diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index afab0fb..ac97669 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Implemented functionality includes:
 - active-board filtering and saved board selection;
 - board creation, renaming, recoloring, and deletion;
 - stack creation, renaming, reordering, and deletion;
+- idle-aware background synchronization of boards, stacks, and cards;
 - horizontal and vertical layouts saved independently per board;
 - card creation, editing, deletion, due date, description, and color controls;
 - a directly visible completion checkmark that synchronizes Deck's `done` value
diff --git a/app/package-lock.json b/app/package-lock.json
index 9edc841..84f6305 100644
--- a/app/package-lock.json
+++ b/app/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "decky",
-  "version": "0.3.0",
+  "version": "0.3.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "decky",
-      "version": "0.3.0",
+      "version": "0.3.1",
       "dependencies": {
         "@lucide/svelte": "^0.545.0",
         "@tauri-apps/api": "^2.0.0",
diff --git a/app/package.json b/app/package.json
index 91c90a6..d3c9127 100644
--- a/app/package.json
+++ b/app/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "decky",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "0.3.0",
+  "version": "0.3.1",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite --configLoader runner",
diff --git a/app/src-tauri/Cargo.lock b/app/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
index d556937..aa4f7f0 100644
--- a/app/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
+++ b/app/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "decky"
-version = "0.3.0"
+version = "0.3.1"
 dependencies = [
  "keyring",
  "serde",
diff --git a/app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 3d172b1..7a52e66 100644
--- a/app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/app/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "decky"
-version = "0.3.0"
+version = "0.3.1"
 description = "A focused cross-platform client for Nextcloud Deck"
 authors = ["Elijah Kuntz"]
 edition = "2021"
diff --git a/app/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/app/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 3a07518..0fc5a14 100644
--- a/app/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/app/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "$schema": "https://schema.tauri.app/config/2",
   "productName": "Decky",
-  "version": "0.3.0",
+  "version": "0.3.1",
   "identifier": "com.elijahkuntz.decky",
   "build": {
     "beforeDevCommand": "npm run dev",
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     "category": "Productivity",
     "shortDescription": "Nextcloud Deck on your desktop",
     "longDescription": "A focused cross-platform desktop client for viewing and editing Nextcloud Deck boards.",
-    "copyright": "Copyright © 2026 Elijah Kuntz",
+    "copyright": "Copyright © 2026 Elijah Kuntz",
     "windows": {
       "webviewInstallMode": {
         "type": "downloadBootstrapper"
diff --git a/app/src/App.svelte b/app/src/App.svelte
index 906a5d6..7fde8a8 100644
--- a/app/src/App.svelte
+++ b/app/src/App.svelte
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     X
   } from '@lucide/svelte';
   import { cssColor, normalizeColor, textColor } from './lib/color';
+  import { shouldAutoRefresh } from './lib/auto-refresh';
   import { loadPassword, removePassword, savePassword } from './lib/credentials';
   import { cardUpdateFrom, DeckApiClient } from './lib/deck-api';
   import { loadSettings, saveSettings } from './lib/settings';
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@
   let dragOriginStacks: Stack[] | null = null;
   let dragGhost: { kind: 'card' | 'stack'; title: string; color?: string | null; x: number; y: number; width: number; offsetX: number; offsetY: number } | null = null;
   let reduceMotion = false;
-  let currentVersion = '0.3.0';
+  let currentVersion = '0.3.1';
   let pendingUpdate: Update | null = null;
   let updateState: 'idle' | 'checking' | 'available' | 'current' | 'downloading' | 'installing' | 'error' = 'idle';
   let updateMessage = 'Updates are checked securely against releases from git.elijahkuntz.com.';
@@ -63,6 +64,9 @@
     | { kind: 'stack'; mode: 'create' | 'edit'; id?: number; title: string; order: number }
     | null = null;
   let pendingDeletion: { kind: 'board' | 'stack'; id: number; title: string; cardCount: number } | null = null;
+  let lastInteractionAt = Date.now();
+  let lastAutoRefreshAt = 0;
+  let autoRefreshInFlight = false;
   const appWindow = '__TAURI_INTERNALS__' in window ? getCurrentWindow() : null;
   const [sendCard, receiveCard] = crossfade({
     duration: (distance) => reduceMotion ? 0 : Math.min(190, Math.max(120, Math.sqrt(distance * 220))),
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@
           { id: 106, stackId: 13, title: 'Patho Concept Map', type: 'plain', owner: 'admin', order: 2, color: 'E69A88', done: null }
         ]}
       ];
-      status = 'Homework · 6 cards · Preview data';
+      status = 'Homework · 6 cards · Preview data';
       return;
     }
     if (!serverUrl || !username) return;
@@ -122,6 +126,17 @@
     }
   });
 
+  onMount(() => {
+    const noteInteraction = () => { lastInteractionAt = Date.now(); };
+    const events: (keyof WindowEventMap)[] = ['pointerdown', 'keydown', 'wheel'];
+    for (const event of events) window.addEventListener(event, noteInteraction, { passive: true });
+    const timer = window.setInterval(() => void runIdleRefresh(), 1_000);
+    return () => {
+      window.clearInterval(timer);
+      for (const event of events) window.removeEventListener(event, noteInteraction);
+    };
+  });
+
   function friendlyError(error: unknown): string {
     if (error instanceof Error) return error.message;
     return String(error);
@@ -134,7 +149,7 @@
       return;
     }
     updateState = 'checking';
-    updateMessage = 'Checking Forgejo for a newer signed release…';
+    updateMessage = 'Checking Forgejo for a newer signed release…';
     updateProgress = 0;
     pendingUpdate = null;
     try {
@@ -155,7 +170,7 @@
   async function installUpdate() {
     if (!pendingUpdate) return;
     updateState = 'downloading';
-    updateMessage = `Downloading Decky ${pendingUpdate.version}…`;
+    updateMessage = `Downloading Decky ${pendingUpdate.version}…`;
     let downloaded = 0;
     let total = 0;
     try {
@@ -169,7 +184,7 @@
         } else if (event.event === 'Finished') {
           updateState = 'installing';
           updateProgress = 100;
-          updateMessage = 'Download verified. Installing and restarting Decky…';
+          updateMessage = 'Download verified. Installing and restarting Decky…';
         }
       });
       await relaunch();
@@ -181,7 +196,7 @@
 
   async function connect(silent = false) {
     busy = true;
-    status = 'Connecting to Nextcloud…';
+    status = 'Connecting to Nextcloud…';
     try {
       client = await DeckApiClient.connect({ serverUrl, username, appPassword });
       boards = (await client.getBoards()).filter((board) => !board.archived && !board.deletedAt);
@@ -213,13 +228,13 @@
   async function refreshBoard() {
     if (!client || !selectedBoard) return;
     busy = true;
-    status = `Loading ${selectedBoard.title}…`;
+    status = `Loading ${selectedBoard.title}…`;
     try {
       stacks = (await client.getStacks(selectedBoard.id))
         .filter((stack) => !stack.deletedAt)
         .sort((a, b) => a.order - b.order);
       const count = stacks.reduce((total, stack) => total + (stack.cards?.filter((card) => !card.archived).length ?? 0), 0);
-      status = `${selectedBoard.title} · ${count} card${count === 1 ? '' : 's'} · Updated ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' })}`;
+      status = `${selectedBoard.title} · ${count} card${count === 1 ? '' : 's'} · Updated ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' })}`;
     } catch (error) {
       status = friendlyError(error);
     } finally {
@@ -227,6 +242,68 @@
     }
   }
 
+  async function refreshFromNextcloud(background = false) {
+    if (!client) return;
+    const activeClient = client;
+    const startingBoardId = selectedBoard?.id;
+    const interactionAtStart = lastInteractionAt;
+    if (!background) {
+      busy = true;
+      status = selectedBoard ? `Loading ${selectedBoard.title}…` : 'Refreshing boards…';
+    }
+    try {
+      const refreshedBoards = (await activeClient.getBoards()).filter((board) => !board.archived && !board.deletedAt);
+      if (client !== activeClient || (background && (selectedBoard?.id !== startingBoardId || lastInteractionAt !== interactionAtStart || document.visibilityState !== 'visible'))) return;
+      boards = refreshedBoards;
+      const board = refreshedBoards.find((item) => item.id === startingBoardId) ?? refreshedBoards[0];
+      if (!board) {
+        selectedBoard = null;
+        stacks = [];
+        status = 'Connected, but no active Deck boards were found.';
+        return;
+      }
+
+      selectedBoard = board;
+      if (settings.selectedBoardId !== board.id) {
+        settings = { ...settings, selectedBoardId: board.id };
+        saveSettings(settings);
+      }
+      const refreshedStacks = (await activeClient.getStacks(board.id))
+        .filter((stack) => !stack.deletedAt)
+        .sort((a, b) => a.order - b.order);
+      if (client !== activeClient || selectedBoard?.id !== board.id || (background && (lastInteractionAt !== interactionAtStart || document.visibilityState !== 'visible'))) return;
+      stacks = refreshedStacks;
+      const count = stacks.reduce((total, stack) => total + (stack.cards?.filter((card) => !card.archived).length ?? 0), 0);
+      status = `${board.title} · ${count} card${count === 1 ? '' : 's'} · Updated ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' })}`;
+    } catch (error) {
+      status = `${background ? 'Background refresh failed' : 'Refresh failed'}: ${friendlyError(error)}`;
+    } finally {
+      if (!background) busy = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function runIdleRefresh() {
+    const now = Date.now();
+    if (autoRefreshInFlight || !shouldAutoRefresh({
+      now,
+      lastInteractionAt,
+      lastRefreshAt: lastAutoRefreshAt,
+      connected: Boolean(client),
+      busy,
+      editing: Boolean(editor || structureEditor || pendingDeletion || settingsOpen),
+      dragging: Boolean(dragKind),
+      visible: document.visibilityState === 'visible'
+    })) return;
+
+    autoRefreshInFlight = true;
+    lastAutoRefreshAt = now;
+    try {
+      await refreshFromNextcloud(true);
+    } finally {
+      autoRefreshInFlight = false;
+    }
+  }
+
   function canEdit(board: Board | null): boolean {
     return Boolean(board) && (board?.permissions?.PERMISSION_EDIT ?? true);
   }
@@ -426,7 +503,7 @@
   }
 
   async function deleteCard(card: Card) {
-    if (!client || !selectedBoard || !confirm(`Delete “${card.title}”?`)) return;
+    if (!client || !selectedBoard || !confirm(`Delete “${card.title}”?`)) return;
     busy = true;
     try {
       await client.deleteCard(selectedBoard.id, card.stackId, card.id);
@@ -599,7 +676,7 @@
         const targetIndex = stacks.findIndex((stack) => stack.id === stackId);
         stacks = await client.reorderStack(board.id, stackId, targetIndex);
         const count = stacks.reduce((total, stack) => total + (stack.cards?.filter((item) => !item.archived).length ?? 0), 0);
-        status = `${board.title} · ${count} card${count === 1 ? '' : 's'} · Stack order saved`;
+        status = `${board.title} · ${count} card${count === 1 ? '' : 's'} · Stack order saved`;
       }
     } catch (error) {
       stacks = origin;
@@ -634,7 +711,7 @@
   }
 </script>
 
-<svelte:head><title>{selectedBoard ? `${selectedBoard.title} · Decky` : 'Decky'}</title></svelte:head>
+<svelte:head><title>{selectedBoard ? `${selectedBoard.title} · Decky` : 'Decky'}</title></svelte:head>
 
 <div class:sidebar-collapsed={settings.sidebarCollapsed} class="app-shell">
   <header class="window-titlebar" role="presentation" on:mousedown={dragWindow} on:dblclick={() => runWindowAction('maximize')}>
@@ -654,7 +731,7 @@
           <label>Username<input bind:value={username} autocomplete="username" /></label>
           <label>App password<input type="password" bind:value={appPassword} autocomplete="current-password" /></label>
           <label class="checkbox-row"><input type="checkbox" bind:checked={rememberPassword} /> Save securely on this device</label>
-          <button class="primary-button" disabled={busy || !serverUrl || !username || !appPassword}>{busy ? 'Connecting…' : 'Connect'}</button>
+          <button class="primary-button" disabled={busy || !serverUrl || !username || !appPassword}>{busy ? 'Connecting…' : 'Connect'}</button>
         </form>
       {/if}
 
@@ -682,7 +759,7 @@
         <button class:active={orientation === 'horizontal'} title="Horizontal layout" on:click={() => setOrientation('horizontal')}><Columns3 size={18} /><span>Columns</span></button>
         <button class:active={orientation === 'vertical'} title="Vertical layout" on:click={() => setOrientation('vertical')}><LayoutList size={18} /><span>List</span></button>
       </div>
-      <button class="sidebar-tool" title="Refresh" disabled={!selectedBoard || busy} on:click={refreshBoard}><RefreshCw size={18} class={busy ? 'spinning' : ''} /><span>Refresh</span></button>
+      <button class="sidebar-tool" title="Refresh" disabled={!client || busy} on:click={() => refreshFromNextcloud()}><RefreshCw size={18} class={busy ? 'spinning' : ''} /><span>Refresh</span></button>
       <button class="sidebar-tool" title="Settings" on:click={() => (settingsOpen = true)}><Settings size={18} /><span>Settings</span></button>
     </div>
   </aside>
@@ -790,7 +867,7 @@
     <form class="modal" on:submit|preventDefault={saveCard}>
       <header><div><small>{editor.mode === 'create' ? 'NEW CARD' : 'EDIT CARD'}</small><h2>{editor.mode === 'create' ? 'Create a card' : editor.card?.title}</h2></div><button type="button" class="icon-button" on:click={() => (editor = null, colorPickerOpen = false)}><X size={20} /></button></header>
       <label>Title<input bind:value={editor.draft.title} maxlength="255" /></label>
-      <label>Description<textarea bind:value={editor.draft.description} rows="5" placeholder="Add details…"></textarea></label>
+      <label>Description<textarea bind:value={editor.draft.description} rows="5" placeholder="Add details…"></textarea></label>
       <div class="form-row">
         <label>Due date<input type="datetime-local" bind:value={editor.draft.dueDate} /></label>
         <label>Card color
@@ -866,7 +943,7 @@
   <div class="modal-backdrop" role="presentation" on:click={(event) => event.currentTarget === event.target && (pendingDeletion = null)}>
     <div class="modal confirm-modal" role="alertdialog" aria-modal="true" aria-labelledby="delete-title">
       <header>
-        <div><small>CONFIRM DELETE</small><h2 id="delete-title">Delete “{pendingDeletion.title}”?</h2></div>
+        <div><small>CONFIRM DELETE</small><h2 id="delete-title">Delete “{pendingDeletion.title}”?</h2></div>
         <button type="button" class="icon-button" aria-label="Close" on:click={() => (pendingDeletion = null)}><X size={20} /></button>
       </header>
       <p class="modal-copy">
@@ -876,7 +953,7 @@
           This permanently deletes the stack and its {pendingDeletion.cardCount} card{pendingDeletion.cardCount === 1 ? '' : 's'} from Nextcloud.
         {/if}
       </p>
-      <footer><button type="button" class="secondary-button" on:click={() => (pendingDeletion = null)}>Cancel</button><button type="button" class="danger-button" disabled={busy} on:click={confirmStructureDeletion}>{busy ? 'Deleting…' : `Delete ${pendingDeletion.kind}`}</button></footer>
+      <footer><button type="button" class="secondary-button" on:click={() => (pendingDeletion = null)}>Cancel</button><button type="button" class="danger-button" disabled={busy} on:click={confirmStructureDeletion}>{busy ? 'Deleting…' : `Delete ${pendingDeletion.kind}`}</button></footer>
     </div>
   </div>
 {/if}
@@ -895,7 +972,7 @@
           <label class="checkbox-row"><input type="checkbox" bind:checked={rememberPassword} /> Save securely on this device</label>
           <div class="settings-actions">
             {#if client}<button type="button" class="secondary-button" on:click={disconnect}>Disconnect</button>{/if}
-            <button class="primary-button" disabled={busy || !serverUrl || !username || !appPassword}>{busy ? 'Connecting…' : client ? 'Reconnect' : 'Connect'}</button>
+            <button class="primary-button" disabled={busy || !serverUrl || !username || !appPassword}>{busy ? 'Connecting…' : client ? 'Reconnect' : 'Connect'}</button>
           </div>
         </form>
       </section>
@@ -919,7 +996,7 @@
             <button type="button" class="primary-button" on:click={installUpdate}>Download and install {pendingUpdate?.version}</button>
           {:else}
             <button type="button" class="secondary-button" disabled={updateState === 'checking' || updateState === 'downloading' || updateState === 'installing'} on:click={checkForUpdates}>
-              {updateState === 'checking' ? 'Checking…' : 'Check for updates'}
+              {updateState === 'checking' ? 'Checking…' : 'Check for updates'}
             </button>
           {/if}
         </div>
diff --git a/app/src/lib/auto-refresh.test.ts b/app/src/lib/auto-refresh.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0f8c30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/lib/auto-refresh.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { AUTO_REFRESH_IDLE_MS, AUTO_REFRESH_REPEAT_MS, shouldAutoRefresh } from './auto-refresh';
+
+const idleState = {
+  now: AUTO_REFRESH_REPEAT_MS,
+  lastInteractionAt: 0,
+  lastRefreshAt: 0,
+  connected: true,
+  busy: false,
+  editing: false,
+  dragging: false,
+  visible: true
+};
+
+describe('automatic refresh scheduling', () => {
+  it('refreshes after the user has been idle long enough', () => {
+    expect(shouldAutoRefresh(idleState)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('waits for ten seconds of inactivity', () => {
+    expect(shouldAutoRefresh({ ...idleState, lastInteractionAt: idleState.now - AUTO_REFRESH_IDLE_MS + 1 })).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('does not repeatedly refresh more often than the background interval', () => {
+    expect(shouldAutoRefresh({ ...idleState, lastRefreshAt: idleState.now - AUTO_REFRESH_REPEAT_MS + 1 })).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ['disconnected', { connected: false }],
+    ['busy', { busy: true }],
+    ['editing', { editing: true }],
+    ['dragging', { dragging: true }],
+    ['hidden', { visible: false }]
+  ])('pauses while %s', (_name, change) => {
+    expect(shouldAutoRefresh({ ...idleState, ...change })).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/src/lib/auto-refresh.ts b/app/src/lib/auto-refresh.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..039dfa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/lib/auto-refresh.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+export const AUTO_REFRESH_IDLE_MS = 10_000;
+export const AUTO_REFRESH_REPEAT_MS = 30_000;
+
+export interface AutoRefreshState {
+  now: number;
+  lastInteractionAt: number;
+  lastRefreshAt: number;
+  connected: boolean;
+  busy: boolean;
+  editing: boolean;
+  dragging: boolean;
+  visible: boolean;
+}
+
+export function shouldAutoRefresh(state: AutoRefreshState): boolean {
+  return state.connected
+    && state.visible
+    && !state.busy
+    && !state.editing
+    && !state.dragging
+    && state.now - state.lastInteractionAt >= AUTO_REFRESH_IDLE_MS
+    && state.now - state.lastRefreshAt >= AUTO_REFRESH_REPEAT_MS;
+}