[Tip] Disable Dark Mode in Private Browsing Windows in Firefox
In newer versions of Mozilla Firefox browser (version 106 and later), the private browsing windows now use Dark Mode by default in the UI. If you want to restore old Light Mode and classic UI in private browsing windows, this article will help you.
If you upgraded or installed Firefox 106 or later version and you open a private browsing window using Ctrl+Shift+P keyboard shortcut or by selecting “New Private Window” option from main Firefox Menu, you might have noticed that the private window is now themed using Dark Mode. It has been done to increase the feeling of privacy and the user will be able to easily distinguish between normal window and private browsing window.
Advertisement
The titlebar as well as toolbar and all menus are now displayed in Dark Mode. The private browsing indicator icon has also been changed in the titlebar. Now a full text label “Private browsing” is shown in the titlebar near minimize/close buttons. The main page also contains a new private browsing logo.
Following screenshot shows the new Dark UI enabled by default in private browsing window in Firefox newer versions:
This new behavior is similar to Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge web browsers. Chrome and Edge also use Dark Mode in private browsing windows and now Firefox has also started following them.
If you like Dark UI, you’ll have no problem with the new UI of private browsing windows but if you like Light UI, then you may not like this major UI change.
Fortunately, Mozilla team has provided hidden secret preferences/flags to disable new Dark Mode and restore old classic light UI in private windows in Firefox.
Following screenshot shows classic Light mode UI along with old indicator icon and logo restored in private browsing window in Firefox:
Advertisement
If you want to enable classic UI and Light mode again in Firefox private browsing windows, following steps will help you:
1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It’ll show you a warning message, click on “Accept the Risk and Continue” button. It’ll open Firefox’s hidden secret advanced configuration page i.e. about:config page.
2. Now type dark-private in Search filter box and you’ll see following preference in the window:
browser.theme.dark-private-windows
3. Double-click on the preference browser.theme.dark-private-windows and set its value to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.
4. If you also want to restore classic indicator icon in titlebar and Firefox logo on main page of private browsing windows, do as following:
Type enable-new in Search filter box and you’ll see following preferences in the window:
browser.privatebrowsing.enable-new-indicator
browser.privatebrowsing.enable-new-logo
Double-click on each preference and set the value to false. Alternatively, you can click on the Toggle icon given next to the preference name.
That’s it. Now try to open a private browsing window and you’ll get old classic light UI restored.
PS: In future, if you decide to re-enable new Dark Mode UI and indicator icon, logo in Firefox, set the above mentioned preferences to true again.
Also Check:
[Tip] Disable Separate Taskbar Icon for Firefox Private Browsing Windows
[Tip] Disable or Remove “Firefox View” Tab Icon from Toolbar
[Tip] Remove Tabs Search (Arrow Button) from Firefox Title Bar
This is great, but it didn’t work for me. I set browser.theme.dark-private-windows to FALSE, closed the private window, and re-opened. Still in dark mode. Any ideas why it wouldn’t work? (I really hate dark mode!)
^^ Which theme are you using in Firefox? Light or Dark or a custom theme?
I too am getting a dark background, but it has change the menu bar which I can live with.
I do wish they wouldn’t mess around with Firefox so much.
I am struggling to open a new page in Firefox with a Google page as I did before the update.
I have used the ‘override’ and it opens new tabs in Google, but not a new page, ie: home page.
Can you advise how to change that. Thank you.
^^ Use Custom URL option for Homepage in Firefox Settings. Check following article for details:
https://www.askvg.com/tip-set-a-blank-page-as-new-tab-page-and-homepage-in-mozilla-firefox/
Why do they keep doing these things?
After version 106 private windows no longer show next to the normal Firefox window as before. Now it show at the end of the list in the taskbar. For example, if I open normal FF window and the Notepad and then FF private windows the Notepad would show between FF normal and FF private window. And I’d like to revert to the old taskbar icon for private window.
^^ Here you go:
https://www.askvg.com/tip-disable-separate-taskbar-icon-for-firefox-private-browsing-windows/
Thank you, I really don’t like the dark-theme feature. Luckily I’ve found this post.
Thanks, just what I was looking for.
Thank you for these instructions, it worked for me.
Thank you so much for this tip! I HATE the dark header and toolbar (also hate websites with dark backgrounds – difficult to read). Now I don’t have to suffer. 🙂