[Help]: defaultInteraction: false – auto scroll still stops on drag?

[richgcook]

Summary

When using the Auto Scroll plugin with defaultInteraction: false, the auto scroll still stops when the user drags the carousel. I wanted to check what the intended...

If applicable, which variants of Embla Carousel are relevant to this question?

• embla-carousel (Core)
• embla-carousel-react
• embla-carousel-vue
• embla-carousel-svelte
• embla-carousel-autoplay
• embla-carousel-auto-scroll
• embla-carousel-solid
• embla-carousel-auto-height
• embla-carousel-class-names
• embla-carousel-fade
• embla-carousel-website (Documentation)

Additional information

const plugins = computed(() => {
	const basePlugins = [
		ClassNames(),
  	]
	if (props.autoScroll) {
		basePlugins.push(AutoScroll({
			speed: 1,
			defaultInteraction: false,
		}))
	}
	return basePlugins
})

const [viewport, embla] = emblaCarouselVue({
	loop: props.autoScroll ? true : false,
	align: 'start',
	dragFree: true,
}, plugins.value)

### CodeSandbox example

_No response_

[krotname]

defaultInteraction: false only changes what the Auto Scroll plugin does on interaction. It does not make Embla's normal drag interaction invisible to the carousel.

In the Auto Scroll source, defaultInteraction: true maps interaction events to onDefaultInteraction(), which stops on pointerdown / slidefocus. With defaultInteraction: false, the plugin uses onCustomInteraction() instead. That custom handler only records isPointerDown / isMouseOver and emits autoscroll:interaction; it does not automatically call play() again after the drag.

So if you want auto-scroll to continue after a drag, you need to restart it yourself after the drag settles, for example by calling the plugin API:

emblaApi.plugins().autoScroll?.play(0)

Do that from your pointerup, settle, or autoscroll:interaction handling, depending on the UX you want. If the intended UX is "user drag must never interrupt movement at all", then defaultInteraction: false alone is not enough, because the core carousel drag behavior is still active.