diff --git a/public/s/css/f0ckm.css b/public/s/css/f0ckm.css
index c0b7a4b..0bcc118 100644
--- a/public/s/css/f0ckm.css
+++ b/public/s/css/f0ckm.css
@@ -5062,6 +5062,33 @@ body.layout-legacy.sidebar-right-hidden .embed-responsive-16by9::before {
   object-fit: contain;
 }
 
+/* Floating overlay button to trigger modal when inline expand is active */
+.image-modal-btn {
+  display: none;
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  width: 32px;
+  height: 32px;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  border: none;
+  background: none;
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
+  font-size: 22px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  z-index: 10;
+  opacity: 1;
+  pointer-events: auto;
+  transition: color 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.175, 0.885, 0.32, 1.275);
+  text-shadow: 1px 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8), 0 0 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
+html.image-expand-active .image-modal-btn {
+  display: inline-flex;
+}
+
 /* Inline image expansion */
 .embed-responsive.is-expanded::before {
   display: none !important;
diff --git a/public/s/js/f0ckm.js b/public/s/js/f0ckm.js
index 2ac2d0b..59297c8 100644
--- a/public/s/js/f0ckm.js
+++ b/public/s/js/f0ckm.js
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ window.cancelAnimFrame = (function () {
   if (localStorage.getItem('blurSfw') === 'true') htmlEl.classList.add('blur-sfw-active');
   if (localStorage.getItem('blurUntagged') === 'true') htmlEl.classList.add('blur-untagged-active');
   if (localStorage.getItem('blurDetail') !== 'false') htmlEl.classList.add('blur-detail-active');
+  if (localStorage.getItem('imageExpandOnClick') !== 'false') htmlEl.classList.add('image-expand-active');
 
   window.updateVisitIndicators = () => {
       try {
@@ -8867,6 +8868,18 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
 
     // Global intercept for image item clicks
     document.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+      const modalBtn = e.target.closest('.image-modal-btn');
+      if (modalBtn) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        const wrapper = modalBtn.closest('.embed-responsive');
+        const img = wrapper ? wrapper.querySelector('img#f0ck-image') : null;
+        if (img) {
+          openImageModal(img.src);
+        }
+        return;
+      }
+
       const elfe = e.target.closest('#elfe');
       if (elfe) {
         e.preventDefault();
diff --git a/public/s/js/settings.js b/public/s/js/settings.js
index a26c5c7..4d73c6a 100644
--- a/public/s/js/settings.js
+++ b/public/s/js/settings.js
@@ -747,6 +747,11 @@
         imageExpandToggle.checked = localStorage.getItem('imageExpandOnClick') !== 'false';
         imageExpandToggle.addEventListener('change', () => {
             localStorage.setItem('imageExpandOnClick', imageExpandToggle.checked);
+            if (imageExpandToggle.checked) {
+                document.documentElement.classList.add('image-expand-active');
+            } else {
+                document.documentElement.classList.remove('image-expand-active');
+            }
         });
     }
 
diff --git a/views/snippets/item-media.html b/views/snippets/item-media.html
index 7e4db12..cd49164 100644
--- a/views/snippets/item-media.html
+++ b/views/snippets/item-media.html
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     <div class="embed-responsive-image" id="image-scroll">
         <a href="{{ item.dest }}" id="elfe" target="_blank"><img id="f0ck-image" class="img-fluid" src="{{ item.dest }}" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /></a>
     </div>
+    <button class="image-modal-btn" title="Open in modal"><i class="fa-solid fa-plus"></i></button>
 </div>
 @elseif(item.mime === 'application/x-shockwave-flash' && enable_swf)
 <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9">