Latest Firefox has top part of browser window dimmed out even when it has desktop focus
I have the latest version of Firefox (124.0.1) that I'm using on macOS (14.4). The problem is that the whole top section of the browser (tab bar, location bar, and bookmarks bar) is dimmed out a lot of the time. Including when the browser has desktop focus. This, as you might imagine, is very annoying.
Don't know what's changed, I haven't done anything to Firefox that would make this happen. Wondering if this is a bug in the latest version that will be fixed, or if I need to pursue this. My plan would be to log out of my Mozilla account on the browser, reset all the settings, then log back into my Mozilla account in the hopes that this is something that won't survive that process; i.e. not saved in my saved settings.
I'm about at the point of stopping use of Firefox, which I really don't want to do, if I can't fix this due to eyestrain from squinting at dimmed tabs, etc. If this is a release-related problem, I can put up with it until it's fixed.
All Replies (4)
Hi MrDoh, Firefox may have some issues with the latest Sonoma update. Before doing anything drastic:
Could you try switching your theme? Normally, Firefox uses a "System" theme that tries to adapt to your OS settings. Try either Light or Dark (or both) and see whether those work better. The following article has the steps:
Hi, I've tried various themes, same results. I did try what I mentioned: sync, log off sync, refresh, log back on, and sync. Was good for a few minutes, and then got dimmed out again. So that didn't solve the problem.
Also noticed that open tabs weren't sync'd as the settings said they would be...so had to reopen my usual set of 17 tabs *smile*. So there's another potential bug.
I have found a workaround...good thing I have a fast desktop. Anyways, if I quit Firefox, and re-invoke it, it will be fully illuminated when it comes back up. Doesn't take long, but disturbs my somewhat tenuous trains of thought. I suspect the problem is that it dims the top part of the browser window for some specific cases, and forgets to re-illuminate it when those cases are no longer happening, or no longer have focus.
If I get tired of quitting and coming back in, might go to Safari or Brave, or another privacy-oriented browser for the time being. In any case, I like Firefox, so I'll be coming back to it, should things go that way.
Thanks!
Modified by MrDoh
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