Question

Check with your font options

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-fonts-and-colors-websites-use

What should I check in my font options?

check whether its uses default font

I am using Verdana (16 pt), but it also happens with the default font.

If you zoom pages then the result can always be unpredictable.

Does this only happen if you zoom the page, either will a full and with a text zoom (Zoom Text Only)?

Does this also happen with these extensions?

• Default FullZoom Level: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/default-fullzoom-level/
• NoSquint: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/nosquint/

You can alternatively set a larger default minimum font size, but this can cause issues with overlapping or disappearing text on pages that use absolute values for container height.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Changing+fonts+and+colors

I have this problem too. I tried many settings, direct draw, hardware acceleration etc, but it does not help. The only solution for now is to revert back to Firefox 17. I wonder why there is no massive outrage on the internets. Everyone uses Gmail, right? And Gmail fonts are broken too.

No, it happens with random sites for me. I never use zoom. For example, it happens on twitter, when I expand a tweet. Suddenly all the fonts become messed up. And it happens on other sites too. I tried fixes, found on the internet, but none of them worked. It seems to be some rare and dependable bug. My system: Xubuntu 12.04.1, amd64, FF 18.0.1. There is no problem on Windows, btw.

For me, the problem has been solved with an upgrade to Firefox 18.0.1.

Nah, didn't work. That's why I'm here. I thought update will fix this bug, but now I'm sure it's not.

Hi, i have the same problem as Awawa, and i have the same system. Xubuntu 12.04.1 i686. Hope we can find a fix, don't want to move to another browser.

i also have an issue with blurry fonts in linux (gentoo x86 in both firefox (compiled from source) and firefox-bin (official binaries from mozilla.org) packages). gmail in ff17 vs gmail in ff18 below:

Strange, for me (Gentoo x86_64, stable), I only get that problem with the "firefox" package. "firefox-bin" works fine.

Oh! I forgot to mention, I am using freetype-2.4.11 *with infinality patches*. Maybe that's the point.

This is a change in FF 18, so it's not a hardware acceleration problem. By blurred I assume the original poster means jagged. At least that's what I have on a few web sites that use a sans serif font.

I do NOT want to override all site defined fonts. That ruins some web pages. The Hardware acceleration setting has no effect. I can live with the jagged fonts on the few sites affected, but it's not pleasant.

It looks like the fonts are being displayed without benefit of font smoothing. In any case it's a new "feature" of FF 18 (currently 18.0.1).

Found a solution. I've installed Firefox 19 beta, and all is ok for now, i hope this feature doesn't come back with the Firefox 19 release. My system is Xubuntu 12.04.01.

Edit: Switched to Debian Linux but the problem still remains with Firefox 18, the Firefox 19 beta seems to be working.

same with larophel here: i am using gentoo x86_64, it seems the problem only happens in my firefox (compiled from source), while in firefox-bin fonts are fine

even with fox 19 beta?

i only tried firefox 18.0.1

Try 19 beta, or downgrade to 17, until the 19 comes out, if you don't like to use beta stuff. Cheers!

i think i will just use official 18.0.1 binary for now, which does not suffer from this problem

I've found a solution

1. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
2. Click I'll be careful, I promise!, to continue to the about:config page.
3. Search for the layers.acceleration.force-enabled key and set this to true
4. Search for the layers.acceleration.disabled key and set this to false

1. OPTIONALLY set gfx.xrender.enabled to false to increase quality at the cost of performance

Confirmed that this fixed it for me.

I just upgraded to 19 and I am having random font issues on Firefox now. This is a cut/paste from here in the Mozilla forums to show you what I mean. Is this the issues that the rest of the people are talking about here?

Are you using Themes in Firefox?

Make use of Firefox Default theme.

Check whether your using the default font

• support.mozilla.org/en.../change-fonts-and-colors-websites-use

Change your font and size

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/theme-font-size-changer/

Am on default theme. Tried changing fonts/size and still get the issue. It is very strange. On this very page, I can scroll up and down and the problem will randomly happen to different portions of the displayed text.

Did you check in safemode?
If its not working in safemode, Reset your Firefox

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.

Further information can be found in the Reset Firefox – easily fix most problems article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2545698

maybe this is similar?

This exact same thing happens to me. I even upgraded from 18 to 19 and its still blurry. The only thing that makes it legible is if I highlight the text, then click off.

If I scroll down on this page, all the text is clear. if I scroll up, its blurry - just like the photo 'newparade' posted.

I tried resetting firefox like 'iamjayakumars' says - no luck

I tried about:config and adjusting the segments per 'juanbaez' - no luck

Please fix, this is super annoying.

Did you try to disable hardware acceleration?

• Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

• https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/09/hardware-acceleration/

My problem looks exactly like the sample shown by "newparade".

I just disabled Hardware Acceleration a moment ago and restarted Firefox. The problem now appears to be gone.

What is very strange, is that this problem started suddenly a couple of days ago, whereas before that it was fine, even with Hardware Acceleration enabled.

Turning off Hardware Acceleration is not an acceptable long term solution, as Firefox is slow enough already at rendering pages and I don't wish to make it even slower.

I have tried reinstalling my video drivers (current version), restarting the computer, clearing cache, updating Flash Player, etc.

When the fonts become distorted, moving the mouse over the distorted text will cause it to become clear again. But once I scroll the page, random portions of text become distorted again.

This is not happening in IE10 or Chrome. I am using Windows 7.

Installed Extensions:

Adblock Plus Download Manager Tweak eBay Sidebar Googlebar Lite Session Manager Tab Mix Plus xmarks Zoom Page (zoom is at 100%)

I use only the default theme.

Try to set the gfx.content.azure.enabled pref to false or if this didn't help disable Direct2D by setting the gfx.direct2d.disabled pref to true on the about:config page and leave hardware acceleration otherwise enabled.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

I think this worked, cor-el.

I set gfx.direct2d.disabled pref to true on the about:config page and left hardware acceleration enabled.

Will report back with any more issues.

Thanks

i encountered a font-problem since I updated to 19.0.2.

Please see the pic...

Some lines are not readable while others are okay. When scrolling everything is fine for a moment...

I'd been having the problem ever since I upgraded from FF 18 to 19 and your solution fixed it for me. Thanks, juanbaez.

I have set the gfx.content.azure.enabled to false and after a new start of Firefox 19 everything is just fine....

thanks...