diff --git a/surfsense_web/tests/auth.setup.ts b/surfsense_web/tests/auth.setup.ts
index a33a81b3c..7c1e37a39 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/tests/auth.setup.ts
+++ b/surfsense_web/tests/auth.setup.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import path from "node:path";
 import { expect, test as setup } from "@playwright/test";
+import { announcements } from "../lib/announcements/announcements-data";
 import { acquireTestToken } from "./helpers/api/auth";
 
 /**
@@ -7,21 +8,58 @@ import { acquireTestToken } from "./helpers/api/auth";
  * e2e user (rate-limit-free /__e2e__/auth/token first, /auth/jwt/login
  * fallback) and persists it via localStorage so every test in the
  * chromium project starts already authenticated.
+ *
+ * Also pre-seeds the localStorage flags that gate the two new-user UI
+ * overlays so they never intercept clicks in journeys:
+ *   - `surfsense_announcements_state` — the blocking AnnouncementSpotlight
+ *     dialog (e.g. "Introducing AI Automations") plus its toasts.
+ *   - `surfsense-tour-<userId>` — the OnboardingTour spotlight for new users.
  */
 
 const authFile = path.join(__dirname, "..", "playwright", ".auth", "user.json");
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = "surfsense_bearer_token";
+const ANNOUNCEMENTS_KEY = "surfsense_announcements_state";
+
+/** Decode the user id (`sub`) from a JWT without verifying the signature. */
+function decodeUserId(token: string): string | null {
+	try {
+		const payload = token.split(".")[1];
+		if (!payload) return null;
+		const json = Buffer.from(payload, "base64").toString("utf8");
+		const obj = JSON.parse(json) as { sub?: string };
+		return obj.sub ?? null;
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
 
 setup("authenticate", async ({ page, request }) => {
 	const access_token = await acquireTestToken(request);
 	expect(access_token, "Failed to acquire e2e bearer token").toBeTruthy();
 
+	const userId = decodeUserId(access_token);
+	// Mark every known announcement read + toasted so spotlight/toast
+	// announcements never overlay the dashboard during journeys. Sourced
+	// from the real data file so future announcements are covered too.
+	const announcementIds = announcements.map((a) => a.id);
+	const announcementState = { readIds: announcementIds, toastedIds: announcementIds };
+
 	await page.addInitScript(
-		({ key, token }) => {
+		({ key, token, announcementsKey, state, uid }) => {
 			localStorage.setItem(key, token);
+			localStorage.setItem(announcementsKey, JSON.stringify(state));
+			if (uid) {
+				localStorage.setItem(`surfsense-tour-${uid}`, "true");
+			}
 		},
-		{ key: STORAGE_KEY, token: access_token }
+		{
+			key: STORAGE_KEY,
+			token: access_token,
+			announcementsKey: ANNOUNCEMENTS_KEY,
+			state: announcementState,
+			uid: userId,
+		}
 	);
 
 	// Use a public page so the init script can write localStorage without