diff --git a/bin/omarchy-hyprland-window-transparency-toggle b/bin/omarchy-hyprland-window-transparency-toggle
index 1235969d..6f2a7916 100755
--- a/bin/omarchy-hyprland-window-transparency-toggle
+++ b/bin/omarchy-hyprland-window-transparency-toggle
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 # omarchy:summary=Toggles transparency for the currently focused window.
 
-addr=$(hyprctl activewindow -j | jq -r '.address')
-hyprctl dispatch "hl.dsp.window.set_prop({ window = \"address:$addr\", prop = \"opaque\", value = \"toggle\" })" >/dev/null 2>&1 || \
-  hyprctl dispatch setprop "address:$addr" opaque toggle
+set -euo pipefail
+
+addr=$(hyprctl activewindow -j | jq -r '.address // empty')
+[[ -n $addr ]] || exit 0
+
+window="address:$addr"
+opacity=$(hyprctl getprop "$window" opacity)
+inactive_opacity=$(hyprctl getprop "$window" opacity_inactive)
+
+if [[ $opacity == "1" && $inactive_opacity == "1" ]]; then
+  hyprctl dispatch "hl.dsp.window.tag({ window = \"$window\", tag = \"+transparent\" })"
+  hyprctl dispatch "hl.dsp.window.set_prop({ window = \"$window\", prop = \"opaque\", value = \"false\" })"
+else
+  hyprctl dispatch "hl.dsp.window.set_prop({ window = \"$window\", prop = \"opaque\", value = \"toggle\" })"
+fi
diff --git a/config/hypr/looknfeel.lua b/config/hypr/looknfeel.lua
index a86d053e..f689e049 100644
--- a/config/hypr/looknfeel.lua
+++ b/config/hypr/looknfeel.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 -- Change the default Omarchy look'n'feel.
 
+-- Opt another application in to Omarchy's standard transparency.
+-- Find its class with: hyprctl clients
+-- o.transparent_window("my-app")
+-- o.transparent_window("my-app", "0.9 0.85") -- Custom active/inactive opacity.
+
 -- https://wiki.hypr.land/Configuring/Basics/Variables/#general
 -- hl.config({
 --   general = {
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/browser.lua b/default/hypr/apps/browser.lua
index 22df5577..613ba64e 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/browser.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/browser.lua
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 -- Browser tags and styling.
 o.window("((google-)?[cC]hrom(e|ium)|[bB]rave-browser|[mM]icrosoft-edge|Vivaldi-stable|helium)", { tag = "+chromium-based-browser" })
 o.window("([fF]irefox|zen|librewolf)", { tag = "+firefox-based-browser" })
-o.window({ tag = "chromium-based-browser" }, { tag = "-default-opacity", tile = true, opacity = "1.0 0.985" })
-o.window({ tag = "firefox-based-browser" }, { tag = "-default-opacity", opacity = "1.0 0.985" })
+o.window({ tag = "chromium-based-browser" }, { tile = true })
 
--- Video apps: remove chromium browser tag so they don't get opacity applied.
+-- Video apps: remove the chromium browser tag so they can float.
 o.window("(^.+-youtube\\.com__.*$|^.+-app\\.zoom\\.us__wc_home.*$)", { tag = "-chromium-based-browser" })
-o.window("(^.+-youtube\\.com__.*$|^.+-app\\.zoom\\.us__wc_home.*$)", { tag = "-default-opacity" })
 
 -- Hide screen sharing notification windows.
 o.window({ title = ".*is sharing.*" }, { workspace = "special silent" })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/davinci-resolve.lua b/default/hypr/apps/davinci-resolve.lua
index 734d2b8f..f6301ed9 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/davinci-resolve.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/davinci-resolve.lua
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
--- DaVinci Resolve window focus handling. Kept fully opaque: the default
--- translucency distorts colour-critical grading work.
+-- DaVinci Resolve window focus handling.
 o.window(".*[Rr]esolve.*", {
   float = true,
   stay_focused = true,
   -- Prevent modal dialog pointer warps when focus follows the mouse.
   no_follow_mouse = true,
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
-  opacity = "1 1",
 })
 
 o.window({ class = ".*[Rr]esolve.*", title = "^DaVinci Resolve( Studio)? - .+$" }, { fullscreen = true })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/hermes.lua b/default/hypr/apps/hermes.lua
index a7ad307f..09b0c8bc 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/hermes.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/hermes.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 -- Hermes Desktop's frameless HUD manages its own geometry.
 o.window({ class = "^Hermes$", title = "^Hermes HUD$" }, {
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
   float = true,
   border_size = 0,
-  opacity = "1 1",
 })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/localsend.lua b/default/hypr/apps/localsend.lua
index 6e7ec132..6bd5fb14 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/localsend.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/localsend.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 -- Float LocalSend and fzf file picker.
-o.window("(Share|localsend)", { float = true, center = true })
-o.window("localsend", { size = { 1100, 700 } })
+local localsend = "(org\\.localsend\\.)?localsend(_app)?"
+o.window("Share", { float = true, center = true })
+o.window(localsend, { float = true, center = true, size = { 1100, 700 } })
+o.transparent_window(localsend)
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/pip.lua b/default/hypr/apps/pip.lua
index 791152da..c6b390de 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/pip.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/pip.lua
@@ -1,24 +1,20 @@
 -- Picture-in-picture overlays.
 o.window({ title = "(Picture.?in.?[Pp]icture)" }, { tag = "+pip" })
 o.window({ tag = "pip" }, {
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
   float = true,
   pin = true,
   size = { 600, 338 },
   keep_aspect_ratio = true,
   border_size = 0,
-  opacity = "1 1",
   move = { "(monitor_w-window_w-40)", "(monitor_h*0.04)" },
 })
 
 -- Google Meet PiP uses the meeting title instead of "Picture-in-Picture".
 o.window({ tag = "chromium-based-browser", title = "^Meet - .+" }, {
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
   float = true,
   pin = true,
   size = { 600, 338 },
   keep_aspect_ratio = true,
   border_size = 0,
-  opacity = "1 1",
   move = { "(monitor_w-window_w-40)", "(monitor_h-window_h-40)" },
 })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/qemu.lua b/default/hypr/apps/qemu.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index c919bcec..00000000
--- a/default/hypr/apps/qemu.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-o.window("qemu", { tag = "-default-opacity", opacity = "1 1" })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.lua b/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.lua
index 0bc8a218..2635652e 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 o.window("com.libretro.RetroArch", {
   fullscreen = true,
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
-  opacity = "1 1",
   idle_inhibit = "fullscreen",
 })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/steam.lua b/default/hypr/apps/steam.lua
index 152aff64..3ed8d0bc 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/steam.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/steam.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 o.window("steam", { float = true, idle_inhibit = "fullscreen" })
 o.window({ class = "steam", title = "Steam" }, { center = true, size = { 1100, 700 } })
-o.window("steam.*", { tag = "-default-opacity", opacity = "1 1" })
 o.window({ class = "steam", title = "Friends List" }, { size = { 460, 800 } })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/system.lua b/default/hypr/apps/system.lua
index 043fe12c..6a5385e1 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/system.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/system.lua
@@ -37,20 +37,6 @@ o.window("org.omarchy.screensaver", { animation = "slide" })
 -- where its fullscreen rule cannot take fullscreen from a window.
 o.window("org.omarchy.screensaver", { workspace = "special:screensaver silent" })
 
--- No transparency on media windows.
-o.window(
-  "^(zoom|vlc|mpv|org.kde.kdenlive|com.obsproject.Studio|com.github.PintaProject.Pinta|imv|org.gnome.NautilusPreviewer)$",
-  {
-    tag = "-default-opacity",
-  }
-)
-o.window(
-  "^(zoom|vlc|mpv|org.kde.kdenlive|com.obsproject.Studio|com.github.PintaProject.Pinta|imv|org.gnome.NautilusPreviewer)$",
-  {
-    opacity = "1 1",
-  }
-)
-
 -- Popped window rounding.
 o.window({ tag = "pop" }, { rounding = 8 })
 
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/webcam-overlay.lua b/default/hypr/apps/webcam-overlay.lua
index a8312e5f..4d4e5332 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/webcam-overlay.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/webcam-overlay.lua
@@ -16,10 +16,8 @@ o.window("^WebcamOverlay-large$", {
 -- The dedicated app id keeps this out of mpv's generic centered floating rules,
 -- so the camera appears at its final corner position.
 o.window({ class = "^WebcamOverlay-(small|medium|large)$", title = "^WebcamOverlay$" }, {
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
   float = true,
   pin = true,
   no_initial_focus = true,
   no_dim = true,
-  opacity = "1 1",
 })
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/windows-vm.lua b/default/hypr/apps/windows-vm.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index a31bf882..00000000
--- a/default/hypr/apps/windows-vm.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
--- Keep the Windows VM display opaque instead of applying the default window opacity.
-o.window({ class = "^xfreerdp$", title = "^Windows VM - Omarchy$" }, {
-  tag = "-default-opacity",
-  opacity = "1 1",
-})
diff --git a/default/hypr/bindings/utilities.lua b/default/hypr/bindings/utilities.lua
index 7aa23a4a..6ae4ef50 100644
--- a/default/hypr/bindings/utilities.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/bindings/utilities.lua
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ o.bind("XF86Calculator", "Calculator", "omacalc")
 o.bind_toggle("SUPER + SHIFT + SPACE", "Toggle top bar", "bar")
 o.bind("SUPER + CTRL + SPACE", "Background switcher", { menu = "background" })
 o.bind("SUPER + SHIFT + CTRL + SPACE", "Theme menu", { menu = "theme" })
-o.bind("SUPER + BACKSPACE", "Toggle window transparency", "omarchy-hyprland-window-transparency-toggle")
+o.bind("SUPER + BACKSPACE", "Toggle transparency on a window", "omarchy-hyprland-window-transparency-toggle")
 o.bind("SUPER + SHIFT + BACKSPACE", "Toggle window gaps", "omarchy-hyprland-window-gaps-toggle")
 o.bind("SUPER + CTRL + BACKSPACE", "Toggle single-window square aspect", "omarchy-hyprland-window-single-square-aspect-toggle")
 o.bind_toggle("SUPER + CTRL + ALT + F", "Toggle full screen desktop", "fullscreen-desktop")
diff --git a/default/hypr/helpers.lua b/default/hypr/helpers.lua
index 05f8f91e..64e13c75 100644
--- a/default/hypr/helpers.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/helpers.lua
@@ -223,3 +223,8 @@ function o.window(match, rules)
 
   hl.window_rule(rules)
 end
+
+-- Opt a window in to Omarchy's standard active/inactive transparency.
+function o.transparent_window(match, opacity)
+  o.window(match, { opacity = opacity or "0.985 0.96" })
+end
diff --git a/default/hypr/windows.lua b/default/hypr/windows.lua
index c08487dd..88040a9a 100644
--- a/default/hypr/windows.lua
+++ b/default/hypr/windows.lua
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 
 o.window(".*", { suppress_event = "maximize" })
 
--- Tag all windows for default opacity (apps can override with -default-opacity tag).
-o.window(".*", { tag = "+default-opacity" })
-
 -- Fix some dragging issues with XWayland.
 o.window(
   {
@@ -18,8 +15,12 @@ o.window(
   { no_focus = true }
 )
 
--- App-specific tweaks (may remove default-opacity tag).
+-- App-specific tweaks and terminal tags.
 require("default.hypr.apps")
 
--- Apply default opacity after apps have had a chance to opt out.
-o.window({ tag = "default-opacity" }, { opacity = "0.985 0.96" })
+-- Terminals (including TUIs) and these desktop apps opt in to transparency.
+o.transparent_window({ tag = "terminal" })
+o.transparent_window("(omawrite|1[pP]assword|com\\.onepassword\\.OnePassword|org\\.gnome\\.Nautilus)")
+
+-- The transparency hotkey opts otherwise opaque windows in with this tag.
+o.transparent_window({ tag = "transparent" })
diff --git a/migrations/1791123731.sh b/migrations/1791123731.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..32a739c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/1791123731.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+echo "Add an example for opting applications in to transparency"
+
+looknfeel="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/hypr/looknfeel.lua"
+if [[ -f $looknfeel ]] && ! rg -Fq 'o.transparent_window("my-app")' "$looknfeel"; then
+  cat >>"$looknfeel" <<'LUA'
+
+-- Opt another application in to Omarchy's standard transparency.
+-- Find its class with: hyprctl clients
+-- o.transparent_window("my-app")
+-- o.transparent_window("my-app", "0.9 0.85") -- Custom active/inactive opacity.
+LUA
+fi
diff --git a/test/shell.d/windows-vm-test.sh b/test/shell.d/windows-vm-test.sh
index e2a04dae..e9d200c5 100644
--- a/test/shell.d/windows-vm-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/windows-vm-test.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ set -euo pipefail
 source "$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)/base-test.sh"
 
 windows_vm_command="$ROOT/bin/omarchy-windows-vm"
-windows_vm_rules="$ROOT/default/hypr/apps/windows-vm.lua"
 
 rg -q '^    restart: "no"$' "$windows_vm_command" ||
   fail "Windows VM uses manual startup by default"
@@ -16,14 +15,7 @@ if rg -q '^    restart: unless-stopped$' "$windows_vm_command"; then
 fi
 pass "Windows VM does not restart automatically at boot"
 
-# Tolerate either shell quoting of the argument -- what must not drift is the
-# title itself, since the Hyprland rule below matches on it.
+# Tolerate either shell quoting of the argument.
 rg -q 'title:"?Windows VM - Omarchy"' "$windows_vm_command" ||
   fail "Windows VM launches FreeRDP with its expected title"
-rg -q 'class = "\^xfreerdp\$", title = "\^Windows VM - Omarchy\$"' "$windows_vm_rules" ||
-  fail "Windows VM opacity rule targets its FreeRDP window"
-rg -q 'tag = "-default-opacity"' "$windows_vm_rules" ||
-  fail "Windows VM opts out of default opacity"
-rg -q 'opacity = "1 1"' "$windows_vm_rules" ||
-  fail "Windows VM stays fully opaque"
-pass "Windows VM stays fully opaque"
+pass "Windows VM launches FreeRDP with its expected title"
diff --git a/themes/kanagawa/hyprland.lua b/themes/kanagawa/hyprland.lua
index d0f190fc..e6377650 100644
--- a/themes/kanagawa/hyprland.lua
+++ b/themes/kanagawa/hyprland.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ hl.config({
 })
 
 -- Kanagawa backdrop is too strong for default opacity.
-o.window({ tag = "terminal" }, { opacity = "0.99 0.985" })
+o.transparent_window({ tag = "terminal" }, "0.99 0.985")