Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Tabs and toolbars are black background with white text. Changing theme to "Light" does not fix it.

more options

Hello, FF57 I run 3 profiles in Linux. 2 of them are fine, the tabs and toolbars have black text on a light background just the way I like it. The third profile will not change.

A few weeks back I started deleting addons that would not work in 57, I believe that's when it started. Classic theme restorer was one. It's also possible I had changed something in about:config a long time ago or something obscure like that, perhaps a change I did not make in the other 2 profiles.

I read others fixed by going to menu > customize > change theme to "light". Makes no difference on this profile, it won't change.

I will also note that on my 2 other profiles, both "default" and "light" in the themes have black text on light. At least one of those profiles also lost Classic Theme Restorer and a bunch of duplicate addons, yet its tabs and toolbar are black on white. thanks

Hello, FF57 I run 3 profiles in Linux. 2 of them are fine, the tabs and toolbars have black text on a light background just the way I like it. The third profile will not change. A few weeks back I started deleting addons that would not work in 57, I believe that's when it started. Classic theme restorer was one. It's also possible I had changed something in about:config a long time ago or something obscure like that, perhaps a change I did not make in the other 2 profiles. I read others fixed by going to menu > customize > change theme to "light". Makes no difference on this profile, it won't change. I will also note that on my 2 other profiles, both "default" and "light" in the themes have black text on light. At least one of those profiles also lost Classic Theme Restorer and a bunch of duplicate addons, yet its tabs and toolbar are black on white. thanks

ttggzz moo ko soppali ci

Saafara biñ tànn

Did you ever create a userChrome.css file to modify aspects of the user interface? You could check for that as follows:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the first table on the page, click the "Open Directory" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in your system's file browser.

Do you see a chrome folder? If so, double-click into that. Can you find a userChrome.css file here?

(While about:config has settings for colors used in web pages, I don't think it has settings for the UI.)

Jàng tontu lii ci fi mu bokk 👍 2

All Replies (10)

more options

Saafara yiñ Tànn

Did you ever create a userChrome.css file to modify aspects of the user interface? You could check for that as follows:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the first table on the page, click the "Open Directory" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in your system's file browser.

Do you see a chrome folder? If so, double-click into that. Can you find a userChrome.css file here?

(While about:config has settings for colors used in web pages, I don't think it has settings for the UI.)

more options

Heh, good work jscher2000, I do indeed have a userChrome.css file there. I have a vague memory of messing with that trying to fix something in desperation. Can't remember if it succeeded or not.

So, what do I do with it? Delete?

Oh, and I just checked my other 2 profiles. As expected, they don't have a chrome folder in that location. thanks!

more options

You could pop it open in an editor and see what's in it. Or if you think it's not useful, just add a letter to the file name anywhere to hide it from Firefox, and restart to see what changes.

more options

jscher2000 said

You could pop it open in an editor and see what's in it. Or if you think it's not useful, just add a letter to the file name anywhere to hide it from Firefox, and restart to see what changes.

OK, thanks [a lot!], I opened Firefox with the userChrome.css file hidden by adding a letter to the title. The tabs and toolbars are now acting normally, black text on light background. As near as I can tell, everything else seems normal.

It was I believe at least 6 months ago that I messed with the userChrome stuff [can't remember why], would it be safe to delete that folder?

I noticed when in the folder the option to delete items within was grayed out. thanks

ttggzz moo ko soppali ci

more options

ttggzz said

OK, thanks [a lot!], I opened Firefox with the userChrome.css file hidden by adding a letter to the title. The tabs and toolbars are now acting normally, black text on light background. As near as I can tell, everything else seems normal.

It was I believe at least 6 months ago that I messed with the userChrome stuff [can't remember why], would it be safe to delete that folder?

I noticed when in the folder the option to delete items within was grayed out. thanks

You could retain the chrome folder. Any UI mods you do want to make will go right back in here, and maybe tomorrow you'll notice some UI change missing and remember why you created a userChrome.css file the last time. ;-)

more options

Thanks, this userChrome folder was created automatically by something I clicked on, trying in desperation to fix a problem [most likely something with the toolbars/text]. In other words, I have no idea how to use or create it for real.

The only reason my tabs/toolbars are now correct colors is because I added a letter to the folder name so FF will not see it [like you suggested]. I didn't do anything to the contents.

How might I proceed removing what is changing the tab/toolbar colors? Or, maybe just get rid of this folder and start over if I ever want to learn how to actually use it? thanks

more options

Sure, if you haven't noticed any (good) modifications missing since you renamed the file, you probably don't need it after all.

more options

jscher2000 said

Sure, if you haven't noticed any (good) modifications missing since you renamed the file, you probably don't need it after all.

Thanks, sounds good!

more options

56.0.2 is no longer safe to use for every day use, but 52.5.0 ESR is!

Why is 56 0 2 not safe but an earlier version is?

more options

Hi Monsieur_Rioux, ESR stands for Extended Support Release. Each year, Mozilla maintains one version with long term security updates for users that want a high degree of stability in Firefox's features and configuration. ESR will get security updates through next Spring. More info:

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/organizations/faq/