diff --git a/src/main.js b/src/main.js
index 7203aec3f5..2843d21cc7 100644
--- a/src/main.js
+++ b/src/main.js
@@ -212,6 +212,9 @@ function configureCommandlineSwitchesSync(cliArgs) {
 		}
 	});
 
+	app.commandLine.appendSwitch('enable-transparent-visuals');
+	app.disableHardwareAcceleration();
+
 	// Support JS Flags
 	const jsFlags = getJSFlags(cliArgs);
 	if (jsFlags) {
diff --git a/src/vs/code/electron-main/app.ts b/src/vs/code/electron-main/app.ts
index b3832d12ec..570c13f515 100644
--- a/src/vs/code/electron-main/app.ts
+++ b/src/vs/code/electron-main/app.ts
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ export class CodeApplication extends Disposable {
 	}
 
 	async startup(): Promise<void> {
+		await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 500));
 		this.logService.debug('Starting VS Code');
 		this.logService.debug(`from: ${this.environmentMainService.appRoot}`);
 		this.logService.debug('args:', this.environmentMainService.args);
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/windows/electron-main/window.ts b/src/vs/platform/windows/electron-main/window.ts
index 0eebc9dc8b..13f0e12638 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/windows/electron-main/window.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/windows/electron-main/window.ts
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ export class CodeWindow extends Disposable implements ICodeWindow {
 				height: this.windowState.height,
 				x: this.windowState.x,
 				y: this.windowState.y,
-				backgroundColor: this.themeMainService.getBackgroundColor(),
+				transparent: true,
+				backgroundColor: '#00000000' || this.themeMainService.getBackgroundColor(),
 				minWidth: WindowMinimumSize.WIDTH,
 				minHeight: WindowMinimumSize.HEIGHT,
 				show: !isFullscreenOrMaximized,
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts b/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts
index 272f767d2e..4addb159f3 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/common/theme.ts
@@ -6,19 +6,12 @@
 import { localize } from 'vs/nls';
 import { registerColor, editorBackground, contrastBorder, transparent, editorWidgetBackground, textLinkForeground, lighten, darken, focusBorder, activeContrastBorder, editorWidgetForeground, editorErrorForeground, editorWarningForeground, editorInfoForeground, treeIndentGuidesStroke, errorForeground } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/colorRegistry';
 import { IColorTheme } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/themeService';
-import { Color } from 'vs/base/common/color';
+import { Color, RGBA } from 'vs/base/common/color';
 
 // < --- Workbench (not customizable) --- >
 
 export function WORKBENCH_BACKGROUND(theme: IColorTheme): Color {
-	switch (theme.type) {
-		case 'dark':
-			return Color.fromHex('#252526');
-		case 'light':
-			return Color.fromHex('#F3F3F3');
-		default:
-			return Color.fromHex('#000000');
-	}
+	return new Color(new RGBA(0, 0, 0, 0));
 }
 
 // < --- Tabs --- >
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalInstance.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalInstance.ts
index c8cb4eb5ee..7841dae572 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalInstance.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/terminal/browser/terminalInstance.ts
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ export class TerminalInstance extends Disposable implements ITerminalInstance {
 			macOptionIsMeta: config.macOptionIsMeta,
 			macOptionClickForcesSelection: config.macOptionClickForcesSelection,
 			rightClickSelectsWord: config.rightClickBehavior === 'selectWord',
+			allowTransparency: true,
 			fastScrollModifier: 'alt',
 			fastScrollSensitivity: editorOptions.fastScrollSensitivity,
 			scrollSensitivity: editorOptions.mouseWheelScrollSensitivity,