diff --git a/src/core/config.rs b/src/core/config.rs
index 32e2fe79..700f3b94 100644
--- a/src/core/config.rs
+++ b/src/core/config.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub window_opacity: Option<f32>,
     /// Global window-blur override. `None` follows the active theme's `blur`.
     pub window_blur: Option<bool>,
+    /// Fade unfocused panes in a split tab so the focused terminal reads as
+    /// foreground. On by default; when off every pane renders at full opacity
+    /// and only focus (cursor, etc.) distinguishes the active one.
+    #[serde(default = "default_true")]
+    pub dim_inactive_panes: bool,
     /// Optional keybinding overrides: action name (e.g. "NewTab") → keystroke
     /// (e.g. "secondary-t", which is ⌘ on macOS and Ctrl elsewhere). Unknown
     /// actions and unparseable keystrokes are ignored (with a warning) so a bad
@@ -596,6 +601,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             theme_preset_dark: "dark".to_string(),
             window_opacity: None,
             window_blur: None,
+            dim_inactive_panes: true,
             keybindings: HashMap::new(),
             keybinding_preset: default_preset(),
             prefix: default_prefix(),
diff --git a/src/ui/app.rs b/src/ui/app.rs
index d5b06207..b2181f7d 100644
--- a/src/ui/app.rs
+++ b/src/ui/app.rs
@@ -2506,6 +2506,12 @@ impl Tty7App {
         self.update_config(cx, |cfg| cfg.check_for_updates = on);
     }
 
+    /// Toggle inactive-pane dimming. Applies on the next render — the pane tree
+    /// reads the flag from the `Config` global each frame.
+    pub(crate) fn set_dim_inactive_panes(&mut self, on: bool, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
+        self.update_config(cx, |cfg| cfg.dim_inactive_panes = on);
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn set_cursor_blink(&mut self, on: bool, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
         self.update_config(cx, |cfg| cfg.cursor_blink = on);
         // Turning blink off mid-cycle could leave the cursor in its hidden phase;
diff --git a/src/ui/pane.rs b/src/ui/pane.rs
index 9151b5a5..5f658295 100644
--- a/src/ui/pane.rs
+++ b/src/ui/pane.rs
@@ -542,8 +542,15 @@ impl Pane<Entity<TerminalView>> {
                     // (terminal glyphs + cell fills), unlike a background-tinted
                     // scrim which is near-invisible on a light theme (white on
                     // white). Applied to the container, so a click still lands on
-                    // the terminal and focuses it.
-                    .when(show_focus && !focused, |d| d.opacity(0.55))
+                    // the terminal and focuses it. `dim_inactive_panes` opts out.
+                    .when(
+                        show_focus
+                            && !focused
+                            && cx
+                                .global::<crate::core::config::Config>()
+                                .dim_inactive_panes,
+                        |d| d.opacity(0.55),
+                    )
                     .child(v.clone())
                     .into_any_element()
             }
diff --git a/src/ui/settings.rs b/src/ui/settings.rs
index 5aa52d0d..4eeb63ff 100644
--- a/src/ui/settings.rs
+++ b/src/ui/settings.rs
@@ -1531,6 +1531,7 @@ impl Tty7App {
         };
         let config = cx.global::<Config>();
         let overridden = config.window_opacity.is_some() || config.window_blur.is_some();
+        let dim_inactive_panes = config.dim_inactive_panes;
         let theme = presets::by_id(cx, &crate::ui::theme::effective_preset_id(cx));
         let opacity = Tty7App::effective_window_opacity(cx);
         let blur = cx.global::<Config>().window_blur.unwrap_or(theme.blur);
@@ -1554,6 +1555,10 @@ impl Tty7App {
                 cx.listener(|this, on: &bool, window, cx| this.set_window_blur(*on, window, cx)),
             )
             .into_any_element();
+        let dim_switch = crate::ui::theme::switch("dim-inactive-panes", cx)
+            .checked(dim_inactive_panes)
+            .on_click(cx.listener(|this, on: &bool, _w, cx| this.set_dim_inactive_panes(*on, cx)))
+            .into_any_element();
 
         v_flex()
             // Not "Window": Settings → Window & Tabs owns that word for the
@@ -1573,6 +1578,12 @@ impl Tty7App {
                 blur_switch,
                 cx,
             ))
+            .child(self.settings_row(
+                "Dim inactive panes",
+                "Fade unfocused panes in a split so the active one stands out.",
+                dim_switch,
+                cx,
+            ))
             // Only offered while an override is active; otherwise the values
             // already follow the theme and the button would be a no-op.
             .when(overridden, |this| {