On updating to Mojave, I have noticed that (in Light Mode) the background color of the sidebar in apps and the Safari suggestions dropdown is significantly darker. This makes it harder to read than in High Sierra.
Is there any way to adjust this color to make it lighter?
iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), macOS Mojave (10.14), null
I just got off the phone with Apple Support, and it turns out that your Desktop picture determines the colors displayed. I was skeptical, but then I went into Desktop & Screen Saver > Desktop and selected a lighter picture for my wallpaper, and it changed the color of the Safari suggestions, the active Finder sidebar, and the Dock.
open system preferences - accessibility - click on display - check the box of increase contrast .
The only real option appears to be sending feedback on macos to Apple requesting that in a future update they provide the means to turn it off, not just reduce it.
FWIW, you could reduce transparency in System Preferences > Accessibility > Display. Desktop wallpapers would have less of an effect.
Thanks for the reply. Ticking that box does seem to help a little, but also makes the UI look flatter by removing shadows and drawing darker lines around various parts of the window.
However, I wasn't looking to alter the whole feel of UI, just the color of of specific things such as the sidebar, Safari suggestion dropdown and notifications background. All are that blue/grey color, which makes the black text more difficult to read.
I'm inclined to believe that what I want to do is not possible with a normal Mojave install. If there are any apps that can change the color of these few items then I am open to suggestions.
On further inspection, it would appear that it is a transparency effect that I want to turn off. I have already checked the reduced transparency box, but what I really need is an option to turn it off altogether.
I have to agree with the sentiment expressed by others that many of the UI changes made by Apple in recent years reduce usability. Most are stylistic choices, which most people never wanted. The lack of colored icons in the Finder sidebar being a case in point.
It's as if Apple have run out of ideas so things like Dark Mode are heralded as huge advances, when in fact they are nothing more than a skin or theme, and do little to enhance overall functionality.
Stuart Wheeler wrote:
It's as if Apple have run out of ideas so things like Dark Mode are heralded as huge advances…
Personally I could care less about colored icons and I missed where Dark Mode was "heralded" as a huge advance.
You can share your thoughts with Apple here: Feedback - macOS - Apple
FWIW, this is not a social media or opinion forum. It's a help forum if you are having trouble with something.
Send your feedback to the link Product Feedback - Apple
So why reply with your opinion?
FWIW, the link to the Apple Feedback page has already been posted and previously marked as the solution, so no need for you to post it again.
I thought you may have missed it. And of course it's not a solution. You're correct though, I should have left out my opinion of colored icons. The rest stands.
As a rule there is very little fiddling of the GUI that Apple allows. Pre-SIP there were a few third-party apps that allowed some modification but even they were limited. I don't think that will change any time soon.
I don't think this was mentioned yet, but if you pick Graphite for your accent color, the sidebars are a lighter grey than if you pick any of the other colors. ...at least on my screen. I have a black desktop.
Can The SideBar Color in Mojave Light Mode Be Adjusted?
