Black font gets white (on white background) when clicking on the element
Dear experts,
as part of a German public authority we have now switched from Outlook to Thunderbird. Doing so, the following problem has occurred:
In the preview list mode in a respective folder - e.g. the inbox - all mails are displayed correctly with black font on white background. However, if you click on an email so that their contents are shown in the preview window at the bottom, the font color in the list turns white, which is unfortunately no longer readable as the background naturally is still white. The same problem occurs when choosing a specific calendar.
I have attached a screenshot, in which the currently selected mail is colored white between the upper and lower displayed mails that are presented correctly in black font. A second screenshot shows the chosen (and therefore invisible) calendar issue.
Does anyone have an idea where you can correct the value here (e.g. in the expert settings)? We would really appreciate your support and assume that we just need to change a setting in the expert mode (about:config), but we do not know which one... :-)
Best wishes
Chosen solution
Do you experience problems if you use the Thunderbird 'Light' theme ?
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (9)
Please check the following: Menu app icon > Options > General Scroll down to 'Language & appearance' Click on 'Colours' Text: this should be black - if it is white, click on small colour square, select black and click on OK Background: this should be white do not select - leave unchecked 'Use system colours' 'Override the colours specified by the content with my selections above' - set this to either 'Never' or 'Only with High Contrast themes' click on OK
Dear Toad-Hall,
thank you so much for your quick reply! We have followed your instructions, unfortunately it still won't work. I have attached a screenshot of or "Colours" settings. Do you have any further idea (i.e. something in about:config)?
Toad-Hall said
Please check the following: Menu app icon > Options > General Scroll down to 'Language & appearance' Click on 'Colours' Text: this should be black - if it is white, click on small colour square, select black and click on OK Background: this should be white do not select - leave unchecked 'Use system colours' 'Override the colours specified by the content with my selections above' - set this to either 'Never' or 'Only with High Contrast themes' click on OK
Modified by LM
Dear LM, can you please check which Thunderbird color theme you are using. ≡ > Add-ons > Themes > which theme is "Enabled" (aktiviert) ?
Dear Thomas, we are using the "Outlook 2013 blue" theme by author rbnfrngpls. However, the problem also occurs when using the "Standard" theme by Mozilla. Only by using the the "Dark" theme by Mozilla, everything works without any problems (presumably bc in this theme the font is always white and the background always dark, so it cannot convert into white font).
thomas8 said
Dear LM, can you please check which Thunderbird color theme you are using. ≡ > Add-ons > Themes > which theme is "Enabled" (aktiviert) ?
If you use Windows 10 OS: Windows 10 has two settings for colour, system and apps. In search type: colours Select: Choose your accent colour The 'Colours' window opens. Where it says 'Choose your colour', click on the drop down and select 'custom' Choose your default windows mode - suggest 'Black' Choose your default app mode - suggest 'Black'
In Thunderbird: Addons > Themes > select 'Dark' You may have this already, but double check.
Dear Toad-Hall, we are using Mac OS (current version 10.15.6). If we use the dark theme, everything works perfect (presumably bc in this theme the font is always white and the background always dark, so it cannot convert into white font). However, we would like to use a light theme, i.e. the current "Outlook 2013 blue" theme – isn't this possible at all? Thank you very much for your support!
Toad-Hall said
If you use Windows 10 OS: Windows 10 has two settings for colour, system and apps. In search type: colours Select: Choose your accent colour The 'Colours' window opens. Where it says 'Choose your colour', click on the drop down and select 'custom' Choose your default windows mode - suggest 'Black' Choose your default app mode - suggest 'Black' In Thunderbird: Addons > Themes > select 'Dark' You may have this already, but double check.
Chosen Solution
Do you experience problems if you use the Thunderbird 'Light' theme ?
Yes, we had. Just this moment we deleted all themes and reinstalled Thunderbird. Now it works (see picture attached). We have checked the theme code and we found this sequence in "manifest.json":
"tab_background_text": "#ffffff"
We assume that this has been the problematic part. However, we were not able to change it into #000000 as Thunderbird did not accept the new (exported) .xpi file. Therefore we unfortunately had to delete the "outlook 2013 blue" theme :/
Toad-Hall said
Do you experience problems if you use the Thunderbird 'Light' theme ?
I might be worth contacting the author of the addon theme telling them about your issue. They would need to know the version you are using and your OS.