diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AddToPlaylist.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AddToPlaylist.tsx
index 7e3a548d..0cfc74c2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AddToPlaylist.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AddToPlaylist.tsx
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export default function AddToPlaylist({
         <ListPlus className="w-4 h-4" />
       </button>
 
-      <PopoverSurface popover={pop} className="glass-menu w-60 rounded-xl p-2 shadow-2xl">
+      <PopoverSurface popover={pop} className="glass-menu w-60 rounded-xl p-2">
         {/* A React portal still propagates events up the REACT tree, so a click inside this panel
             would otherwise reach the feed card that hosts the trigger and start playback. */}
         <div onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/BackToTop.tsx b/frontend/src/components/BackToTop.tsx
index 8a888244..ec9ff758 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/BackToTop.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/BackToTop.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export default function BackToTop({ dep, threshold = 600 }: { dep?: unknown; thr
   return createPortal(
     <button
       onClick={toTop}
-      className={`fixed bottom-5 right-5 z-chrome inline-flex items-center justify-center w-16 h-16 rounded-full glass-card glass-hover text-fg shadow-lg hover:text-accent transition-all duration-200 ${
+      className={`fixed bottom-5 right-5 z-chrome inline-flex items-center justify-center w-16 h-16 rounded-full glass-card glass-hover text-fg hover:text-accent transition-all duration-200 ${
         show ? "opacity-100 translate-y-0" : "opacity-0 translate-y-3 pointer-events-none"
       }`}
     >
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatDock.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChatDock.tsx
index 93400051..e638a306 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatDock.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatDock.tsx
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export default function ChatDock({ meId }: { meId: number }) {
 function ChatWindow({ chat, meId }: { chat: DockChat; meId: number }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   return (
-    <div className="pointer-events-auto relative w-80 max-w-[calc(100vw-2rem)] glass rounded-2xl shadow-2xl flex flex-col overflow-hidden">
+    <div className="pointer-events-auto relative w-80 max-w-[calc(100vw-2rem)] glass rounded-2xl flex flex-col overflow-hidden">
       {/* One-shot attention flash on a new message; keyed by the counter so it replays each time. */}
       {chat.flash > 0 && (
         <div
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx b/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
index 1a98c288..533525f1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ function QuotaUserPicker({ onPick }: { onPick: (u: { id: number; email: string }
         className={inputCls}
       />
       {open && filtered.length > 0 && (
-        <div className="absolute z-base mt-1 w-full rounded-lg glass-menu shadow-xl overflow-hidden">
+        <div className="absolute z-base mt-1 w-full rounded-lg glass-menu overflow-hidden">
           {filtered.map((u) => (
             <button
               key={u.id}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/GlassTuner.tsx b/frontend/src/components/GlassTuner.tsx
index da92a335..5c0fb624 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/GlassTuner.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/GlassTuner.tsx
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ export default function GlassTuner() {
         {open && (
           <div
             style={{ pointerEvents: "auto" }}
-            className="glass-menu rounded-l-2xl rounded-r-none w-[300px] max-h-[82vh] flex flex-col overflow-hidden shadow-2xl"
+            className="glass-menu rounded-l-2xl rounded-r-none w-[300px] max-h-[82vh] flex flex-col overflow-hidden"
           >
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 border-b border-border/60">
               <span className="text-sm font-semibold text-fg">◐ Glass Tuner</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Modal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Modal.tsx
index b5687ac4..41c5e768 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Modal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Modal.tsx
@@ -66,9 +66,7 @@ export default function Modal({
       role="dialog"
       aria-modal="true"
     >
-      <div
-        className={`glass relative w-full ${maxWidth} max-h-full overflow-y-auto rounded-2xl shadow-2xl`}
-      >
+      <div className={`glass relative w-full ${maxWidth} max-h-full overflow-y-auto rounded-2xl`}>
         <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-3 p-5 pb-3">
           <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold leading-snug">{title}</h2>
           <button
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx
index 1f496586..1daeedfb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NavSidebar.tsx
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ export default function NavSidebar({
           {!slim && (
             <button
               onClick={() => setPage("feed")}
-              className="text-lg font-bold tracking-tight select-none cursor-pointer rounded-md -mx-1 px-1 hover:bg-card hover:opacity-90 transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+              className="text-lg font-bold tracking-tight select-none cursor-pointer rounded-md -mx-1 px-1 hover:bg-card hover:opacity-90 transition"
               title={t("header.feed")}
             >
               Sift<span className="text-accent">lode</span>
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ export default function NavSidebar({
             onClick={onToggleCollapse}
             title={pinned ? t("nav.unpin") : t("nav.pin")}
             aria-label={pinned ? t("nav.unpin") : t("nav.pin")}
-            className="p-1 rounded-md text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+            className="p-1 rounded-md text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card transition"
           >
             {pinned ? <PinOff className="w-4 h-4" /> : <Pin className="w-4 h-4" />}
           </button>
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ export default function NavSidebar({
               onClick={onOpenAbout}
               title={t("header.account.about")}
               aria-label={t("header.account.about")}
-              className="p-2 rounded-lg text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+              className="p-2 rounded-lg text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card transition"
             >
               <Info className="w-5 h-5" />
             </button>
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ export default function NavSidebar({
               onClick={logout}
               title={t("header.account.signOut")}
               aria-label={t("header.account.signOut")}
-              className="p-2 rounded-lg text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+              className="p-2 rounded-lg text-muted hover:text-fg hover:bg-card transition"
             >
               <LogOut className="w-5 h-5" />
             </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlayerModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlayerModal.tsx
index 6187ec42..f429e7d3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlayerModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlayerModal.tsx
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ export default function PlayerModal({
         <div
           ref={cardRef}
           tabIndex={-1}
-          className="glass-card relative flex-1 min-w-0 max-h-full overflow-y-auto rounded-2xl shadow-2xl outline-hidden"
+          className="glass-card relative flex-1 min-w-0 max-h-full overflow-y-auto rounded-2xl outline-hidden"
           onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
         >
           <div
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SavedViewsWidget.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SavedViewsWidget.tsx
index bd853f5c..ec86b165 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SavedViewsWidget.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SavedViewsWidget.tsx
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ function ViewRow({
         {...attributes}
         {...listeners}
         title={t("views.reorder")}
-        className="p-1 text-muted/60 hover:text-muted cursor-grab touch-none shrink-0 rounded-sm outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+        className="p-1 text-muted/60 hover:text-muted cursor-grab touch-none shrink-0"
       >
         <GripVertical className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
       </button>
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ function ViewRow({
         onClick={onApply}
         title={t("views.apply")}
         aria-current={active ? "true" : undefined}
-        className={`flex-1 min-w-0 text-left text-xs py-1 truncate rounded-sm outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60 ${
+        className={`flex-1 min-w-0 text-left text-xs py-1 truncate ${
           active ? "text-accent font-medium" : "text-fg"
         }`}
       >
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ function ViewRow({
         <button
           onClick={onToggleDefault}
           title={view.is_default ? t("views.isDefault") : t("views.makeDefault")}
-          className={`p-1 rounded outline-hidden transition focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60 ${
+          className={`p-1 rounded transition ${
             view.is_default
               ? "text-accent"
               : "text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-accent"
@@ -317,21 +317,21 @@ function ViewRow({
         <button
           onClick={onShare}
           title={t("views.share")}
-          className="p-1 rounded-sm text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-fg transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+          className="p-1 rounded-sm text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-fg transition"
         >
           <Share2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
         </button>
         <button
           onClick={onStartRename}
           title={t("views.rename")}
-          className="p-1 rounded-sm text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-fg transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+          className="p-1 rounded-sm text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-fg transition"
         >
           <Pencil className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
         </button>
         <button
           onClick={onDelete}
           title={t("views.delete")}
-          className="p-1 rounded-sm text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-red-400 transition outline-hidden focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-accent/60"
+          className="p-1 rounded-sm text-muted opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100 hover:text-red-400 transition"
         >
           <Trash2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
         </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.tsx
index 2694d3bb..aa4f1af7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SearchBar.tsx
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export default function SearchBar({
     if (onGo && !goDisabled) onGo();
   };
   return (
-    <div className="pointer-events-auto flex-1 min-w-0 max-w-xl h-11 pl-3 pr-2 rounded-2xl glass-menu flex items-center gap-2 focus-within:outline-2 focus-within:outline-accent/60">
+    <div className="pointer-events-auto flex-1 min-w-0 max-w-xl h-11 pl-3 pr-2 rounded-2xl glass-menu flex items-center gap-2 focus-within:outline-2 focus-within:outline-accent/60 focus-within:outline-offset-2">
       <Search className="w-4 h-4 shrink-0 text-muted" />
       <input
         value={value}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ShareDialog.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ShareDialog.tsx
index f101ceb8..d4dd2f93 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ShareDialog.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ShareDialog.tsx
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function UserShare({ job }: { job: DownloadJob }) {
           className={inputCls}
         />
         {open && filtered.length > 0 && (
-          <div className="absolute z-base mt-1 w-full rounded-lg glass-menu shadow-xl overflow-hidden">
+          <div className="absolute z-base mt-1 w-full rounded-lg glass-menu overflow-hidden">
             {filtered.map((u) => (
               <button
                 key={u.id}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/DraftSaveBar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/DraftSaveBar.tsx
index 973f67de..47cfb8a5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/DraftSaveBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/DraftSaveBar.tsx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export function DraftSaveBar({
   const saving = state === "saving";
   const floating = variant === "floating";
   const wrap = floating
-    ? "fixed bottom-4 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 z-rail glass rounded-2xl shadow-lg flex items-center justify-between gap-4 px-4 py-3 w-[min(48rem,calc(100%-2rem))]"
+    ? "fixed bottom-4 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 z-rail glass rounded-2xl flex items-center justify-between gap-4 px-4 py-3 w-[min(48rem,calc(100%-2rem))]"
     : "flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-border/60 px-4 py-3 bg-card/40";
   // The floating variant is fixed to the viewport but renders from a page inside the page
   // scroller, so it goes to <body> — otherwise the scroller's stacking context (its edge-fade
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index ff50c6e2..81911d9b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -280,10 +280,11 @@ body {
 }
 
 /* ===== Liquid-glass surface system (theme-aware, GPU-light) ===== */
-/* In @layer components so a JSX shadow-* utility (which lives in @layer utilities, always above
-   components) can override a glass surface's default box-shadow again. Before v4/R9 these rules were
-   unlayered and always won, so ~9 `shadow-*` on glass surfaces were silent no-ops. The perf-mode and
-   :hover overrides below stay UNLAYERED on purpose (they must beat the utility). */
+/* In @layer components so the recipe classes below (.selectable) compose with utilities instead of
+   silently beating them the way these rules did while unlayered. (The ~9 dead `shadow-*` that used to
+   sit on glass surfaces were REMOVED in R9, not activated: the tuned glass box-shadow — including its
+   inset top-edge highlight — is the intended depth, and a shadow-* utility would atomically replace it
+   and drop that highlight.) The perf-mode and :hover overrides below stay UNLAYERED on purpose. */
 @layer components {
   .glass {
     /* Frosted overlay surface: translucent enough that the blurred backdrop shows