Google Translate broken in dark mode on my MacBook Pro after macOS 26 update

Question

Google Translate broken in dark mode on my MacBook Pro after macOS 26 update

after updating to ios 26 tahoe & now using google translate on my macbook, i'm unable to see the characters when i hold down the letter i for example. when the special character menu comes up, it's broken. it makes the characters white on a white background. yes i'm using dark mode, but i shouldn't have to change to loud white mode to fix this. yes that fixes it, but i want to use dark mode, duh :) it's broken. how was this missed? why isn't this automatically dark on a white background?

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: accent menu is white on white background using dark mode, can't see the characters

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Sep 16, 2025 5:26 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Oct 5, 2025 5:24 AM in response to airlily

airlily wrote:

I'm hoping someone online has a list of each key's accent list so I can have a much quicker reference than typing in another app and fumbling to copy one letter.

You can always go back to the old standard option key shortcuts for accents:

https://sites.psu.edu/symbolcodes/mac/codemac/

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Answer 2

benm697

Level 1

42 points

Sep 28, 2025 4:18 PM in response to jazzhands4ever

Unless there is some rule I am unaware of, the moderator title change for this thread is inaccurate and will hurt future search results for others with this issue. This issue is not unique to google translate and has nothing to do with dark mode, the OP just noticed it when using google translate. The original title was accurate to the issue, the accent menu in Tahoe is transparent and uses white text, so when inputting an accent/selecting a character when using a Chinese keyboard (or other language) on a website/application that has white backgrounds (such as a pages doc), it is impossible to read the drop down options.

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Answer 3

Sep 16, 2025 5:40 AM in response to jazzhands4ever

also, when i first open chrome and translate and hold down the i for character choices, it IS BLACK for about half a second, then it changes to white. bugged. started right but then fails over to white for some odd reason almost immediately. it's only like this one time, then it stays white every other subsequent time. seems to be an issue with white background on chrome using dark mode tahoe 26.

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Answer 4

Sep 17, 2025 5:55 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Good question, I hadn't tried that. Yes, it's the same with Gmail (white background) and the issue is the same with Google Translate on both Chrome and Safari. here is the safari example. notice when i hold down the 'i' key the options are all white and not easy to see.

[Edited by Moderator]

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Sep 27, 2025 5:25 PM in response to jazzhands4ever

FWIW, I use the Dark Reader extension for my browsers and don't have that issue because it changes the page to white text on black. It's also not a problem with TextEdit, Notes and some others.

From Safari…

Feel free to send Apple feedback.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

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Answer 6

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Sep 16, 2025 5:55 PM in response to jazzhands4ever

Same problem if you use Safari?

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Answer 7

benm697

Level 1

42 points

Sep 27, 2025 5:50 PM in response to jazzhands4ever

I am having the same exact issue, this issue also occurs when using Japanese/Chinese keyboards making it very difficult to type. I am seeing a similar issue where it flashes black for a second and immediately goes transparent. Another screenshot for evidence:

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Answer 8

Sep 27, 2025 5:50 PM in response to dialabrain

thanks for the feedback, but I don't want to have to use add-ons to see something so basic that should simply work. they need to fix it, not make users find work-arounds. but thanks for the note if others feel differently. apple has a ton of resources to do this right, so hopefully they will fix it. i wish there was a better way to give feedback for things that are broken rather than have to yell about it from the rooftops, PS. what happened to 'report bug'? without having to chat with someone. i think i just expect too much...

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Answer 9

dialabrain

Level 10

136,079 points

Sep 27, 2025 5:57 PM in response to jazzhands4ever

jazzhands4ever wrote:

thanks for the feedback, but I don't want to have to use add-ons to see something so basic that should simply work.

You're welcome. FWIW, I don't use Dark Reader to "fix" anything. I use it because I prefer dark mode everywhere, including web pages.

PS. what happened to 'report bug'? without having to chat with someone. i think i just expect too much...

You can file bug reports from the feedback page as always.

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Answer 10

Sep 28, 2025 5:49 PM in response to benm697

Yes. It would be a lot better if Moderators hopped in to say, "Hey thanks, we'll pass this bug along, we appreciate you reporting it!" Making it look like it's a Google by changing the subject also feels weird. If it really IS a Google issue maybe reply as to why that is. Otherwise users are going to think you're manipulating their words for some unknown, misunderstood reason, you make users feel like they're not being heard, like they're doing something wrong, etc. It broke after your update, not Google's update.

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Answer 11

airlily

Level 1

4 points

Oct 5, 2025 1:08 AM in response to jazzhands4ever

From students' names to the ancient languages I'm studying, I use the accent pop-up quite often and cannot believe this is broken. I'm hoping someone online has a list of each key's accent list so I can have a much quicker reference than typing in another app and fumbling to copy one letter.

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Answer 12

Sep 27, 2025 5:12 PM in response to jazzhands4ever

I just installed Tahoe, and I am having the same issue. I type in French and Spanish constantly, and must have this fixed.

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Answer 13

Sep 27, 2025 5:45 PM in response to RandyPiper

Yes, it's a big miss. A couple major problems for me with this release. Functionality needs to come first; it's disappointing. Thank you for citing you have the same problem.

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Answer 14

Sep 27, 2025 5:51 PM in response to benm697

thanks, yep they broke it. hope they fix it for us. thank you.

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Answer 15

Sep 28, 2025 5:53 PM in response to dialabrain

Right but... oh nevermind. Thank you.

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