Dark theme not respected at boot, some apps showing as if light theme (white)

[RodBarnes]

Distribution

Mint 22.3

Package version

Cinnamon 6.6.7

Graphics hardware in use

AMD Radeon 860M Graphics (radeonsi gfx1152 LLVM 20.1.2 DRM 3.64 6.17.0-19-generic)

Frequency

Only occasionally

Bug description

Since upgrade to 22.3, I have the occasional issue where, after boot, the dark theme I have selected is not respected and some apps open as if light theme is selected. I see this with apps such as Gnome System Monitor and Brave. But GNOME Terminal always comes up dark. Cinnamon itself always comes up dark as expected.

Resetting Cinnamon doesn't fix it nor does logging out and back in. Only a reboot fixes it and it always does fix it.

I'm not sure what logs or other information I could check to try and determine why this is happening; please advise.

System Info

System:
  Kernel: 6.17.0-19-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.3.0 clocksource: tsc
  Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.6.7 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: Muffin v: 6.6.3 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.30.0
    Distro: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 83HY v: IdeaPad Slim 5 16AKP10 serial: <superuser required>
    Chassis: type: 10 v: IdeaPad Slim 5 16AKP10 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: LNVNB161216 v: SDK0T76574 WIN serial: <superuser required>
    part-nu: LENOVO_MT_83HY_BU_idea_FM_IdeaPad Slim 5 16AKP10 uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: LENOVO
    v: R0CN22WW date: 07/12/2025
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 50.5 Wh (79.5%) condition: 63.5/60.0 Wh (105.8%) volts: 12.1 min: 11.3
    model: BYD L24B3PK2 type: Li-poly serial: <filter> status: not charging cycles: 9
CPU:
  Info: 8-core model: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 w/ Radeon 860M bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled
    arch: N/A rev: 0 cache: L1: 640 KiB L2: 8 MiB L3: 16 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1501 high: 3545 min/max: 623/5091:3506 boost: enabled cores: 1: 3545 2: 1229
    3: 3523 4: 623 5: 3517 6: 623 7: 623 8: 623 9: 623 10: 623 11: 623 12: 623 13: 3523 14: 623
    15: 623 16: 2452 bogomips: 63878
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD vendor: Lenovo driver: amdgpu v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
    active: DP-8,DP-9,eDP-1 empty: DP-1, DP-10, DP-2, DP-3, DP-4, DP-5, DP-6, DP-7, HDMI-A-1,
    Writeback-1 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:1114 class-ID: 0380 temp: 40.0 C
  Device-2: Syntek Integrated Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 1-1:2 chip-ID: 174f:1826 class-ID: fe01 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 4771x2280 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1262x603mm (49.69x23.74")
    s-diag: 1399mm (55.07")
  Monitor-1: DP-8 mapped: DisplayPort-7 pos: top-left model: Dell P2319H serial: <filter>
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 96 size: 509x286mm (20.04x11.26") diag: 584mm (23") modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: DP-9 mapped: DisplayPort-8 pos: top-center model: Dell P2319H serial: <filter>
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 96 size: 509x286mm (20.04x11.26") diag: 584mm (23") modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  Monitor-3: eDP-1 mapped: eDP pos: primary,bottom-r model: BOE Display NV160WUM-K03
    res: 1920x1200 hz: 60 dpi: 141 size: 345x215mm (13.58x8.46") diag: 407mm (16") modes:
    max: 1920x1200 min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi device: 1 drv: swrast
    gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 25.2.8-0ubuntu0.24.04.1 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon 860M Graphics (radeonsi gfx1152 LLVM 20.1.2 DRM 3.64
    6.17.0-19-generic) device-ID: 1002:1114
  API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 layers: 3 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 0 type: integrated-gpu driver: N/A
    device-ID: 1002:1114 device: 1 type: cpu driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 04:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1640 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_acp_pci v: kernel
    pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 04:00.5 chip-ID: 1022:15e2 class-ID: 0480
  Device-3: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 04:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.17.0-19-generic status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek vendor: Lenovo driver: rtw89_8922ae v: kernel pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1
    port: 2000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8922 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter driver: r8152 type: USB rev: 3.0
    speed: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 8-1.3.4:4 chip-ID: 0bda:8153 class-ID: 0000 serial: <filter>
  IF: enx00e04c68068c state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Realtek Bluetooth Radio driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 1.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 3-5:2 chip-ID: 0bda:d922 class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 3 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 5.3 lmp-v: 12
    sub-v: c905 hci-v: 12 rev: 41c0 class-ID: 7c010c
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 953.87 GiB used: 150.2 GiB (15.7%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: SK Hynix model: HFS001TEM4X182N size: 953.87 GiB speed: 63.2 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 61000A31 temp: 29.9 C scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 937.57 GiB used: 150.19 GiB (16.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p5
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 256 MiB used: 9.2 MiB (3.6%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swapfile
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-1:2 info: Syntek Integrated Camera type: video driver: uvcvideo interfaces: 5
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 power: 500mA chip-ID: 174f:1826 class-ID: fe01 serial: <filter>
  Hub-2: 2-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 1 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-3: 3-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 5 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 3-5:2 info: Realtek Bluetooth Radio type: bluetooth driver: btusb interfaces: 2
    rev: 1.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 power: 500mA chip-ID: 0bda:d922 class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Hub-4: 4-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 5-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-6: 6-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 1 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-7: 7-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-8: 7-1:2 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 05e3:0610 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-9: 7-1.3:3 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 6 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 05e3:0610 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-10: 8-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 1 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0003 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-11: 8-1:2 info: Genesys Logic USB3.2 Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.2 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 05e3:0625 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-12: 8-1.3:3 info: Genesys Logic USB3.2 Hub ports: 4 rev: 3.2 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 05e3:0625 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 8-1.3.4:4 info: Realtek RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter type: Network driver: r8152
    interfaces: 1 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 power: 288mA chip-ID: 0bda:8153 class-ID: 0000
    serial: <filter>
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 34.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 41.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2258 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2248 pm: flatpak pkgs: 10
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg arch=amd64] https: //brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/bruno.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/bruno.gpg] http: //debian.usebruno.com/ bruno stable
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/libreoffice-ppa-noble.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/libreoffice-ppa-noble.gpg] https: //ppa.launchpadcontent.net/libreoffice/ppa/ubuntu noble main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb http: //fastly.linuxmint.io zena main upstream import backport
    2: deb http: //mirrors.accretive-networks.net/ubuntu noble main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http: //mirrors.accretive-networks.net/ubuntu noble-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http: //mirrors.accretive-networks.net/ubuntu noble-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble-security main restricted universe multiverse
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] https: //download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian noble contrib
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.sources
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https: //packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main
Info:
  Memory: total: 16 GiB note: est. available: 14.91 GiB used: 3.84 GiB (25.8%)
  Processes: 419 Power: uptime: 17m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: s2idle wakeups: 0
    hibernate: platform Init: systemd v: 255 target: graphical (5) default: graphical
  Compilers: gcc: 13.3.0 Client: Unknown python3.12 client inxi: 3.3.34

Steps to reproduce

Just boot the computer. Nothing special.

Expected behavior

All apps should respect the dark theme setting after boot.

Additional information

No response

[mtwebster]

Can you run:

gsettings set org.cinnamon.SessionManager debug true

Then reboot, attempt to reproduce, etc...

Once you have can you attach the ~/.xsession-errors from that session (hint: the previous login will be saved as .session-errors.old).

[rado84-github]

Since upgrade to 22.3, I have the occasional issue where, after boot, the dark theme I have selected is not respected and some apps open as if light theme is selected. I see this with apps such as Gnome System Monitor and Brave. But GNOME Terminal always comes up dark. Cinnamon itself always comes up dark as expected.

I know what this is and it's not a bug of Cinnamon. Gnome-terminal appears dark because it still runs on GTK3 and your theme is GTK3. The other apps that appear white (like when you run them as root or something) - they require GTK4. In order to have them respect the dark theme, you must install the package gtk4 (or however it is named in Mint) and add a dark theme in your theme. For instance, if your theme is in /usr/share/themes/RodsTheme, download any GTK4 dark theme you want and like (there are plenty out there, though not many look good). Go to /usr/share/themes/RodsTheme and create a new gtk-4.0 directory (you'll have to use sudo for that):

sudo mkdir -p gtk-4.0

unpack the newly downloaded GTK4 theme and copy it to /usr/share/themes/RodsTheme/gtk-4.0. Then start the "white" apps and if you've done it right, they'll appear with the new GTK4 theme, light or dark - depending on what theme you have downloaded.

Here's an example directory structure of what your theme should look like: