diff --git a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
index 977494fd..d864d6c7 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ Singleton {
     onFrameModeChanged: saveSettings()
     property var connectedFrameBarStyleBackups: ({})
     onConnectedFrameBarStyleBackupsChanged: saveSettings()
+    property var connectedFrameModalDarkenBackup: null
+    onConnectedFrameModalDarkenBackupChanged: saveSettings()
     readonly property bool connectedFrameModeActive: frameEnabled && frameMode === "connected"
     onConnectedFrameModeActiveChanged: {
         if (_loading)
@@ -1602,12 +1604,15 @@ Singleton {
         };
     }
 
-    // Single entry point for connected-mode bar-style state.
-    //   active  → capture backups (if not yet) and sanitize bar configs
+    // Single entry point for connected-mode settings state.
     //   !active → restore backups
     function _reconcileConnectedFrameBarStyles() {
         if (!connectedFrameModeActive) {
             _restoreConnectedFrameBarStyleBackups();
+            if (connectedFrameModalDarkenBackup === true) {
+                connectedFrameModalDarkenBackup = null;
+                set("modalDarkenBackground", true);
+            }
             return;
         }
         if (!_hasConnectedFrameBarStyleBackups())
@@ -1617,6 +1622,11 @@ Singleton {
             barConfigs = result.configs;
             updateBarConfigs();
         }
+        // Force modalDarkenBackground off; capture backup if not already set
+        if (modalDarkenBackground) {
+            connectedFrameModalDarkenBackup = true;
+            set("modalDarkenBackground", false);
+        }
     }
 
     function detectAvailableIconThemes() {
diff --git a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
index 5cf50753..e5180bd2 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
+++ b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
@@ -446,6 +446,7 @@ var SPEC = {
     displayShowDisconnected: { def: false },
     displaySnapToEdge: { def: true },
     connectedFrameBarStyleBackups: { def: {} },
+    connectedFrameModalDarkenBackup: { def: null },
 
     barConfigs: {
         def: [{
diff --git a/quickshell/Modals/DankLauncherV2/DankLauncherV2ModalConnected.qml b/quickshell/Modals/DankLauncherV2/DankLauncherV2ModalConnected.qml
index cf986c6d..430714b3 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modals/DankLauncherV2/DankLauncherV2ModalConnected.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modals/DankLauncherV2/DankLauncherV2ModalConnected.qml
@@ -635,17 +635,8 @@ Item {
             id: backgroundDarken
             anchors.fill: parent
             color: "black"
-            opacity: launcherMotionVisible && SettingsData.modalDarkenBackground ? 0.5 : 0
-            visible: launcherMotionVisible || opacity > 0
-
-            Behavior on opacity {
-                enabled: root.animationsEnabled && (!Theme.isDirectionalEffect || Theme.isConnectedEffect)
-                NumberAnimation {
-                    easing.type: Easing.BezierSpline
-                    duration: Math.round(Theme.variantDuration(root.launcherAnimationDuration, launcherMotionVisible) * Theme.variantOpacityDurationScale)
-                    easing.bezierCurve: launcherMotionVisible ? root.launcherEnterCurve : root.launcherExitCurve
-                }
-            }
+            opacity: 0
+            visible: false
         }
 
         MouseArea {