diff --git a/packages/core/src/v1/config/config.ts b/packages/core/src/v1/config/config.ts
index f85175cb7909..5e9d22b5b671 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/v1/config/config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/v1/config/config.ts
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ export const Info = Schema.Struct({
       mcp_timeout: Schema.optional(PositiveInt).annotate({
         description: "Timeout in milliseconds for model context protocol (MCP) requests",
       }),
+      dialog_background_overlay: Schema.optional(Schema.Literals(["full", "limited", "none"])).annotate({
+        description:
+          "Control dialog background overlay: 'full' = semi-transparent overlay (default), 'limited' = overlay only within dialog bounds, 'none' = no overlay",
+      }),
       policies: Schema.optional(Schema.mutable(Schema.Array(ConfigExperimental.Policy))).annotate({
         description: "Policy statements applied to supported resources, such as provider access",
       }),
diff --git a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/ui/dialog.tsx b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/ui/dialog.tsx
index 73d61c3ba66f..6b8c42196c6a 100644
--- a/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/ui/dialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/opencode/src/cli/cmd/tui/ui/dialog.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { createStore } from "solid-js/store"
 import { useToast } from "./toast"
 import { Flag } from "@opencode-ai/core/flag/flag"
 import * as Selection from "@tui/util/selection"
+import { useSync } from "@tui/context/sync"
 import { useBindings, useOpencodeModeStack } from "../keymap"
 
 export function Dialog(
@@ -17,6 +18,10 @@ export function Dialog(
   const dimensions = useTerminalDimensions()
   const { theme } = useTheme()
   const renderer = useRenderer()
+  const sync = useSync()
+
+  const overlayMode = () => sync.data.config.experimental?.dialog_background_overlay ?? "full"
+  const showOverlay = () => overlayMode() === "full"
 
   let dismiss = false
   const width = () => {
@@ -45,7 +50,7 @@ export function Dialog(
       paddingTop={dimensions().height / 4}
       left={0}
       top={0}
-      backgroundColor={RGBA.fromInts(0, 0, 0, 150)}
+      backgroundColor={showOverlay() ? RGBA.fromInts(0, 0, 0, 150) : undefined}
     >
       <box
         onMouseUp={(e: { stopPropagation(): void }) => {
diff --git a/packages/sdk/js/src/v2/gen/types.gen.ts b/packages/sdk/js/src/v2/gen/types.gen.ts
index 158d93cf77f9..b75dc3dc307f 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/js/src/v2/gen/types.gen.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/js/src/v2/gen/types.gen.ts
@@ -1975,6 +1975,10 @@ export type Config = {
     primary_tools?: Array<string>
     continue_loop_on_deny?: boolean
     mcp_timeout?: number
+    /**
+     * Control dialog background overlay: 'full' = semi-transparent overlay (default), 'limited' = overlay only within dialog bounds, 'none' = no overlay
+     */
+    dialog_background_overlay?: 'full' | 'limited' | 'none'
     policies?: Array<ConfigV2ExperimentalPolicy>
   }
 }