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Font style and color displaying wrong except in a private window

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Today, I noticed that fonts on sites look different than normal. At first I noticed that font looked smaller, but zoom is set to actual size. Then I noticed that while on a site with a black background the text was displaying as black also, making it impossible to read. I looked through the preferences and everything pertaining to fonts and colors appears to still be set to default. Next thing I tried was opening the same site in private window. While in the private window, the font and color appears as it should.

Any ideas how to fix this?

Today, I noticed that fonts on sites look different than normal. At first I noticed that font looked smaller, but zoom is set to actual size. Then I noticed that while on a site with a black background the text was displaying as black also, making it impossible to read. I looked through the preferences and everything pertaining to fonts and colors appears to still be set to default. Next thing I tried was opening the same site in private window. While in the private window, the font and color appears as it should. Any ideas how to fix this?

Chosen solution

In another thread, a user said there is a bug in version 2.3.3 of the Facebook Container extension that causes font color problems. Do you use that add-on? An update (version 2.3.4) was released a few hours ago which should fix it. Firefox should find it on a routine check, but to speed that up:

Open the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the right side, below the search box, there is a gear/wheel icon. Click that icon to drop the menu and then click "Check for Updates" to trigger an update.

Alternately, click Facebook Container to show its Details panel, scroll down below the description, and click "Check for Updates".

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All Replies (5)

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Hmm, what is different between regular and private windows. These are some possible factors:

(1) Different add-ons enabled

Add-ons cannot modify pages in private windows unless they have additional permission. When you view the Add-ons page, the ones that can have the mask icon, and the ones that can't do not have that icon. This could help identify add-ons that are making changes in regular but not private windows. More info: Extensions in Private Browsing.

(2) Cached files

In regular windows, Firefox will re-use files from previous site visits that it saved in the disk cache. You can flush out that cache to make sure old and possibly mismatched files are not the culprit. This article has the steps: How to clear the Firefox cache.

Then try reloading the page. Any difference?

(3) Site cookies

Sites may save your preferences, or information the site has gathered during your previous visits to a site, in a cookie or in local storage. You can clear a site's previously set cookies and local storage items this way:

While viewing a page on the site, click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar. After a moment, a "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button should appear at the bottom. Go ahead and click that. Firefox will ask you to confirm; go ahead and confirm.

Then try reloading the page. Any difference?

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Thanks for the reply. I tried all your suggestions and the problem still exists.

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Chosen Solution

In another thread, a user said there is a bug in version 2.3.3 of the Facebook Container extension that causes font color problems. Do you use that add-on? An update (version 2.3.4) was released a few hours ago which should fix it. Firefox should find it on a routine check, but to speed that up:

Open the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the right side, below the search box, there is a gear/wheel icon. Click that icon to drop the menu and then click "Check for Updates" to trigger an update.

Alternately, click Facebook Container to show its Details panel, scroll down below the description, and click "Check for Updates".

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I didn't think that extension would have anything to do with the problem, but sure enough updating the Facebook Container extension fixed the problem. Thanks

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Thank you for reporting back!