After an update, all QT/GTK themes use dark variant even when light is selected

[mailbun]

Compositor

• niri
• Hyprland
• dwl (MangoWC)
• sway
• Other (specify)

Distribution

Fedora (Custom build of Ublue/Fedora Atomic)

dms version

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dms v1.0.3

Description

After a system update, all GTK and QT themed apps, apart from Firefox (but including GTK titlebar from firefox) seem to use dark theme despite light mode being enabled in DMS. I confirmed that changes to themes still go through, but they are still dark regardless of the theme.

It seems that indication of light theme through portal works, as Firefox properly changes between it's internal light and dark theme (when set to automatic) when I switched it in DMS, apart from GTK headerbar.

Expected Behavior

For apps to have a light mode.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Launch DMS with theming enabled and working
2. Choose light theme
3. Open a themed app
4. Change theme to see that colors still change

Error Messages/Logs

nohup: ignoring input
dms v1.0.3
  INFO  go: Spawning quickshell with -p /usr/share/quickshell/dms
                                  
██████╗  █████╗ ███╗   ██╗██╗  ██╗
██╔══██╗██╔══██╗████╗  ██║██║ ██╔╝
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╚═════╝ ╚═╝  ╚═╝╚═╝  ╚═══╝╚═╝  ╚═╝
  INFO  go: DMS API Server listening on: /run/user/1000/danklinux-20689.sock
  INFO  go: API Version: 22
  INFO  go: Protocol: JSON over Unix socket
  INFO  go: Request format: {"id": <any>, "method": "...", "params": {...}}
  INFO  go: Response format: {"id": <any>, "result": {...}} or {"id": <any>, "error": "..."}
  INFO  go:
  INFO  go: Initializing managers...
  INFO  go:
  INFO  go: Attempting to initialize Wayland gamma control...
  INFO  go: Wayland gamma control initialized successfully
  INFO  go: AppPicker manager initialized
  INFO  go: Attempting to initialize DWL IPC...
  INFO  go: DWL: starting registry setup
  INFO  go: Network backend detection: NetworkManager present. Using NM API.
  INFO  go: DWL: Bound wl_output id=9 registry_name=42
  INFO  go: DWL: manager not found in registry
  INFO  go: ExtWorkspace capability detected and will be available on subscription
  INFO  go: Attempting to initialize WlrOutput management...
  INFO  go: WlrOutput: starting registry setup
  INFO  go: WlrOutput: registry setup complete (events will be processed async)
  INFO  go: WlrOutput management initialized successfully
  INFO  go: Wayland event dispatcher started
  INFO  go:
  INFO  go: Ready! Capabilities: [plugins gamma browser extworkspace wlroutput]
  INFO  go: Brightness manager initialized
  WARN  go: Failed to initialize evdev manager: insufficient permissions to access input devices
  INFO  go: WlrOutput: found zwlr_output_manager_v1
  INFO  go: WlrOutput: manager bound successfully
  INFO  go: [BluezManager] found adapter: /org/bluez/hci0
  INFO  go: Sysfs backend initialized with 10 devices
  INFO  go: Udev monitor started for backlight/drm/i2c events
  INFO  go: Logind backend initialized - will use for brightness control
  INFO  go: [BluezAgent] registered at /com/danklinux/bluez/agent with capability KeyboardDisplay
  INFO  go: Bluez manager initialized
  INFO  go: Freedesktop manager initialized
  INFO  go: Loginctl manager initialized
�[32m  INFO�[0m: Launching config: "/usr/share/quickshell/dms/shell.qml"
�[32m  INFO�[0m: Shell ID: "85ecfc916fcda75f6106502e8dabb0ab" Path ID "85ecfc916fcda75f6106502e8dabb0ab"
�[32m  INFO�[0m: Saving logs to "/run/user/1000/quickshell/by-id/wyfe0ei7t/log.qslog"
�[33m  WARN�[0m: QSettings::value: Empty key passed
  INFO  go: [SecretAgent] Registered with NetworkManager (id=com.danklinux.NMAgent, unique name=:1.277, fixed path=/org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/SecretAgent)
  INFO  go: Network manager initialized
  INFO  go: DDC backend initialized
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: AudioService: Sound effects enabled
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NetworkService: Initializing...
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: PolkitService: Initialized successfully
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: IdleService: Initialized with idle monitoring support
�[33m  WARN�[0m: Tried to register singleton PowerProfileWatcher_QMLTYPE_45(0x7f71d7fd1b40) which is not the root component of its file QUrl("qs:@/qs/Services/PowerProfileWatcher.qml")
�[33m  WARN�[97m quickshell.I3.ipc�[0m: $I3SOCK is unset. Trying $SWAYSOCK.
�[33m  WARN�[97m quickshell.I3.ipc�[0m: $SWAYSOCK and I3SOCK are unset. Cannot connect to socket.
�[33m  WARN�[0m: $HYPRLAND_INSTANCE_SIGNATURE is unset. Cannot connect to hyprland.
�[32m  INFO�[0m: Configuration Loaded
�[33m  WARN�[97m qml�[0m: I18n: Falling back to built-in English strings
�[32m  INFO�[97m qt.multimedia.ffmpeg�[0m: Using Qt multimedia with FFmpeg version 7.1.2 nonfree and unredistributable
Input #0, wav, from '/usr/share/quickshell/dms/assets/sounds/freedesktop/audio-volume-change.wav':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf62.3.100
  Duration: 00:00:00.06, bitrate: 1420 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 44100 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1411 kb/s
Input #0, wav, from '/usr/share/quickshell/dms/assets/sounds/freedesktop/message.wav':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf62.3.100
  Duration: 00:00:00.31, bitrate: 1413 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 44100 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1411 kb/s
Input #0, wav, from '/usr/share/quickshell/dms/assets/sounds/freedesktop/message-new-instant.wav':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf62.3.100
  Duration: 00:00:01.03, bitrate: 1411 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 44100 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1411 kb/s
Input #0, wav, from '/usr/share/quickshell/dms/assets/sounds/plasma/power-unplug.wav':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf62.3.100
  Duration: 00:00:03.00, bitrate: 1411 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 44100 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1411 kb/s
Input #0, wav, from '/usr/share/quickshell/dms/assets/sounds/plasma/power-plug.wav':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf62.3.100
  Duration: 00:00:03.00, bitrate: 1411 kb/s
  Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le ([1][0][0][0] / 0x0001), 44100 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1411 kb/s
�[33m  WARN�[97m quickshell.service.sni.host�[0m: Error reading "RegisteredStatusNotifierItems" property of watcher org.kde.StatusNotifierWatcher
�[33m  WARN�[97m quickshell.service.sni.host�[0m: QDBusError("org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.UnknownObject", "No such object path '/StatusNotifierWatcher'")
�[33m  WARN�[97m quickshell.service.polkit.listener�[0m: failed to register listener: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: An authentication agent already exists for the given subject
�[33m  WARN�[97m quickshell.service.polkit�[0m: failed to register listener on path "/org/quickshell/PolkitAgent"
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Detected distribution: Aurora (Version: 43.20251216)
�[31m ERROR�[97m quickshell.service.pipewire.node�[0m: PwNode(0x7f71b3c71d60, id=61/bound) has attached device PwDevice(0x7f71b3dca940, id=52/bound) but no card.profile.device property.
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: CompositorService: Detected Niri with socket: /run/user/1000/niri.wayland-1.1819.sock
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #179299 (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #179299 (light)
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Matugen 3.1.0 supports --continue-on-error
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Generated wpblur config at /home/tbun/.config/niri/dms/wpblur.kdl
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NetworkService: Network capability detected, using DMSNetworkService
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NetworkService: Switched to DMSNetworkService, networkAvailable: true
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DMSService: Connected (API v22, CLI v1.0.3) - ["plugins","network","loginctl","freedesktop","gamma","bluetooth","browser","extworkspace","brightness","wlroutput"]
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: WlrOutputService: wlr-output-management capability detected
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: ExtWorkspaceService: ext-workspace available but compositor has native support
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: CompositorService: Detected Niri with socket: /run/user/1000/niri.wayland-1.1819.sock
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Generated wpblur config at /home/tbun/.config/niri/dms/wpblur.kdl
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: dankActions
�[33m  WARN�[97m scene�[0m: QML DankBatteryAlerts at file:///home/tbun/.config/DankMaterialShell/plugins/DankBatteryAlerts/DankBatteryAlerts.qml[8:1]: Created graphical object was not placed in the graphics scene.
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: dankBatteryAlerts
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: calculator
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: commandRunner
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: emojiLauncher
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: niriWindows
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DankBar: Plugin loaded: webSearch
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Daemon plugin loaded: dankBatteryAlerts
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: SessionService: Native inhibitor available: true
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Generated layout config at /home/tbun/.config/niri/dms/layout.kdl
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Generated alttab config at /home/tbun/.config/niri/dms/alttab.kdl
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[33m  WARN�[0m: Process failed to start, likely because the binary could not be found. Command: QList("khal", "printformats")
  INFO  go: [CUPS] Using D-Bus notifications for local CUPS
  INFO  go: CUPS manager initialized
  INFO  go: [CUPS] Created D-Bus subscription with ID 11
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DMSService: Connected (API v22, CLI v1.0.3) - ["plugins","network","loginctl","freedesktop","gamma","bluetooth","browser","cups","extworkspace","brightness","wlroutput"]
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: ExtWorkspaceService: ext-workspace available but compositor has native support
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: DMSService: Connected (API v22, CLI v1.0.3) - ["plugins","network","loginctl","freedesktop","gamma","bluetooth","browser","cups","extworkspace","brightness","wlroutput"]
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: ExtWorkspaceService: ext-workspace available but compositor has native support
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #40a02b (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #40a02b (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #179299 (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #179299 (light)
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: dark (stock colors)
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #94e2d5 (dark)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #94e2d5 (dark)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #179299 (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #179299 (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #1976d2 (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #1976d2 (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #8839ef (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #8839ef (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #40a02b (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #40a02b (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Setting desired theme - hex mode: light (stock colors)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme worker: Theme generation completed
  INFO  go: Processing theme: hex #179299 (light)
  INFO  go: Building theme: hex #179299 (light)
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: Theme: Matugen worker completed successfully
  INFO  go: Using stock/custom theme colors with matugen base
  INFO  go: Running matugen color hex with stock color overrides
  INFO  go: Done
�[32m  INFO�[97m qml�[0m: NiriService: Loaded 1 outputs

(Here I changed theme a couple of times, and Light themes only were light in DMS itself)

Screenshots/Recordings

[mailbun]

I also checked that it seems to be also an issue with foot terminal theming. If I use generated colors and switch between light and dark, I could see that "dark" and "light" only changes regular and bright colors and not background color.

Diff between dark and light foot theme, see that background is unchanged:

--- -	2025-12-19 12:49:29.250183198 +0300
+++ /home/tbun/.config/foot/dank-colors.ini	2025-12-19 12:49:22.385061043 +0300
@@ -5,18 +5,18 @@
 selection-background=2e5e59
 
 regular0=181825
-regular1=e74d55
-regular2=7ad66e
-regular3=dbc87b
-regular4=42a695
-regular5=7aa9a1
-regular6=94e2d5
-regular7=abb2bf
-bright0=5c6370
-bright1=e05f6b
-bright2=90e086
-bright3=e8d897
-bright4=94e3d6
-bright5=38896d
-bright6=478582
-bright7=ffffff
+regular1=8c0b13
+regular2=127209
+regular3=7f6d11
+regular4=54ffff
+regular5=1e7c82
+regular6=179299
+regular7=1a1a1a
+bright0=2e2e2e
+bright1=a52029
+bright2=1d8c13
+bright3=998521
+bright4=0baeb7
+bright5=3fffe7
+bright6=59a5ff
+bright7=1a1a1a

[brokenglasszero]

I have the same problem using Hyprland and using dark themes. QT and GTK apps all stay light.

[bbedward]

I dont think these are the same problems, the one idk it could be a problem with zirconium configs somewhere.

Follow the configuration guide: https://danklinux.com/docs/dankmaterialshell/application-themes#gtk-applications

Ensure systemd variables are picked up, if running under systemd

cat -A ~/.config/environment.d/90-dms.conf

DMS_IS_COOL=true$

systemctl --user show-environment

if you dont see the 90-dms vars or related theme vars theres some problem, you can try to reload systemctl --user daemon-reexec - if its stiill not there maybe an issue in the file syntax, extra hidden char or something

[mailbun]

For me, it's definitely not that issue, as variables from config file are picked up after a reload, but also because the theme does change when changed in settings, it just stays dark on light mode (and in case of foot terminal, it uses dark background on light colors).

Also, I found out that Auto color scheme does not seem to be affected, only Generic and Catppuccin.

If I had to guess, it's some issue with matugen theme generation, that automatic theme gen works, but preset ones have wrong background color?

[mailbun]

I was also able to reproduce that issue on NixOS (nixpkgs unstable) with dms v1.0.3.

[wonrax]

same thing's happening to me. nixos with dms 1.2.3

[mailbun]

I tested again, and on dms v1.2.3 on Arch Linux (with quickshell 0.2.1, revision dacfa9de829ac7cb173825f593236bf2c21f637e, distributed by: AUR (package: quickshell-git)), the issue still persists but only with Catppuccin theme, because other custom theme I tried (Evergreen), as well as "Auto" and "Generic" all seem to work normally now, and even Non-Light theme Catpuccin variations are working as intended.

[mailbun]

I still get that issue with dms v1.4.0 (quickshell 0.2.1, revision dacfa9de829ac7cb173825f593236bf2c21f637e, distributed by: AUR (package: quickshell-git) , matugen 3.1.0) on Arch Linux, still specifically with Catppuccin theme. Since it seems specific to Catppuccin now, should I change issue title and reopen, or open a new issue?

[tklros]

I still get that issue with dms v1.4.0 (quickshell 0.2.1, revision dacfa9de829ac7cb173825f593236bf2c21f637e, distributed by: AUR (package: quickshell-git) , matugen 3.1.0) on Arch Linux, still specifically with Catppuccin theme. Since it seems specific to Catppuccin now, should I change issue title and reopen, or open a new issue?

I’m experiencing the same issue with the same dms (git) v1.4-3129 and Catppuccin theme on Fedora 42 (Asahi Linux).

All QT/GTK themes use dark variant even when light is selected ):

[Purian23]

The Light/Dark mode portal sync is likely fixed via 65516e8

Depending on anything else that pops up or not will determine when we send out a hotfix for DMS Stable

[wonrax]

Is it just me or it's still not fixed on 1.4.3+date=2026-02-25_47b12d0? For instance Telegram always stays in light mode, and Google Chrome always stays in dark mode. Could be a misconfiguration on my part though, but I'm not sure where to look for.