": "close_to_bar_button",
diff --git a/Commons/Settings.qml b/Commons/Settings.qml
index d8e8f4bf..355c42e3 100644
--- a/Commons/Settings.qml
+++ b/Commons/Settings.qml
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ Singleton {
   JsonAdapter {
     id: adapter
 
-    property int settingsVersion: 15
+    property int settingsVersion: 16
 
     // bar
     property JsonObject bar: JsonObject {
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ Singleton {
       property bool useApp2Unit: false
       property bool sortByMostUsed: true
       property string terminalCommand: "xterm -e"
+      property bool ignoreInitialMousePosition: true
     }
 
     // control center
diff --git a/Modules/Launcher/Launcher.qml b/Modules/Launcher/Launcher.qml
index 25bafe37..d31762ea 100644
--- a/Modules/Launcher/Launcher.qml
+++ b/Modules/Launcher/Launcher.qml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ NPanel {
   property var plugins: []
   property var activePlugin: null
   property bool resultsReady: false
+  property bool ignoreMouseHover: false
 
   readonly property int badgeSize: Math.round(Style.baseWidgetSize * 1.6 * scaling)
   readonly property int entryHeight: Math.round(badgeSize + Style.marginM * 2 * scaling)
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ NPanel {
   // Lifecycle
   onOpened: {
     resultsReady = false
+    ignoreMouseHover = Settings.data.appLauncher.ignoreInitialMousePosition  // Use setting value
 
     // Notify plugins
     for (let plugin of plugins) {
@@ -110,6 +112,7 @@ NPanel {
   onClosed: {
     // Reset search text
     searchText = ""
+    ignoreMouseHover = Settings.data.appLauncher.ignoreInitialMousePosition  // Use setting value
 
     // Notify plugins
     for (let plugin of plugins) {
@@ -154,6 +157,49 @@ NPanel {
     color: Color.transparent
     opacity: resultsReady ? 1.0 : 0.0
 
+    // Global MouseArea to detect mouse movement
+    MouseArea {
+      id: mouseMovementDetector
+      anchors.fill: parent
+      z: -999
+      hoverEnabled: true
+      propagateComposedEvents: true
+      acceptedButtons: Qt.NoButton
+
+      property real lastX: 0
+      property real lastY: 0
+      property bool initialized: false
+
+      onPositionChanged: mouse => {
+        // Store initial position
+        if (!initialized) {
+          lastX = mouse.x
+          lastY = mouse.y
+          initialized = true
+          return
+        }
+
+        // Check if mouse actually moved
+        const deltaX = Math.abs(mouse.x - lastX)
+        const deltaY = Math.abs(mouse.y - lastY)
+        if (deltaX > 1 || deltaY > 1) {
+          root.ignoreMouseHover = false
+          lastX = mouse.x
+          lastY = mouse.y
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Reset when launcher opens
+      Connections {
+        target: root
+        function onOpenedChanged() {
+          if (root.opened) {
+            mouseMovementDetector.initialized = false
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     Behavior on opacity {
       NumberAnimation {
         duration: Style.animationFast
@@ -321,7 +367,7 @@ NPanel {
         delegate: Rectangle {
           id: entry
 
-          property bool isSelected: mouseArea.containsMouse || (index === selectedIndex)
+          property bool isSelected: (!root.ignoreMouseHover && mouseArea.containsMouse) || (index === selectedIndex)
           // Accessor for app id
           property string appId: (modelData && modelData.appId) ? String(modelData.appId) : ""
 
@@ -523,7 +569,9 @@ NPanel {
             hoverEnabled: true
             cursorShape: Qt.PointingHandCursor
             onEntered: {
-              selectedIndex = index
+              if (!root.ignoreMouseHover) {
+                selectedIndex = index
+              }
             }
             onClicked: mouse => {
                          if (mouse.button === Qt.LeftButton) {
diff --git a/Modules/Settings/Tabs/LauncherTab.qml b/Modules/Settings/Tabs/LauncherTab.qml
index a01c13fb..1149c811 100644
--- a/Modules/Settings/Tabs/LauncherTab.qml
+++ b/Modules/Settings/Tabs/LauncherTab.qml
@@ -99,6 +99,13 @@ ColumnLayout {
     onToggled: checked => Settings.data.appLauncher.useApp2Unit = checked
   }
 
+  NToggle {
+    label: I18n.tr("settings.launcher.settings.ignore-initial-mouse.label")
+    description: I18n.tr("settings.launcher.settings.ignore-initial-mouse.description")
+    checked: Settings.data.appLauncher.ignoreInitialMousePosition
+    onToggled: checked => Settings.data.appLauncher.ignoreInitialMousePosition = checked
+  }
+
   NTextInput {
     label: I18n.tr("settings.launcher.settings.terminal-command.label")
     description: I18n.tr("settings.launcher.settings.terminal-command.description")