xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

JW_Black · 2025-05-10 08:53:07

Hello, got a problem with my xfce DE. I'm on Artix distro and lately the guys that maintain xfce flavor of artix decided to somewhat abandon the white theme even by mistake or on purpose. Tried to find solutions on artix forums but no luck after trying them. So long story short problems are as follow:

1) panel doesn't turn dark even if the switch is turned on
2) can't apply any light theme except high contrast theme which doesn't go away even if I removed it from themes.
3) can't apply any dark theme after I executed a script that supposed to help but it didn't.

Any config file I need to edit so I can have a working xfce DE? How this can be fixed? Tried reinstalling some things but that didn't gave any good result.

here's a link with my system specs in case that may be useful. Thanks in advance.

https://i.postimg.cc/d3Btvf7d/ugff1.png

ToZ · 2025-05-10 10:11:18

Hello and welcome.

Do any of the following files exist in your system?

~/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css
~/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini
/etc/gtk-3.0/gtk.css
/etc/gtk-3.0/settings.ini

If so, can you post back the content of those files.

If they do exist, you may want to rename them (add a ".bak" extension to them) and log out and back in again to test.

JW_Black · 2025-05-10 11:26:46

No, none of those files exists at those places but only at "skel" directory

/etc/skel/.config/gtk-3.0/gtk.css
/etc/skel/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini

there is also a gtk.css in here

/etc/skel/.config/lxlauncher/gtk.css

Should I rename those two?

settings.ini

[Settings]
gtk-theme-name=Artix-dark
gtk-icon-theme-name=matefaenzadark
gtk-font-name=Roboto 11
gtk-cursor-theme-size=18
gtk-toolbar-style=GTK_TOOLBAR_ICONS
gtk-toolbar-icon-size=GTK_ICON_SIZE_BUTTON
gtk-button-images=1
gtk-menu-images=1
gtk-enable-event-sounds=1
gtk-enable-input-feedback-sounds=1
gtk-xft-antialias=1
gtk-xft-hinting=1
gtk-xft-hintstyle=hintfull
gtk-xft-rgba=rgb
gtk-cursor-theme-name=Premium
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=1

and gtk.css

.mate-panel-menu-bar button {
    color: transparent;
}
panel-toplevel.background.horizontal,
.mate-panel-menu-bar,
#clock-applet-button,
#clock-applet-button:hover  {
    color: white;
}
#tasklist-button {
    color: white;
}

Thanks for the reply

Last edited by JW_Black (2025-05-10 11:31:28)

ToZ · 2025-05-10 19:04:02

If it exists in /etc/skel, it should have been copied over to your home directory. Did you delete it at one point? The settings.ini file could potentially cause the issues you are seeing.

Can you post back the output of:

ls -la ~/.config/gtk-3.0

...just to be sure?

Also, how are you applying theme? Settings Manager > Appearance?

JW_Black · 2025-05-11 08:08:50

Thanks. Yes think I've deleted those, either manually or that script I've run did it.

ls -la ~/.config/gtk-3.0
total 11
drwx------  2 john7 john7 3488 mai  1 21:02 .
drwxr-xr-x 55 john7 john7 3488 mai 10 16:37 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 john7 john7  319 mai  1 21:02 bookmarks

Listing as user it gives only a file called bookmarks which shows my folder shortcuts I've sent to the side pane. Yes I apply themes thru the UI.

The script that I've run is this one.

#!/bin/bash

for f in /usr/share/themes/{Daloa,Default,Default-hdpi,Default-xhdpi,Kokodi,Moheli}/xfwm4/*.png

do
        if [[ -f $f ]]
        then
        rm ${f}
fi
done

for f in /usr/share/themes/{Daloa,Default,Default-hdpi,Default-xhdpi,Kokodi,Moheli}/xfwm4/*.xpm

do
        if [[ -f $f ]]
        then
        convert ${f} ${f%%.xpm}.png
        rm ${f}
fi

done

Running with admin right it shows those files there

ls -la ~/.config/gtk-3.0
total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 3488 aug 23  2024 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 3488 oct 29  2024 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  227 aug  4  2024 gtk.css
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  447 aug  4  2024 settings.ini

Should I edit that ini file?

Last edited by JW_Black (2025-05-11 08:14:56)

ToZ · 2025-05-11 09:33:22

Are you running Xfce as root?

Yes, try renaming those files to see if it makes a difference.

You might also try creating a new test user and testing there.

JW_Black · 2025-05-11 10:38:24

Nope I run it as user, I just looked over task manager. I'm on openRC init. I'll go create another user for test and return here with some news. Tnks again.

edit: think I've misread the output.. there are no gtk.css nor settings.ini files in 'gtk-3.0' directory. No idea why it gave reference about those two files in the output or where those two files really are. It's just an empty folder with a file called bookmarks. Marked ⁉️ where those references showed up.

ls -la ~/.config/gtk-3.0
total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 3488 aug 23  2024 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 3488 oct 29  2024 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  227 aug  4  2024 gtk.css  ⁉️
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  447 aug  4  2024 settings.ini⁉️

mv gtk.css gtk.css.bak
mv: cannot stat 'gtk.css': No such file or directory

On the newly created test user it gives same problems. Can't change any themes regarding if there's a light or dark theme, any other element seem to change though like on the user I already had.

edit 2: I renamed those those files in skel folder and nothing happened

*only when I'm using ls -la ~/.config/gtk-3.0 those files show up if I'm cd into that folder and ls from there those files do not show up.. that's really strange. I cp that gtk-3.0 folder and deleted it recursively with -i flag and it didn't ask me to delete those two strange files like aren't there.

Last edited by JW_Black (2025-05-11 13:16:25)

ToZ · 2025-05-11 13:59:43

*only when I'm using ls -la ~/.config/gtk-3.0 those files show up if I'm cd into that folder and ls from there those files do not show up.. that's really strange.

Yes, really strange.

I cp that gtk-3.0 folder and deleted it recursively with -i flag and it didn't ask me to delete those two strange files like aren't there.

After doing this, does it fix your problem?

JW_Black · 2025-05-11 14:23:21

No, the problem is still there. I'm stuck in this high contrast theme and can't make panel dark at all or apply Adwaita light theme.

ToZ · 2025-05-11 19:47:04

Can you try creating the file ~/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini and adding the following to it?

[Settings]
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=0

then log out and back in again to test.

JW_Black · 2025-05-11 21:02:05

Just tried it now but still there's no fix. Maybe devs at artix made a nasty hard fork that can not be easily undone or modified, idk just a guess.

ToZ · 2025-05-12 01:12:01

Can you post back the output of:

env

JW_Black · 2025-05-12 07:28:59

Yes, hope that helps

SHELL=/bin/bash
SESSION_MANAGER=local/xy-machina10:@/tmp/.ICE-unix/2426,unix/xy-machina10:/tmp/.ICE-unix/2426
WINDOWID=67108948
COLORTERM=truecolor
GTK_THEME=Artix:dark
XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg
XDG_SESSION_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Session0
XDG_MENU_PREFIX=xfce-
LC_ADDRESS=ro_RO.UTF-8
LC_NAME=ro_RO.UTF-8
SSH_AUTH_SOCK=/tmp/ssh-XXXXXXS0Q7D0/agent.2483
XDG_CONFIG_HOME=/home/johnblack/.config
DESKTOP_SESSION=xfce
LC_MONETARY=ro_RO.UTF-8
SSH_AGENT_PID=2484
GTK_MODULES=canberra-gtk-module:canberra-gtk-module
XDG_SEAT=seat0
PWD=/home/johnblack
LOGNAME=johnblack
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=xfce
QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=gtk2
XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11
PANEL_GDK_CORE_DEVICE_EVENTS=0
XAUTHORITY=/home/johnblack/.Xauthority
XDG_GREETER_DATA_DIR=/var/lib/lightdm-data/johnblack
QT_STYLE_OVERRIDE=gtk
MOTD_SHOWN=pam
HOME=/home/johnblack
LC_PAPER=ro_RO.UTF-8
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
LS_COLORS=no=00:fi=00:di=01;34:ln=01;36:pi=40;33:so=01;35:do=01;35:bd=40;33;01:cd=40;33;01:or=01;05;37;41:mi=01;05;37;41:su=37;41:sg=30;43:tw=30;42:ow=34;42:st=37;44:ex=01;32:*.sh=01;32:*.pl=01;32:*.py=01;32:*.tar=00;31:*.tgz=00;31:*.arj=00;31:*.taz=00;31:*.lzh=00;31:*.zip=00;31:*.z=00;31:*.Z=00;31:*.gz=00;31:*.bz2=00;31:*.bz=00;31:*.tbz2=00;31:*.xz=00;31:*.tz=00;31:*.deb=00;31:*.rpm=00;31:*.jar=00;31:*.rar=00;31:*.ace=00;31:*.zoo=00;31:*.cpio=00;31:*.7z=00;31:*.rz=00;31:*.zst=00;31:*.jpg=00;35:*.jpeg=00;35:*.gif=00;35:*.bmp=00;35:*.pbm=00;35:*.pgm=00;35:*.ppm=00;35:*.tga=00;35:*.xbm=00;35:*.xpm=00;35:*.tif=00;35:*.tiff=00;35:*.png=00;35:*.mng=00;35:*.pcx=00;35:*.mov=00;35:*.mpg=00;35:*.mpeg=00;35:*.m2v=00;35:*.mkv=00;35:*.ogm=00;35:*.mp4=00;35:*.m4v=00;35:*.mp4v=00;35:*.qt=00;35:*.wmv=00;35:*.asf=00;35:*.rm=00;35:*.rmvb=00;35:*.flc=00;35:*.flv=00;35:*.avi=00;35:*.fli=00;35:*.gl=00;35:*.dl=00;35:*.xcf=00;35:*.xwd=00;35:*.pdf=00;32:*.ps=00;32:*.txt=00;32:*.patch=00;32:*.diff=00;32:*.log=00;32:*.tex=00;32:*.doc=00;32:*.flac=00;35:*.mp3=00;35:*.mpc=00;36:*.ogg=00;36:*.wav=00;36:*.mid=00;36:*.midi=00;36:*.au=00;36:*.flac=00;36:*.aac=00;36:
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=XFCE
VTE_VERSION=8001
XDG_SEAT_PATH=/org/freedesktop/DisplayManager/Seat0
XDG_CACHE_HOME=/home/johnblack/.cache
XDG_SESSION_CLASS=user
TERM=xterm-256color
LC_IDENTIFICATION=ro_RO.UTF-8
USER=johnblack
DISPLAY=:0.0
SHLVL=1
LC_TELEPHONE=ro_RO.UTF-8
LC_MEASUREMENT=ro_RO.UTF-8
XDG_VTNR=7
XDG_SESSION_ID=1
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/1000
PS1=\[\033[1;32;40m\]\h\[\033[0;37;40m\]:\[\033[31;40m\][\[\033[1;34;40m\]\u\[\033[0;31;40m\]]\[\033[0;37;40m\]:\[\033[35;40m\]\w\[\033[1;33;40m\]$\[\033[0m\] 
DEBUGINFOD_URLS=https://debuginfod.artixlinux.org 
LC_TIME=ro_RO.UTF-8
XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/local/share:/usr/share
PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/bin/site_perl:/usr/bin/vendor_perl:/usr/bin/core_perl
GDMSESSION=xfce
QTWEBENGINE_CHROMIUM_FLAGS=-blink-settings=darkModeEnabled=true -enable-features=OverlayScrollbar,OverlayScrollbarFlashAfterAnyScrollUpdate,OverlayScrollbarFlashWhenMouseEnter
DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=unix:path=/tmp/dbus-HFnyYFMp7G,guid=e2fb23138113db16629ec7b56821a038
MAIL=/var/spool/mail/johnblack
LC_NUMERIC=ro_RO.UTF-8
_=/usr/bin/env

ToZ · 2025-05-12 09:50:01

GTK_THEME=Artix:dark

It is being set as an environment variable. This will override any settings. Find out where that is being set and remove it.

JW_Black · 2025-05-12 11:13:22

May be set as environment variable but I'm having high contrast theme, a light theme it's nothing dark. No idea why these simple things are made so complicated. I have no idea how to find what set that variable.

ToZ · 2025-05-12 15:54:29

Look in your $HOME/.bashrc or $HOME/.profile files. Also look in the /etc/profile.d folder.

You can use fgrep to search your drive, but it might take some time. Start with /etc:

fgrep -ri GTK_THEME /etc

JW_Black · 2025-05-12 16:22:34

Yeah I know it might be there but I rather not fell into that rabbit black hole cos having this high contrast theme isn't as bad than start digging my system for a variable that I may never find 😄. I thought it's an xfce thing but it's a distro thing, the guys simply hate light themes. There are some other issues with gnome calculator that doesn't show all functions and looks strange on this system. So tnx for the help. I guess building from source would be the best way so I can avoid those tricks from Artix side.

Manav · 2025-06-29 04:57:22

I was facing a similar issue (though perhaps not the same) - Selecting the light mode "adw-gtk3" in Appearance did nothing.

I started by copying the installed theme to my user themes (

cp -r /usr/share/themes/adw-gtk3 ~/.local/share/themes/adw-gtk3-mod

), modified its name in

index.theme

, and deleted `gtk-3.0/gtk-dark.css`. However, in doing all this I accidentally discovered that just setting the name of the theme to anything that begins with `adw-gtk` (but not "adw-gtk3"!) works too.

That is, I ran the following command, and my Xfce is happily switching to the light variant now.

xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Net/ThemeName -t string -ns adw-gtk

Note how the theme name is incorrect, it should've been "adw-gtk3". I'm not sure what's going on, posting this here just in case this helps someone else too.

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#1 2025-05-10 08:53:07

xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#2 2025-05-10 10:11:18

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#3 2025-05-10 11:26:46

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#4 2025-05-10 19:04:02

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#5 2025-05-11 08:08:50

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#6 2025-05-11 09:33:22

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#7 2025-05-11 10:38:24

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#8 2025-05-11 13:59:43

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#9 2025-05-11 14:23:21

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#10 2025-05-11 19:47:04

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#11 2025-05-11 21:02:05

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#12 2025-05-12 01:12:01

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#13 2025-05-12 07:28:59

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#14 2025-05-12 09:50:01

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#15 2025-05-12 11:13:22

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#16 2025-05-12 15:54:29

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#17 2025-05-12 16:22:34

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

#18 2025-06-29 04:57:22

Re: xfce doesn't apply adwaita white theme.

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