zen-browser
"zen.view.grey-out-inactive-windows" is bugged on Windows
Captchas
- [x] I have read the instructions.
- [x] I have searched existing issues and avoided creating duplicates.
- [x] I am not filing an enhancement request.
- [ ] I have checked that this issue cannot be reproduced on Mozilla Firefox.
- [x] I have checked that this issue can be reproduced once I removed all my Mods and Custom CSS.
What happened?
Hello! I'm using latest Zen on Windows 11 23h2 with mica installed. Today all was fine until I toggle this setting "zen.view.grey-out-inactive-windows" So now even if I retoggle it several times, several PC reboots, Mica uninstalled, All CSS and mods was removed, new profile was created but it's still greyed when window inactive and moreover now my Zen window is completely greyed if I maximize the window. So in window mode I have nice blur+transparency but if window is maximized my interface is completely greyed. There is some video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILp1zgBC9uA
Version
1.11.3b (Firefox 137.0.1) (64-bit)
What platform are you seeing the problem on?
Windows - x64
What component is this issue related to?
Other
Relevant log output if applicable
This issue relative to this thread on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen_browser/comments/1k0mhrf/transparent_is_gone_in_full_screen/ My transparency is gone for maximized window also and there is some workaround in comments. This issue can be fixed until next ZenBrowser restart by pressing F11 twice to go to Windows Fullscreen mode and go back to Windowed mode. After this everything is fine but until browser restarts. So every time I open my Browser I need to press F11 twice to fix this issue temporary,
This is done by windows, as we are using their native window backdrop material. We cant control it unless you use some third party app, sorry
@mauro-balades but everything was fine until I change these setting in Zen...
Why are you using mica for everyone?
Because it was recommended by Nebula theme creator for more transparent effect. If you want to say that it's happened because of Mica, doubt. Cause I'm using it since I install Zen Browser. And it was more than month ago. But yesterday I had this transparency issue. Did I try to uninstall Mica before open this issue? Yes.
Mica was Uninstalled with settings restored before. All CSS mods was removed. All Zen mods was removed. New profile was created. But issue still exist
I can assume what Windows 11 DWM.exe can't draw this kind of effects in my browser. But it's happened after this "grey-out" settings was turned. And there is no returning back.
Could you try in a new profile without any themes or css?
One more time. In this video: New profile created. All Mica settings disabled. transparent flag in about:config enabled. Transparent Zen from Zen-Store installed.
All transparency effects doesn't work cause Mica required for Windows 11 users. After Mica enabled I have transparency in windowed mode only. To make it works I need to press F11 twice to make it full screen and go back to Windowed mode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqVv0ngKq3c&t=1s
Could you try in a new profile without any themes or css?
Sorry for disturbing. There is very short video how it works before this bug: https://youtu.be/R8LKdQqqFpE
As You can see in this video I has transparent effect in full screen mode (YouTube and Twitch website shown)
Same PC, same Windows build, same Mica configuration, same CSS but grey-out settings wasn't toggled.
It seems like turning the flag to false does not actually disable the graying out. I tried to set it to false so that my transparent setup would work when my browser is not focused, but to no avail. With the flag set to false I see no change. I am on Windows 11.
Wonder if this is the cause? I wonder the the moz mica check is failing.
https://github.com/zen-browser/desktop/blob/0c45a24f484a5e6c2b7e68007b80e9d5248883af/src/zen/common/styles/zen-browser-ui.css#L64
I'm on windows 11 24H2 (26100.4061) and I also have the problem, the setting does absolutely nothing. I do not have the fullscreen/maximize bug tho. I even tried on Twilight with a new profile and same things, toggling the setting off changes nothing. I also tried finding where the graying out is done using the chrome debugger but couldn't find it.
If using mica, that's default behaviour on windows, I dont think it can be changed.
There's some docs on applying different layers that take on the underlying material as background. While the Mica layer itself turns solid, the layer above might get snapshot/'frozen' in it's last state.
the Mica materials will appear as a solid fallback color (SolidBackgroundFillColorBase for Mica, SolidBackgroundFillColorBaseAlt for Mica Alt) when:
The user turns off transparency in Settings > Personalization > Color. Battery Saver mode is activated. The app runs on low-end hardware. An app window on desktop deactivates. The Windows app is running on Xbox or HoloLens. The Windows version is below 22000.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/design/style/mica#usability-and-adaptability
Terminal active:
Terminal deactivated:
The base layer in the title becomes solid, but the content stays in the last state.
Hi, @dvgmdvgm. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog. I'm marking this issue as stale.
Issue Summary:
- The "zen.view.grey-out-inactive-windows" setting causes the Zen window to remain greyed out on Windows 11.
- The issue persists in maximized window mode, with a temporary workaround of pressing F11 twice.
- @mr-cheffy suggests the issue is due to Windows' native window backdrop material.
- Other users, including @sprydagger and @Ikeiwa, confirm similar issues.
- @Propheticus provides insights into Mica materials' behavior under certain conditions.
Next Steps:
- Please let me know if this issue is still relevant to the latest version of the desktop repository by commenting here.
- If there is no further activity, I will automatically close this issue in 7 days.
Thank you for your understanding and contribution!
![dosubot[bot] avatar](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/in/324583?v=4 "Published by a pub.dev verified publisher"){kind=small}
I can confirm it's still a thing, also @Propheticus I just tested and no, the terminal background still dynamically updates when unfocused, only the titlebar gets disabled. I was talking about the actual window background, not the titlebar.
@Ikeiwa The terminal background is acrylic material, not mica. I was trying to point out the different behaviours of these materials and pointed to Microsofts design guide on the matter explaining that mica becomes solid when a windows deactivates. (and their advise to use different layers/materials for control bar area and content areas)
Then maybe a way to choose between acrylic and mica could be added to the about:config to allow people more customization
Without mica the issue persists. If it is not a thing in windows 11 just remove that feature Active window
Deactive window
Hi, @dvgmdvgm. I'm Dosu, and I'm helping the desktop team manage their backlog and am marking this issue as stale.
Issue Summary:
- You reported a bug with the "zen.view.grey-out-inactive-windows" setting on Windows 11 in Zen 1.11.3b causing the entire interface to grey out when maximizing a window.
- The grey-out persists even after toggling settings, uninstalling Mica, and using new profiles.
- A temporary workaround involves pressing F11 twice to toggle fullscreen, but the issue returns after restart.
- The maintainer explained this is due to Windows' native Mica backdrop material, which the app cannot control.
- Other users confirmed similar issues and suggested a feature request to allow choosing between Mica and Acrylic materials for better transparency control.
Next Steps:
- Please let me know if this issue is still relevant with the latest version of the desktop app by commenting here to keep the discussion open.
- Otherwise, I will automatically close this issue in 10 days.
Thank you for your understanding and contribution!