diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/browser.conf b/default/hypr/apps/browser.conf
index 2b44576b..f7dca154 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/browser.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/browser.conf
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 # Browser types
 windowrule = tag +chromium-based-browser, match:class ((google-)?[cC]hrom(e|ium)|[bB]rave-browser|[mM]icrosoft-edge|Vivaldi-stable|helium)
 windowrule = tag +firefox-based-browser, match:class ([fF]irefox|zen|librewolf)
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:tag chromium-based-browser
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:tag firefox-based-browser
 
 # Force chromium-based browsers into a tile to deal with --app bug
 windowrule = tile on, match:tag chromium-based-browser
 
 # Only a subtle opacity change, but not for video sites
-windowrule = opacity 1 0.97, match:tag chromium-based-browser
-windowrule = opacity 1 0.97, match:tag firefox-based-browser
+windowrule = opacity 1.0 0.97, match:tag chromium-based-browser
+windowrule = opacity 1.0 0.97, match:tag firefox-based-browser
 
 # Some video sites should never have opacity applied to them
 windowrule = opacity 1.0 1.0, match:initial_title ((?i)(?:[a-z0-9-]+\.)*youtube\.com_/|app\.zoom\.us_/wc/home)
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/pip.conf b/default/hypr/apps/pip.conf
index e5b45d56..417edc91 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/pip.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/pip.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Picture-in-picture overlays
 windowrule = tag +pip, match:title (Picture.?in.?[Pp]icture)
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:tag pip
 windowrule = float on, match:tag pip
 windowrule = pin on, match:tag pip
 windowrule = size 600 338, match:tag pip
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/qemu.conf b/default/hypr/apps/qemu.conf
index acc32a4a..6dcce0e0 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/qemu.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/qemu.conf
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:class qemu
 windowrule = opacity 1 1, match:class qemu
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.conf b/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.conf
index f3b046f9..556f0fd8 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/retroarch.conf
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 windowrule = fullscreen on, match:class com.libretro.RetroArch
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:class com.libretro.RetroArch
 windowrule = opacity 1 1, match:class com.libretro.RetroArch
 windowrule = idle_inhibit fullscreen, match:class com.libretro.RetroArch
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/steam.conf b/default/hypr/apps/steam.conf
index f368091f..a42a6e68 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/steam.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/steam.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Float Steam
 windowrule = float on, match:class steam
 windowrule = center on, match:class steam, match:title Steam
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:class steam.*
 windowrule = opacity 1 1, match:class steam.*
 windowrule = size 1100 700, match:class steam, match:title Steam
 windowrule = size 460 800, match:class steam, match:title Friends List
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/system.conf b/default/hypr/apps/system.conf
index ee6c6b86..702388f2 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/system.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/system.conf
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ windowrule = fullscreen on, match:class org.omarchy.screensaver
 windowrule = float on, match:class org.omarchy.screensaver
 
 # No transparency on media windows
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:class ^(zoom|vlc|mpv|org.kde.kdenlive|com.obsproject.Studio|com.github.PintaProject.Pinta|imv|org.gnome.NautilusPreviewer)$
 windowrule = opacity 1 1, match:class ^(zoom|vlc|mpv|org.kde.kdenlive|com.obsproject.Studio|com.github.PintaProject.Pinta|imv|org.gnome.NautilusPreviewer)$
 
 # Popped window rounding
diff --git a/default/hypr/apps/terminals.conf b/default/hypr/apps/terminals.conf
index 2bcf0eb6..ead08dde 100644
--- a/default/hypr/apps/terminals.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/apps/terminals.conf
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 # Define terminal tag to style them uniformly
 windowrule = tag +terminal, match:class (Alacritty|kitty|com.mitchellh.ghostty)
+windowrule = tag -default-opacity, match:tag terminal
+windowrule = opacity 0.97 0.9, match:tag terminal
diff --git a/default/hypr/windows.conf b/default/hypr/windows.conf
index 5d1afb76..67a9a6a9 100644
--- a/default/hypr/windows.conf
+++ b/default/hypr/windows.conf
@@ -2,11 +2,14 @@
 # Hyprland 0.53+ syntax
 windowrule = suppress_event maximize, match:class .*
 
-# Just dash of opacity by default
-windowrule = opacity 0.97 0.9, match:class .*
+# Tag all windows for default opacity (apps can override with -default-opacity tag)
+windowrule = tag +default-opacity, match:class .*
 
 # Fix some dragging issues with XWayland
 windowrule = no_focus on, match:class ^$, match:title ^$, match:xwayland 1, match:float 1, match:fullscreen 0, match:pin 0
 
-# App-specific tweaks
+# App-specific tweaks (may remove default-opacity tag)
 source = ~/.local/share/omarchy/default/hypr/apps.conf
+
+# Apply default opacity after apps have had a chance to opt out
+windowrule = opacity 0.97 0.9, match:tag default-opacity