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Thunderbird 91.2 for mac OS Catalina themes don't stick ...

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by zeetoe25

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Hello,

Since updating to TB 91, if I pick a theme it will stay active as long as TB is open. Once I close TB and then reopen, it defaults back to the TB light Theme. Also, the same think happens with Add_ons. If I activate an add on like Frame White after closing and re opening the add on feature is gone. I'm using macOS 10.15.7 Catalina.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciate. Also, with 91, all my the text is light grey on black background or blue on black background and really hard to see. Is there a way to change these background colors?

Thanks,

Dennis

Hello, Since updating to TB 91, if I pick a theme it will stay active as long as TB is open. Once I close TB and then reopen, it defaults back to the TB light Theme. Also, the same think happens with Add_ons. If I activate an add on like Frame White after closing and re opening the add on feature is gone. I'm using macOS 10.15.7 Catalina. Any ideas would be greatly appreciate. Also, with 91, all my the text is light grey on black background or blue on black background and really hard to see. Is there a way to change these background colors? Thanks, Dennis

All Replies (7)

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have you actually run the Thunderbird installer or are you running the DMG file. Just about every mac user with this complaint in the last 5 years has been running Thunderbird from their system temp folder where they downloaded it and the profile is deleted on close.

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Hi Matt,

No, my TB is installed under user/library/, which is the proper place for it to me. All I did was go under preferences and installed the 91.2 update. I was using latest 78 install. It's weird, because I can change the theme or add on, but as soon as I close TB and reopen all customization is gone and back to TB light Theme. I'm using an iMac, but my wife's 15in Macbook Pro with macOS 10.15.7 Catalina does the same thing since we updated to 92.2.

Thanks for your reply,

Dennis

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I can not see anything specific in the depends on list of this bug https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1722793

When Thunderbird exits it updates the prefs.js file with the settings to be saved. Is that file in the profile being updated? Is it's properties set to read only (something unrelated except to do with V91)

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Hi Matt,

Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, the prefs.js file is getting updated and it is read only.

Hope that gives you some ideas. Do you think I should rename it and let TB make a new prefs.js file? Problem is I'd have to redo all my settings and stuff. Wouldn't want to do that if at all possible.

Thanks,

Dennis

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the prefs.js file should not be read only , none of the files in the profile folder should be! Perhaps make a global change to ensure they are not read only.

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Hey Matt,

Will I changed the prefs.js file to read only then opened TB and enabled a Theme, and then closed TB. Then I opened TB again and it went back to the original theme. Then I checked the prefs.js file and it was reset to read only. There must be a security setting either in TB or Catalina that is resetting this. I've checked everything I know about regarding security, but can't find it in Catalina. Do you know how to look at the prefs.js, and is it safe to make changes?

Thanks,

Dennis

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Hey Matt, Just wanted to get back to you. I found the problem. I had added an extension called FrameWhite and somehow kept the theme from changing permanently. I removed it all the themes are changing and staying changed. Just wanted to let you know. Thanks for all your help! Dennis