diff --git a/settings/hyprland.nix b/settings/hyprland.nix
index 84cf839..76e97de 100644
--- a/settings/hyprland.nix
+++ b/settings/hyprland.nix
@@ -224,7 +224,9 @@ in
               # show as urgent in the bar instead.
               focus_on_activate = false;
               vrr = 2;
-              background_color = rgb c.base00;
+              # Black, not base00: login hands over greeter fade → black →
+              # Quickshell wallpaper fade, and only shows before that maps.
+              background_color = "rgb(000000)";
               # If quickshell dies while holding the session lock, let its
               # restarted instance re-attach instead of a dead red screen.
               allow_session_lock_restore = true;
diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 2b69aa3..fc1300f 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -1137,6 +1137,15 @@ in
                             id: wallLayer
                             anchors.fill: parent
 
+                            // Rise out of black at login: the greeter fades
+                            // to black and Hyprland starts on black
+                            // (misc.background_color), so no step shows.
+                            NumberAnimation on opacity {
+                                from: 0; to: 1
+                                duration: 600
+                                easing.type: Easing.OutQuad
+                            }
+
                             readonly property string wanted: "file://" + Theme.wallImage
                             property bool bFront: false
 
diff --git a/settings/quickshell/AuthView.qml b/settings/quickshell/AuthView.qml
index e945b27..9e2ced5 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell/AuthView.qml
+++ b/settings/quickshell/AuthView.qml
@@ -194,6 +194,23 @@ Item {
                 Keys.onEscapePressed: text = ""
             }
 
+            // Spinner while PAM checks the password (and, in the greeter,
+            // through the fade-out into the session).
+            Text {
+                anchors.centerIn: parent
+                visible: view.busy
+                text: "loader-circle"
+                font.family: view.theme.iconFont
+                font.pixelSize: 20
+                color: view.theme.accent
+                RotationAnimation on rotation {
+                    running: view.busy
+                    from: 0; to: 360
+                    duration: 900
+                    loops: Animation.Infinite
+                }
+            }
+
             // Visible confirm button (after TextInput: on top)
             Rectangle {
                 anchors.right: parent.right
diff --git a/settings/quickshell/Greeter.qml b/settings/quickshell/Greeter.qml
index 9452af8..1e08ec8 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell/Greeter.qml
+++ b/settings/quickshell/Greeter.qml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Window {
         password = "";
         busy = false;
         errorMessage = message;
+        handoff.stop();
+        veil.opacity = 0;
     }
     Connections {
         target: Greetd
@@ -38,13 +40,25 @@ Window {
         function onError(error) { root.failed("Login unavailable; try again"); }
         function onReadyToLaunch() {
             root.password = "";
-            // PAM/logind must know this is a graphical session before the
-            // compositor starts, including for the pre-suspend lock check.
-            Greetd.launch([Quickshell.env("FRED_SESSION_COMMAND")], [
-                "XDG_SESSION_TYPE=wayland",
-                "XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=Hyprland",
-                "XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=Hyprland"
-            ]);
+            handoff.start();
+        }
+    }
+    // Fade to black before greetd swaps compositors. Hyprland starts on
+    // black and Quickshell fades the wallpaper in, so the VT gap between
+    // the two hides inside the dark instead of flashing.
+    SequentialAnimation {
+        id: handoff
+        NumberAnimation { target: veil; property: "opacity"; to: 1; duration: 350; easing.type: Easing.InQuad }
+        ScriptAction {
+            script: {
+                // PAM/logind must know this is a graphical session before the
+                // compositor starts, including for the pre-suspend lock check.
+                Greetd.launch([Quickshell.env("FRED_SESSION_COMMAND")], [
+                    "XDG_SESSION_TYPE=wayland",
+                    "XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=Hyprland",
+                    "XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=Hyprland"
+                ]);
+            }
         }
     }
     AuthView {
@@ -64,4 +78,5 @@ Window {
             Greetd.createSession("fred");
         }
     }
+    Rectangle { id: veil; anchors.fill: parent; color: "black"; opacity: 0 }
 }
diff --git a/settings/theming.nix b/settings/theming.nix
index 7296d73..e49ecd9 100644
--- a/settings/theming.nix
+++ b/settings/theming.nix
@@ -304,7 +304,6 @@ let
      + ''["col.border_locked_active"]="rgb(${s.base05})",''
      + ''groupbar={text_color="rgb(${s.base05})",''
      + ''["col.active"]="rgb(${ink4})",["col.inactive"]="rgb(${ink3})"}}'')
-    ''misc={background_color="rgb(${s.base00})"}''
   ] + "})");
 
   # ── App icons ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────