Bug 512285

Summary: Notification popups (eg volume, brightness, keyboard layout) use wrong text colour
Product: [Plasma] Oxygen Reporter: S. Bryant <steve>
Component: QtQuickControlsAssignee: David Edmundson <kde>
Status: REPORTED ---    
Severity: normal CC: kde, kdedev, nate
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: 6.5.2   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: openSUSE   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments: Screenshot of problem
Screenshot of problem

Description S. Bryant 2025-11-18 10:27:34 UTC
SUMMARY
Plasma notification popups appearing in the middle of the screen are no longer readable for some users.  These are shown when changing things such as the volume, brightness or the keyboard layout.

This is noticeable if a light style is used in general, but a dark style is used for the plasma desktop (or the other way around), as you then have dark text on a dark background, or light on light.

The notification now uses "Window Text" from the general colour theme but does _NOT_ use the corresponding "Window Background" - that is taken from the "Plasma Style" theme instead.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Pick a light colour theme (eg: Breeze light)
2. Pick a dark plasma style (eg: Breeze dark)
3. Change the volume using keyboard shortcut or the mousewheel over the tray volume symbol, and try to read the text on the popup in the middle of the screen

OBSERVED RESULT
The text has very low contrast compared to the background.

EXPECTED RESULT
The text has high contrast compared to the background.
Both text and background colour should come from the same theme location, as defined under "Plasma Style".

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Windows: 
macOS: 
(available in the Info Center app, or by running `kinfo` in a terminal window)
Operating System: openSUSE Tumbleweed-Slowroll 20251106
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.2
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.19.0
Qt Version: 6.10.0

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This bug appears to be new since Plasma 6.5.2.
Desktop widgets (clock, system monitor etc) and the panel are not affected by this bug.
Comment 1 TraceyC 2025-12-02 23:32:43 UTC
Thanks for the bug report. Using the same steps, I'm not able to reproduce this on Plasma built from git-master or 6.5.3. It's possible it was fixed in 6.5.3.

Can you see if the same thing happens with a brand new user?
Comment 2 S. Bryant 2025-12-03 20:14:33 UTC
I've updated 6.5.2 -> 6.5.3 and the problem no longer appears for notifications appearing in the middle of the screen (volume etc).

However, some notifications at the bottom right seem affected.  For example, when plugging/unplugging my (Android) phone, there's a KDED message saying device connected/disconnected; the "KDED" title is dark on dark.  Same thing for one about the printer toner level.
Comment 3 TraceyC 2025-12-03 23:53:07 UTC
I'm not able to reproduce the bug with the pop ups either, with Plasma 6.5.3 or built from git-master. 
Were you able to test with a brand new user?
Comment 4 S. Bryant 2025-12-05 22:23:20 UTC
Yes: new user on a newly installed machine too, using 6.5.3.

I am able to able to reproduce this (on both machines) with "Breeze Light" colours selected (and any dark style for plasma).  It doesn't occur with Breeze Classic or other light themes.

Also, using "Breeze Dark" colours on any light plasma theme has the same problem - some of the text is light on light.

This affects, for example, System Tray -> Notifications (under "Show hidden icons") --> the "Do not disturb" toggle.  The rest of the text in the popup is as expected.
Comment 5 TraceyC 2025-12-10 01:21:03 UTC
Thanks for testing that. I also tested with an OpenSuse Tumbleweed and couldn't reproduce this.
Unfortunately the OpenSuse Slowroll VM I have has an error trying to update.
I'll leave this open so others can try to reproduce.
Comment 6 Nate Graham 2025-12-10 17:29:05 UTC
Please attach a screenshot or screen recording that shows the problem happening.

Also, does it happen in a new clean user account on the same computer if you do nothing except activate the "Breeze Twilight" global theme?

If it does happen in that case, does it keep happening after a reboot?

Thanks!
Comment 7 S. Bryant 2025-12-14 12:05:24 UTC
Created attachment 187629 [details]
Screenshot of problem

The uses the 'Breeze Light' theme, and the Plasma Style is set to 'Oxygen'.  These are unaltered themes that came with Opensuse.
Comment 8 S. Bryant 2025-12-14 12:05:28 UTC
Created attachment 187630 [details]
Screenshot of problem

The uses the 'Breeze Dark' theme, and the Plasma Style is set to 'openSUSElight'.  These are unaltered themes that came with openSUSE.
Comment 9 S. Bryant 2025-12-14 12:41:54 UTC
(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #6)
> Please attach a screenshot or screen recording that shows the problem
> happening.

Please see the attached files.

> Also, does it happen in a new clean user account on the same computer if you
> do nothing except activate the "Breeze Twilight" global theme?

I tested in a new account on the same computer.  Unfortunately, there is no "Breeze Twilight" global theme on openSUSE Slowroll (and presumably not on Tumbleweed either).  I couldn't find a system package containing this, and searching under "Get New..." didn't come up with it either.

> If it does happen in that case, does it keep happening after a reboot?

It happens after reboot.

It's only certain combinations  of colour theme and Plasma style that exhibit this behaviour now.  For example with "Breeze Light" colours and "Oxygen" or "openSUSE dark" Plasma styles.  Changing "Breeze Light" to "Breeze Classic" colours, or changing the Plasma style to "Breeze Dark", shows the correct text colour.

You'll note in the screenshots that it's only the 'Do not disturb' text that is affected.  The title any any content (eg: that Discover has changes) are shown correctly.  The problem is also visible when I click on the volume symbol in the tray - the title "Audio Volume" is correct, "Devices" and "Applications" have the wrong colour, and the remaining content correct.
Comment 10 Nate Graham 2025-12-16 21:16:55 UTC
Thanks. This is a Plasma theme problem; please report it to the author of the affected Plasma themes. Moving this one to Oxygen.