diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ae1ca95..61c76ea 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -52,15 +52,22 @@ adding inner padding or changing client geometry:
 [theme.colors]
 border = "#FFFFFF18"
 accent = "#5B8CFF"
+shadow = "#00000055"
 
 [theme.geometry]
 border_width = 1.0
 focus_ring_width = 2.0
 window_radius = 14.0
+
+[theme.shadow.soft]
+offset_y = 4.0
+blur = 18.0
+opacity = 0.20
 ```
 
-Fullscreen windows are borderless. `window_radius` is validated now and is used
-by the rounded-clipping pass described below in the M6 rendering work.
+Fullscreen windows are borderless and shadowless. Other managed windows use GPU
+rounded clipping, matching rounded focus rings, and an analytic soft shadow.
+These effects overlay or surround the allocation without adding client padding.
 
 Scrolling keeps windows in stable workspace coordinates and animates the
 viewport only when focus must be revealed. Set
diff --git a/compositor/src/config.rs b/compositor/src/config.rs
index e9d0d2c..6d3f798 100644
--- a/compositor/src/config.rs
+++ b/compositor/src/config.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,11 @@ pub struct ThemeSettings {
     pub focus_ring_width: f64,
     pub border_color: RgbaColor,
     pub accent_color: RgbaColor,
+    pub shadow_color: RgbaColor,
     pub window_radius: f64,
+    pub shadow_offset_y: f64,
+    pub shadow_blur: f64,
+    pub shadow_opacity: f64,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Deserialize)]
@@ -52,6 +56,8 @@ struct ThemeConfig {
     colors: ThemeColorsConfig,
     #[serde(default)]
     geometry: ThemeGeometryConfig,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    shadow: ThemeShadowConfig,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
@@ -60,6 +66,8 @@ struct ThemeColorsConfig {
     border: String,
     #[serde(default = "default_accent_color")]
     accent: String,
+    #[serde(default = "default_shadow_color")]
+    shadow: String,
 }
 
 impl Default for ThemeColorsConfig {
@@ -67,6 +75,33 @@ impl Default for ThemeColorsConfig {
         Self {
             border: default_border_color(),
             accent: default_accent_color(),
+            shadow: default_shadow_color(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Deserialize)]
+struct ThemeShadowConfig {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    soft: SoftShadowConfig,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+struct SoftShadowConfig {
+    #[serde(default = "default_shadow_offset_y")]
+    offset_y: f64,
+    #[serde(default = "default_shadow_blur")]
+    blur: f64,
+    #[serde(default = "default_shadow_opacity")]
+    opacity: f64,
+}
+
+impl Default for SoftShadowConfig {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            offset_y: default_shadow_offset_y(),
+            blur: default_shadow_blur(),
+            opacity: default_shadow_opacity(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -596,13 +631,22 @@ impl Config {
         )?;
         let window_radius =
             nonnegative_theme_value(self.theme.geometry.window_radius, "geometry.window_radius")?;
+        let shadow_offset_y =
+            finite_theme_value(self.theme.shadow.soft.offset_y, "shadow.soft.offset_y")?;
+        let shadow_blur = nonnegative_theme_value(self.theme.shadow.soft.blur, "shadow.soft.blur")?;
+        let shadow_opacity =
+            unit_theme_value(self.theme.shadow.soft.opacity, "shadow.soft.opacity")?;
 
         Ok(ThemeSettings {
             border_width,
             focus_ring_width,
             border_color: parse_color(&self.theme.colors.border, "colors.border")?,
             accent_color: parse_color(&self.theme.colors.accent, "colors.accent")?,
+            shadow_color: parse_color(&self.theme.colors.shadow, "colors.shadow")?,
             window_radius,
+            shadow_offset_y,
+            shadow_blur,
+            shadow_opacity,
         })
     }
 
@@ -1005,6 +1049,28 @@ fn nonnegative_theme_value(value: f64, field: &'static str) -> Result<f64, Confi
     }
 }
 
+fn finite_theme_value(value: f64, field: &'static str) -> Result<f64, ConfigError> {
+    if value.is_finite() {
+        Ok(value)
+    } else {
+        Err(ConfigError::InvalidThemeValue {
+            field,
+            value: value.to_string(),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+fn unit_theme_value(value: f64, field: &'static str) -> Result<f64, ConfigError> {
+    if value.is_finite() && (0.0..=1.0).contains(&value) {
+        Ok(value)
+    } else {
+        Err(ConfigError::InvalidThemeValue {
+            field,
+            value: value.to_string(),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 fn parse_color(value: &str, field: &'static str) -> Result<RgbaColor, ConfigError> {
     let digits = value.strip_prefix('#').unwrap_or(value);
     if !digits.is_ascii() || !matches!(digits.len(), 6 | 8) {
@@ -1062,6 +1128,10 @@ fn default_accent_color() -> String {
     "#5B8CFF".to_owned()
 }
 
+fn default_shadow_color() -> String {
+    "#00000055".to_owned()
+}
+
 const fn default_border_width() -> f64 {
     1.0
 }
@@ -1074,6 +1144,18 @@ const fn default_window_radius() -> f64 {
     14.0
 }
 
+const fn default_shadow_offset_y() -> f64 {
+    4.0
+}
+
+const fn default_shadow_blur() -> f64 {
+    18.0
+}
+
+const fn default_shadow_opacity() -> f64 {
+    0.20
+}
+
 fn default_xkb_layout() -> String {
     "us".to_owned()
 }
@@ -1265,10 +1347,11 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn parses_and_validates_theme_window_tokens() {
         let configured = parse(
-            "[theme.colors]\nborder = \"#11223344\"\naccent = \"#AABBCC\"\n\n[theme.geometry]\nborder_width = 1.5\nfocus_ring_width = 3.0\nwindow_radius = 12.0",
+            "[theme.colors]\nborder = \"#11223344\"\naccent = \"#AABBCC\"\nshadow = \"#01020380\"\n\n[theme.geometry]\nborder_width = 1.5\nfocus_ring_width = 3.0\nwindow_radius = 12.0\n\n[theme.shadow.soft]\noffset_y = -2.0\nblur = 24.0\nopacity = 0.4",
         );
         let invalid_color = parse("[theme.colors]\naccent = \"blue\"");
         let invalid_radius = parse("[theme.geometry]\nwindow_radius = -1.0");
+        let invalid_opacity = parse("[theme.shadow.soft]\nopacity = 1.1");
 
         assert_eq!(
             configured.theme_settings().unwrap(),
@@ -1277,11 +1360,16 @@ mod tests {
                 focus_ring_width: 3.0,
                 border_color: RgbaColor([17.0 / 255.0, 34.0 / 255.0, 51.0 / 255.0, 68.0 / 255.0,]),
                 accent_color: RgbaColor([170.0 / 255.0, 187.0 / 255.0, 0.8, 1.0]),
+                shadow_color: RgbaColor([1.0 / 255.0, 2.0 / 255.0, 3.0 / 255.0, 128.0 / 255.0]),
                 window_radius: 12.0,
+                shadow_offset_y: -2.0,
+                shadow_blur: 24.0,
+                shadow_opacity: 0.4,
             }
         );
         assert!(invalid_color.theme_settings().is_err());
         assert!(invalid_radius.theme_settings().is_err());
+        assert!(invalid_opacity.theme_settings().is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/compositor/src/state.rs b/compositor/src/state.rs
index ecef294..09261fe 100644
--- a/compositor/src/state.rs
+++ b/compositor/src/state.rs
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ pub struct Ferese {
     pub window_ids: HashMap<Window, WindowId>,
     pub window_geometry: HashMap<WindowId, WindowGeometry>,
     pub(crate) window_borders: HashMap<WindowId, crate::winit::WindowBorderBuffers>,
+    pub(crate) window_shadows: HashMap<WindowId, crate::winit::WindowShadowBuffers>,
     pub(crate) rounded_clip_programs: HashMap<ErasedContextId, crate::winit::RoundedClipPrograms>,
     viewport_animations: HashMap<WorkspaceId, AnimatedValue>,
     scrolling_world_x: HashMap<WindowId, (WorkspaceId, AnimatedValue)>,
@@ -398,6 +399,7 @@ impl Ferese {
             window_ids: HashMap::new(),
             window_geometry: HashMap::new(),
             window_borders: HashMap::new(),
+            window_shadows: HashMap::new(),
             rounded_clip_programs: HashMap::new(),
             viewport_animations: HashMap::new(),
             scrolling_world_x: HashMap::new(),
@@ -784,6 +786,7 @@ impl Ferese {
         self.space.unmap_elem(window);
         self.window_geometry.remove(&id);
         self.window_borders.remove(&id);
+        self.window_shadows.remove(&id);
         self.window_rules_applied.remove(&id);
         self.scrolling_world_x.remove(&id);
         if let Err(error) = self.workspaces.remove_window(id) {
diff --git a/compositor/src/winit.rs b/compositor/src/winit.rs
index 574242a..6a63ef5 100644
--- a/compositor/src/winit.rs
+++ b/compositor/src/winit.rs
@@ -170,10 +170,48 @@ void main() {
 }
 "#;
 
+const WINDOW_SHADOW_SHADER: &str = r#"
+precision mediump float;
+
+uniform float alpha;
+uniform vec4 shadow_rect;
+uniform float radius;
+uniform float blur;
+uniform float opacity;
+uniform vec4 shadow_color;
+varying vec2 v_coords;
+
+#if defined(DEBUG_FLAGS)
+uniform float tint;
+#endif
+
+void main() {
+    vec2 point = gl_FragCoord.xy - shadow_rect.xy;
+    vec2 half_size = shadow_rect.zw * 0.5;
+    vec2 distance = abs(point - half_size) - (half_size - vec2(radius));
+    float signed_distance = length(max(distance, 0.0))
+        + min(max(distance.x, distance.y), 0.0)
+        - radius;
+    float sigma = max(blur * 0.5, 0.5);
+    float normalized_distance = max(signed_distance, 0.0) / sigma;
+    float coverage = exp(-0.5 * normalized_distance * normalized_distance);
+    vec4 color = vec4(shadow_color.rgb * shadow_color.a, shadow_color.a)
+        * coverage * opacity * alpha;
+
+#if defined(DEBUG_FLAGS)
+    if (tint == 1.0)
+        color = vec4(0.0, 0.2, 0.0, 0.2) + color * 0.8;
+#endif
+
+    gl_FragColor = color;
+}
+"#;
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub(crate) struct RoundedClipPrograms {
     texture: GlesTexProgram,
     border: GlesPixelProgram,
+    shadow: GlesPixelProgram,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
@@ -196,6 +234,27 @@ pub(crate) struct WindowBorderBuffers {
     contexts: HashMap<ErasedContextId, CachedBorder>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+struct ShadowParameters {
+    bounds: Rectangle<i32, Logical>,
+    shadow_rect: [f32; 4],
+    radius: f32,
+    blur: f32,
+    opacity: f32,
+    color: [f32; 4],
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct CachedShadow {
+    element: PixelShaderElement,
+    parameters: ShadowParameters,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub(crate) struct WindowShadowBuffers {
+    contexts: HashMap<ErasedContextId, CachedShadow>,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 struct RoundedSurfaceRenderElement {
     inner: WaylandSurfaceRenderElement<GlesRenderer>,
@@ -513,6 +572,11 @@ fn output_elements(
         );
 
         if !fullscreen && let Some(programs) = rounded_clip_program.clone() {
+            let window_radius = state.theme_settings.window_radius;
+            let shadow_offset_y = state.theme_settings.shadow_offset_y;
+            let shadow_blur = state.theme_settings.shadow_blur;
+            let shadow_opacity = state.theme_settings.shadow_opacity;
+            let shadow_color = state.theme_settings.shadow_color.0;
             let focused = state.focused_window == Some(id);
             let border_width = if focused {
                 state.theme_settings.focus_ring_width
@@ -531,7 +595,7 @@ fn output_elements(
                 id,
                 constrain,
                 scale,
-                state.theme_settings.window_radius,
+                window_radius,
                 border_width,
                 border_color,
                 output,
@@ -539,15 +603,32 @@ fn output_elements(
             ) {
                 elements.push(border.into());
             }
+            let shadow = window_shadow_element(
+                state,
+                renderer,
+                id,
+                constrain,
+                scale,
+                window_radius,
+                shadow_offset_y,
+                shadow_blur,
+                shadow_opacity,
+                shadow_color,
+                output,
+                &programs,
+            );
             elements.extend(rounded_window_elements(
                 renderer,
                 &window,
                 constrain,
                 scale,
-                state.theme_settings.window_radius,
+                window_radius,
                 output,
-                programs.texture,
+                programs.texture.clone(),
             ));
+            if let Some(shadow) = shadow {
+                elements.push(shadow.into());
+            }
         } else {
             elements.extend(constrain_space_element::<
                 GlesRenderer,
@@ -595,11 +676,26 @@ fn rounded_clip_program(
         UniformName::new("border_width", UniformType::_1f),
         UniformName::new("border_color", UniformType::_4f),
     ];
+    let shadow_uniforms = [
+        UniformName::new("shadow_rect", UniformType::_4f),
+        UniformName::new("radius", UniformType::_1f),
+        UniformName::new("blur", UniformType::_1f),
+        UniformName::new("opacity", UniformType::_1f),
+        UniformName::new("shadow_color", UniformType::_4f),
+    ];
     let texture = renderer.compile_custom_texture_shader(ROUNDED_TEXTURE_SHADER, &texture_uniforms);
     let border = renderer.compile_custom_pixel_shader(ROUNDED_BORDER_SHADER, &border_uniforms);
-    match texture.and_then(|texture| border.map(|border| (texture, border))) {
-        Ok((texture, border)) => {
-            let programs = RoundedClipPrograms { texture, border };
+    let shadow = renderer.compile_custom_pixel_shader(WINDOW_SHADOW_SHADER, &shadow_uniforms);
+    let compiled = texture.and_then(|texture| {
+        border.and_then(|border| shadow.map(|shadow| (texture, border, shadow)))
+    });
+    match compiled {
+        Ok((texture, border, shadow)) => {
+            let programs = RoundedClipPrograms {
+                texture,
+                border,
+                shadow,
+            };
             state
                 .rounded_clip_programs
                 .insert(context, programs.clone());
@@ -683,6 +779,99 @@ fn border_uniforms(parameters: &BorderParameters) -> Vec<Uniform<'static>> {
     ]
 }
 
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn window_shadow_element(
+    state: &mut Ferese,
+    renderer: &GlesRenderer,
+    id: ferese_layout::WindowId,
+    geometry: Rectangle<i32, Logical>,
+    scale: f64,
+    requested_radius: f64,
+    offset_y: f64,
+    blur: f64,
+    opacity: f64,
+    color: [f32; 4],
+    output: &Output,
+    programs: &RoundedClipPrograms,
+) -> Option<PixelShaderElement> {
+    let mode = output.current_mode()?;
+    if opacity == 0.0 || color[3] == 0.0 {
+        return None;
+    }
+
+    let shadow_geometry = Rectangle::new(
+        (geometry.loc.x, geometry.loc.y + offset_y.round() as i32).into(),
+        geometry.size,
+    );
+    let bounds = shadow_bounds(geometry, offset_y, blur);
+    let parameters = ShadowParameters {
+        bounds,
+        shadow_rect: framebuffer_clip_rect(
+            shadow_geometry.to_physical_precise_round(scale),
+            mode.size,
+            output.current_transform().invert(),
+        ),
+        radius: scaled_effect_value(requested_radius, geometry, scale),
+        blur: (blur * scale) as f32,
+        opacity: opacity as f32,
+        color,
+    };
+    let context = renderer.context_id().erased();
+    let buffers = state.window_shadows.entry(id).or_default();
+    if !buffers.contexts.contains_key(&context) {
+        let element = PixelShaderElement::new(
+            programs.shadow.clone(),
+            bounds,
+            None,
+            1.0,
+            shadow_uniforms(&parameters),
+            RenderElementKind::Unspecified,
+        );
+        buffers.contexts.insert(
+            context.clone(),
+            CachedShadow {
+                element,
+                parameters: parameters.clone(),
+            },
+        );
+    }
+
+    let cached = buffers.contexts.get_mut(&context)?;
+    if cached.parameters != parameters {
+        if cached.parameters.bounds != parameters.bounds {
+            cached.element.resize(parameters.bounds, None);
+        }
+        cached.element.update_uniforms(shadow_uniforms(&parameters));
+        cached.parameters = parameters;
+    }
+
+    Some(cached.element.clone())
+}
+
+fn shadow_uniforms(parameters: &ShadowParameters) -> Vec<Uniform<'static>> {
+    vec![
+        Uniform::new("shadow_rect", parameters.shadow_rect).into_owned(),
+        Uniform::new("radius", parameters.radius).into_owned(),
+        Uniform::new("blur", parameters.blur).into_owned(),
+        Uniform::new("opacity", parameters.opacity).into_owned(),
+        Uniform::new("shadow_color", parameters.color).into_owned(),
+    ]
+}
+
+fn shadow_bounds(
+    geometry: Rectangle<i32, Logical>,
+    offset_y: f64,
+    blur: f64,
+) -> Rectangle<i32, Logical> {
+    let extent = (blur * 2.0).ceil() as i32;
+    let offset_y = offset_y.round() as i32;
+
+    Rectangle::new(
+        (geometry.loc.x - extent, geometry.loc.y + offset_y - extent).into(),
+        (geometry.size.w + extent * 2, geometry.size.h + extent * 2).into(),
+    )
+}
+
 fn scaled_effect_value(requested: f64, geometry: Rectangle<i32, Logical>, scale: f64) -> f32 {
     requested
         .min(f64::from(geometry.size.w.min(geometry.size.h)) / 2.0)
@@ -957,9 +1146,9 @@ fn normalized_scale(scale: f64) -> f64 {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use smithay::utils::{Physical, Rectangle, Transform};
+    use smithay::utils::{Logical, Physical, Rectangle, Transform};
 
-    use super::{framebuffer_clip_rect, normalized_scale};
+    use super::{framebuffer_clip_rect, normalized_scale, shadow_bounds};
 
     #[test]
     fn accepts_positive_finite_scale() {
@@ -996,4 +1185,18 @@ mod tests {
             [60.0, 5.0, 30.0, 40.0]
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn shadow_bounds_include_blur_and_offset() {
+        let geometry = Rectangle::<i32, Logical>::new((100, 80).into(), (400, 300).into());
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            shadow_bounds(geometry, 4.0, 18.0),
+            Rectangle::new((64, 48).into(), (472, 372).into())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            shadow_bounds(geometry, -6.0, 10.0),
+            Rectangle::new((80, 54).into(), (440, 340).into())
+        );
+    }
 }