Post-Update (78) Previous Theme Only Works After Safe-mode Restart
Hello everyone, I'm having a strange, inconvenient problem ever since my Thunderbird updated. I'm now on version 78.4.0 (32-bit) and the theme I had installed, which worked perfectly in all the previous versions I've had, now shows white text on a white background for new emails. The same problem happens with the icons, and the email display window is off, as well.
Here's the crux: if I restart Thunderbird in safe-mode, close the program, and restart normally (third start total), the theme works!
I have to do this every morning after I turn on my computer for the first time that day. So, while it has a known, relatively simple workaround, it's still an obnoxious, unnecessary issue. Any advice you can give me to fix it? Or somewhere I can report it?
I've collected some data that I hope might help.
- First, I took a screenshot before and after, showing what the problem and how the safe-mode restart followed by a normal restart of Thunderbird fixes it.
- Second, the theme I'm using is here: https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/an-autumn-reverie/?src=userprofile
- Third, I am running Windows 10 Home build 19041.572.
- Finally, I am on Thunderbird version 78.4.0 (32-bit).
Thank you very much for your time in helping me solve this!
All Replies (9)
Try this. Enable the Light theme first, then enable that theme.
Stans said
Try this. Enable the Light theme first, then enable that theme.
Hello Stans, thank you for the suggestion! This did help reduce the amount of time I have to spend fixing the problem every morning, but I'm still having to do it every time (for instance, if I close Thunderbird and reopen, I have to do the fix again). I'm hoping to find a permanent fix rather than workarounds. Any more suggestions I can try?
Try this and see if it's a permanent fix: launch in safe mode, 'Reset toolbars & controls', 'Make changes & restart'.
sfhowes said
Try this and see if it's a permanent fix: launch in safe mode, 'Reset toolbars & controls', 'Make changes & restart'. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode#Safe_Mode_options
Hello sfhowes, thank you for giving me another potential solution to try! Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I attached an image of the result I got. It did change things a little but the main issue is still present. I'm happy to keep trying other suggestions, so please keep them coming!
[Although the thread seems to acknowledge the fact that I submitted a reply, it's not showing up for me even 10 minutes later, so I'm replying again briefly just in case!]
sfhowes said
Try this and see if it's a permanent fix: launch in safe mode, 'Reset toolbars & controls', 'Make changes & restart'. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode#Safe_Mode_options
Thank you for the potential fix, but it unfortunately didn't work :( Any other steps I can try?
When you run in normal mode, is hardware acceleration enabled or disabled? It's in Options/General, at the bottom. Whatever the setting, change it, restart TB, and see if it makes any difference.
If toggling hardware acceleration doesn't work, I'd just stick to the Light theme.
sfhowes said
When you run in normal mode, is hardware acceleration enabled or disabled? It's in Options/General, at the bottom. Whatever the setting, change it, restart TB, and see if it makes any difference.
Hello again and thank you for the second suggestion! Unfortunately it didn't make a mote of difference. I'm still open to more suggestions!
Stans said
If toggling hardware acceleration doesn't work, I'd just stick to the Light theme.
Do you know of a place I can report this issue (preferably with a link to this thread) to Mozilla? Themes are one of the reasons Thunderbird is my favorite mail client, so using a plain light or dark theme is just such a depressing prospect (and goodness knows I need every little bit of happiness I can gather these days).
I installed the theme and enabled it, and experienced the same thing: the main window looks OK, but the Write window has a black background. I then enabled the Light theme, then enabled the Autumn theme again, and now the Write window looks correct, as well as Account Settings, Address Book etc. The change persists with TB restarts. Switching themes in TB is not working properly, but using the Light theme as an intermediary seems to help.
The attached picture shows my Colors settings in Options/General, and on W10 I have the default Window mode dark and the default app mode light.
