OK, can I get the old pre-57 appearance back?
I've just plucked up the nerve to update to 57 - I was holding off until I'd got some backing-up programs installed and tested out, as there's always a fair chance that a new version of Firefox will muck up something or other when I do it!
Turns out that this is one of the times when I was right to be worried. The new interface is a pain. The new "loading" animations and others set my sensory issues off much worse than the old ones did. It's also uglier, in my opinion (grey and dingy, that hectic magenta shadow on the otherwise bright orange icon). And it's also much harder to see what you're doing, with grey symbols on a slightly darker greay backgroind. The tabs have now been made so artistically subtle that unless the screen is at precisely the right angle I can't see which tab is the active one, so I'm having to bob up and down all the time to see which tab I'm on! (They were bad on 56, but this is much worse.)
Is there any way to get the old styling back? (There used to be an add-on called Classic Theme Restorer, but I hear that's stopped working.) Otherwise, I'll just have to revert to 52 ESR. Have to hope not to have too many compatibility issues due to it being out of date, which I seem to remember I was having in spades last time I was using that version. With my sensory issues I simply cannot manage 57 - I'm having to shut my eyes and duck every time I load a new page!
To developers, if any are reading this forum:
I really don't know why you feel you have to change the appearance every time you release a new version. We don't ASK for a new and different Firefox, remember, we just have to take whatever comes along with the security updates.
I am very tired of the recurring chore of fixing the things the latest new release messed up and wish I could just have the security updates and otherwise just keep the program the way it is. I miss the days when you bought a program and then you had it, rather than tthe developers being able to rewrite it under your feet at any time. You often brag about users being able to customise Firefox just the way we like it, but in that case I'd like it LEFT the way I like it instead of being rejigged for me every time I turn my back!
All Replies (4)
Hi,
The people who answer questions here, for the most part, are other Firefox users volunteering their time (like me), not Mozilla employees or Firefox developers.
If you want to leave feedback for Firefox developers, you can go to the Firefox Help menu and select Submit Feedback... or use this link. Your feedback gets collected by a team of people who read it and gather data about the most common issues.
This is only an option;
First, Type about:preferences#advanced<enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update.
[v56+] Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Select Update.
Select Never Check For Updates.
Also turn off Use a background service to install updates
Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link} Be sure to read everything here.
If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.
You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements
Thanks Fred and Cor-el.
I have put it in the "Submit Feedback" as well, it just looked to me like a thing that didn't usually get read, and I wasn't thinking too clearly at the time owing to being so agitated by the animations. (I know I was EXPLAINING pretty clearly, but that's Aspergr's for you - I can usually manage THAT ind of thing howver confused I am, it's more advanced things I lose track of like where my hands and feet are or who exactly I'm angry with :-D :-P)
Afraid I can't understand how to use that CSS stuff Cor-el mentioned,though it looks very promising. Would you mind explaining/finding me an explanation for beginners, please?
Some of the least useful animations can be disabled using this setting. You may already have found it in a different thread, but just in case:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful or accepting the risk.
(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste cosm and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the toolkit.cosmeticAnimations.enabled preference to switch the value from true to false
Firefox 57 has three different themes that affect the appearance of tabs, and you also can install themes from the Add-ons site. Which ones have you tried so far? Two places to experiment are:
(1) Customize tab (see: Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars). There is a Themes button near the bottom to try different ones.
(2) Add-ons page, Themes panel. 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 left column of the Add-ons page, click Themes. Then you can experiment using the settings on the right side.
Do any of those improve the situation? Which one will be your starting point for further customizing?
The userChrome.css file is an optional file you can create to modify the appearance of the user interface area. It's easiest to make suggestions when you have a specific wish list. However, for a general overview, you can check my website here: https://www.userchrome.org/
Edit: cleaned out copy/paste error.
Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer