getting back to Light background on "New Tab" page
For over a year (just over a year on this computer and a few more years on a different computer) I have had a custom theme at the top appearing from the file menu through the address bar. The computers have also always had the New Tab menu being a light colored screen. I turn on the computer today, to find I guess Firefox updated last night? and completely got rid of the lightness of that page to make it dark, leaving me on the verge of a migraine every time I have to look at that thing.
How do I get rid of that dark page, back to the lighter version WITHOUT getting rid of my custom banner at the top? (yes I tried to use the light extension in theme and that gets rid of the banner and leaves me with a horrible white at the top which is just as big of an issue for me as all the black. I really need that like muted Tan back.)
Wšykne wótegrona (6)
Hi emprusso, as you have noticed, Firefox 96 now harmonizes more parts of Firefox with your toolbar theme. When the text color on your background tabs is light/white, it triggers Firefox to use a dark background on menus, the sidebar, the Library window, and various built-in pages. It also signals sites that you have a dark theme preference.
What to do about this
(1) For people not attached to their toolbar theme
The fastest workaround for now is to change your theme to one that uses dark text. By dark text I mean, for example, the built-in Light theme, or an add-on theme with black or dark text on the tabs such as:
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/firefox-b/
I have attached a screenshot illustrating the difference between a theme with light text on the tabs and dark text on the tabs.
(2) For people who can't part with their toolbar theme
This is only a partial workaround for the built-in pages, and for websites that have light/dark responsive themes. (This is the middle panel of the attached screenshot.)
Currently, the only way to decouple your page (content) theme preference from your toolbar theme is through the back door:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
More info on about:config: Configuration Editor for Firefox. The moderators would like us to remind you that changes made through this back door aren't fully supported and aren't guaranteed to continue working in the future.
(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste layout.css.prefers-color-scheme.content-override and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the preference to display an editing field, and change the value to whatever you prefer from the list below, then press Enter or click the blue check mark button to save the change.
- 0 => Force a Dark background
- 1 => Force a Light background
- 2 => Follow the System theme (default in Firefox 94)
- 3 => Follow the Browser toolbar theme (default in Firefox 95+)
The about:config page should immediately reflect your saved change.
jscher2000 said
The fastest workaround for now is to change your theme to one that uses dark text. By dark text I mean, for example, the built-in Light theme, or an add-on theme with black or dark text on the tabs such as:
Thanks for the help. I assume based on this another possibility would also be since I created my own theme previously to update that to have dark text in the header bar on the tabs and such?
Hi emprusso, if you are a theme author then yes, of course, you can experiment with text color assignments to find a personal solution.
jscher2000 said
Hi emprusso, if you are a theme author then yes, of course, you can experiment with text color assignments to find a personal solution.
Thanks I will give that a try before I go play with anything harder.
I don't code so real simple what is the quickest way to change the background from dark to light? Because whoever thought that was a good idea was not thinking. If I can't figure this out I may need to start using Chrome and I was hoping not to do that.
Joann said
I don't code so real simple what is the quickest way to change the background from dark to light?
The fastest workaround for now is to change your theme to one that uses dark text. By dark text I mean, for example, the built-in Light theme, or an add-on theme with black or dark text on the tabs. That doesn't need to be blinding, it can have a pastel color. As examples:
- Firefox Logo: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/firefox-b/
- Winter snow: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/blue-winter-snow/
- Green shoots: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/printania/
- Great wave: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/japan-style-kanagawa-gr-232767/
- Kitten: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/savage-black-kitten/