ChatGPT Persistent Background (Always On)

Keep the nice blur background across SPA navigation & new chats by injecting a persistent, Shadow-DOM isolated layer

You will need to install an extension such as Tampermonkey, Greasemonkey or Violentmonkey to install this script.

You will need to install an extension such as Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey to install this script.

You will need to install an extension such as Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey to install this script.

You will need to install an extension such as Tampermonkey or Userscripts to install this script.

You will need to install an extension such as Tampermonkey to install this script.

You will need to install a user script manager extension to install this script.

(I already have a user script manager, let me install it!)

You will need to install an extension such as Stylus to install this style.

You will need to install an extension such as Stylus to install this style.

You will need to install an extension such as Stylus to install this style.

You will need to install a user style manager extension to install this style.

You will need to install a user style manager extension to install this style.

You will need to install a user style manager extension to install this style.

(I already have a user style manager, let me install it!)

// ==UserScript==
// @name         ChatGPT Persistent Background (Always On)
// @namespace    eli.keep.bg
// @version      2.0.0
// @description  Keep the nice blur background across SPA navigation & new chats by injecting a persistent, Shadow-DOM isolated layer
// @author       eli
// @license      MIT
// @match        https://chat.openai.com/*
// @match        https://chatgpt.com/*
// @run-at       document-start
// @noframes
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==

(() => {
  "use strict";

  if (window.__eliPersistentBg) return; // singleton
  window.__eliPersistentBg = true;

  const ID = "eli-persistent-bg";
  const FALLBACK_SRCSET =
    "https://persistent.oaistatic.com/burrito-nux/640.webp 640w, https://persistent.oaistatic.com/burrito-nux/1280.webp 1280w, https://persistent.oaistatic.com/burrito-nux/1920.webp 1920w";
  const FALLBACK_IMG = "https://persistent.oaistatic.com/burrito-nux/1920.webp";

  let root, imgEl, sourceEl;
  let hooked = false;

  // Minimal debounce to survive DOM churn without thrashing
  const debounce = (fn, ms = 100) => {
    let t;
    return (...args) => {
      clearTimeout(t);
      t = setTimeout(() => fn(...args), ms);
    };
  };

  function ensureLayer() {
    if (document.getElementById(ID)) return;

    const host = document.createElement("div");
    host.id = ID;
    Object.assign(host.style, {
      position: "fixed",
      inset: "0",
      zIndex: "0",
      pointerEvents: "none",
      contain: "strict",
    });
    document.documentElement.appendChild(host);

    // Shadow DOM to avoid site CSS conflicts
    const shadow = host.attachShadow({ mode: "open" });
    shadow.innerHTML = `
      <style>
        :host, .wrap { position: fixed; inset: 0; }
        picture, img { position:absolute; inset:0; width:100%; height:100%; object-fit:cover; }
        img.blur { transform: scale(1.02); filter: blur(20px); opacity: .5; }
        .grad { position:absolute; inset:0; pointer-events:none;
          background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(0,0,0,0) 0%, var(--eli-bg-end, #000) 100%);
          mix-blend-mode: normal;
        }
        @media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {.grad{ --eli-bg-end: #fff; }}
        @media (prefers-color-scheme: dark)  {.grad{ --eli-bg-end: #000; }}
      </style>
      <div class="wrap" part="wrap" aria-hidden="true">
        <picture>
          <source type="image/webp" id="eli-bg-srcset">
          <img id="eli-bg-img" class="blur" alt="">
        </picture>
        <div class="grad"></div>
      </div>
    `;

    root = host;
    imgEl = shadow.getElementById("eli-bg-img");
    sourceEl = shadow.getElementById("eli-bg-srcset");

    // Keep the app transparent so our layer shows
    const css = document.createElement("style");
    css.textContent = `
      html, body { background: transparent !important; }
    `;
    document.documentElement.appendChild(css);
  }

  function pickAppBackgroundPicture() {
    // Try common patterns first, then a broader heuristic
    const candidates = [
      // Known nux background
      ...document.querySelectorAll('picture img[src*="burrito-nux"]'),
      ...document.querySelectorAll('picture source[srcset*="burrito-nux"]'),
      // Any oaistatic hero-ish picture
      ...document.querySelectorAll('picture img[src*="oaistatic.com"]'),
      ...document.querySelectorAll('picture source[srcset*="oaistatic.com"]'),
    ];
    const pic = candidates.find(Boolean)?.closest("picture");
    return pic || null;
  }

  function syncFromApp() {
    ensureLayer();

    const appPic = pickAppBackgroundPicture();
    if (appPic) {
      const appImg = appPic.querySelector("img");
      const appSrc = appPic.querySelector('source[type="image/webp"]');

      if (appImg?.src) imgEl.src = appImg.src;
      if (appImg?.getAttribute("srcset")) imgEl.setAttribute("srcset", appImg.getAttribute("srcset"));

      if (appSrc?.getAttribute("srcset")) {
        sourceEl.setAttribute("srcset", appSrc.getAttribute("srcset"));
      } else {
        sourceEl.removeAttribute("srcset");
      }

      imgEl.setAttribute("sizes", "100vw");
      return;
    }

    // Fallback
    sourceEl.setAttribute("srcset", FALLBACK_SRCSET);
    imgEl.src = FALLBACK_IMG;
    imgEl.setAttribute("srcset", FALLBACK_SRCSET);
    imgEl.setAttribute("sizes", "100vw");
  }

  const safeSync = debounce(() => {
    try { syncFromApp(); } catch (e) { /* silent */ }
  }, 120);

  function hookNavOnce() {
    if (hooked) return;
    hooked = true;

    const wrap = (obj, key) => {
      const orig = obj[key];
      if (!orig || orig.__eliWrapped) return;
      const fn = function () {
        const r = orig.apply(this, arguments);
        queueMicrotask(safeSync);
        return r;
      };
      fn.__eliWrapped = true;
      try { obj[key] = fn; } catch {}
    };

    wrap(history, "pushState");
    wrap(history, "replaceState");

    window.addEventListener("popstate", safeSync, true);
    window.addEventListener("load", safeSync, true);
    document.addEventListener("visibilitychange", safeSync, true);

    // Lean observer + debounced handler (no attribute spam watching)
    new MutationObserver(() => safeSync()).observe(document.documentElement, {
      childList: true,
      subtree: true,
    });

    // Resize can swap backgrounds on some layouts
    window.addEventListener("resize", safeSync, { passive: true });
  }

  // Boot
  ensureLayer();
  hookNavOnce();
  syncFromApp();
  setTimeout(syncFromApp, 250);
})();