diff --git a/classes/views/shared/toggle.php b/classes/views/shared/toggle.php
index a4afa12813..f40c53b95e 100644
--- a/classes/views/shared/toggle.php
+++ b/classes/views/shared/toggle.php
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 $use_container = false;
 
 $aria_attrs = array();
+
 if ( ! empty( $args['aria-label-attr'] ) ) {
 	$aria_attrs['aria-label'] = $args['aria-label-attr'];
 } else {
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index cdc6a65880..3474058091 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -8734,6 +8734,17 @@
 				}
 			}
 		},
+		"node_modules/@wordpress/url/node_modules/@types/react": {
+			"version": "19.3.0",
+			"resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/react/-/react-19.3.0.tgz",
+			"integrity": "sha512-N0rFCuH9YoxG9/m61l9MfpJKfmLOVU0em7ipIz6TRgSSkvReLB9vL85GB+yr8Bs5leqpvg96JSwF4ZS1s4viQg==",
+			"license": "MIT",
+			"optional": true,
+			"peer": true,
+			"dependencies": {
+				"csstype": "^3.2.2"
+			}
+		},
 		"node_modules/@wordpress/url/node_modules/commander": {
 			"version": "12.1.0",
 			"resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/commander/-/commander-12.1.0.tgz",
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/EntriesPageDataValidations.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/EntriesPageDataValidations.cy.js
index 134c5f4ffd..5aa3824d95 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/EntriesPageDataValidations.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/EntriesPageDataValidations.cy.js
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( `Create a text field` );
-		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar link - no hover gating involved.
+		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 			} );
 
 		cy.get( '.frm_form_nav > :nth-child(1) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Build' ).click();
-		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 		cy.log( 'Verify that entries are not allowed from the forms list' );
 		cy.get( 'td[data-colname="Entries"] svg[title="Saving entries is disabled for this form"]' ).should( 'exist' );
 	} );
@@ -88,7 +89,8 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( `Create a text field` );
-		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar link - no hover gating involved.
+		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
@@ -130,9 +132,15 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 		cy.get( 'td[data-colname="IP"]' ).should( 'exist' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Click on View' );
-		cy.get( 'tr div.row-actions span.view a', { timeout: 5000 } )
+		// WP core only reveals row-actions on a real CSS `:hover` (`.row-actions` is
+		// `position: relative; left: -9999em` until `tr:hover`) - make it actionable the way the
+		// real hover would, then click normally. Chained in one continuous command so there's no
+		// window between the reset and the click for a re-render to undo it.
+		cy.get( 'tr div.row-actions', { timeout: 5000 } )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'position', 'static' )
+			.find( 'span.view a' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'View' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.url().should( 'include', 'frm_action=show&id=' );
 
@@ -188,7 +196,7 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 		cy.get( '.frm_no_entries_header' ).should( 'contain', 'No Entries for form: Test Form' );
 
 		cy.get( '.frm_form_nav > :nth-child(1) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Build' ).click();
-		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 	} );
 
 	afterEach( () => {
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/deleteEntries.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/deleteEntries.cy.js
index 30d5ed08fc..bf61f7150c 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/deleteEntries.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Entries/deleteEntries.cy.js
@@ -14,11 +14,16 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( `Add some fields` );
-		cy.get( 'li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]' ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( 'li[id="name"] a[title="Name"]' ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( 'li[id="checkbox"] a[title="Checkboxes"]' ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( 'li[id="email"] a[title="Email"]' ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( 'li[id="phone"] a[title="Phone"]' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar links - no hover gating involved. Adding a field can leave
+		// the scrollable field-type panel (.frm-right-panel) scrolled to wherever the previous click
+		// left it, so a later link in the list can sit outside its own panel's visible scroll area -
+		// not a render-timing race (a longer timeout never resolves it), so scroll each one into view
+		// within its own panel before asserting visible.
+		cy.get( 'li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]' ).scrollIntoView().should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		cy.get( 'li[id="name"] a[title="Name"]' ).scrollIntoView().should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		cy.get( 'li[id="checkbox"] a[title="Checkboxes"]' ).scrollIntoView().should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		cy.get( 'li[id="email"] a[title="Email"]' ).scrollIntoView().should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		cy.get( 'li[id="phone"] a[title="Phone"]' ).scrollIntoView().should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
@@ -55,7 +60,15 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 		cy.go( 'back' );
 		cy.contains( '#the-list tr', 'Entry test' ).trigger( 'mouseover' ).then( $row => {
 			cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
-				cy.get( '.row-actions .delete .submitdelete' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click( { force: true } );
+				// WP core only reveals row-actions on a real CSS `:hover` (`.row-actions` is
+				// `position: relative; left: -9999em` until `tr:hover`) - make it actionable the
+				// way the real hover would, then click normally. Chained in one continuous command
+				// so there's no window between the reset and the click for a re-render to undo it.
+				cy.get( '.row-actions' )
+					.invoke( 'css', 'position', 'static' )
+					.find( '.delete .submitdelete' )
+					.should( 'be.visible' )
+					.click();
 			} );
 		} );
 		cy.contains( '.frm-confirm-msg', 'Permanently delete this entry?' );
@@ -63,7 +76,7 @@ describe( 'Entries submitted from a form', () => {
 
 		cy.log( 'Teardown - Close and delete form' );
 		cy.get( '.frm_form_nav > :nth-child(1) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Build' ).click();
-		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 		cy.deleteForm();
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Form Templates/FormTemplates.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Form Templates/FormTemplates.cy.js
index c49f8d1f89..1979e38b82 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Form Templates/FormTemplates.cy.js	
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Form Templates/FormTemplates.cy.js	
@@ -261,11 +261,16 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 
 	it( 'add templates as favorites, view demo and use templates', () => {
 		cy.log( 'Add contact us template as favorite' );
+		// Verified via Playwright: `.frm-form-templates-item-favorite-button` is `display: none`
+		// until the card is hovered (a real CSS `:hover`, which Cypress can't simulate before its
+		// own pre-click check) - make it actionable the way the real hover would, then click
+		// normally.
 		cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover', { force: true } )
+			.should( 'be.visible' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-favorite-button' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' )
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( '[data-category="favorites"] > .frm-page-skeleton-cat-count' ).should( 'contain.text', '1' );
 		cy.get( '[data-category="favorites"]' ).click();
@@ -278,13 +283,20 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 		cy.get( '[data-category="all-items"]' ).should( 'contain', 'All Templates' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'View demo of the contact us template' );
+		// Verified via Playwright: the button row (`.frm-form-templates-item-buttons`) is
+		// `display: none` until the card is hovered - make it actionable the way the real hover
+		// would, then click normally.
+		cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
+			.first()
+			.should( 'be.visible' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
 		cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover', { force: true } )
 			.find( '.frm-button-secondary' )
 			.invoke( 'removeAttr', 'target' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'View Demo' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.origin( 'https://formidableforms.com', () => {
 			cy.get( 'h1' ).should( 'have.text', 'Contact Us Form Template' );
@@ -292,33 +304,38 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 
 		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable-form-templates' );
 
-		cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
-			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover', { force: true } )
-			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
-			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' );
-
 		// cy.log( 'Try to use available templates' );
 		// cy.get( '[data-category="available-templates"]' ).should( 'contain', 'Available Templates' ).click();
 		// cy.get( '#frm-form-templates-page-title-text' ).should( 'contain', 'Available Templates' );
 
+		// Invoke display:flex and click in one continuous chain, right before the click - a
+		// separate cy.contains() re-query for the click (as this used to do) leaves a window where
+		// a React re-render of this list can restore its own controlled style and re-hide the
+		// button before the click actually lands.
 		cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover', { force: true } )
+			.should( 'be.visible' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
-		cy.get( 'svg[aria-label="Close"]' ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( 'svg[aria-label="Close"]' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable-form-templates' );
 
+		// Same real CSS `:hover` reveal on the template card as above - make it actionable the
+		// way the real hover would, then click normally.
+		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="user registration"]' )
+			.first()
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
 		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="user registration"]' )
 			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( '#frm-form-upgrade-modal > .frm_modal_top > .frm-modal-title > h2' ).should( 'contain', 'User Registration is a PRO Template' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-form-upgrade-modal > .inside > :nth-child(1)' ).should( 'contain', 'The User Registration is not available on your plan. Please upgrade to unlock this and more awesome templates.' );
@@ -331,12 +348,14 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 	} );
 
 	it( 'create a new custom template and delete it', () => {
+		// Plain, always-visible button - no force needed (an identical unforced click on this
+		// selector works in commands.js's createNewForm()); Cypress auto-scrolls into view.
 		cy.get( '#frm-form-templates-create-form' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Create a blank form' )
-			.scrollIntoView()
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain #frm_submit_side_top "Save" click - no force needed, see the note above.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Ensure the modal for saving form is visible' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-form-templates-modal' ).should( 'be.visible' );
@@ -355,10 +374,11 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 			.should( 'contain.text', 'Cancel' );
 
 		cy.get( '#frm_new_form_name_input' ).type( 'Form Template Test' );
-		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain #frm-save-form-name-button click - no force needed (see commands.js's createNewForm()).
+		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close'] svg", { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.should( 'be.visible' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( '#toplevel_page_formidable > .wp-submenu > :nth-child(8) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Form Templates' ).click();
 		cy.get( '[data-category="custom"]' ).click();
@@ -366,20 +386,20 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 		cy.log( 'Validate that there are no custom templates yet' );
 		cy.get( '.frmcenter > .frm-page-skeleton-title' ).should( 'contain', 'You currently have no templates.' );
 		cy.get( '.frm-page-skeleton-text' ).should( 'contain', "You haven't created any form templates. Begin now to simplify your workflow and save time." );
-		cy.get( '#frm-page-skeleton-empty-state > .button' ).should( 'contain', 'Create Template' ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( '#frm-page-skeleton-empty-state > .button' ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Create Template' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#frm-create-template-modal > .frm_modal_footer > .button-secondary' ).should( 'contain', 'Cancel' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Create a new template' );
-		cy.get( '#frm-page-skeleton-empty-state > .button' ).should( 'contain', 'Create Template' ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( '#frm-page-skeleton-empty-state > .button' ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Create Template' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#frm-create-template-modal > .frm_modal_top > .frm-modal-title > h2' ).should( 'contain', 'Create New Template' );
 		cy.get( '.inside > :nth-child(1) > label' ).should( 'contain', 'Select form for a new template' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-create-template-modal-forms-select' ).select( 'Form Template Test' );
 		cy.get( ':nth-child(3) > label' ).should( 'contain', 'Description' );
 		cy.get( '#frm_create_template_description' ).type( 'Test description' );
-		cy.get( '#frm-create-template-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Create Template' ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( '#frm-create-template-button' ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Create Template' ).click();
 		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close'] svg", { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.should( 'be.visible' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 		cy.get( '.row-title' ).should( 'contain', 'Form Template Test Template' );
 
 		cy.get( '#toplevel_page_formidable > .wp-submenu > :nth-child(8) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Form Templates' ).click();
@@ -392,43 +412,52 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 			.should( 'contain', 'Test description' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Edit template' );
+		// Same button-row `display: none` -> hover reveal as above - make it actionable the way
+		// the real hover would, then click normally.
+		cy.get( 'li[frm-search-text="form template test template"]' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
 		cy.get( 'li[frm-search-text="form template test template"]' )
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
 			.find( '.frm-button-secondary' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Edit' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close'] svg", { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.should( 'be.visible' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( '#toplevel_page_formidable > .wp-submenu > :nth-child(8) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Form Templates' ).click();
 		cy.get( '[data-category="custom"]' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Click on the use template button' );
+		// Same button-row `display: none` -> hover reveal as above.
+		cy.get( 'li[frm-search-text="form template test template"]' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
 		cy.get( 'li[frm-search-text="form template test template"]' )
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
 			.find( '.frm-button-primary' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close'] svg", { timeout: 10000 } )
 			.should( 'be.visible' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( '#toplevel_page_formidable > .wp-submenu > :nth-child(8) > a' ).should( 'contain', 'Form Templates' ).click();
 		cy.get( '[data-category="custom"]' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Delete template' );
+		// This button is `display: none` until the card is hovered - make it actionable the way
+		// the real hover would, then click normally.
 		cy.get( 'li[frm-search-text="form template test template"]' )
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-custom-item-trash-button' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' )
+			.click();
 		cy.get( '.cta-inside > .frm-flex-box > .button-secondary' ).should( 'contain', 'Cancel' ).click();
 		cy.get( 'li[frm-search-text="form template test template"]' )
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-custom-item-trash-button' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' )
+			.click();
 		cy.get( '.frm-confirm-msg' ).should( 'contain', 'Do you want to move this form template to the trash?' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-confirmed-click' ).should( 'contain', 'Confirm' ).click();
 
@@ -442,11 +471,14 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 		cy.log( 'Get free templates by clicking Use Template' );
 		cy.get( '[data-category="all-items"]' ).should( 'contain', 'All Templates' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#frm-form-templates-page-title-text' ).should( 'contain', 'All Templates' );
+		// Same button-row `display: none` -> hover reveal as above.
+		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="grade book"]' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
 		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="grade book"]' )
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( '#frm-leave-email-modal' ).should( 'be.visible' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-leave-email-modal > .frm_modal_top > .frm-modal-title > h2' ).should( 'contain', 'Get 30+ Free Form Templates' );
@@ -458,10 +490,12 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-leave-email-modal > .frm_modal_footer > .button-secondary' ).click();
 
 		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="grade book"]' )
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
+		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="grade book"]' )
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( 'a#frm-get-code-button' ).click();
 
@@ -470,10 +504,13 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 		cy.log( 'Try to use free templates' );
 		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="employee referral"]' )
 			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover' )
+			.find( '.frm-form-templates-item-buttons' )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'display', 'flex' );
+		cy.get( '[frm-search-text="employee referral"]' )
+			.first()
 			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
 			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+			.click();
 
 		cy.get( 'span[title]' ).should( 'contain', 'Employee Referral' );
 		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click();
@@ -481,12 +518,21 @@ describe( 'Form Templates page', () => {
 		cy.contains( '#the-list tr', 'Employee Referral' ).trigger( 'mouseover' ).then( $row => {
 			console.log( 'Hovered Row:', $row );
 			cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
-				cy.get( '.row-actions .trash .frm-trash-link' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click( { force: true } );
+				// WP hides row-actions until a real CSS `:hover` - make it actionable the way the real
+				// hover would, then click normally. Chained in one continuous command so there's no
+				// window between the reset and the click for a re-render to undo it.
+				cy.get( '.row-actions' )
+					.invoke( 'css', 'position', 'static' )
+					.find( '.trash .frm-trash-link' )
+					.should( 'be.visible' )
+					.click();
 			} );
 			cy.get( 'body' ).then( $body => {
 				if ( $body.find( "div[role='dialog']" ).length ) {
 					cy.get( "div[role='dialog']" ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain.text', 'Do you want to move this form to the trash?' );
-					cy.xpath( "//a[@id='frm-confirmed-click']" ).should( 'contain.text', 'Confirm' ).click( { force: true } );
+					// Plain cy.get() by id rather than cy.xpath() - the xpath-resolved element doesn't
+					// re-query the same way on Cypress's retry; plain cy.get() works unforced elsewhere.
+					cy.get( '#frm-confirmed-click' ).should( 'contain.text', 'Confirm' ).click();
 				} else {
 					cy.log( 'Dialog not found' );
 				}
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/deleteForms.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/deleteForms.cy.js
index dbb1ced6a6..84e5029f2b 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/deleteForms.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/deleteForms.cy.js
@@ -5,20 +5,34 @@ describe( 'Deleting forms', () => {
 		cy.viewport( 1280, 720 );
 	} );
 
+	// Select only the "Test Form" rows on whatever list table is currently showing, rather than
+	// the header "select all" checkbox - the forms list isn't necessarily empty going into this
+	// test (e.g. the "Contact Us" form Formidable creates by default on a fresh install), and a
+	// blanket "select all" would sweep that up into this test's own trash/delete/restore cycle.
+	const checkTestFormRows = () => {
+		cy.get( 'tr' ).filter( ( index, element ) => {
+			return Cypress.$( element ).text().includes( 'Test Form' );
+		} ).each( $row => {
+			cy.wrap( $row ).find( '.check-column input[type="checkbox"]' ).check();
+		} );
+	};
+
 	it( 'should create multiple forms and bulk delete them', () => {
 		cy.emptyTrash();
 
+		cy.log( 'Record the published form count so later assertions allow for forms this test did not create, like the default Contact Us form' );
+		let baselinePublishedCount = '(0)';
+		cy.get( '.published > a .count' ).invoke( 'text' ).then( text => {
+			baselinePublishedCount = text;
+		} );
+
 		cy.log( 'Create 5 new forms' );
 		for ( let i = 0; i < 5; i++ ) {
 			cy.createNewForm();
 		}
 
 		cy.log( 'Bulk delete all 5 new forms' );
-		cy.get( 'tr' ).filter( ( index, element ) => {
-			return Cypress.$( element ).text().includes( 'Test Form' );
-		} ).each( $row => {
-			cy.wrap( $row ).find( '.check-column input[type="checkbox"]' ).check();
-		} );
+		checkTestFormRows();
 
 		cy.log( 'Click on Bulk Actions and select the Move to Trash option' );
 		cy.get( '#bulk-action-selector-top' ).select( 'Move to Trash' );
@@ -36,11 +50,8 @@ describe( 'Deleting forms', () => {
 		cy.get( '.colspanchange > p' ).should( 'contain', 'No forms found in the trash.' );
 		cy.get( '.colspanchange > p > a' ).should( 'contain', 'See all forms' ).click();
 		cy.log( 'Bulk delete permanently deleted forms' );
-		cy.get( '#bulk-action-selector-top' ).select( 'Move to Trash' );
-		cy.get( '#doaction' ).should( 'contain', 'Apply' ).click();
-		cy.get( '.trash > a' ).should( 'contain.text', 'Trash' );
-		cy.get( '#cb-select-all-1' ).click();
-		cy.get( '#bulk-action-selector-top' ).should( 'contain', 'Bulk Actions' ).select( 'bulk_trash' );
+		checkTestFormRows();
+		cy.get( '#bulk-action-selector-top' ).select( 'bulk_trash' );
 		cy.get( '#doaction' ).should( 'contain', 'Apply' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Permanently delete 2 forms using the Delete Permanetly option' );
@@ -52,21 +63,27 @@ describe( 'Deleting forms', () => {
 		cy.get( '#bulk-action-selector-top' ).should( 'contain', 'Bulk Actions' ).select( 'bulk_delete' );
 		cy.get( '#doaction' ).should( 'contain', 'Apply' ).click();
 		cy.get( '.frm-confirm-msg' ).should( 'contain', 'ALL selected forms and their entries will be permanently deleted. Want to proceed?' );
-		cy.contains( 'a.button-secondary', 'Cancel' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+		// cy.contains() (not cy.get()) is required here - two confirm banners with their own
+		// `a.button-secondary` Cancel link both exist in the DOM at once, so a plain cy.get()
+		// matches 2 elements and cy.click() rejects a multi-element subject.
+		cy.contains( 'a.button-secondary', 'Cancel' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#doaction' ).should( 'contain', 'Apply' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#frm-confirmed-click' ).should( 'contain', 'Confirm' ).click();
 		cy.get( '.trash > a' ).should( 'contain.text', 'Trash' )
 			.find( '.count' ).should( 'contain.text', '(3)' );
 		cy.get( '.published > a' ).should( 'contain.text', 'My Forms' )
-			.find( '.count' ).should( 'contain.text', '(0)' );
+			.find( '.count' ).then( $count => {
+				expect( $count.text() ).to.eq( baselinePublishedCount );
+			} );
 
 		cy.log( 'Empty trash' );
 		cy.get( '#delete_all' ).should( 'contain', 'Empty Trash' ).click();
 		cy.get( '.trash > a' ).should( 'contain.text', 'Trash' )
 			.find( '.count' ).should( 'contain.text', '(0)' );
 		cy.get( '.published > a' ).should( 'contain.text', 'My Forms' )
-			.find( '.count' ).should( 'contain.text', '(0)' );
+			.find( '.count' ).then( $count => {
+				expect( $count.text() ).to.eq( baselinePublishedCount );
+			} );
 		cy.get( '.colspanchange > p' ).should( 'contain', 'No forms found in the trash.' );
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/duplicateForm.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/duplicateForm.cy.js
index a94aedec4a..f8d3afd2c7 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/duplicateForm.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/duplicateForm.cy.js
@@ -14,27 +14,45 @@ describe( 'Duplicating a form from the form list page', () => {
 
 			cy.log( 'Find the visible element with class duplicate within the hovered row and click it' );
 			cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
-				cy.get( '.row-actions .duplicate .frm-trash-link' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click( { force: true } );
+				// WP core only reveals row-actions on a real CSS `:hover` (`.row-actions` is
+				// `position: relative; left: -9999em` until `tr:hover`) - make it actionable the
+				// way the real hover would, then click normally. Chained in one continuous command
+				// so there's no window between the reset and the click for a re-render to undo it.
+				cy.get( '.row-actions' )
+					.invoke( 'css', 'position', 'static' )
+					.find( '.duplicate .frm-trash-link' )
+					.should( 'be.visible' )
+					.click();
 			} );
 
 			cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click();
 
 			cy.log( 'Locate rows containing the text - Test Form and count them' );
 			cy.get( '#the-list tr:contains("Test Form")' ).then( $rows => {
-				expect( $rows.length ).to.equal( 2 );
+				expect( $rows ).to.have.lengthOf( 2 );
 			} );
 		} );
+	} );
 
-		cy.log( 'Teardown - Delete Test Form and its duplicate' );
-		cy.deleteForm();
+	// A separate afterEach (rather than teardown steps at the end of the `it` block) so cleanup
+	// still runs even if the assertion above throws - otherwise a failed run leaves both the
+	// original and the duplicate "Test Form" behind for every later spec that assumes a clean
+	// list (see the cross-spec "Test Form" leakage this caused).
+	afterEach( () => {
+		cy.log( 'Teardown - Move every Test Form row to the trash, how many are left doesn\'t matter' );
+		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable' );
+		cy.get( 'body' ).then( $body => {
+			const testFormRows = $body.find( '#the-list tr' ).filter( ( _, element ) => Cypress.$( element ).text().includes( 'Test Form' ) );
 
-		cy.log( 'Delete duplicated form' );
-		cy.contains( '#the-list tr', 'Test Form' ).trigger( 'mouseover' ).then( $row => {
-			cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
-				cy.get( '.row-actions .trash .frm-trash-link' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click( { force: true } );
+			if ( testFormRows.length === 0 ) {
+				return;
+			}
+
+			cy.wrap( testFormRows ).each( $row => {
+				cy.wrap( $row ).find( '.check-column input[type="checkbox"]' ).check();
 			} );
-			cy.get( "div[role='dialog']" ).should( 'contain', 'Do you want to move this form to the trash?' );
-			cy.xpath( "//a[@id='frm-confirmed-click']" ).should( 'contain', 'Confirm' ).click( { force: true } );
+			cy.get( '#bulk-action-selector-top' ).select( 'Move to Trash' );
+			cy.get( '#doaction' ).should( 'contain', 'Apply' ).click();
 		} );
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/fieldsInFormBuilder.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/fieldsInFormBuilder.cy.js
index 5bfb99f95b..619475ab07 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/fieldsInFormBuilder.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/fieldsInFormBuilder.cy.js
@@ -6,12 +6,32 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 		cy.viewport( 1280, 720 );
 	} );
 
+	// Shared by the tests below - the "Add Fields" sidebar icon is a plain, always-visible link
+	// with no hover gating, so a simple visibility wait is enough (no force needed).
+	const createField = ( fieldId, fieldType ) => {
+		cy.log( `Create a ${ fieldType } field` );
+		cy.get( `li[id="${ fieldId }"] a[title="${ fieldType }"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+	};
+
 	it( 'should create, duplicate a field from each type and delete them', () => {
 		const createAndDuplicateField = ( fieldId, fieldType ) => {
 			cy.log( `Create a ${ fieldType } field and duplicate it` );
 			cy.get( `li[id="${ fieldId }"] a[title="${ fieldType }"]` ).click();
-			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons > .dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use`, { timeout: 10000 } ).click( { force: true } );
-			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] .frm_clone_field > span` ).should( 'contain', 'Duplicate' ).click( { force: true } );
+			// .frm-field-action-icons is also .frm-show-hover (opacity: 0 by default; see
+			// resources/scss/admin/components/sorting/_sorting-display.scss), only revealed on a
+			// real CSS :hover of the field row or when the field is .selected - it's still genuinely
+			// clickable underneath, so reveal it the same way the row-actions helpers in commands.js
+			// do, instead of forcing through the opacity check.
+			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons`, { timeout: 10000 } )
+				.invoke( 'css', 'opacity', 1 )
+				.find( '.dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use' )
+				.first()
+				.should( 'be.visible' )
+				.click();
+			// The dropdown menu opens via a Bootstrap JS toggle (a real click, not hover-gated), so
+			// once it's open the item is genuinely clickable - wait for it to be visible instead of
+			// forcing through the open transition.
+			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] .frm_clone_field > span` ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Duplicate' ).click();
 
 			cy.get( `li[data-type="${ fieldId }"]` ).should( 'have.length', 2 );
 			const originalField = cy.get( `li[data-type="${ fieldId }"]:first` );
@@ -21,21 +41,30 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 
 		const removeField = field => {
 			field.within( () => {
-				cy.get( '.frm-field-action-icons .dropdown' )
-					.trigger( 'mouseover' );
-
-				cy.get( '.frm-field-action-icons .dropdown .frm-hover-icon .frmsvg' )
-					.click( { force: true } );
-
+				// Same .frm-show-hover opacity gate as the toggle above - reveal it first.
+				cy.get( '.frm-field-action-icons' )
+					.invoke( 'css', 'opacity', 1 )
+					.find( '.dropdown .frm-hover-icon .frmsvg' )
+					.first()
+					.should( 'be.visible' )
+					.click();
+
+				// The menu is open via the click above (not hover-gated), so wait for the item to
+				// be visible instead of forcing through the open transition.
 				cy.get( '.frm-dropdown-menu .frm_delete_field' )
-					.should( 'contain', 'Delete' )
-					.click( { force: true } );
+					.should( 'be.visible' )
+					.and( 'contain', 'Delete' )
+					.click();
 			} );
 
-			cy.get( '.postbox a[id="frm-confirmed-click"]' )
-				.contains( 'Confirm' )
+			// Plain cy.get() by id (an id is unique) rather than cy.get().contains() - the latter
+			// can resolve to a narrower descendant node than the clickable link itself, which is
+			// what forced force here. Plain cy.get() on this id works unforced elsewhere in the
+			// suite.
+			cy.get( '#frm-confirmed-click' )
 				.should( 'be.visible' )
-				.click( { force: true } );
+				.and( 'contain', 'Confirm' )
+				.click();
 
 			cy.get( `li[data-type="${ field }"]` ).should( 'not.exist' );
 		};
@@ -43,7 +72,9 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 		cy.contains( '#the-list tr', 'Test Form' ).trigger( 'mouseover' ).then( $row => {
 			cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
 				cy.get( '.column-name .row-title' ).should( 'exist' ).and( 'be.visible' ).then( $elem => {
-					cy.wrap( $elem ).click( { force: true } );
+					// Plain click - verified via document.elementFromPoint() that the link is the
+					// topmost element at its own coordinates, not covered by anything. No force needed.
+					cy.wrap( $elem ).click();
 				} );
 			} );
 		} );
@@ -80,16 +111,20 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 	} );
 
 	it( 'should rename a field from each type', () => {
-		const createField = ( fieldId, fieldType ) => {
-			cy.log( `Create a ${ fieldType } field` );
-			cy.get( `li[id="${ fieldId }"] a[title="${ fieldType }"]` ).click( { force: true } );
-		};
-
 		const renameField = ( fieldId, fieldType, fieldValue ) => {
 			cy.log( `Rename a ${ fieldType } field` );
-			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons > .dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use`, { timeout: 10000 } ).click( { force: true } );
-			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] .frm_select_field > span` ).should( 'contain', 'Field Settings' ).click( { force: true } );
-			cy.get( `div[id^="frm-single-settings-"] input[value="${ fieldValue }"]`, { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).clear( { force: true } ).type( `${ fieldType } Updated`, { force: true } );
+			// See the .frm-show-hover opacity note on the field-row "more options" toggle above.
+			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons`, { timeout: 10000 } )
+				.invoke( 'css', 'opacity', 1 )
+				.find( '.dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use' )
+				.first()
+				.should( 'be.visible' )
+				.click();
+			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] .frm_select_field > span` ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Field Settings' ).click();
+			// The settings panel opens via a bounded jQuery slideDown() (admin.js) - wait for the
+			// input to be visible (Cypress retries until it has settled into the flow), then interact
+			// normally.
+			cy.get( `div[id^="frm-single-settings-"] input[value="${ fieldValue }"]`, { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).clear().type( `${ fieldType } Updated` );
 		};
 
 		cy.openForm();
@@ -121,16 +156,18 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 	it( 'should set fields as required and validate them in frontend', () => {
 		const fieldTypes = [ 'Text', 'Paragraph', 'Checkboxes', 'Radio Buttons', 'Dropdown', 'Email', 'Website/URL', 'Number', 'Name', 'Phone' ];
 
-		const createField = ( fieldId, fieldType ) => {
-			cy.log( `Create a ${ fieldType } field` );
-			cy.get( `li[id="${ fieldId }"] a[title="${ fieldType }"]` ).click( { force: true } );
-		};
-
 		const requiredField = ( fieldId, fieldType ) => {
 			cy.log( `Set ${ fieldType } field as require` );
-			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons > .dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use`, { timeout: 10000 } ).click( { force: true } );
-			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] .frm_select_field > span` ).should( 'contain', 'Field Settings' ).click( { force: true } );
-			cy.get( 'input.frm_req_field[type="checkbox"]' ).check( { force: true } );
+			// See the .frm-show-hover opacity note on the field-row "more options" toggle above.
+			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons`, { timeout: 10000 } )
+				.invoke( 'css', 'opacity', 1 )
+				.find( '.dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use' )
+				.first()
+				.should( 'be.visible' )
+				.click();
+			cy.get( `li[data-ftype="${ fieldId }"] .frm_select_field > span` ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Field Settings' ).click();
+			// Same slideDown()-driven settings panel as elsewhere in this file.
+			cy.get( 'input.frm_req_field[type="checkbox"]' ).should( 'be.visible' ).check();
 		};
 
 		cy.openForm();
@@ -154,7 +191,9 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 		} );
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain #frm_submit_side_top "Update" click - no force needed here (see the identical
+		// unforced click used for this same button elsewhere in the suite, e.g. formsSettings.cy.js).
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Click on Preview - Blank Page' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-previewDrop', { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'contain', 'Preview' ).click();
@@ -190,23 +229,36 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 	it( 'should validate forms with javascript setting', () => {
 		cy.openForm();
 		cy.log( `Create a text field and set it as required` );
-		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( `li[data-ftype="text"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons > .dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use`, { timeout: 10000 } ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( `li[data-ftype="text"] .frm_select_field > span` ).should( 'contain', 'Field Settings' ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( '.frm_field_list div[id^="frm-single-settings-"] .frm_grid_container .frm-hide-empty input[type="checkbox"]', { timeout: 10000 } ).check( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar link - see the identical unforced click elsewhere in this file.
+		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		// See the .frm-show-hover opacity note on the field-row "more options" toggle elsewhere in
+		// this file.
+		cy.get( `li[data-ftype="text"] [id^="field_"][id$="_inner_container"] > .frm-field-action-icons`, { timeout: 10000 } )
+			.invoke( 'css', 'opacity', 1 )
+			.find( '.dropdown > .frm_bstooltip > .frmsvg > use' )
+			.first()
+			.should( 'be.visible' )
+			.click();
+		cy.get( `li[data-ftype="text"] .frm_select_field > span` ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain', 'Field Settings' ).click();
+		// Same slideDown()-driven settings panel as elsewhere in this file.
+		cy.get( '.frm_field_list div[id^="frm-single-settings-"] .frm_grid_container .frm-hide-empty input[type="checkbox"]', { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).check();
 
 		cy.log( 'Create a phone and email field' );
-		cy.get( `li[id="email"] a[title="Email"]` ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( `li[id="phone"] a[title="Phone"]` ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( `li[id="email"] a[title="Email"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		cy.get( `li[id="phone"] a[title="Phone"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain #frm_submit_side_top "Update" click - no force needed, see the note above.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( "Enabling the 'Validate this form with javascript' setting" );
 		cy.xpath( "//ul[@class='frm_form_nav']//a[contains(text(),'Settings')]" ).should( 'contain', 'Settings' ).click();
 		cy.get( ':nth-child(3) > td > .frm_inline_block', { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'contain', 'Validate this form with javascript' );
-		cy.get( '#js_validate' ).click( { force: true } );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// This checkbox's own <label> text sits in the same clickable row and is a plain,
+		// always-visible control on the Settings tab (no field-settings animation involved here) -
+		// wait for it to be visible instead of forcing.
+		cy.get( '#js_validate' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Click on Preview - Blank Page' );
 		cy.get( '#frm-previewDrop', { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'contain', 'Preview' ).click();
@@ -253,7 +305,7 @@ describe( 'Fields in the form builder', () => {
 
 	afterEach( () => {
 		cy.log( 'Teardown - Save the form and delete it' );
-		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 10000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 		cy.deleteForm();
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/formsSettings.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/formsSettings.cy.js
index 06e762a9d1..3855b892d3 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/formsSettings.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/formsSettings.cy.js
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ describe( 'Updating form settings', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( `Create a text field` );
-		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar link - no hover gating involved.
+		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ describe( 'Updating form settings', () => {
 		cy.get( '.frm_form_title' ).should( 'not.exist' );
 		cy.get( '.frm_description > p' ).should( 'not.exist' );
 		cy.go( 'back' );
-		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Teardown - Delete form' );
 		cy.deleteForm();
@@ -88,10 +89,13 @@ describe( 'Updating form settings', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( `Create a text field` );
-		cy.get( 'li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]', { timeout: 5000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar link - no hover gating involved.
+		cy.get( 'li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]', { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Update form' );
-		cy.contains( '#frm_submit_side_top', 'Update' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain cy.get() rather than cy.contains() works unforced elsewhere in the suite for this
+		// same button (e.g. line 20 above).
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( 'Go to Settings tab' );
 		cy.get( '.frm_form_nav', { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/searchFunctionality.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/searchFunctionality.cy.js
index 7513415129..284b5f9e1c 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/searchFunctionality.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Forms/searchFunctionality.cy.js
@@ -9,22 +9,24 @@ describe( 'Search functionality', () => {
 		cy.createNewForm();
 
 		cy.log( 'Search the newly created form by using enter' );
-		cy.get( '#entry-search-input' ).type( 'Test Form {enter}' );
-		cy.get( '.current > .count' ).should( 'contain', '1' );
+		// A search submits a real page navigation, not an AJAX update - the reload can still be
+		// settling past the default 4s command timeout when the result count is checked right after.
+		cy.get( '#entry-search-input' ).type( 'Test Form {enter}', { timeout: 10000 } );
+		cy.get( '.current > .count', { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'contain', '1' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Search the newly created form by using the submit button' );
 		cy.get( '#entry-search-input' ).type( 'Test Form' ).clear();
 		cy.get( '#entry-search-input' ).type( 'Test Form' );
 		cy.get( '#search-submit' ).click();
 
-		cy.get( '.published > .current' ).should( 'exist' );
-		cy.get( '.current > .count' ).should( 'contain', '1' );
+		cy.get( '.published > .current', { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'exist' );
+		cy.get( '.current > .count', { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'contain', '1' );
 		cy.get( '.displaying-num' ).should( 'contain', '1' );
 		cy.contains( '#the-list tr', 'Test Form' ).should( 'exist' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Search for an invalid form title' );
 		cy.get( '#entry-search-input' ).clear().type( 'Invalid Test Form {enter}' );
-		cy.get( '.current > .count' ).should( 'contain', '0' );
+		cy.get( '.current > .count', { timeout: 10000 } ).should( 'contain', '0' );
 
 		cy.get( '#entry-search-input' ).clear();
 		cy.get( '#search-submit' ).click();
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/customCssScoping.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/customCssScoping.cy.js
index 69f36bd5e5..6f95e4c834 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/customCssScoping.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/customCssScoping.cy.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *   - Scoped to .frm_forms in the admin area (does not bleed into WordPress UI)
  *
  * The mechanism: the admin style editor loads the CSS endpoint with
- * ?frm_scope_custom_css=1, which wraps the custom CSS in a @scope (.frm_forms)
+ * ?frm_scope_custom_css=1, which wraps the custom CSS in a `@scope` (.frm_forms)
  * block so it only applies inside form containers. The frontend loads the same
  * endpoint without that parameter and receives the CSS unscoped.
  */
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/globalSettingsUpdates.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/globalSettingsUpdates.cy.js
index 6c565032d8..35b0df0fd1 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/globalSettingsUpdates.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/GlobalSettings/globalSettingsUpdates.cy.js
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ describe( 'Updating global settings', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm-save-form-name-button' ).should( 'contain', 'Save' ).click();
 
 		cy.log( `Create a text field` );
-		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Plain, always-visible sidebar link - no hover gating involved.
+		cy.get( `li[id="text"] a[title="Text"]` ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).should( 'contain', 'Update' ).click();
 
 		cy.get( '#frm-previewDrop', { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'contain', 'Preview' ).click();
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ describe( 'Updating global settings', () => {
 	} );
 	afterEach( () => {
 		cy.log( 'Teardown - Save the form and delete it' );
-		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+		cy.get( "a[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 5000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 		cy.deleteForm();
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/Styles/sliderComponent.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/Styles/sliderComponent.cy.js
index 9f31f665d9..a579e9aa13 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/Styles/sliderComponent.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/Styles/sliderComponent.cy.js
@@ -2,8 +2,27 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 	beforeEach( () => {
 		cy.login();
 		cy.viewport( 1280, 1600 );
+		// Every change the tests below make gets committed to the hidden input by a "change"
+		// handler that runs immediately - but the style editor also fires an admin-ajax
+		// `frm_change_styling` live-preview request on the same change, and re-normalizes the
+		// hidden input's value (e.g. adding back the unit) once that request resolves. Firing
+		// several slider changes back to back without waiting for that request backs its queue
+		// up, so the value/disabled-state assertions that follow can outlast Cypress's default
+		// retry window - not because the value is wrong, but because it hasn't settled yet.
+		// The action lives in the POST body, not the URL, so match on the body rather than a URL
+		// pattern.
+		cy.intercept( 'POST', '**/admin-ajax.php', req => {
+			if ( req.body?.includes( 'action=frm_change_styling' ) ) {
+				req.alias = 'changeStyling';
+			}
+		} );
 	} );
 
+	const SLIDER_TIMEOUT = 10000;
+	// Wait for the live-preview sync request to actually round-trip, rather than a fixed delay.
+	// Call this after every blur()/select() on a slider.
+	const settleSliderChange = () => cy.wait( '@changeStyling', { timeout: SLIDER_TIMEOUT } );
+
 	/**
 	 * Locates a single (non multi-value) slider's range input, visible text input, unit select
 	 * and hidden "real" input from the id on its hidden input.
@@ -12,13 +31,17 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 	 * @return {Object} References to the range, text, select and hidden inputs.
 	 */
 	const getSingleSlider = hiddenId => {
-		const wrapper = cy.get( hiddenId ).closest( '.frm-slider-component' );
+		const wrapper = () => cy.get( hiddenId, { timeout: SLIDER_TIMEOUT } ).closest( '.frm-slider-component' );
 
+		// Functions, not pre-built chains: a chain saved to a variable and asserted on much later
+		// (after other commands have queued in between, e.g. a select()/blur() and a settle wait)
+		// does not reliably re-run its full cy.get().closest().find() from the current DOM on
+		// retry - callers should invoke these at the point of use instead.
 		return {
-			range: wrapper.find( 'input[type="range"]' ),
-			text: wrapper.find( '.frm-slider-value input[type="text"]' ),
-			select: wrapper.find( '.frm-slider-value select' ),
-			hidden: cy.get( hiddenId )
+			range: () => wrapper().find( 'input[type="range"]' ),
+			text: () => wrapper().find( '.frm-slider-value input[type="text"]' ),
+			select: () => wrapper().find( '.frm-slider-value select' ),
+			hidden: () => cy.get( hiddenId, { timeout: SLIDER_TIMEOUT } )
 		};
 	};
 
@@ -40,7 +63,14 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 		cy.get( '#frm_fieldset' ).should( 'have.value', '12px' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Save the style and confirm the value survived the round trip through the server' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// #frm_submit_side_top is a .frm-button-primary, whose CSS `:active` scale-transform
+		// (see resources/scss/admin/components/button/_button.scss) starts moving the element the
+		// instant the click's mousedown lands, which trips Cypress's own animation-stability check
+		// (default animationDistanceThreshold: 5px) even though the button is visible, enabled and
+		// unobstructed - verified independently via Playwright, which hits the same "not stable"
+		// failure on this exact button (see the dev-site skill notes). Raise the threshold instead
+		// of forcing, so every other actionability check still runs.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { animationDistanceThreshold: 100 } );
 		cy.get( '#frm_fieldset' ).should( 'have.value', '12px' );
 		cy.get( '#frm_fieldset' ).closest( '.frm-slider-component' ).find( 'input[type="range"]' ).should( 'have.value', '12' );
 	} );
@@ -50,18 +80,23 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 		const slider = getSingleSlider( '#frm_fieldset' );
 
 		// Max value for Border Width is 25 - start from a known, valid value.
-		slider.text.clear().type( '10' ).blur();
-		slider.hidden.should( 'have.value', '10px' );
+		slider.text().clear().type( '10' ).blur();
+		settleSliderChange();
+		slider.hidden().should( 'have.value', '10px' );
 
 		cy.log( 'A value above the max is rejected and the text box resyncs to the current range value' );
-		slider.text.clear().type( '999' ).blur();
-		slider.text.should( 'have.value', '10' );
-		slider.hidden.should( 'have.value', '10px' );
+		slider.text().clear().type( '999' ).blur();
+		settleSliderChange();
+		slider.text().should( 'have.value', '10' );
+		slider.hidden().should( 'have.value', '10px' );
 
 		cy.log( 'A negative value is rejected the same way' );
-		slider.text.clear().type( '-5' ).blur();
-		slider.text.should( 'have.value', '10' );
-		slider.hidden.should( 'have.value', '10px' );
+		slider.text().clear().type( '-5' ).blur();
+		settleSliderChange();
+		slider.text().should( 'have.value', '10' );
+		// A direct cy.get() (rather than through the slider.hidden() helper) so the assertion is
+		// visible to static analysis - functionally identical to the checks above.
+		cy.get( '#frm_fieldset', { timeout: SLIDER_TIMEOUT } ).should( 'have.value', '10px' );
 	} );
 
 	it( 'Expands a multi-value slider group and lets an individual slider be adjusted independently', () => {
@@ -89,7 +124,8 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 		} );
 
 		cy.log( 'Save the style and confirm the combined value survived the round trip through the server' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Same click-triggered :active transform as above - raise the threshold instead of forcing.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { animationDistanceThreshold: 100 } );
 		cy.get( '#frm_fieldset_padding' ).invoke( 'val' ).then( value => {
 			expect( value.split( ' ' )[ 2 ] ).to.eq( '22px' );
 		} );
@@ -105,30 +141,35 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 		const slider = getSingleSlider( '#frm_submit_width' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Force the unit to "auto" and confirm the range and text box are both disabled, with no duplicated "auto" text' );
-		slider.select.select( 'auto' );
-		slider.range.should( 'be.disabled' );
-		slider.range.should( 'have.attr', 'aria-valuetext', 'auto' );
-		slider.text.should( 'be.disabled' ).and( 'have.value', '' );
-		slider.hidden.should( 'have.value', 'auto' );
+		slider.select().select( 'auto' );
+		// Wait for the wrapper's own disabled-state class before inspecting its children -
+		// applying "auto" disables the range/text inputs via the same handler that adds this
+		// class, so this is a real signal that handler has run rather than an arbitrary pause.
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_width' ).closest( '.frm-slider-component' ).should( 'have.class', 'frm-disabled' );
+		slider.range().should( 'be.disabled' );
+		slider.range().should( 'have.attr', 'aria-valuetext', 'auto' );
+		slider.text().should( 'be.disabled' ).and( 'have.value', '' );
+		slider.hidden().should( 'have.value', 'auto' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Switching to a measured unit re-enables both the range and the text box' );
-		slider.select.select( 'px' );
-		slider.range.should( 'not.be.disabled' );
-		slider.text.should( 'not.be.disabled' );
-		slider.hidden.invoke( 'val' ).should( 'match', /^\d+px$/ );
+		slider.select().select( 'px' );
+		slider.range().should( 'not.be.disabled' );
+		slider.text().should( 'not.be.disabled' );
+		slider.hidden().invoke( 'val' ).should( 'match', /^\d+px$/ );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_width' ).closest( '.frm-slider-component' ).should( 'not.have.class', 'frm-disabled' );
 
 		cy.log( 'The numeric value survives a save' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Same click-triggered :active transform as above - raise the threshold instead of forcing.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { animationDistanceThreshold: 100 } );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_width' ).invoke( 'val' ).should( 'match', /^\d+px$/ );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_width' ).closest( '.frm-slider-component' ).find( 'input[type="range"]' ).should( 'not.be.disabled' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Switching back to "auto" and saving persists the disabled, blank, unmeasured state too' );
 		cy.get( '#buttons-style button[aria-label="Buttons"]' ).click();
 		cy.get( '#frm_style_section_buttons-style' ).should( 'be.visible' );
-		getSingleSlider( '#frm_submit_width' ).select.select( 'auto' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { force: true } );
+		getSingleSlider( '#frm_submit_width' ).select().select( 'auto' );
+		// Same click-triggered :active transform as above - raise the threshold instead of forcing.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { animationDistanceThreshold: 100 } );
 		cy.get( '#frm_submit_width' ).should( 'have.value', 'auto' );
 
 		cy.log( 'Reloading confirms the disabled, blank state is server-rendered on the very first paint, not just applied live by JS' );
@@ -163,7 +204,8 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 		quickSettingsSlider().find( 'input[type="range"]' ).should( 'have.attr', 'aria-valuetext', 'Not set' );
 
 		cy.log( 'The cleared value survives a save, rather than silently reverting to the last numeric value' );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { force: true } );
+		// Same click-triggered :active transform as above - raise the threshold instead of forcing.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { animationDistanceThreshold: 100 } );
 		realInput().should( 'have.value', '' );
 		quickSettingsSlider().should( 'have.class', 'frm-disabled' ).and( 'have.class', 'frm-empty' );
 
@@ -176,8 +218,11 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 			cy.get( 'select' ).select( 'px' );
 			cy.get( '.frm-slider-value input[type="text"]' ).clear().type( '8' ).blur();
 		} );
-		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { force: true } );
-		realInput().should( 'have.value', '8px' );
+		// Same click-triggered :active transform as above - raise the threshold instead of forcing.
+		cy.get( '#frm_submit_side_top' ).click( { animationDistanceThreshold: 100 } );
+		// A direct cy.get() (rather than through the realInput() helper) so the assertion is
+		// visible to static analysis - functionally identical to the checks above.
+		cy.get( 'input[name="frm_style_setting[post_content][border_radius]"]' ).should( 'have.value', '8px' );
 	} );
 
 	it( 'Slider components in the General section have no accessibility violations', () => {
@@ -190,6 +235,7 @@ describe( 'Slider style component', () => {
 		} );
 		cy.checkA11y( '#general-style .frm-slider-component', null, violations => {
 			cy.task( 'table', violations.map( ( { id, impact, description, nodes } ) => ( { id, impact, description, nodes: nodes.length } ) ) );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
 		} );
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-a11y.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-a11y.cy.js
index 896974b335..e5e59f1d6d 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-a11y.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-a11y.cy.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 		cy.injectAxe();
 		cy.get( 'body' ).then( $body => {
 			if ( $body.find( '.frm-welcome-tour-modal a.dismiss' ).length ) {
-				cy.get( '.frm-welcome-tour-modal a.dismiss' ).click( { force: true } );
+				cy.get( '.frm-welcome-tour-modal a.dismiss' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 				cy.log( 'Welcome tour dismissed' );
 			}
 		} );
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			...baselineRules,
 			{ id: 'heading-order', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-dashboard' );
 	} );
 
@@ -62,7 +65,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			...baselineRules,
 			{ id: 'empty-table-header', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-form-list' );
 	} );
 
@@ -73,7 +79,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			...baselineRules,
 			{ id: 'empty-table-header', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-entries' );
 	} );
 
@@ -87,7 +96,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			{ id: 'heading-order', enabled: false },
 			{ id: 'empty-heading', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-styles' );
 	} );
 
@@ -99,7 +111,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			{ id: 'image-alt', enabled: false },
 			{ id: 'heading-order', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-applications' );
 	} );
 
@@ -108,7 +123,7 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 		cy.injectAxe();
 		cy.get( 'body' ).then( $body => {
 			if ( $body.find( '.frm-checklist span.frm-text-grey-400' ).length ) {
-				cy.get( '.frm-checklist span.frm-text-grey-400' ).click( { force: true } );
+				cy.get( '.frm-checklist span.frm-text-grey-400' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
 				cy.log( 'Checklist dismissed' );
 			}
 		} );
@@ -117,7 +132,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			{ id: 'link-name', enabled: false },
 			{ id: 'heading-order', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-form-templates' );
 	} );
 
@@ -128,7 +146,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			...baselineRules,
 			{ id: 'heading-order', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-import' );
 	} );
 
@@ -138,7 +159,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 		configureAxeWithIgnoredRuleset( [
 			...baselineRules
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-settings' );
 	} );
 
@@ -149,7 +173,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			...baselineRules,
 			{ id: 'heading-order', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-addons' );
 	} );
 
@@ -161,7 +188,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 			{ id: 'landmark-unique', enabled: false },
 			{ id: 'landmark-complementary-is-top-level', enabled: false }
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-smtp' );
 	} );
 
@@ -171,7 +201,10 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 		configureAxeWithIgnoredRuleset( [
 			...baselineRules
 		] );
-		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, logViolations );
+		cy.checkA11y( excludeAdminBar, null, violations => {
+			logViolations( violations );
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'formidable-trash' );
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-html-validation.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-html-validation.cy.js
index 7aa14f4d2d..c9eeaa3e37 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-html-validation.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/admin-html-validation.cy.js
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 describe( 'Run some HTML validation', function() {
 	beforeEach( cy.login );
 
+	// cypress-html-validate's htmlvalidate() command asserts internally (chai `assert.equal` on
+	// the error count, see node_modules/cypress-html-validate/dist/commands.js) - it's a real
+	// assertion the static analyzer can't see across the plugin boundary, not a missing check.
+	// eslint-disable-next-line sonarjs/assertions-in-tests
 	it( 'Check the form list has valid HTML', () => {
 		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable' );
 		cy.get( '#wpbody-content' ).htmlvalidate( {
@@ -16,6 +20,8 @@ describe( 'Run some HTML validation', function() {
 		} );
 	} );
 
+	// Same as above - htmlvalidate() asserts internally, invisible to static analysis.
+	// eslint-disable-next-line sonarjs/assertions-in-tests
 	it( 'Check the global settings page has valid HTML', () => {
 		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable-settings' );
 		cy.get( '#wpbody-content' ).htmlvalidate( {
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-a11y.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-a11y.cy.js
index 1cf6e9a068..7865122a0f 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-a11y.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-a11y.cy.js
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ describe( 'Run some accessibility tests', function() {
 		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=frm_forms_preview&form=contact-form' );
 		cy.injectAxe();
 		configureAxeWithBaselineIgnoredRuleset();
-		cy.checkA11y();
+		cy.checkA11y( null, null, violations => {
+			expect( violations ).to.have.lengthOf( 0 );
+		} );
 		cy.checkIbmAccessibility( 'form-preview' );
 	} );
 } );
diff --git a/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-html-validation.cy.js b/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-html-validation.cy.js
index fe5eb826ce..c55444bb49 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-html-validation.cy.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/e2e/form-preview-html-validation.cy.js
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 describe( 'Run some HTML validation', function() {
+	// cypress-html-validate's htmlvalidate() command asserts internally (chai `assert.equal` on
+	// the error count, see node_modules/cypress-html-validate/dist/commands.js) - it's a real
+	// assertion the static analyzer can't see across the plugin boundary, not a missing check.
+	// eslint-disable-next-line sonarjs/assertions-in-tests
 	it( 'Check the form list has valid HTML', () => {
 		cy.login();
 		cy.ensureContactUsFormExists();
diff --git a/tests/cypress/support/commands.js b/tests/cypress/support/commands.js
index f49fdf1107..a30a277b58 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/support/commands.js
+++ b/tests/cypress/support/commands.js
@@ -77,15 +77,54 @@ Cypress.Commands.add( 'createNewForm', () => {
 } );
 
 /**
- * Ensure the "Contact Us" template form (frm_key `contact-form`) exists, creating it if needed.
+ * Ensure the "Contact Us" template form (frm_key `contact-us`) exists and is previewable,
+ * creating and/or restoring it as needed.
  *
  * Several specs preview this form directly by key without creating it themselves, relying on
  * `Form Templates/FormTemplates.cy.js` having already created it in the same wp-env instance.
  * That only holds when both specs land in the same CI shard, which isn't guaranteed - shards are
  * bin-packed by spec file line count (see tests/bin/split-specs.sh), so adding or resizing any
  * spec file can split them apart. Call this instead of assuming the fixture is already there.
+ *
+ * The remote template (fetched from S3 by "Use Template") ships with `status=trash` baked into
+ * its own XML, so a freshly installed copy lands in the Trash and isn't previewable until it's
+ * restored - and re-running "Use Template" against an already-trashed copy just creates another
+ * trashed one with a suffixed key (`contact-us2`, `contact-us3`, ...) instead of reusing it. Check
+ * Trash before creating, and restore whatever copy ends up there instead of leaving it stuck.
  */
 Cypress.Commands.add( 'ensureContactUsFormExists', () => {
+	const RESTORE_LINK_SELECTOR = '#the-list tr:contains("Contact Us") a.frm-trash-link[href*="frm_action=untrash"]';
+
+	// Split the "is it there" check from the "click to restore" step - a .then() callback that
+	// queues cy commands (the click) can't also return a plain sync value (the found/not-found
+	// boolean) in the same callback, so each concern gets its own .then().
+	const restoreFromTrash = () => {
+		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable&form_type=trash' );
+		return cy.get( 'body' )
+			.then( $trashBody => 0 < $trashBody.find( RESTORE_LINK_SELECTOR ).length )
+			.then( found => {
+				if ( ! found ) {
+					return cy.wrap( false );
+				}
+
+				cy.log( 'Restore the Contact Us form out of Trash instead of leaving it stuck there' );
+				// WP core only reveals row-actions on a real CSS `:hover` - the OFFSET is on the
+				// `.row-actions` wrapper itself (`position: relative; left: -9999em` until
+				// `tr:hover .row-actions { position: static }`, verified in
+				// wp-admin/css/list-tables.css), not on the link. The link is already `position:
+				// static` by browser default, so invoking that on the link alone is a no-op; the
+				// wrapper is what has to be reset. Cypress can't simulate the real hover before its
+				// own pre-click check, so reset the wrapper the same way the real hover would, then
+				// click the link normally.
+				cy.get( '#the-list tr:contains("Contact Us") .row-actions' )
+					.invoke( 'css', 'position', 'static' )
+					.find( 'a.frm-trash-link[href*="frm_action=untrash"]' )
+					.first()
+					.click();
+				return cy.wrap( true );
+			} );
+	};
+
 	cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable' );
 	cy.get( 'body' ).then( $body => {
 		if ( $body.find( '#the-list tr:contains("Contact Us")' ).length > 0 ) {
@@ -93,16 +132,28 @@ Cypress.Commands.add( 'ensureContactUsFormExists', () => {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		cy.log( 'Create the Contact Us form from its template' );
-		cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable-form-templates' );
-		cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
-			.first()
-			.trigger( 'mouseover', { force: true } )
-			.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
-			.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
-			.click( { force: true } );
+		restoreFromTrash().then( restored => {
+			if ( restored ) {
+				return;
+			}
 
-		cy.get( "svg[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 7000 } ).click( { force: true } );
+			cy.log( 'Create the Contact Us form from its template' );
+			cy.visit( '/wp-admin/admin.php?page=formidable-form-templates' );
+			cy.contains( 'li', 'Contact Us', { timeout: 10000 } )
+				.first()
+				// Wait for the template card itself to be visible before triggering the hover -
+				// the templates grid populates async, and triggering on a not-yet-rendered card
+				// was the actual reason force was needed here, not the hover-only child button.
+				.should( 'be.visible' )
+				.trigger( 'mouseover' )
+				.find( '.frm-form-templates-use-template-button' )
+				.should( 'contain', 'Use Template' )
+				.click();
+
+			cy.get( "svg[aria-label='Close']", { timeout: 7000 } ).should( 'be.visible' ).click();
+
+			restoreFromTrash();
+		} );
 	} );
 } );
 
@@ -111,12 +162,21 @@ Cypress.Commands.add( 'deleteForm', () => {
 	cy.contains( '#the-list tr', 'Test Form' ).trigger( 'mouseover' ).then( $row => {
 		console.log( 'Hovered Row:', $row );
 		cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
-			cy.get( '.row-actions .trash .frm-trash-link' ).should( 'be.visible' ).click( { force: true } );
+			// Same real CSS `:hover` reveal as RESTORE_LINK_SELECTOR above - the offset lives on the
+			// `.row-actions` wrapper itself, not the link, so reset the wrapper's position before
+			// clicking the link.
+			cy.get( '.row-actions' )
+				.invoke( 'css', 'position', 'static' )
+				.find( '.trash .frm-trash-link' )
+				.click();
 		} );
 		cy.get( 'body' ).then( $body => {
 			if ( $body.find( "div[role='dialog']" ).length ) {
 				cy.get( "div[role='dialog']" ).should( 'be.visible' ).and( 'contain.text', 'Do you want to move this form to the trash?' );
-				cy.xpath( "//a[@id='frm-confirmed-click']" ).should( 'contain.text', 'Confirm' ).click( { force: true } );
+				// Use cy.get() (an id is unique) rather than cy.xpath() - the xpath-resolved
+				// element doesn't re-query the same way on Cypress's retry, which is what forced
+				// force here. Plain cy.get() on this id works unforced elsewhere in the suite.
+				cy.get( '#frm-confirmed-click' ).should( 'contain.text', 'Confirm' ).click();
 			} else {
 				cy.log( 'Dialog not found' );
 			}
@@ -130,7 +190,10 @@ Cypress.Commands.add( 'openForm', () => {
 		cy.wrap( $row ).within( () => {
 			cy.get( '.column-name .row-title' ).should( 'exist' ).and( 'be.visible' ).then( $elem => {
 				console.log( 'Element is:', $elem );
-				cy.wrap( $elem ).click( { force: true } );
+				// Plain click - the link is the topmost element at its own coordinates (verified via
+				// document.elementFromPoint(), not covered by the row-actions block below it), so no
+				// force is needed.
+				cy.wrap( $elem ).click();
 			} );
 		} );
 	} );
diff --git a/tests/mu-plugins/frm-protect-shared-plugin-files.php b/tests/mu-plugins/frm-protect-shared-plugin-files.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dd595c6183
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/mu-plugins/frm-protect-shared-plugin-files.php
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Protect the files wp-env shares with a real dev site from e2e test runs.
+ *
+ * Wp-env's "plugins": ["."] mapping bind-mounts the plugin's actual working directory into the
+ * container rather than a disposable copy, the same as a symlinked PHPUnit checkout, so anything
+ * the container writes under wp-content/plugins/formidable lands in the real working tree too:
+ *
+ * 1. FrmMigrate::maybe_delete_htaccess_file() checks its own `css/frm_fonts.css` over HTTP, and
+ *    deletes the plugin's .htaccess (tracked in git) when that request doesn't come back 200. In
+ *    wp-env that request goes out for real and has no reason to succeed, so admin page loads
+ *    during the suite delete the working tree's .htaccess - breaking permalinks and Basic Auth on
+ *    any dev site sharing this checkout. Answer the plugin's own asset requests locally instead,
+ *    mirroring FrmUnitTest::respond_to_plugin_asset_request() in tests/phpunit/base/FrmUnitTest.php.
+ * 2. Saving a style regenerates css/formidableforms.css in place by default. wp-env has no Pro
+ *    add-on, so that regeneration is Lite-only and overwrites a Pro dev site's stylesheet with one
+ *    missing every Pro per-style block - the exact "gutted stylesheet" failure the dev-site skill
+ *    warns about for PHPUnit runs, caused the same way. `frm_add_css_to_uploads_dir` redirects the
+ *    write into wp-env's own disposable uploads dir instead, the same filter FrmUnitTest applies.
+ *
+ * @package Formidable
+ */
+
+add_filter( 'frm_add_css_to_uploads_dir', '__return_true' );
+
+add_filter(
+	'pre_http_request',
+	function ( $response, $args, $url ) {
+		if ( ! class_exists( 'FrmAppHelper' ) || ! str_starts_with( $url, FrmAppHelper::plugin_url() . '/' ) ) {
+			return $response;
+		}
+
+		return array(
+			'headers'  => array(),
+			'body'     => '',
+			'response' => array(
+				'code'    => 200,
+				'message' => 'OK',
+			),
+			'cookies'  => array(),
+			'filename' => null,
+		);
+	},
+	10,
+	3
+);