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Version 78 message list is blank for unread messages and for the message currently displayed

  • 3 replies
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  • Last reply by ltshep

ltshep
ltshep
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Since updating to Thunderbird 78.4.0 on MacOS 10.15.7, something is causing the active message line in the messages list pane to be blank (white):

  • When I click a message line in the messages list pane to read it, the line becomes white, although the message contents display normally in the message pane below the list.
  • If I hover over a white message line it becomes barely visible, showing in white letters on a pale gray background. That goes away when I stop hovering over the message line.
  • Unread messages don't show at all in the messages list pane. I have to click a message line mark it Read, or run Mark Folder Read, and then those new messages show in the messages list pane, except an active message, which stays white. (See attached screenshot that shows an unread message and an active read message.)

This happens to messages listed for any folder, not just the Inbox. And I see this behavior for all three email accounts I access with Thunderbird, each account with a different email service. I have run Repair Folder more than once, with no change.

What can I do to correct these behaviors?

Since updating to Thunderbird 78.4.0 on MacOS 10.15.7, something is causing the active message line in the messages list pane to be blank (white): * When I click a message line in the messages list pane to read it, the line becomes white, although the message contents display normally in the message pane below the list. * If I hover over a white message line it becomes barely visible, showing in white letters on a pale gray background. That goes away when I stop hovering over the message line. * Unread messages don't show at all in the messages list pane. I have to click a message line mark it Read, or run Mark Folder Read, and then those new messages show in the messages list pane, except an active message, which stays white. (See attached screenshot that shows an unread message and an active read message.) This happens to messages listed for any folder, not just the Inbox. And I see this behavior for all three email accounts I access with Thunderbird, each account with a different email service. I have run Repair Folder more than once, with no change. What can I do to correct these behaviors?
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Does it look OK in safe mode (hold Option when launching TB)? If it looks OK in safe mode, try 'Reset toolbars and controls', 'Make changes & restart'.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode#Safe_Mode_options

If that doesn't help, change the hardware acceleration setting in Options(Preferences)/General (at the bottom) or apply the default theme, if it wasn't already in use.

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All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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try changing the theme you use in MACOS. ALL of thunderbirds colours are extracted from the operating system theme.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Does it look OK in safe mode (hold Option when launching TB)? If it looks OK in safe mode, try 'Reset toolbars and controls', 'Make changes & restart'.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode#Safe_Mode_options

If that doesn't help, change the hardware acceleration setting in Options(Preferences)/General (at the bottom) or apply the default theme, if it wasn't already in use.

ltshep
ltshep Question owner
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Thanks for the quick response, Matt. Unfortunately, the main problem is that the message list shows a blank white row for messages that are unread or are the active message being displayed.

After your mention of themes, I experimented trying different theme add-ons I have for Thunderbird. And I finally succeeded by enabling Mozilla's Light theme (I have version 1.0, last updated Nov. 3, 2019). The unread and active message lines are now displaying as they should.

After enabling the Light theme, I tried going back to a "fun" Thunderbird theme, to see what would happen. And the messages list stayed fixed! Thanks, Matt, your comment pointed me in the right direction to solve this mystery (or at least fix it).