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I prefer the breeze-dark KDE theme. Unfortunately, some gnome apps (such as Firefox) are problematic. In particular, in text input fields in Firefox, one ends up with white text on a white background or dark text on a dark background.

I have:

Settings -> colors -> options -> apply colors to non-Qt applications enabled

Settings -> Application Style -> Gnome Application Style (GTK):
    GTK3 Theme: Adwaita-dark
    Icon theme: Adwaita

I am not aware of any Adwaita-dark icon theme after extensive searching.

To enable breeze-dark for KDE I have:

Settings->Application Style-> Widget Style: Breeze
Settings->Workspace Theme -> Desktop Theme: Breeze Dark

It should not be necessary, but I have also installed https://addons.mozilla.org/en-Us/firefox/addon/breeze-dark/.

cat ~/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini

[Settings]
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=true
gtk-button-images=1
gtk-cursor-theme-name=ComixCursors-Opaque-Orange
gtk-fallback-icon-theme=Numix-Circle
gtk-font-name=Liberation Sans Regular 11
gtk-icon-theme-name=Adwaita
gtk-menu-images=1
gtk-primary-button-warps-slider=1
gtk-theme-name=Adwaita-dark
gtk-toolbar-style=GTK_TOOLBAR_ICONS

After all of this, Firefox text input fields still have either white text on a white background or dark text on a dark background, making them impossible to read. (Temporary workaround is to highlight the text in a field so I can see what was entered, but that is very clumsy.)

The following question claim this closely related issue was a bug that was fixed: KDE - Problem with dark themes

However, I a running Arch Linux with the latest KDE Plasma5 and what appears to be the same issue still exists. However, I notice it mainly in text input fields, not necessarily drop down combo boxes.

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5
  • Perhaps try creating a new (empty) user account and changing the settings there? Then you will know with more certainty whether the bug has been fixed.
    – Sparhawk
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 4:04
  • I can reproduce the issue on multiple computers and different user accounts, including a new user account.
    – MountainX
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 6:07
  • Ah nice. Perhaps comment on the bug if nothing else if you have the time?
    – Sparhawk
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 7:13
  • @Sparhawk - not sure where to file a bug report. Firefox? Nope. KDE? Nope. Gnome? Nope?
    – MountainX
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 19:14
  • I just followed the link trail to the question you quote, then the bug link at KDE. I figure they responded there, so it should be the right place?
    – Sparhawk
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 20:22

5 Answers 5

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7

Tested in Plasma 5.12 (Kubuntu 18.04) and 5.14 (18.10 upgraded to backports).

I can select "Breeze Dark" for the GTK themes.

I have breeze-gtk-theme installed.

Also, look for other dark themes under "Settings -> Application Style -> Gnome Application Style (GTK)" - "Get new themes".

I have seen the Firefox problem when in the past I used dark Kvantum themes, but only in Firefox. Not happening now though.

enter image description here

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3

My experience, GTK+ application theming doesn't work well if it's not gnome session.

You should try the lxappearance application while running KDE to apply GTK+ theme or Icon theme. Tested on KDE5 and LXQt.

enter image description here

I think the Pop icon theme blend well with both dark and light themes.

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4
  • Interesting that lxappearance works on KDE Plasma5. Thanks for letting me know. Is this the pop icon theme you mentioned? aur.archlinux.org/packages/pop-icon-theme-git
    – MountainX
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 6:10
  • Yes, that's the Pop icon I'm referring.
    – Arnab
    Commented Feb 5, 2018 at 14:28
  • not gnome session. Don't you mean "not gtk session"? Anyway, in Plasma I have a very good experience with GUI of most gtk applications (Firefox, Chrome, uGet, Disks).
    – user32012
    Commented Jan 30, 2019 at 19:31
  • In what sense lxappearance does more for selecting GTK themes than using Settings -> Application Style -> Gnome Application Style (GTK) - and then even download new ones under "Get new themes"? If Firefox looks bad with dark themes what can lxappearence fix that?
    – user32012
    Commented Jan 30, 2019 at 19:57
1

Update for KDE 5.18.3 QT 5.12.5:

System information

did not have to install lxappearance package

GTK2/3 settings are in System Settings --> Application Style --> Gnome/GTK Application Style

My issue was with Angry IP Scanner - Breeze GTK style looked like this:

Angry IP Scanner w/ Breeze GTK theme

Changed to AD-BlueAgave, closed and reloaded. Now looks like this:

Angry IP Scanner w/ AD-BlueAgave GTK theme

No additional packages necessary. Just try a few different GTK themes, and remember to close and re-open the GTK app you're having issues with to view the changes.

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1

In adddition to @AveryFreeman's answer. If you insist on using the dark variant of Breeze theme for better consistency, it's still possible. KDE uses multiple tricks to set GTK theme and could do better dealing with dark variants.

In a nutshell you have to fix the following :

  1. File ~/.conf/xsettingsd/xsettingdsd.conf
Net/ThemeName "Breeze-Dark"
  1. Files ~/.config/gtk3.0/settings.ini and ~/.config/gtk4.0/settings.ini
gtk-application-prefer-dark-theme=true

NB.1: This is still an issue In Kubuntu 22.04

NB.2: This will fix GTK+ v2, v3, and v4 applications even launched via sudo

NB.3: You'll have to redo it if you change theme configuration via the KDE system settings pannel.

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0

The only solution that worked for me in a modern distro (where GTK2 theme management was removed from KDE Plasma settings) was symlinking Breeze-Dark to Breeze:

sudo mv /usr/share/themes/Breeze /usr/share/themes/Breeze.orig && \
sudo ln -s /usr/share/themes/Breeze-Dark /usr/share/themes/Breeze

Without this, even after trying all other solutions I found, all GTK2-based apps still used light theme. After this hack, I finally get dark theme everywhere.

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