Bug 167191 - LibreCalc Update Appearance Falt
Summary: LibreCalc Update Appearance Falt
Status: RESOLVED NOTABUG
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Calc (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
25.2.4.3 release
Hardware: x86-64 (AMD64) Windows (All)
: medium normal
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
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Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2025-06-24 18:04 UTC by arrowascent
Modified: 2025-06-24 23:43 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Description arrowascent 2025-06-24 18:04:29 UTC
Description:
I have been using LibreCalc for years in Dark Mode. In the recent update, the appearance settings have changed such that, while in Dark Mode, the default background of spreadsheet cells are very dark gray unless manually filled with color. Despite this, the default text color for cells is black unless manually colored otherwise. This causes a very low contrast of the spreadsheet while in default Dark Mode settings, and a very atypical experience of a spreadsheet software. 

Seeking to restore the previous appearance, I went to 
Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Appearance, 
where I customized the item color to white. This restored the white cell background while keeping the dark gray GUI surrounding it, as I left Dark Mode unchanged as enabled. However, I then noticed that the grid lines were much darker than in previous versions, either very dark gray or black. To restore the easier-on-the-eyes neutral gray color to the grid, I was forced to install and use a theme, which has other visual features that are distracting to me. 

All of this to say, the recent update affecting the appearance of LibreCalc has created a need for Dark Mode preferring users to take multiple steps to achieve a "typical" and otherwise satisfactory visual experience of a spreadsheet software which was default previously. 

To offer a recommendation, I suggest a 2-step implementation: 
1. Ensure that Dark Mode doesn't affect the default spreadsheet/cell color, and just the GUI. 
2. In the Appearance Options menu, allow for more granular appearance modification by users so that future appearance-effecting updates cause less friction amongst users.

Thank you for the hard work you do in creating a great and valuable software suite.

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Update LibreOffice
2. Launch LibreCalc

Actual Results:
While in Dark Mode, the default cell background color is dark gray and the font default color is black, resulting in ultra-low contrast 

Expected Results:
The GUI will appear in typical Dark Mode dark gray, whereas the spreadsheet cell fill is defaulted to white and font as black for typical contrast and easy reading


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: Yes

Additional Info:
Version: 25.2.4.3 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community
Build ID: 33e196637044ead23f5c3226cde09b47731f7e27
CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10 X86_64 (10.0 build 19045); UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: en-US (en_US); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded
Comment 1 m_a_riosv 2025-06-24 22:25:00 UTC

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 166942 ***
Comment 2 V Stuart Foote 2025-06-24 23:43:33 UTC
Suggest you clear your LibreOffice user profile (back it up if you've any customizations or templates).

Allow profile to rebuild to defaults.

The open Tools -> Options -> Appearance panel and select the 'Add more themes' button.

Look for the extension 'Light Application Color' and install it.

From the list box, select the theme.

Then OK out.

Allow LibreOffice to restart.

Should come up with appearance you were used to through 24.8 build releases.

But as noted, for the upcoming 25.8 release the appearance theme framework was simplified and a light document background restored by default.