diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/components/modal_root.jsx b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/components/modal_root.jsx
index f338c4ec0e..71b875cfee 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/components/modal_root.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/components/modal_root.jsx
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class ModalRoot extends PureComponent {
     return (
       <div className='modal-root' ref={this.setRef}>
         <div style={{ pointerEvents: visible ? 'auto' : 'none' }}>
-          <div role='presentation' className='modal-root__overlay' onClick={onClose} style={{ backgroundColor: backgroundColor ? `rgba(${backgroundColor.r}, ${backgroundColor.g}, ${backgroundColor.b}, 0.7)` : null }} />
+          <div role='presentation' className='modal-root__overlay' onClick={onClose} style={{ backgroundColor: backgroundColor ? `rgba(${backgroundColor.r}, ${backgroundColor.g}, ${backgroundColor.b}, 0.9)` : null }} />
           <div role='dialog' className='modal-root__container'>{children}</div>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/image_loader.jsx b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/image_loader.jsx
index 9dabc621b4..b1417deda7 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/image_loader.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/image_loader.jsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default class ImageLoader extends PureComponent {
     width: PropTypes.number,
     height: PropTypes.number,
     onClick: PropTypes.func,
-    zoomButtonHidden: PropTypes.bool,
+    zoomedIn: PropTypes.bool,
   };
 
   static defaultProps = {
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ export default class ImageLoader extends PureComponent {
   };
 
   render () {
-    const { alt, lang, src, width, height, onClick } = this.props;
+    const { alt, lang, src, width, height, onClick, zoomedIn } = this.props;
     const { loading } = this.state;
 
     const className = classNames('image-loader', {
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ export default class ImageLoader extends PureComponent {
             <div className='loading-bar__container' style={{ width: this.state.width || width }}>
               <LoadingBar className='loading-bar' loading={1} />
             </div>
+
             <canvas
               className='image-loader__preview-canvas'
               ref={this.setCanvasRef}
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ export default class ImageLoader extends PureComponent {
             onClick={onClick}
             width={width}
             height={height}
-            zoomButtonHidden={this.props.zoomButtonHidden}
+            zoomedIn={zoomedIn}
           />
         )}
       </div>
diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/media_modal.jsx b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/media_modal.jsx
index d16b274170..4d44483b41 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/media_modal.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/media_modal.jsx
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import ReactSwipeableViews from 'react-swipeable-views';
 import ChevronLeftIcon from '@/material-icons/400-24px/chevron_left.svg?react';
 import ChevronRightIcon from '@/material-icons/400-24px/chevron_right.svg?react';
 import CloseIcon from '@/material-icons/400-24px/close.svg?react';
+import FitScreenIcon from '@/material-icons/400-24px/fit_screen.svg?react';
+import ActualSizeIcon from '@/svg-icons/actual_size.svg?react';
 import { getAverageFromBlurhash } from 'flavours/glitch/blurhash';
 import { GIFV } from 'flavours/glitch/components/gifv';
 import { Icon }  from 'flavours/glitch/components/icon';
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
   close: { id: 'lightbox.close', defaultMessage: 'Close' },
   previous: { id: 'lightbox.previous', defaultMessage: 'Previous' },
   next: { id: 'lightbox.next', defaultMessage: 'Next' },
+  zoomIn: { id: 'lightbox.zoom_in', defaultMessage: 'Zoom to actual size' },
+  zoomOut: { id: 'lightbox.zoom_out', defaultMessage: 'Zoom to fit' },
 });
 
 class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
@@ -46,30 +50,39 @@ class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
   state = {
     index: null,
     navigationHidden: false,
-    zoomButtonHidden: false,
+    zoomedIn: false,
+  };
+
+  handleZoomClick = () => {
+    this.setState(prevState => ({
+      zoomedIn: !prevState.zoomedIn,
+    }));
   };
 
   handleSwipe = (index) => {
-    this.setState({ index: index % this.props.media.size });
+    this.setState({
+      index: index % this.props.media.size,
+      zoomedIn: false,
+    });
   };
 
   handleTransitionEnd = () => {
     this.setState({
-      zoomButtonHidden: false,
+      zoomedIn: false,
     });
   };
 
   handleNextClick = () => {
     this.setState({
       index: (this.getIndex() + 1) % this.props.media.size,
-      zoomButtonHidden: true,
+      zoomedIn: false,
     });
   };
 
   handlePrevClick = () => {
     this.setState({
       index: (this.props.media.size + this.getIndex() - 1) % this.props.media.size,
-      zoomButtonHidden: true,
+      zoomedIn: false,
     });
   };
 
@@ -78,7 +91,7 @@ class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
 
     this.setState({
       index: index % this.props.media.size,
-      zoomButtonHidden: true,
+      zoomedIn: false,
     });
   };
 
@@ -130,15 +143,22 @@ class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
     return this.state.index !== null ? this.state.index : this.props.index;
   }
 
-  toggleNavigation = () => {
+  handleToggleNavigation = () => {
     this.setState(prevState => ({
       navigationHidden: !prevState.navigationHidden,
     }));
   };
 
+  setRef = c => {
+    this.setState({
+      viewportWidth: c?.clientWidth,
+      viewportHeight: c?.clientHeight,
+    });
+  };
+
   render () {
     const { media, statusId, lang, intl, onClose } = this.props;
-    const { navigationHidden } = this.state;
+    const { navigationHidden, zoomedIn, viewportWidth, viewportHeight } = this.state;
 
     const index = this.getIndex();
 
@@ -160,8 +180,8 @@ class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
             alt={description}
             lang={lang}
             key={image.get('url')}
-            onClick={this.toggleNavigation}
-            zoomButtonHidden={this.state.zoomButtonHidden}
+            onClick={this.handleToggleNavigation}
+            zoomedIn={zoomedIn}
           />
         );
       } else if (image.get('type') === 'video') {
@@ -229,9 +249,12 @@ class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
       ));
     }
 
+    const currentMedia = media.get(index);
+    const zoomable = currentMedia.get('type') === 'image' && (currentMedia.getIn(['meta', 'original', 'width']) > viewportWidth || currentMedia.getIn(['meta', 'original', 'height']) > viewportHeight);
+
     return (
-      <div className='modal-root__modal media-modal'>
-        <div className='media-modal__closer' role='presentation' onClick={onClose} >
+      <div className='modal-root__modal media-modal' ref={this.setRef}>
+        <div className='media-modal__closer' role='presentation' onClick={onClose}>
           <ReactSwipeableViews
             style={swipeableViewsStyle}
             containerStyle={containerStyle}
@@ -245,7 +268,10 @@ class MediaModal extends ImmutablePureComponent {
         </div>
 
         <div className={navigationClassName}>
-          <IconButton className='media-modal__close' title={intl.formatMessage(messages.close)} icon='times' iconComponent={CloseIcon} onClick={onClose} size={40} />
+          <div className='media-modal__buttons'>
+            {zoomable && <IconButton title={intl.formatMessage(zoomedIn ? messages.zoomOut : messages.zoomIn)} iconComponent={zoomedIn ? FitScreenIcon : ActualSizeIcon} onClick={this.handleZoomClick} />}
+            <IconButton title={intl.formatMessage(messages.close)} icon='times' iconComponent={CloseIcon} onClick={onClose} />
+          </div>
 
           {leftNav}
           {rightNav}
diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/zoomable_image.jsx b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/zoomable_image.jsx
index 31a25159ea..c4129bf260 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/zoomable_image.jsx
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/features/ui/components/zoomable_image.jsx
@@ -1,17 +1,6 @@
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { PureComponent } from 'react';
 
-import { defineMessages, injectIntl } from 'react-intl';
-
-import FullscreenExitIcon from '@/material-icons/400-24px/fullscreen_exit.svg?react';
-import RectangleIcon from '@/material-icons/400-24px/rectangle.svg?react';
-import { IconButton } from 'flavours/glitch/components/icon_button';
-
-const messages = defineMessages({
-  compress: { id: 'lightbox.compress', defaultMessage: 'Compress image view box' },
-  expand: { id: 'lightbox.expand', defaultMessage: 'Expand image view box' },
-});
-
 const MIN_SCALE = 1;
 const MAX_SCALE = 4;
 const NAV_BAR_HEIGHT = 66;
@@ -104,8 +93,7 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
     width: PropTypes.number,
     height: PropTypes.number,
     onClick: PropTypes.func,
-    zoomButtonHidden: PropTypes.bool,
-    intl: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+    zoomedIn: PropTypes.bool,
   };
 
   static defaultProps = {
@@ -131,8 +119,6 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
       translateX: null,
       translateY: null,
     },
-    zoomState: 'expand', // 'expand' 'compress'
-    navigationHidden: false,
     dragPosition: { top: 0, left: 0, x: 0, y: 0 },
     dragged: false,
     lockScroll: { x: 0, y: 0 },
@@ -169,35 +155,20 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
     this.container.addEventListener('DOMMouseScroll', handler);
     this.removers.push(() => this.container.removeEventListener('DOMMouseScroll', handler));
 
-    this.initZoomMatrix();
+    this._initZoomMatrix();
   }
 
   componentWillUnmount () {
-    this.removeEventListeners();
+    this._removeEventListeners();
   }
 
-  componentDidUpdate () {
-    this.setState({ zoomState: this.state.scale >= this.state.zoomMatrix.rate ? 'compress' : 'expand' });
-
-    if (this.state.scale === MIN_SCALE) {
-      this.container.style.removeProperty('cursor');
+  componentDidUpdate (prevProps) {
+    if (prevProps.zoomedIn !== this.props.zoomedIn) {
+      this._toggleZoom();
     }
   }
 
-  UNSAFE_componentWillReceiveProps () {
-    // reset when slide to next image
-    if (this.props.zoomButtonHidden) {
-      this.setState({
-        scale: MIN_SCALE,
-        lockTranslate: { x: 0, y: 0 },
-      }, () => {
-        this.container.scrollLeft = 0;
-        this.container.scrollTop = 0;
-      });
-    }
-  }
-
-  removeEventListeners () {
+  _removeEventListeners () {
     this.removers.forEach(listeners => listeners());
     this.removers = [];
   }
@@ -220,9 +191,6 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
   };
 
   mouseDownHandler = e => {
-    this.container.style.cursor = 'grabbing';
-    this.container.style.userSelect = 'none';
-
     this.setState({ dragPosition: {
       left: this.container.scrollLeft,
       top: this.container.scrollTop,
@@ -246,9 +214,6 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
   };
 
   mouseUpHandler = () => {
-    this.container.style.cursor = 'grab';
-    this.container.style.removeProperty('user-select');
-
     this.image.removeEventListener('mousemove', this.mouseMoveHandler);
     this.image.removeEventListener('mouseup', this.mouseUpHandler);
   };
@@ -276,13 +241,13 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
     const _MAX_SCALE = Math.max(MAX_SCALE, this.state.zoomMatrix.rate);
     const scale = clamp(MIN_SCALE, _MAX_SCALE, this.state.scale * distance / this.lastDistance);
 
-    this.zoom(scale, midpoint);
+    this._zoom(scale, midpoint);
 
     this.lastMidpoint = midpoint;
     this.lastDistance = distance;
   };
 
-  zoom(nextScale, midpoint) {
+  _zoom(nextScale, midpoint) {
     const { scale, zoomMatrix } = this.state;
     const { scrollLeft, scrollTop } = this.container;
 
@@ -318,14 +283,13 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
     if (dragged) return;
     const handler = this.props.onClick;
     if (handler) handler();
-    this.setState({ navigationHidden: !this.state.navigationHidden });
   };
 
   handleMouseDown = e => {
     e.preventDefault();
   };
 
-  initZoomMatrix = () => {
+  _initZoomMatrix = () => {
     const { width, height } = this.props;
     const { clientWidth, clientHeight } = this.container;
     const { offsetWidth, offsetHeight } = this.image;
@@ -357,10 +321,7 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
     });
   };
 
-  handleZoomClick = e => {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    e.stopPropagation();
-
+  _toggleZoom () {
     const { scale, zoomMatrix } = this.state;
 
     if ( scale >= zoomMatrix.rate ) {
@@ -394,10 +355,7 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
         this.container.scrollTop = zoomMatrix.scrollTop;
       });
     }
-
-    this.container.style.cursor = 'grab';
-    this.container.style.removeProperty('user-select');
-  };
+  }
 
   setContainerRef = c => {
     this.container = c;
@@ -408,52 +366,37 @@ class ZoomableImage extends PureComponent {
   };
 
   render () {
-    const { alt, lang, src, width, height, intl } = this.props;
-    const { scale, lockTranslate } = this.state;
+    const { alt, lang, src, width, height } = this.props;
+    const { scale, lockTranslate, dragged } = this.state;
     const overflow = scale === MIN_SCALE ? 'hidden' : 'scroll';
-    const zoomButtonShouldHide = this.state.navigationHidden || this.props.zoomButtonHidden || this.state.zoomMatrix.rate <= MIN_SCALE ? 'media-modal__zoom-button--hidden' : '';
-    const zoomButtonTitle = this.state.zoomState === 'compress' ? intl.formatMessage(messages.compress) : intl.formatMessage(messages.expand);
+    const cursor = scale === MIN_SCALE ? null : (dragged ? 'grabbing' : 'grab');
 
     return (
-      <>
-        <IconButton
-          className={`media-modal__zoom-button ${zoomButtonShouldHide}`}
-          title={zoomButtonTitle}
-          icon={this.state.zoomState}
-          iconComponent={this.state.zoomState === 'compress' ? FullscreenExitIcon : RectangleIcon}
-          onClick={this.handleZoomClick}
-          size={40}
+      <div
+        className='zoomable-image'
+        ref={this.setContainerRef}
+        style={{ overflow, cursor, userSelect: 'none' }}
+      >
+        <img
+          role='presentation'
+          ref={this.setImageRef}
+          alt={alt}
+          title={alt}
+          lang={lang}
+          src={src}
+          width={width}
+          height={height}
           style={{
-            fontSize: '30px', /* Fontawesome's fa-compress fa-expand is larger than fa-close */
+            transform: `scale(${scale}) translate(-${lockTranslate.x}px, -${lockTranslate.y}px)`,
+            transformOrigin: '0 0',
           }}
+          draggable={false}
+          onClick={this.handleClick}
+          onMouseDown={this.handleMouseDown}
         />
-        <div
-          className='zoomable-image'
-          ref={this.setContainerRef}
-          style={{ overflow }}
-        >
-          <img
-            role='presentation'
-            ref={this.setImageRef}
-            alt={alt}
-            title={alt}
-            lang={lang}
-            src={src}
-            width={width}
-            height={height}
-            style={{
-              transform: `scale(${scale}) translate(-${lockTranslate.x}px, -${lockTranslate.y}px)`,
-              transformOrigin: '0 0',
-            }}
-            draggable={false}
-            onClick={this.handleClick}
-            onMouseDown={this.handleMouseDown}
-          />
-        </div>
-      </>
+      </div>
     );
   }
-
 }
 
-export default injectIntl(ZoomableImage);
+export default ZoomableImage;
diff --git a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components.scss b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components.scss
index 7539fb6ddc..f044227c95 100644
--- a/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components.scss
+++ b/app/javascript/flavours/glitch/styles/components.scss
@@ -6212,19 +6212,34 @@ a.status-card {
   height: 100%;
   position: relative;
 
-  &__close,
-  &__zoom-button {
-    color: rgba($white, 0.7);
+  &__buttons {
+    position: absolute;
+    inset-inline-end: 8px;
+    top: 8px;
+    z-index: 100;
+    display: flex;
+    gap: 8px;
+    align-items: center;
 
-    &:hover,
-    &:focus,
-    &:active {
-      color: $white;
-      background-color: rgba($white, 0.15);
-    }
+    .icon-button {
+      color: rgba($white, 0.7);
+      padding: 8px;
 
-    &:focus {
-      background-color: rgba($white, 0.3);
+      .icon {
+        width: 24px;
+        height: 24px;
+      }
+
+      &:hover,
+      &:focus,
+      &:active {
+        color: $white;
+        background-color: rgba($white, 0.15);
+      }
+
+      &:focus {
+        background-color: rgba($white, 0.3);
+      }
     }
   }
 }
@@ -6385,28 +6400,6 @@ a.status-card {
   }
 }
 
-.media-modal__close {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset-inline-end: 8px;
-  top: 8px;
-  z-index: 100;
-}
-
-.media-modal__zoom-button {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset-inline-end: 64px;
-  top: 8px;
-  z-index: 100;
-  pointer-events: auto;
-  transition: opacity 0.3s linear;
-  will-change: opacity;
-}
-
-.media-modal__zoom-button--hidden {
-  pointer-events: none;
-  opacity: 0;
-}
-
 .onboarding-modal,
 .error-modal,
 .embed-modal {