diff --git a/home-manager/fred.nix b/home-manager/fred.nix
index 87a9364..f3bfdd5 100644
--- a/home-manager/fred.nix
+++ b/home-manager/fred.nix
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ in
   '';
 
   # Wallpaper source — consumed by stylix's image option (set in
-  # settings/stylix.nix) and by hyprpaper at session start.
+  # settings/stylix.nix) and by quickshell's wallpaper layer.
   home.file.".local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper.png".source =
     "${inputs.self}/walls/wallpaper.png";
 
diff --git a/settings/hyprland.nix b/settings/hyprland.nix
index 37bf3e3..5230d97 100644
--- a/settings/hyprland.nix
+++ b/settings/hyprland.nix
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ in
 
     security.polkit.enable = true;
 
+    # graphical-desktop.nix mkDefault-enables this; unused (no screen reader,
+    # no Discord TTS).
+    services.speechd.enable = false;
+
     # Polkit GUI agent for GUI sudo prompts under Hyprland
     systemd.user.services.polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1 = {
       description = "polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1";
@@ -48,7 +52,6 @@ in
       brightnessctl
       swayosd
       playerctl
-      hyprpaper
       hyprlock
       hypridle
       hyprshot
@@ -72,10 +75,9 @@ in
       # into settings.config below.
       stylix.targets.hyprland.enable = false;
 
-      # The disabled Hyprland target would normally enable this; do it
-      # manually.  Stylix's hyprpaper target (auto-enabled) still handles
-      # preload/wallpaper settings.
-      services.hyprpaper.enable = true;
+      # Wallpaper is drawn by quickshell (settings/quickshell.nix); no
+      # separate hyprpaper daemon.
+      stylix.targets.hyprpaper.enable = false;
 
       wayland.windowManager.hyprland = {
         enable = true;
diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 7c98ea1..4658420 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ in
             //@ pragma UseQApplication
             import Quickshell
             import Quickshell.Io
+            import Quickshell.Wayland
             import Quickshell.Services.Notifications
             import QtQuick
 
@@ -262,6 +263,26 @@ in
                     }
                 }
 
+                // Wallpaper — replaces the hyprpaper daemon.
+                Variants {
+                    model: Quickshell.screens
+
+                    PanelWindow {
+                        required property var modelData
+                        screen: modelData
+                        WlrLayershell.layer: WlrLayer.Background
+                        exclusionMode: ExclusionMode.Ignore
+                        anchors { top: true; bottom: true; left: true; right: true }
+                        color: "black"
+
+                        Image {
+                            anchors.fill: parent
+                            source: "file://" + Quickshell.env("HOME") + "/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper.png"
+                            fillMode: Image.PreserveAspectCrop
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
                 Variants {
                     model: Quickshell.screens