diff --git a/crates/fff-c/src/lib.rs b/crates/fff-c/src/lib.rs
index 0e0d0c91..cdbcb710 100644
--- a/crates/fff-c/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-c/src/lib.rs
@@ -737,6 +737,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn fff_live_grep(
         max_file_size: default_u64(max_file_size, 10 * 1024 * 1024),
         max_matches_per_file: max_matches_per_file as usize,
         smart_case,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: file_offset as usize,
         page_limit: default_u32(page_limit, 50) as usize,
         mode: grep_mode_from_u8(mode),
@@ -840,6 +841,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn fff_multi_grep(
         max_file_size: default_u64(max_file_size, 10 * 1024 * 1024),
         max_matches_per_file: max_matches_per_file as usize,
         smart_case,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: file_offset as usize,
         page_limit: default_u32(page_limit, 50) as usize,
         mode: fff::GrepMode::PlainText, // ignored by multi_grep_search
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/src/grep.rs b/crates/fff-core/src/grep.rs
index 5c73fa5b..9960e814 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/src/grep.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/src/grep.rs
@@ -228,6 +228,14 @@ fn replace_unescaped_newline_escapes(text: &str) -> String {
     String::from_utf8(result).unwrap_or_else(|_| text.to_string())
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
+pub enum CaseMode {
+    #[default]
+    Smart,
+    Sensitive,
+    Insensitive,
+}
+
 /// Controls how the grep pattern is interpreted.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
 pub enum GrepMode {
@@ -335,6 +343,10 @@ pub struct GrepSearchOptions {
     pub max_file_size: u64,
     pub max_matches_per_file: usize,
     pub smart_case: bool,
+    /// Explicit case mode. When `Some`, overrides `smart_case`. When `None`,
+    /// `smart_case` is used (true => Smart, false => Sensitive). Non-breaking
+    /// addition; existing callers can ignore this field.
+    pub case_mode: Option<CaseMode>,
     /// File-based pagination offset: index into the sorted/filtered file list
     /// to start searching from. Pass 0 for the first page, then use
     /// `GrepResult::next_file_offset` for subsequent pages.
@@ -364,12 +376,25 @@ pub struct GrepSearchOptions {
     pub abort_signal: Option<Arc<AtomicBool>>,
 }
 
+impl GrepSearchOptions {
+    /// Resolves the effective case mode, preferring explicit `case_mode` over
+    /// the legacy `smart_case` boolean.
+    pub fn effective_case_mode(&self) -> CaseMode {
+        match self.case_mode {
+            Some(m) => m,
+            None if self.smart_case => CaseMode::Smart,
+            None => CaseMode::Sensitive,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl Default for GrepSearchOptions {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
             max_file_size: MAX_FFFILE_SIZE,
             max_matches_per_file: 200,
             smart_case: true,
+            case_mode: None,
             file_offset: 0,
             page_limit: 50,
             mode: GrepMode::default(),
@@ -1045,11 +1070,10 @@ pub(crate) fn multi_grep_search<'a>(
         };
     }
 
-    // Smart case: case-insensitive when all patterns are lowercase
-    let case_insensitive = if options.smart_case {
-        !patterns.iter().any(|p| p.chars().any(|c| c.is_uppercase()))
-    } else {
-        false
+    let case_insensitive = match options.effective_case_mode() {
+        CaseMode::Smart => !patterns.iter().any(|p| p.chars().any(|c| c.is_uppercase())),
+        CaseMode::Insensitive => true,
+        CaseMode::Sensitive => false,
     };
 
     let ac = aho_corasick::AhoCorasickBuilder::new()
@@ -1117,7 +1141,7 @@ const fn is_utf8_char_boundary(b: u8) -> bool {
 /// - The input is passed directly to the regex engine without escaping
 /// - Smart case still applies
 /// - Returns `None` for invalid regex patterns — the caller falls back to literal mode
-fn build_regex(pattern: &str, smart_case: bool) -> Result<regex::bytes::Regex, String> {
+fn build_regex(pattern: &str, case_mode: CaseMode) -> Result<regex::bytes::Regex, String> {
     if pattern.is_empty() {
         return Err("empty pattern".to_string());
     }
@@ -1128,10 +1152,10 @@ fn build_regex(pattern: &str, smart_case: bool) -> Result<regex::bytes::Regex, S
         pattern.to_string()
     };
 
-    let case_insensitive = if smart_case {
-        !pattern.chars().any(|c| c.is_uppercase())
-    } else {
-        false
+    let case_insensitive = match case_mode {
+        CaseMode::Smart => !pattern.chars().any(|c| c.is_uppercase()),
+        CaseMode::Insensitive => true,
+        CaseMode::Sensitive => false,
     };
 
     regex::bytes::RegexBuilder::new(&regex_pattern)
@@ -1995,10 +2019,10 @@ pub(crate) fn grep_search<'a>(
         };
     }
 
-    let case_insensitive = if options.smart_case {
-        !grep_text.chars().any(|c| c.is_uppercase())
-    } else {
-        false
+    let case_insensitive = match options.effective_case_mode() {
+        CaseMode::Smart => !grep_text.chars().any(|c| c.is_uppercase()),
+        CaseMode::Insensitive => true,
+        CaseMode::Sensitive => false,
     };
 
     let mut regex_fallback_error: Option<String> = None;
@@ -2089,7 +2113,7 @@ pub(crate) fn grep_search<'a>(
                 overflow_arena,
             );
         }
-        GrepMode::Regex => build_regex(&grep_text, options.smart_case)
+        GrepMode::Regex => build_regex(&grep_text, options.effective_case_mode())
             .inspect_err(|err| {
                 tracing::warn!("Regex compilation failed for {}. Error {}", grep_text, err);
 
@@ -2445,6 +2469,7 @@ mod tests {
             max_file_size: MAX_FFFILE_SIZE,
             max_matches_per_file: 0,
             smart_case: true,
+            case_mode: None,
             file_offset: 0,
             page_limit: 100,
             mode: super::GrepMode::PlainText,
@@ -2629,6 +2654,7 @@ mod tests {
             max_file_size: MAX_FFFILE_SIZE,
             max_matches_per_file: 0,
             smart_case: true,
+            case_mode: None,
             file_offset: 0,
             page_limit: 100,
             mode: super::GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_coherence_test.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_coherence_test.rs
index 6cee64e4..c5429516 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_coherence_test.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_coherence_test.rs
@@ -1310,6 +1310,7 @@ fn grep_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_integration.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_integration.rs
index c663acf8..da9d7730 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_integration.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/bigram_overlay_integration.rs
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ fn grep_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 200,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_file_operations.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_file_operations.rs
index e39a6906..7dc5e537 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_file_operations.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_file_operations.rs
@@ -627,6 +627,7 @@ fn grep_plain_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_git_watcher_stress.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_git_watcher_stress.rs
index f7ca1e80..673253bd 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_git_watcher_stress.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_git_watcher_stress.rs
@@ -892,6 +892,7 @@ fn grep_plain_matches(shared: &SharedFilePicker, query: &str) -> Vec<String> {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
@@ -929,6 +930,7 @@ fn grep_fuzzy_matches(shared: &SharedFilePicker, query: &str) -> Vec<String> {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode: GrepMode::Fuzzy,
@@ -961,6 +963,7 @@ fn grep_regex_matches(shared: &SharedFilePicker, query: &str) -> Vec<String> {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode: GrepMode::Regex,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_real_repos.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_real_repos.rs
index f83a0f52..e6aa978d 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_real_repos.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/fuzz_real_repos.rs
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ fn grep_opts(mode: GrepMode) -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/grep_integration.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/grep_integration.rs
index 2765de3c..423b2c5c 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/grep_integration.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/grep_integration.rs
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ fn plain_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 200,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ fn regex_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 200,
         mode: GrepMode::Regex,
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@ fn fuzzy_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 200,
         mode: GrepMode::Fuzzy,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/new_directory_watcher_test.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/new_directory_watcher_test.rs
index 9cb9fc11..3c1878e8 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/new_directory_watcher_test.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/new_directory_watcher_test.rs
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ fn grep_plain_count(picker: &FilePicker, query: &str) -> usize {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 500,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/path_separator_constraint_test.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/path_separator_constraint_test.rs
index 9519ef83..a26c44d6 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/path_separator_constraint_test.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/path_separator_constraint_test.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ fn plain_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 200,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-core/tests/real_binary_fixtures.rs b/crates/fff-core/tests/real_binary_fixtures.rs
index d7f383b6..f4de9af8 100644
--- a/crates/fff-core/tests/real_binary_fixtures.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-core/tests/real_binary_fixtures.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ fn plain_opts() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 200,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-mcp/src/server.rs b/crates/fff-mcp/src/server.rs
index 0fc6102a..22a87e4c 100644
--- a/crates/fff-mcp/src/server.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-mcp/src/server.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ fn make_grep_options(
             max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
             max_matches_per_file: matches_per_file,
             smart_case: true,
+            case_mode: None,
             file_offset,
             page_limit: 50,
             mode,
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/benches/fuzzy_search_bench.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/benches/fuzzy_search_bench.rs
index 8a1fcd57..12450aea 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/benches/fuzzy_search_bench.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/benches/fuzzy_search_bench.rs
@@ -628,6 +628,7 @@ fn bench_grep_search(c: &mut Criterion) {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 0,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 100,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/benches/grep_bench.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/benches/grep_bench.rs
index 64939946..529b3bcd 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/benches/grep_bench.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/benches/grep_bench.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ fn plain_options() -> GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 50,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/bench_grep_query.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/bench_grep_query.rs
index 063d0816..b9c70609 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/bench_grep_query.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/bench_grep_query.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ fn run_grep(picker: &FilePicker, query: &str, iters: usize) {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: usize::MAX,
         mode: GrepMode::PlainText,
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/fuzzy_grep_test.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/fuzzy_grep_test.rs
index e3bceac8..5b1b1a9b 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/fuzzy_grep_test.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/fuzzy_grep_test.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ fn run_fuzzy_query(picker: &FilePicker, query: &str, label: &str) {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 100,
         mode: GrepMode::Fuzzy,
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_profiler.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_profiler.rs
index 4c0386b2..186999ae 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_profiler.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_profiler.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ impl<'a> GrepBench<'a> {
                 max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
                 max_matches_per_file: 200,
                 smart_case: true,
+                case_mode: None,
                 file_offset: 0,
                 page_limit: 50,
                 mode,
@@ -410,6 +411,7 @@ fn main() {
             max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
             max_matches_per_file: 200,
             smart_case: true,
+            case_mode: None,
             file_offset,
             page_limit: 50,
             mode: Default::default(),
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_vs_rg.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_vs_rg.rs
index f202fc1f..eb278d16 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_vs_rg.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/src/bin/grep_vs_rg.rs
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ fn run_fff_full(picker: &FilePicker, query: &str) -> (usize, Duration) {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: usize::MAX,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: usize::MAX,
         mode: Default::default(),
@@ -186,6 +187,7 @@ fn run_fff_page(picker: &FilePicker, query: &str) -> (usize, Duration) {
         max_file_size: 10 * 1024 * 1024,
         max_matches_per_file: 200,
         smart_case: true,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: 0,
         page_limit: 50,
         mode: Default::default(),
diff --git a/crates/fff-nvim/src/lib.rs b/crates/fff-nvim/src/lib.rs
index a9f3cb2d..25dccdde 100644
--- a/crates/fff-nvim/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-nvim/src/lib.rs
@@ -436,6 +436,7 @@ pub fn live_grep(
         grep_mode,
         time_budget_ms,
         trim_whitespace,
+        case_mode,
     ): (
         String,
         Option<usize>,
@@ -446,6 +447,7 @@ pub fn live_grep(
         Option<String>,
         Option<u64>,
         Option<bool>,
+        Option<String>,
     ),
 ) -> LuaResult<LuaValue> {
     let file_picker_guard = FILE_PICKER.read().into_lua_result()?;
@@ -460,10 +462,18 @@ pub fn live_grep(
         _ => fff::GrepMode::PlainText, // "plain" or nil or unknown
     };
 
+    let case_mode = match case_mode.as_deref() {
+        Some("smart") => Some(fff::CaseMode::Smart),
+        Some("sensitive") => Some(fff::CaseMode::Sensitive),
+        Some("insensitive") => Some(fff::CaseMode::Insensitive),
+        _ => None,
+    };
+
     let options = fff::GrepSearchOptions {
         max_file_size: max_file_size.unwrap_or(10 * 1024 * 1024),
         max_matches_per_file: max_matches_per_file.unwrap_or(200),
         smart_case: smart_case.unwrap_or(true),
+        case_mode,
         file_offset: file_offset.unwrap_or(0),
         page_limit: page_size.unwrap_or(50),
         mode,
diff --git a/crates/fff-python/src/finder.rs b/crates/fff-python/src/finder.rs
index e61232fc..d12d575f 100644
--- a/crates/fff-python/src/finder.rs
+++ b/crates/fff-python/src/finder.rs
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ fn grep_options(
         max_file_size: defaulted_u64(max_file_size, defaults.max_file_size),
         max_matches_per_file: max_matches_per_file as usize,
         smart_case,
+        case_mode: None,
         file_offset: cursor_offset,
         page_limit: defaulted_usize(page_limit, defaults.page_limit),
         mode,
diff --git a/lua/fff/conf.lua b/lua/fff/conf.lua
index dcb53e01..d5c3d968 100644
--- a/lua/fff/conf.lua
+++ b/lua/fff/conf.lua
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ local M = {}
 --- @field max_file_size number
 --- @field max_matches_per_file number
 --- @field smart_case boolean
+--- @field case_mode? "smart"|"sensitive"|"insensitive"
 --- @field time_budget_ms number
 --- @field modes string[]
 --- @field trim_whitespace boolean
@@ -414,7 +415,8 @@ local function init()
     grep = {
       max_file_size = 10 * 1024 * 1024, -- Skip files larger than 10MB
       max_matches_per_file = 100, -- Maximum matches per file (set 0 to unlimited)
-      smart_case = true, -- Case-insensitive unless query has uppercase
+      smart_case = true, -- Case-insensitive unless query has uppercase (legacy; prefer case_mode)
+      case_mode = nil, -- Optional: "smart" | "sensitive" | "insensitive". Overrides smart_case when set.
       time_budget_ms = 150, -- Max search time in ms per call (prevents UI freeze, 0 = no limit)
       modes = { 'plain', 'regex', 'fuzzy' }, -- Available grep modes and their cycling order
       trim_whitespace = false, -- Strip leading whitespace from matched lines (useful for cleaner display)
diff --git a/lua/fff/main.lua b/lua/fff/main.lua
index 1418a2d7..59eee551 100644
--- a/lua/fff/main.lua
+++ b/lua/fff/main.lua
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ end
 --- @field max_file_size? number Skip files larger than N bytes (default: config.grep.max_file_size).
 --- @field max_matches_per_file? number Cap matches per file, 0 = unlimited (default: config.grep.max_matches_per_file).
 --- @field smart_case? boolean Case-insensitive when query is all lowercase (default: config.grep.smart_case).
+--- @field case_mode? "smart"|"sensitive"|"insensitive" Explicit case mode (default: config.grep.case_mode). Overrides smart_case.
 --- @field page_size? number Max matches returned (default: 50).
 --- @field file_offset? number File-based pagination offset (default: 0).
 --- @field time_budget_ms? number Max wall-clock time, 0 = unlimited (default: config.grep.time_budget_ms).
@@ -348,6 +349,7 @@ function M.content_search(query, opts)
     max_file_size = opts.max_file_size or grep_cfg.max_file_size,
     max_matches_per_file = opts.max_matches_per_file or grep_cfg.max_matches_per_file,
     smart_case = opts.smart_case == nil and grep_cfg.smart_case or opts.smart_case,
+    case_mode = opts.case_mode == nil and grep_cfg.case_mode or opts.case_mode,
     time_budget_ms = opts.time_budget_ms or grep_cfg.time_budget_ms,
     trim_whitespace = opts.trim_whitespace == nil and grep_cfg.trim_whitespace or opts.trim_whitespace,
   }
diff --git a/lua/fff/picker_ui/grep_renderer.lua b/lua/fff/picker_ui/grep_renderer.lua
index ef022afc..db20acc7 100644
--- a/lua/fff/picker_ui/grep_renderer.lua
+++ b/lua/fff/picker_ui/grep_renderer.lua
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ function M.search(query, file_offset, page_size, config, grep_mode)
     conf.smart_case,
     grep_mode or 'plain',
     conf.time_budget_ms,
-    conf.trim_whitespace
+    conf.trim_whitespace,
+    conf.case_mode
   )
   return last_result
 end