diff --git a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
index 04384e48..58a7597e 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Common/SettingsData.qml
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ Singleton {
     property bool frameLauncherArcExtender: false
     onFrameLauncherArcExtenderChanged: saveSettings()
     readonly property string frameModalEmergeSide: frameLauncherEmergeSide === "top" ? "bottom" : "top"
-    property string frameMode: "separate"
+    property string frameMode: "connected"
     onFrameModeChanged: saveSettings()
     property var connectedFrameBarStyleBackups: ({})
     onConnectedFrameBarStyleBackupsChanged: saveSettings()
diff --git a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
index ce00dabf..a55c3e4b 100644
--- a/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
+++ b/quickshell/Common/settings/SettingsSpec.js
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ var SPEC = {
     frameCloseGaps: { def: true },
     frameLauncherEmergeSide: { def: "bottom" },
     frameLauncherArcExtender: { def: false },
-    frameMode: { def: "separate" }
+    frameMode: { def: "connected" }
 };
 
 function getValidKeys() {