diff --git a/packages/menu/src/Menu.ts b/packages/menu/src/Menu.ts
index 28cbfb6f74..62910d9046 100644
--- a/packages/menu/src/Menu.ts
+++ b/packages/menu/src/Menu.ts
@@ -103,30 +103,30 @@ export class Menu extends SizedMixin(SpectrumElement, { noDefaultSize: true }) {
 
     /**
      * Minimum vertical movement (in pixels) required to trigger scrolling detection.
-     * 
+     *
      * This threshold is consistent with other components in the design system:
      * - Card component uses 10px for click vs. drag detection
      * - Menu component uses 10px for scroll vs. selection detection
-     * 
+     *
      * The 10px threshold is carefully chosen to:
      * - Allow for natural finger tremor and accidental touches
      * - Distinguish between intentional scroll gestures and taps
      * - Provide consistent behavior across the platform
-     * 
+     *
      * @see {@link packages/card/src/Card.ts} for similar threshold usage
      */
     private scrollThreshold = 10; // pixels
 
     /**
      * Maximum time (in milliseconds) for a movement to be considered scrolling.
-     * 
+     *
      * This threshold is consistent with other timing values in the design system:
      * - Longpress duration: 300ms (ActionButton, LongpressController)
      * - Scroll detection: 300ms (Menu component)
-     * 
+     *
      * Quick movements within this timeframe are likely intentional scrolls,
      * while slower movements are more likely taps or selections.
-     * 
+     *
      * @see {@link packages/action-button/src/ActionButton.ts} for longpress duration
      * @see {@link packages/overlay/src/LongpressController.ts} for longpress duration
      */
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ export class Menu extends SizedMixin(SpectrumElement, { noDefaultSize: true }) {
     public valueSeparator = ',';
 
     /**
-     * selected items values as string
+     * Updating comment for test
      */
     @property({ attribute: false })
     public get selected(): string[] {
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ export class Menu extends SizedMixin(SpectrumElement, { noDefaultSize: true }) {
      * Resets the scrolling state after a short delay (100ms) to allow for
      * any final touch events to be processed. This delay prevents immediate
      * state changes that could interfere with the selection logic.
-     * 
+     *
      * The 100ms delay is consistent with the design system's approach to
      * touch event handling and ensures that any final touch events or
      * gesture recognition can complete before the scrolling state is reset.
diff --git a/packages/menu/src/MenuItem.ts b/packages/menu/src/MenuItem.ts
index 75de1e0de3..4450c23ef3 100644
--- a/packages/menu/src/MenuItem.ts
+++ b/packages/menu/src/MenuItem.ts
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@ export class MenuItem extends LikeAnchor(
         return this._value || this.itemText;
     }
 
+    private _lastPointerType?: string;
+
     public set value(value: string) {
         if (value === this._value) {
             return;
@@ -457,25 +459,15 @@ export class MenuItem extends LikeAnchor(
         }
     }
 
-    private handlePointerdown(event: PointerEvent): void {
-        if (event.target === this && this.hasSubmenu && this.open) {
-            this.addEventListener('focus', this.handleSubmenuFocus, {
-                once: true,
-            });
-            this.overlayElement.addEventListener(
-                'beforetoggle',
-                this.handleBeforetoggle
-            );
-        }
-    }
-
     protected override firstUpdated(changes: PropertyValues): void {
         super.firstUpdated(changes);
         this.setAttribute('tabindex', '-1');
         this.addEventListener('keydown', this.handleKeydown);
         this.addEventListener('mouseover', this.handleMouseover);
-        this.addEventListener('pointerdown', this.handlePointerdown);
-        this.addEventListener('pointerenter', this.closeOverlaysForRoot);
+        // Register pointerenter/leave for ALL menu items (not just those with submenus)
+        // so items without submenus can close sibling submenus when hovered
+        this.addEventListener('pointerenter', this.handlePointerenter);
+        this.addEventListener('pointerleave', this.handlePointerleave);
         if (!this.hasAttribute('id')) {
             this.id = `sp-menu-item-${randomID()}`;
         }
@@ -575,6 +567,7 @@ export class MenuItem extends LikeAnchor(
 
         return false;
     }
+
     /**
      * forward key info from keydown event to parent menu
      */
@@ -594,11 +587,6 @@ export class MenuItem extends LikeAnchor(
         }
     };
 
-    protected closeOverlaysForRoot(): void {
-        if (this.open) return;
-        this.menuData.parentMenu?.closeDescendentOverlays();
-    }
-
     protected handleFocus(event: FocusEvent): void {
         const { target } = event;
         if (target === this) {
@@ -613,48 +601,64 @@ export class MenuItem extends LikeAnchor(
         }
     }
 
-    protected handleSubmenuClick(event: Event): void {
+    protected handleSubmenuTriggerClick(event: Event): void {
         if (event.composedPath().includes(this.overlayElement)) {
             return;
         }
-        this.openOverlay(true);
-    }
 
-    protected handleSubmenuFocus(): void {
-        requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-            // Wait till after `closeDescendentOverlays` has happened in Menu
-            // to reopen (keep open) the direct descendent of this Menu Item
-            this.overlayElement.open = this.open;
-            this.focused = false;
-        });
+        // If submenu is already open, toggle it closed
+        if (this.open && this._lastPointerType === 'touch') {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            event.stopPropagation(); // Don't let parent menu handle this
+            this.open = false;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // All: open if closed
+        if (!this.open) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            event.stopImmediatePropagation();
+            this.openOverlay(true);
+        }
     }
 
-    protected handleBeforetoggle = (event: Event): void => {
-        if ((event as Event & { newState: string }).newState === 'closed') {
-            this.open = true;
-            this.overlayElement.manuallyKeepOpen();
-            this.overlayElement.removeEventListener(
-                'beforetoggle',
-                this.handleBeforetoggle
-            );
+    protected handlePointerenter(event: PointerEvent): void {
+        this._lastPointerType = event.pointerType; // Track pointer type
+
+        // For touch: don't handle pointerenter, let click handle it
+        if (event.pointerType === 'touch') {
+            return;
         }
-    };
 
-    protected handlePointerenter(): void {
+        // Close sibling submenus before opening this one
+        this.menuData.parentMenu?.closeDescendentOverlays();
+
         if (this.leaveTimeout) {
             clearTimeout(this.leaveTimeout);
             delete this.leaveTimeout;
             this.recentlyLeftChild = false;
             return;
         }
-        this.focus();
+
+        // Only focus items with submenus on hover (to show they're interactive)
+        // Regular items should not show focus styling on hover, only on keyboard navigation
+        if (this.hasSubmenu) {
+            this.focus();
+        }
         this.openOverlay();
     }
 
     protected leaveTimeout?: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
     protected recentlyLeftChild = false;
 
-    protected handlePointerleave(): void {
+    protected handlePointerleave(event: PointerEvent): void {
+        this._lastPointerType = event.pointerType; // Update on leave too
+
+        // For touch: don't handle pointerleave, let click handle it
+        if (event.pointerType === 'touch') {
+            return;
+        }
+
         this._closedViaPointer = true;
         if (this.open && !this.recentlyLeftChild) {
             this.leaveTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
@@ -782,17 +786,7 @@ export class MenuItem extends LikeAnchor(
                 const options = { signal: this.abortControllerSubmenu.signal };
                 this.addEventListener(
                     'click',
-                    this.handleSubmenuClick,
-                    options
-                );
-                this.addEventListener(
-                    'pointerenter',
-                    this.handlePointerenter,
-                    options
-                );
-                this.addEventListener(
-                    'pointerleave',
-                    this.handlePointerleave,
+                    this.handleSubmenuTriggerClick,
                     options
                 );
                 this.addEventListener(