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Firefox 89 on Linux : use not existing Helvetica font broke lot of website

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Shnoulle

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I have Firefox ESR on debian Linux , I didn't have Helvetica font on my font: i didn't need it.

With Firefox ESR : the font used for github menu or for twitte are "Liberation Sans" But on 89 version , on same computer with same font preferences : it's the unexisting Helvetica : then website are really awful.

How can than happen ? How can i fix this , I really don't need Helvetica, why is this font set ?

I put some screenshot showing the issue and the preferences set.

Thanks you

I have Firefox ESR on debian Linux , I didn't have Helvetica font on my font: i didn't need it. With Firefox ESR : the font used for github menu or for twitte are "Liberation Sans" But on 89 version , on same computer with same font preferences : it's the unexisting Helvetica : then website are really awful. How can than happen ? How can i fix this , I really don't need Helvetica, why is this font set ? I put some screenshot showing the issue and the preferences set. Thanks you
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

OK : issue already reported : regression with Firefox 89 : https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1714318

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All Replies (4)

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This could vary by OS but when I check the font-family used by the page, I get:

body { font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji; }

On my Windows, the font actually used is Segoe UI.

Are you sure you don't have Helvetica installed?

There is a preference intended to limit fonts used by pages if you don't want "user installed" fonts to be used. You could try this and see whether it makes any difference:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste layout.css.font-visibility and pause while the list is filtered

Note: before Firefox 94

(3) Double-click the layout.css.font-visibility.level preference (or click the pencil button) to display an editing field, and choose a lower value, then press Enter or click the blue check mark button to save the change.

Note: starting in Firefox 94

(3) Double-click the layout.css.font-visibility.standard preference (or click the pencil button) to display an editing field, and choose a lower value, then press Enter or click the blue check mark button to save the change.

Any difference on Github? The values for this preference mean:

  • 1 - only use base system fonts
  • 2 - also use fonts from optional language packs
  • 3 - also use user-installed fonts

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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jscher2000 said

body { font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji; }

Not totally related : it happen on https://extensions.sondages.pro/ If there are Helvetica before sans-serif : Helvetica is choosen.

If i remove helvetica from the list : Sans-serif default from Gnome is used (Liberation)

Are you sure you don't have Helvetica installed?
100% sure ! Debian 10 buster from yesterday.
There is a preference intended to limit fonts used by pages if you don't want "user installed" fonts to be used. You could try this and see whether it makes any difference:
It's not want or not : No Helvetica => no reason to use helvetica.

I have the same value on ESR and 89 (on same computer).

I have an account on https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/index.cgi, i really think it's an issue here.

Modified by Shnoulle

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jscher2000 said

body { font-family: -apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji; }

Not totally related : same issue on https://extensions.sondages.pro/

If i remove manually (via F12/ edit css) Helvetica from the list : Liberation is used (seems to come from my Gnome theme)

Are you sure you don't have Helvetica installed?
100% sure (and screenshit clezrly show it's broken)
There is a preference intended to limit fonts used by pages if you don't want "user installed" fonts to be used. You could try this and see whether it makes any difference:

I have 3 on 89 and on ESR (78) : OK in ESR, not OK in 89.

I have an account on https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/ , maybe an issue with Helvetica here.

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Chosen Solution

OK : issue already reported : regression with Firefox 89 : https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1714318