diff --git a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
index d39a2198..cece823a 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import "settings/SettingsStore.js" as Store
 Singleton {
     id: root
 
-    readonly property int settingsConfigVersion: 9
+    readonly property int settingsConfigVersion: 10
 
     readonly property bool isGreeterMode: Quickshell.env("DMS_RUN_GREETER") === "1" || Quickshell.env("DMS_RUN_GREETER") === "true"
 
@@ -201,9 +201,9 @@ Singleton {
 
     property bool frameEnabled: false
     onFrameEnabledChanged: saveSettings()
-    property real frameThickness: 15
+    property real frameThickness: 16
     onFrameThicknessChanged: saveSettings()
-    property real frameRounding: 24
+    property real frameRounding: 23
     onFrameRoundingChanged: saveSettings()
     property string frameColor: ""
     onFrameColorChanged: saveSettings()
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ Singleton {
     onFrameSyncBarColorChanged: saveSettings()
     property var frameScreenPreferences: ["all"]
     onFrameScreenPreferencesChanged: saveSettings()
-    property real frameBarThickness: 48
+    property real frameBarThickness: 42
     onFrameBarThicknessChanged: saveSettings()
     property bool frameShowOnOverview: false
     onFrameShowOnOverviewChanged: saveSettings()
@@ -1974,6 +1974,14 @@ Singleton {
         return Quickshell.screens.filter(screen => isScreenInPreferences(screen, prefs));
     }
 
+    function getFrameScreensAlways() {
+        const prefs = frameScreenPreferences;
+        if (!prefs || prefs.length === 0 || prefs.includes("all")) {
+            return Quickshell.screens;
+        }
+        return Quickshell.screens.filter(s => prefs.includes(s.name));
+    }
+
     function getActiveBarEdgeForScreen(screen) {
         if (!screen) return "";
         for (var i = 0; i < barConfigs.length; i++) {
diff --git a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
index 90445f91..c0089600 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
+++ b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
@@ -550,8 +550,8 @@ var SPEC = {
     launcherPluginOrder: { def: [] },
 
     frameEnabled: { def: false },
-    frameThickness: { def: 15 },
-    frameRounding: { def: 24 },
+    frameThickness: { def: 16 },
+    frameRounding: { def: 23 },
     frameColor: { def: "" },
     frameOpacity: { def: 1.0 },
     frameSyncBarColor: { def: true },
diff --git a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsStore.js b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsStore.js
index ebedae83..d04e89fa 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsStore.js
+++ b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsStore.js
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ function migrateToVersion(obj, targetVersion) {
         console.info("Migrating settings from version", currentVersion, "to version 7");
 
         if (settings.frameEnabled === undefined) settings.frameEnabled = false;
-        if (settings.frameThickness === undefined) settings.frameThickness = 15;
-        if (settings.frameRounding === undefined) settings.frameRounding = 24;
+        if (settings.frameThickness === undefined) settings.frameThickness = 16;
+        if (settings.frameRounding === undefined) settings.frameRounding = 23;
         if (settings.frameColor === undefined) settings.frameColor = "#2a2a2a";
         if (settings.frameOpacity === undefined) settings.frameOpacity = 1.0;
         if (settings.frameSyncBarColor === undefined) settings.frameSyncBarColor = true;
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ function migrateToVersion(obj, targetVersion) {
     if (currentVersion < 8) {
         console.info("Migrating settings from version", currentVersion, "to version 8");
 
-        if (settings.frameBarThickness === undefined) settings.frameBarThickness = 48;
+        if (settings.frameBarThickness === undefined) settings.frameBarThickness = 42;
 
         settings.configVersion = 8;
     }
@@ -278,6 +278,11 @@ function migrateToVersion(obj, targetVersion) {
         settings.configVersion = 9;
     }
 
+    // v10 migration — Session 5
+    if (currentVersion < 10) {
+        settings.configVersion = 10;
+    }
+
     return settings;
 }
 
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/BarCanvas.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/BarCanvas.qml
index 08f2ac09..19539c4d 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/BarCanvas.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/BarCanvas.qml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Item {
     required property var axis
     required property var barConfig
 
+    visible: !SettingsData.frameEnabled
+
     anchors.fill: parent
 
     anchors.left: parent.left
@@ -38,7 +40,7 @@ Item {
 
     property real rt: {
         if (SettingsData.frameEnabled)
-            return 0;
+            return SettingsData.frameRounding;
         if (barConfig?.squareCorners ?? false)
             return 0;
         if (barWindow.hasMaximizedToplevel)
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarContent.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarContent.qml
index a826e7bd..be782e3b 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarContent.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DankBar/DankBarContent.qml
@@ -23,6 +23,31 @@ Item {
     readonly property real innerPadding: barConfig?.innerPadding ?? 4
     readonly property real outlineThickness: (barConfig?.widgetOutlineEnabled ?? false) ? (barConfig?.widgetOutlineThickness ?? 1) : 0
 
+    readonly property real _frameLeftInset: {
+        if (!SettingsData.frameEnabled || barWindow.isVertical) return 0
+        return barWindow.hasAdjacentLeftBar
+            ? SettingsData.frameBarThickness
+            : 0
+    }
+    readonly property real _frameRightInset: {
+        if (!SettingsData.frameEnabled || barWindow.isVertical) return 0
+        return barWindow.hasAdjacentRightBar
+            ? SettingsData.frameBarThickness
+            : 0
+    }
+    readonly property real _frameTopInset: {
+        if (!SettingsData.frameEnabled || !barWindow.isVertical) return 0
+        return barWindow.hasAdjacentTopBar
+            ? SettingsData.frameThickness
+            : 0
+    }
+    readonly property real _frameBottomInset: {
+        if (!SettingsData.frameEnabled || !barWindow.isVertical) return 0
+        return barWindow.hasAdjacentBottomBar
+            ? SettingsData.frameThickness
+            : 0
+    }
+
     property alias hLeftSection: hLeftSection
     property alias hCenterSection: hCenterSection
     property alias hRightSection: hRightSection
@@ -31,10 +56,14 @@ Item {
     property alias vRightSection: vRightSection
 
     anchors.fill: parent
-    anchors.leftMargin: Math.max(Theme.spacingXS, innerPadding * 0.8)
-    anchors.rightMargin: Math.max(Theme.spacingXS, innerPadding * 0.8)
-    anchors.topMargin: barWindow.isVertical ? (barWindow.hasAdjacentTopBar ? outlineThickness : Theme.spacingXS) : 0
-    anchors.bottomMargin: barWindow.isVertical ? (barWindow.hasAdjacentBottomBar ? outlineThickness : Theme.spacingXS) : 0
+    anchors.leftMargin:   Math.max(Theme.spacingXS, innerPadding * 0.8) + _frameLeftInset
+    anchors.rightMargin:  Math.max(Theme.spacingXS, innerPadding * 0.8) + _frameRightInset
+    anchors.topMargin:    (barWindow.isVertical
+        ? (barWindow.hasAdjacentTopBar ? outlineThickness : Theme.spacingXS)
+        : 0) + _frameTopInset
+    anchors.bottomMargin: (barWindow.isVertical
+        ? (barWindow.hasAdjacentBottomBar ? outlineThickness : Theme.spacingXS)
+        : 0) + _frameBottomInset
     clip: false
 
     property int componentMapRevision: 0
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/Frame.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/Frame.qml
index ab3febbc..2d82e3c1 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/Frame.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/Frame.qml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import qs.Common
 Variants {
     id: root
 
-    model: SettingsData.frameEnabled ? SettingsData.getFrameFilteredScreens() : []
+    model: SettingsData.getFrameScreensAlways()
 
     FrameInstance {
         required property ShellScreen modelData
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameBorder.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameBorder.qml
index 837b8008..0e88b9b4 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameBorder.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameBorder.qml
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ import qs.Common
 Item {
     id: root
 
-    required property var barEdges   // array of "top" | "bottom" | "left" | "right"
-
     anchors.fill: parent
 
+    required property var barEdges
+
     readonly property real _thickness:    SettingsData.frameThickness
     readonly property real _barThickness: SettingsData.frameBarThickness
     readonly property real _rounding:     SettingsData.frameRounding
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameExclusions.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameExclusions.qml
index 3051452c..326acfa0 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameExclusions.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameExclusions.qml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Scope {
     // Skips any edge where a bar already provides its own exclusiveZone.
 
     Loader {
-        active: !root.barEdges.includes("top")
+        active: SettingsData.frameEnabled && !root.barEdges.includes("top")
         sourceComponent: EdgeExclusion {
             screen:       root.screen
             anchorTop:    true
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Scope {
     }
 
     Loader {
-        active: !root.barEdges.includes("bottom")
+        active: SettingsData.frameEnabled && !root.barEdges.includes("bottom")
         sourceComponent: EdgeExclusion {
             screen:        root.screen
             anchorBottom:  true
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Scope {
     }
 
     Loader {
-        active: !root.barEdges.includes("left")
+        active: SettingsData.frameEnabled && !root.barEdges.includes("left")
         sourceComponent: EdgeExclusion {
             screen:        root.screen
             anchorLeft:    true
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Scope {
     }
 
     Loader {
-        active: !root.barEdges.includes("right")
+        active: SettingsData.frameEnabled && !root.barEdges.includes("right")
         sourceComponent: EdgeExclusion {
             screen:        root.screen
             anchorRight:   true
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameWindow.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameWindow.qml
index a6e15c2f..ff231371 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameWindow.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Frame/FrameWindow.qml
@@ -28,9 +28,7 @@ PanelWindow {
 
     FrameBorder {
         anchors.fill: parent
-        barEdges: {
-            SettingsData.barConfigs; // force re-eval when bar configs change
-            return SettingsData.getActiveBarEdgesForScreen(win.screen);
-        }
+        visible: SettingsData.frameEnabled
+        barEdges: { SettingsData.barConfigs; return SettingsData.getActiveBarEdgesForScreen(win.screen); }
     }
 }
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Settings/DankBarTab.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Settings/DankBarTab.qml
index bba6dd83..df0e1e4c 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Settings/DankBarTab.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Settings/DankBarTab.qml
@@ -1036,6 +1036,8 @@ Item {
 
                 SettingsSliderRow {
                     id: barTransparencySlider
+                    enabled: !SettingsData.frameEnabled
+                    opacity: SettingsData.frameEnabled ? 0.5 : 1.0
                     text: I18n.tr("Bar Transparency")
                     value: (selectedBarConfig?.transparency ?? 1.0) * 100
                     minimum: 0
@@ -1077,6 +1079,35 @@ Item {
                         restoreMode: Binding.RestoreBinding
                     }
                 }
+
+                Item {
+                    visible: SettingsData.frameEnabled
+                    width: parent.width
+                    implicitHeight: transparencyFrameNote.implicitHeight + Theme.spacingS * 2
+
+                    Row {
+                        id: transparencyFrameNote
+                        x: Theme.spacingM
+                        width: parent.width - Theme.spacingM * 2
+                        anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+                        spacing: Theme.spacingS
+
+                        DankIcon {
+                            name: "frame_source"
+                            size: Theme.fontSizeMedium
+                            color: Theme.primary
+                            anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+                        }
+
+                        StyledText {
+                            text: I18n.tr("Opacity is controlled by Frame Border Opacity in Frame settings")
+                            font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeSmall
+                            color: Theme.surfaceVariantText
+                            wrapMode: Text.WordWrap
+                            width: parent.width - Theme.fontSizeMedium - Theme.spacingS
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
             }
 
             SettingsCard {
@@ -1330,8 +1361,6 @@ Item {
 
                 SettingsToggleRow {
                     text: I18n.tr("No Background")
-                    enabled: !SettingsData.frameEnabled
-                    opacity: SettingsData.frameEnabled ? 0.5 : 1.0
                     checked: selectedBarConfig?.noBackground ?? false
                     onToggled: checked => SettingsData.updateBarConfig(selectedBarId, {
                             noBackground: checked
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/Settings/FrameTab.qml b/quickshell/Modules/Settings/FrameTab.qml
index 212cf182..58396c15 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/Settings/FrameTab.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/Settings/FrameTab.qml
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Item {
                     minimum: 0
                     maximum: 100
                     step: 1
-                    defaultValue: 24
+                    defaultValue: 23
                     value: SettingsData.frameRounding
                     onSliderDragFinished: v => SettingsData.set("frameRounding", v)
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Item {
                     minimum: 2
                     maximum: 100
                     step: 1
-                    defaultValue: 15
+                    defaultValue: 16
                     value: SettingsData.frameThickness
                     onSliderDragFinished: v => SettingsData.set("frameThickness", v)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ Item {
                     minimum: 24
                     maximum: 100
                     step: 1
-                    defaultValue: 48
+                    defaultValue: 42
                     value: SettingsData.frameBarThickness
                     onSliderDragFinished: v => SettingsData.set("frameBarThickness", v)
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Item {
                     id: opacitySlider
                     settingKey: "frameOpacity"
                     tags: ["frame", "border", "opacity", "transparency"]
-                    text: I18n.tr("Border opacity")
+                    text: I18n.tr("Frame Opacity")
                     unit: "%"
                     minimum: 0
                     maximum: 100