![Thunderbird logo](https://assets-prod.sumo.prod.webservices.mozgcp.net/media/uploads/products/2024-02-12-07-36-53-599028_1.png)
How can I increase the inbox pane font? It is pathetically small and theme-font-size-changer app does not work with Thunderbird 58.0b1 -
Prior to upgrading Thunderbird to 58.0b1 the Theme Font size Changer worked. It is very, very frustrating to have my inbox window pane with a font so small that you need a magnifying glass to see the words Inbox, Drafts, Trash etc. I do not have any problem adjusting my fonts for messages that I write etc - that is straight forward, but there is no way to easily increase the inbox pane font size. Although very small, at least the words Get Messages, Write, Chat, Address Book have symbols that are larger. What can be done to make Thunderbird's Inbox pane larger? I really, really do not want to have to give up using Thunderbird but I will if this can not be fixed. I do not need eye strain and headaches from trying to see my Inbox, or the Subject line of an email that has arrived.
Gekose oplossing
There is an alternative to the Theme Font & Size Changer add-on.
You can set up css code that applies formatting to the text of the UI.
- Create a folder in your profile named chrome
- In that folder, create a text file named userChrome.css
(Note the capitalization of both of these names.)
In that file, place this text:
/* * Do not remove the @namespace line -- it's required for correct functioning */ @namespace url("http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul"); /* set default namespace to XUL */ /* * Make all the default font sizes 9 pt: */ * { font-size: 9pt !important; font-family: "Segoe UI" !important; }
You can of course change the font-family and font-size values to whatever you like to use, and a little research will reveal what other attributes of the text can be adjusted. In the example here, I have set the UI text to match what is used elsewhere in Windows.
You may see some small wrinkles. In particular, a few dialogue boxes here don't quite accommodate all the graphical elements. YMMV.
Lees dié antwoord in konteks 👍 5All Replies (15)
Do not use beta versions if you want add-ons to work.
I am sorry but this is no answer to the issue. This has been an ongoing issue for quite sometime that Theme Font & Size Changer addressed. As much as I have appreciated that app, it is ridiculous to have to rely on an app to do what ALL other email clients do automatically . . . provide a reasonable font size in the first place. The solution is really quite simple. The Mozilla team needs to increase the Inbox pane font size, as well as for the address, subject and "to" font size. I really do not understand their reluctance to allow a reasonable font size in those specific areas of their email client.
1. File a request at Bugzilla with your concerns about lacking features in Thunderbird.
2. Contact the add on author for support with their software.
3. Do not use beta software if you cannot handle bugs.
4. Mozilla does not develop Thunderbird anymore. The volunteer Thunderbird group does.
Airmail thank you for your responses. Bugzilla is a bug tracking and testing tool that was created by Mozillia and released by Netscape Communications way back when. I have been on computers since 1993 and my choice was never IE but Netscape which morphed into Firefox and so on. The issue here is not the word Beta. The font size has been an issue for several years and was an issue when Mozilla was still updating Thunderbird. I do get what you are saying and I do very much appreciate that the updates being made are by a very dedicated, wonderful team of volunteers. However, that said, any search will show that the extremely small font has been a serious problem for quite some time and really should be remedied but there appears to be no will to do so in spite of many, many, many complaints.
That said I have found an older version of Thunderbird that I will use for now. By the way, just try and find a non-beta version of it. Anyhow, in the very near future I will be upgrading my computer and Thunderbird will sadly no longer be apart of my applications. I will use an email client that allows me to control all of my font size needs.
Again thank you for your time and replies.
Gewysig op
Gekose oplossing
There is an alternative to the Theme Font & Size Changer add-on.
You can set up css code that applies formatting to the text of the UI.
- Create a folder in your profile named chrome
- In that folder, create a text file named userChrome.css
(Note the capitalization of both of these names.)
In that file, place this text:
/* * Do not remove the @namespace line -- it's required for correct functioning */ @namespace url("http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul"); /* set default namespace to XUL */ /* * Make all the default font sizes 9 pt: */ * { font-size: 9pt !important; font-family: "Segoe UI" !important; }
You can of course change the font-family and font-size values to whatever you like to use, and a little research will reveal what other attributes of the text can be adjusted. In the example here, I have set the UI text to match what is used elsewhere in Windows.
You may see some small wrinkles. In particular, a few dialogue boxes here don't quite accommodate all the graphical elements. YMMV.
Thank you Zenos for your reply. I will give this a try.
mynsie said
Airmail thank you for your responses. Bugzilla is a bug tracking and testing tool that was created by Mozillia and released by Netscape Communications way back when. . Again thank you for your time and replies.
Wrong. bugzilla.mozilla.org (often abbreviated b.m.o) is Mozilla.org's bug-tracking system, a database for recording bugs and enhancement requests for Firefox, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Camino, and other mozilla.org projects
Well maybe not Camino as it has been discontinued since March 2012.
https://www.bugzilla.org/ is a Issues tracking system made by Mozilla and is being used by a long list of companies, organizations, and projects https://www.bugzilla.org/installation-list/
I emailed the author about this problem on Nov 24. You might do the same. address is support@barisderin.com
I updated my existing Thunderbird to the latest version 52.5.2 and suddenly my font change add-on disappeared and I now have a message panel with very small fonts. This is very, very annoying. I have installed a recommended add-on to overcome this issue - Theme Font and Size Change for Thunderbird but I can't see this add-on anywhere on my Thunderbird menu, tool bar in order to change the font sizes. It is showing on my Firefox tool bar but not on Thunderbird. Why did the old Font changer add-on suddenly disappear when it was working just fine with my previous version of Thunderbird. I am really getting annoyed with Mozilla introducing all these newer version both in browser and now with Thunderbird where things dont work. Please,..... plesae...... how can I get back my old Font size changer add-on which appeared as the last item on my Tools menu and start using it.
I can't wear magnifier in order to use Thundebird, PLEASE.... Thank you.
in the Tools>Addons>Extensions, it says go here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/theme-font-size-changer-for-tb/
to update to latest version, despite auto updates being enabled. However when I do, I see the message below.
"This add-on is not available on your platform."
Misfeature on this page, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1194114#answer-1050298 is that if you click the image to check it's right, the image opens full size but the only way to return here is to click the page left arrow, which erases the uploads. But now I see all of the images DID upload after all, so I'll erase the duplicates and just include a screenshot of the browsed-for files list.
Gewysig op
dwmusic said
in the Tools>Addons>Extensions, it says go here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/theme-font-size-changer-for-tb/ to update to latest version, despite auto updates being enabled. However when I do, I see the message below. "This add-on is not available on your platform." Misfeature on this page, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1194114#answer-1050298 is that if you click the image to check it's right, the image opens full size but the only way to return here is to click the page left arrow, which erases the uploads. But now I see all of the images DID upload after all, so I'll erase the duplicates and just include a screenshot of the browsed-for files list.
I dont know what you mean with your post. Yes, for the old add-on it now says not available for my platform. But the new add-on is not working and is nowhere to be seen on the TB menus. My apologies; but I dont know what you're trying to say with your response. Cheers.
Vatche said
dwmusic saidin the Tools>Addons>Extensions, it says go here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/theme-font-size-changer-for-tb/ to update to latest version, despite auto updates being enabled. However when I do, I see the message below. "This add-on is not available on your platform." Misfeature on this page, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1194114#answer-1050298 is that if you click the image to check it's right, the image opens full size but the only way to return here is to click the page left arrow, which erases the uploads. But now I see all of the images DID upload after all, so I'll erase the duplicates and just include a screenshot of the browsed-for files list.I dont know what you mean with your post. Yes, for the old add-on it now says not available for my platform. But the new add-on is not working and is nowhere to be seen on the TB menus. My apologies; but I dont know what you're trying to say with your response. Cheers.
The problem is the add-on is not selectable as there is no button and no Tools menu option, and the web address given says "not compatible". The other issue I mention relates to this support page, when you browse for an image and then open it to view it, and then try to get back to this page. When you return to this page the uploads list shows zero uploads, but it turns out they're still there when you view the final post, with 6 uploads instead of the two you want. This misfeature is not related to the Theme Changer add-on and I should probably raise it in a separate ticket.
I have emailed the developer Baris Derin and asked him to look in on this thread.
Gewysig op
quote The problem is the add-on is not selectable as there is no button and no Tools menu option, and the web address given says "not compatible". The other issue I mention relates to this support page, when you browse for an image and then open it to view it, and then try to get back to this page. When you return to this page the uploads list shows zero uploads, but it turns out they're still there when you view the final post, with 6 uploads instead of the two you want. This misfeature is not related to the Theme Changer add-on and I should probably raise it in a separate ticket. </blockquote>
I see what you mean. Thank you. And now we are all stuck with the new TB with tiny message panel. If no immediate solution is found, i will uninstall this version and replace it with an older version. This is what I did with the latest Firefox. It was at a snail's speed.... I appreciate these are free sotwares and I like FF, but all these updates are sometimes beyond necessary and they kill the existing one(s) which otherwise were working fine.
Gewysig op
I also appreciate we're not paying for this, but I'd prefer to pay for the product and then have right of redress.
There's a thread buzzing here (excuse mixed metaphors!): https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/theme-font-size-changer-for-tb/reviews/
Gewysig op