diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 41d277851d..f7fa5f88b1 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4018,6 +4018,9 @@ dependencies = [
  "wasm-bindgen-futures",
  "web-sys",
  "wgpu-core",
+ "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-arch-wasm32",
+ "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple",
+ "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple",
  "wgpu-hal",
  "wgpu-types",
 ]
@@ -4065,6 +4068,27 @@ dependencies = [
  "wgpu-types",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-arch-wasm32"
+version = "24.0.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "wgpu-core",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple"
+version = "24.0.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "wgpu-core",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple"
+version = "24.0.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "wgpu-core",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "wgpu-examples"
 version = "24.0.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index fc5c0e0b85..44e20e6076 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ members = [
     "wgpu-macros",
     "wgpu-types",
     "wgpu",
+    "wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32",
+    "wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple",
+    "wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple",
 ]
 exclude = []
 default-members = [
@@ -38,6 +41,9 @@ default-members = [
     "wgpu-macros",
     "wgpu-types",
     "wgpu",
+    "wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32",
+    "wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple",
+    "wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple",
 ]
 
 [workspace.lints.clippy]
@@ -73,6 +79,18 @@ version = "24.0.0"
 path = "./naga"
 version = "24.0.0"
 
+[workspace.dependencies.wgpu-core-feature-conditional-arch-wasm32]
+path = "./wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32"
+version = "24.0.0"
+
+[workspace.dependencies.wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple]
+path = "./wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple"
+version = "24.0.0"
+
+[workspace.dependencies.wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple]
+path = "./wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple"
+version = "24.0.0"
+
 [workspace.dependencies]
 anyhow = "1.0.95"
 argh = "0.1.13"
diff --git a/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32/Cargo.toml b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f25b5c10f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+[package]
+name = "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-arch-wasm32"
+version.workspace = true
+authors.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+description = "Workaround crate for enabling features in wgpu-core when targeting wasm32"
+homepage.workspace = true
+repository.workspace = true
+keywords.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+
+[lib]
+
+[features]
+gles = ["wgc/gles"]
+
+[target.'cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")'.dependencies.wgc]
+workspace = true
diff --git a/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32/src/lib.rs b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..174c77f96a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/arch-wasm32/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+//! No code. See README.md for details.
diff --git a/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple/Cargo.toml b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81d8e89b13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+[package]
+name = "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple"
+version.workspace = true
+authors.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+description = "Workaround crate for enabling features in wgpu-core when targeting macOS/iOS"
+homepage.workspace = true
+repository.workspace = true
+keywords.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+
+[lib]
+
+[features]
+gles = ["wgc/gles"]
+renderdoc = ["wgc/renderdoc"]
+vulkan = ["wgc/vulkan"]
+
+raw-window-handle = ["wgc/raw-window-handle"]
+
+[target.'cfg(any(windows, all(unix, not(target_arch = "wasm32"), not(target_vendor = "apple"))))'.dependencies.wgc]
+workspace = true
diff --git a/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple/src/lib.rs b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..174c77f96a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/native-non-apple/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+//! No code. See README.md for details.
diff --git a/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple/Cargo.toml b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..507cb949ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+[package]
+name = "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple"
+version.workspace = true
+authors.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+description = "Workaround crate for enabling features in wgpu-core when targeting macOS/iOS"
+homepage.workspace = true
+repository.workspace = true
+keywords.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+
+[lib]
+
+[features]
+gles = ["wgc/gles"]
+metal = ["wgc/metal"]
+vulkan = ["wgc/vulkan"]
+
+raw-window-handle = ["wgc/raw-window-handle"]
+
+[target.'cfg(target_vendor = "apple")'.dependencies.wgc]
+workspace = true
diff --git a/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple/src/lib.rs b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..174c77f96a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wgpu-core-target-feature-conditionals/vendor-apple/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+//! No code. See README.md for details.
diff --git a/wgpu-core/src/lib.rs b/wgpu-core/src/lib.rs
index 4c2ea81490..3cdd65012e 100644
--- a/wgpu-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/wgpu-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ pub mod validation;
 
 pub use validation::{map_storage_format_from_naga, map_storage_format_to_naga};
 
+pub use ::hal;
 pub use hal::{api, MAX_BIND_GROUPS, MAX_COLOR_ATTACHMENTS, MAX_VERTEX_BUFFERS};
 pub use naga;
 
diff --git a/wgpu/Cargo.toml b/wgpu/Cargo.toml
index 8df1295852..52e920481f 100644
--- a/wgpu/Cargo.toml
+++ b/wgpu/Cargo.toml
@@ -29,33 +29,44 @@ ignored = ["cfg_aliases"]
 [lib]
 
 [features]
-default = ["wgsl", "dx12", "metal", "webgpu"]
+# TODO: should we disable GLES by default? keeping it for now since that's what we did effectively so far.
+default = ["wgsl", "dx12", "metal", "vulkan", "gles", "webgpu"]
 
 #! ### Backends
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
-#! ⚠️ WIP: Not all backends can be manually configured today.
-#! On Windows, Linux & Android the Vulkan & GLES backends are always enabled.
-#! See [#3514](https://github.com/gfx-rs/wgpu/issues/3514) for more details.
 
 ## Enables the DX12 backend on Windows.
-dx12 = ["wgc?/dx12"]
+dx12 = [
+    "wgc/dx12",
+] # Dx12 doesn't do anything on non-windows wgpu-core & wgpu-hal, so we don't need a proxy crate here.
 
 ## Enables the Metal backend on macOS & iOS.
-metal = ["wgc?/metal"]
+metal = [
+    "wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple/metal",
+] # Metal doesn't do anything on non-Apple wgpu-core & wgpu-hal, but we already have a proxy crate for Apple platforms anyways.
 
-## Enables the WebGPU backend on Wasm. Disabled when targeting `emscripten`.
-webgpu = ["naga?/wgsl-out"]
-
-## Enables the GLES backend via [ANGLE](https://github.com/google/angle) on macOS using.
-angle = ["wgc?/gles"]
+## Enables the Vulkan backend on Windows, Linux, and Android.
+##
+## For enabling Vulkan on macOS & iOS, use the `vulkan-portability` feature.
+vulkan = ["wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple/vulkan"]
 
 ## Enables the Vulkan backend on macOS & iOS.
-vulkan-portability = ["wgc?/vulkan"]
+vulkan-portability = ["wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple/vulkan"]
 
-## Enables the GLES backend on Wasm
+## Enables the OpenGL/GLES backend on Windows, Linux, and Android.
 ##
-## * ⚠️ WIP: Currently will also enable GLES dependencies on any other targets.
-webgl = ["dep:hal", "wgc/gles"]
+## For enabling WebGL use the `webgl` feature, for enabling OpenGL via ANGLE on macOS use the `angle` feature.
+gles = ["wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple/gles"]
+
+## Enables the GLES backend via [ANGLE](https://github.com/google/angle) on macOS using.
+angle = ["wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple/gles"]
+
+## Enables GLES backend (WebGL) on Wasm
+webgl = ["wgpu-core-feature-conditional-arch-wasm32/gles"]
+
+## Enables the WebGPU backend on Wasm. Disabled when targeting `emscripten`.
+webgpu = ["naga?/wgsl-out"]
+
 
 #! **Note:** In the documentation, if you see that an item depends on a backend,
 #! it means that the item is only available when that backend is enabled _and_ the backend
@@ -140,46 +151,22 @@ features = ["raw-window-handle"]
 # Whenever wgpu-core is selected, we want raw window handle support.
 [target.'cfg(any(not(target_arch = "wasm32"), target_os = "emscripten"))'.dependencies.wgc]
 workspace = true
+optional = true
 features = ["raw-window-handle"]
 
 # If we are not targeting WebGL, enable indirect-validation.
 # WebGL doesn't support indirect execution so this is not needed.
 [target.'cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))'.dependencies.wgc]
 workspace = true
+optional = true
 features = ["indirect-validation"]
 
-# Enable `wgc` by default on macOS and iOS to allow the `metal` crate feature to
-# enable the Metal backend while being no-op on other targets.
-[target.'cfg(target_vendor = "apple")'.dependencies.wgc]
-workspace = true
-
-# We want the wgpu-core Direct3D backend and OpenGL (via WGL) on Windows.
-[target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies.wgc]
-workspace = true
-features = ["gles"]
-
-# We want the wgpu-core Vulkan backend on Unix (but not emscripten, macOS, iOS) and Windows.
-[target.'cfg(any(windows, all(unix, not(target_os = "emscripten"), not(target_vendor = "apple"))))'.dependencies.wgc]
-workspace = true
-features = ["vulkan"]
-
-# We want the wgpu-core GLES backend on Unix (but not macOS, iOS).
-[target.'cfg(all(unix, not(target_vendor = "apple")))'.dependencies.wgc]
-workspace = true
-features = ["gles"]
-
 [dependencies.wgt]
 workspace = true
 
-# We need wgpu-hal unless we're targeting the web APIs.
-[target.'cfg(any(not(target_arch = "wasm32"), target_os = "emscripten"))'.dependencies]
-hal = { workspace = true }
-
-[target.'cfg(all(not(target_arch = "wasm32"), unix, not(target_vendor = "apple")))'.dependencies]
-hal = { workspace = true, features = ["renderdoc"] }
-
-[target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
-hal = { workspace = true, features = ["renderdoc"] }
+# If hal is dragged in via wgc, enable renderdoc if we're native & not on apple.
+[target.'cfg(all(not(target_arch = "wasm32"), any(unix, windows), not(target_vendor = "apple")))'.dependencies]
+hal = { workspace = true, optional = true, features = ["renderdoc"] }
 
 [target.'cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")'.dependencies.hal]
 workspace = true
@@ -197,6 +184,10 @@ serde = { workspace = true, features = ["default", "derive"], optional = true }
 smallvec.workspace = true
 static_assertions.workspace = true
 
+wgpu-core-feature-conditional-arch-wasm32 = { workspace = true, optional = true }
+wgpu-core-feature-conditional-native-non-apple = { workspace = true, optional = true }
+wgpu-core-feature-conditional-vendor-apple = { workspace = true, optional = true }
+
 [dependencies.naga]
 workspace = true
 optional = true
diff --git a/wgpu/build.rs b/wgpu/build.rs
index d853281dfa..604b3bd5e1 100644
--- a/wgpu/build.rs
+++ b/wgpu/build.rs
@@ -4,13 +4,24 @@ fn main() {
         webgl: { all(target_arch = "wasm32", not(target_os = "emscripten"), feature = "webgl") },
         webgpu: { all(target_arch = "wasm32", not(target_os = "emscripten"), feature = "webgpu") },
         Emscripten: { all(target_arch = "wasm32", target_os = "emscripten") },
-        wgpu_core: { any(native, webgl, Emscripten) },
         send_sync: { any(
             not(target_arch = "wasm32"),
             all(feature = "fragile-send-sync-non-atomic-wasm", not(target_feature = "atomics"))
         ) },
         dx12: { all(target_os = "windows", feature = "dx12") },
         metal: { all(target_vendor = "apple", feature = "metal") },
+        vulkan: {
+            any(all(feature = "vulkan-portability", target_vendor = "apple"),
+                all(feature = "vulkan", native, not(target_vendor = "apple"))
+            )},
+        gles: {
+            any(
+                webgl,
+                all(feature = "angle", target_vendor = "apple"),
+                all(feature = "gles", native, not(target_vendor = "apple"))
+            )
+        },
+        wgpu_core: { any(dx12, webgl, metal, vulkan) },
         // This alias is _only_ if _we_ need naga in the wrapper. wgpu-core provides
         // its own re-export of naga, which can be used in other situations
         naga: { any(feature = "naga-ir", feature = "spirv", feature = "glsl") },
diff --git a/wgpu/src/api/instance.rs b/wgpu/src/api/instance.rs
index a8daf37fdc..3b54ec4658 100644
--- a/wgpu/src/api/instance.rs
+++ b/wgpu/src/api/instance.rs
@@ -60,45 +60,23 @@ impl Instance {
     ///
     /// `InstanceDescriptor::backends` does not need to be a subset of this,
     /// but any backend that is not in this set, will not be picked.
-    ///
-    /// TODO: Right now it's otherwise not possible yet to opt-out of all features on some platforms.
-    /// See <https://github.com/gfx-rs/wgpu/issues/3514>
-    /// * Windows/Linux/Android: always enables Vulkan and GLES with no way to opt out
     pub const fn enabled_backend_features() -> Backends {
         let mut backends = Backends::empty();
-
-        if cfg!(native) {
-            if cfg!(metal) {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::METAL);
-            }
-            if cfg!(dx12) {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::DX12);
-            }
-
-            // Windows, Android, Linux currently always enable Vulkan and OpenGL.
-            // See <https://github.com/gfx-rs/wgpu/issues/3514>
-            if cfg!(target_os = "windows") || cfg!(unix) {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::VULKAN).union(Backends::GL);
-            }
-
-            // Vulkan on Mac/iOS is only available through vulkan-portability.
-            if cfg!(target_vendor = "apple") && cfg!(feature = "vulkan-portability") {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::VULKAN);
-            }
-
-            // GL on Mac is only available through angle.
-            if cfg!(target_os = "macos") && cfg!(feature = "angle") {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::GL);
-            }
-        } else {
-            if cfg!(webgpu) {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::BROWSER_WEBGPU);
-            }
-            if cfg!(webgl) {
-                backends = backends.union(Backends::GL);
-            }
+        if cfg!(metal) {
+            backends = backends.union(Backends::METAL);
+        }
+        if cfg!(dx12) {
+            backends = backends.union(Backends::DX12);
+        }
+        if cfg!(vulkan) {
+            backends = backends.union(Backends::VULKAN);
+        }
+        if cfg!(gles) {
+            backends = backends.union(Backends::GL);
+        }
+        if cfg!(webgpu) {
+            backends = backends.union(Backends::BROWSER_WEBGPU);
         }
-
         backends
     }
 
@@ -221,7 +199,7 @@ impl Instance {
     /// # Arguments
     ///
     /// - `backends` - Backends from which to enumerate adapters.
-    #[cfg(native)]
+    #[cfg(all(native, wgpu_core))]
     pub fn enumerate_adapters(&self, backends: Backends) -> Vec<Adapter> {
         let Some(core_instance) = self.inner.as_core_opt() else {
             return Vec::new();
diff --git a/wgpu/src/backend/wgpu_core.rs b/wgpu/src/backend/wgpu_core.rs
index ad750860bc..edb7efa6fd 100644
--- a/wgpu/src/backend/wgpu_core.rs
+++ b/wgpu/src/backend/wgpu_core.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ use std::{
     borrow::Cow::Borrowed, error::Error, fmt, future::ready, ops::Range, pin::Pin, ptr::NonNull,
     slice, sync::Arc,
 };
-use wgc::{command::bundle_ffi::*, error::ContextErrorSource, pipeline::CreateShaderModuleError};
+use wgc::{
+    command::bundle_ffi::*, error::ContextErrorSource, hal, pipeline::CreateShaderModuleError,
+};
 use wgt::WasmNotSendSync;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
diff --git a/wgpu/src/lib.rs b/wgpu/src/lib.rs
index f94be6bdf1..32d82888f3 100644
--- a/wgpu/src/lib.rs
+++ b/wgpu/src/lib.rs
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ pub use ::wgc as core;
 ///
 ///
 #[cfg(wgpu_core)]
-pub use ::hal;
+pub use ::wgc::hal;
 
 /// Re-export of our `naga` dependency.
 ///
diff --git a/wgpu/src/util/init.rs b/wgpu/src/util/init.rs
index 54de26da65..d48047eb03 100644
--- a/wgpu/src/util/init.rs
+++ b/wgpu/src/util/init.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use crate::{Adapter, Instance, RequestAdapterOptions, Surface};
 use crate::Backends;
 
 /// Initialize the adapter obeying the WGPU_ADAPTER_NAME environment variable.
-#[cfg(native)]
+#[cfg(all(native, wgpu_core))]
 pub fn initialize_adapter_from_env(
     instance: &Instance,
     compatible_surface: Option<&Surface<'_>>,
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub fn initialize_adapter_from_env(
 }
 
 /// Initialize the adapter obeying the WGPU_ADAPTER_NAME environment variable.
-#[cfg(not(native))]
+#[cfg(not(all(native, wgpu_core)))]
 pub fn initialize_adapter_from_env(
     _instance: &Instance,
     _compatible_surface: Option<&Surface<'_>>,