Dark mode

[Elhem Enohpi]

I would say the theme is not perfect, but it's good enough for me, and it's a major improvement over the light theme for my eyes, so I'm quite happy with it... The main thing I notice is that the icons in the destination side, that display what's going to happen (green arrow etc.) and the file icons, have a bright green background. But it's only on the destination, in the source side they have a dark background as I'd expect. Also in the preferences and sync options windows, some of the text is a little dark, but still readable. I could post a screenshot if it helps.

[Elhem Enohpi]

The green background is too bright here:


And some of the text like "Identify equal files" here is too dim (actually it's too dim in light mode too) and the links are a little too dark blue:


But nothing really bad.

If you switch macOS between dark and light themes while FFS is running, it follows and changes automatically, but there are a couple of small glitches: the text of the Compare and Synchronize buttons doesn't switch, nor the background of the stats at the bottom. Switching from dark to light, you get:


(Button text is still white)


(Background is still black)

But if you quit FFS and restart it, it's fine.

I think you could have FFS set this pref by default. If the above minor glitches could be fixed, that would be great, but even if not, I think it would be ok. Maybe there could be a setting in the preferences window instead of "defaults write" in Terminal to disable it. But I think the great majority of people who use dark mode on Mac would really appreciate having it, even just the way it is now. As I said, I'm happy to have found this!

[Schrotty]

A Dark Mode for PC User was great and hope it's coming. For me the best Sync Tool on my PC.

[000]

Bump. This would be FANTASTIC. Thanks!

[Blue_Lizard]

Came here to post this. I have a problem with my eyes and dark mode is the only thing that helps.

As always, excellent app. Love it.

[Zenju]

I was going to post links to dark modes sample images, but got a "Listen, Spammer" notice. So, please, visit DuckDuckGo or Google and search for "Windows dark mode" :).

Can you send me the text via email? I'm always interested to fix false-positive detections.

[Zenju]

I was going to post links to dark modes sample images, but got a "Listen, Spammer" notice. So, please, visit DuckDuckGo or Google and search for "Windows dark mode" :). get-vidmateapp.c0m/home get-mobdroapk.c0m

Wow, you're brazen! The web server rightfully wasted time of your life! 😂
Your account was deleted.

[spongetti]

I have now simply donated another five Euros. With the request for Darkmode. But also with a thanks to all the already existing software. Done! This should not be a demand, but a legitimate incentive and I hope this does not seem arrogant or something. It should not seem now as if you can have everything for money. Really makes sense but only if others also act so...

Paying increases the chances of Dark Mode. Also makes it easy ....

Thank you very much for this great tool. I would also like to come back to the topic of "Dark Mode", because some of the users think that it is more important to focus on the essential functions and on stability in the further development of FFS. I agree with that. Nevertheless, an eye-friendly dark display is an important feature for me as well, especially since I have to spend a lot of time at the computer. This was also a reason why I decided to donate and I think if enough interested people are also already to make a small contribution than Dark Mode will be available one day.

[matrixman222]

+1 for Dark mode, great program I use to sync several big data directories I deal with, but a white screen burns my eyes out in a dark room.

Surprised it hasn't been implemented, changing several programs/OS I use to have a dark theme has just been heaven, the only relation I can see to this Dark Mode hesitation is like the Filezilla FTP devs hating dark mode (For whatever reason, give it a search on their forums. or the recent topic on their community "Seriously, where is the dark theme ??")

If the linux version of FFS has it already, why not windows?

[Zenju]

Microsoft is pushing hard promoting their "UWP-Apps", which is getting all the latest Windows features, like dark mode. Win32 is left by the wayside, with only the bare minimum support. 'Missing dark mode support' is a deliberate problem to push developers away from Win32:
https://github.com/wxWidgets/wxWidgets/issues/19223

[arland]

Microsoft is pushing hard promoting their "UWP-Apps", which is getting all the latest Windows features, like dark mode. Win32 is left by the wayside, with only the bar minimum support. 'Missing dark mode support' is a deliberate problem to push developers away from Win32:
https://github.com/wxWidgets/wxWidgets/issues/19223

[therube]

(I'll simply state that "Dark" does not work, for me.
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1792047)

[Dan_Agaf]

+1. I support dark mode/theme

[KevCarrico]

+1 i support dark mode... thank you for this amazing program!

[born2code]

+1 for a dark theme/mode.
After 50 years of coding, my eyes really don't cope well with all that white around.

[KuroOneHalf]

I'd also like to join others in requesting a dark mode. As someone who spends a lot of time at the computer, bright programs and sites are quite uncomfortable to use, and dark mode is much more comfortable. Almost everything I use regularly has dark mode. This is one of the last programs to lag behind. I'd happily donate again if it helped push this up in the priority queue.

[littlepeter]

Yes, this is a amazing update. +1 for a dark theme mode on Free File Sync.

[markabx]

For what it is worth. I would also like to request a Black Mode. For years I have lived on Samsung's Dark Mode, and Samsung Internet & Firefox Ad-Free Apps.

It is such a pleasure to not see any more ads, and to have a black background.

[RoiJaune]

No ads, free, fast, easy to use, light with many options... Free Sync is an excellent tool! Thank you!
Probably the best sync software I tested! Only one option is missing: the dark mode!
Like many people I work in a dark environment and this option will help me to save my eyes ;)
Another idea: it would be awesome to change the iconset for the buttons! (Like we can do it in winrar for example)

[zlagos]

It is a very big failure that there is no dark mode. It should be implemented as soon as possible. It's the only app I use that doesn't have it.
And I suggest that it should only be available to those who contribute donations. It would be one more incentive.
In the many years I have been using this program, this is the first time I have requested something.
I wouldn't do it if I didn't need to, I have vision problems, I'm an elderly person and white damages my old eyes.

[Synchronizator]

[...]
I have Dark Theme on everything I can both on PC and smartphone and when I open FreeFileSync is a punch in the eye with all that light
[...]

Me too

[c0rupted]

I'd really LOVE a dark theme.

[domag]

Technically, this is not a big problem. Unfortunately, the developer does not see the need here. So that's it, bad luck...

[Zenju]

Technically, this is not a big problem. Unfortunately, the developer does not see the need here. So that's it, bad luck...

Really not a technical problem??? Tell me, how do you implement dark mode cross platform (Windows, Linux, macOS) when using the wxWidgets toolkit?

[domag]

I don't mean a toggle switch anymore. Just everything permanently darker. No big tech. Problem.

[woody]

I don't mean a toggle switch anymore. Just everything permanently darker. No big tech. Problem.

I would absolutely support that; just permanently in dark mode. This is where most applications are headed nowadays in general, and for a good reason.

[Zenju]

Even such a brute force method (which is a terrible solution IMO), wouldn't be enough as most colors are taken over from the OS color theme (which BTW is never dark for Win32 apps such as FFS, no matter the dark mode setting of the OS). So you'd have to (try[!] to) overwrite and hard-code each an every color, and the app would look like crap cross-platform.

[domag]

The application already looks bad now. But it already works very well...Thanks again...

[xCSxXenon]

lol It doesn't look bad at all, just not as good as dark mode would look
No dark mode is better than bad dark mode though

[el_beaver]

I upgraded to the Donation Edition hoping to get Dark Mode on Windows. I hope it will be implemented soon, and thank you for this amazing piece of software. Will make another donation when this is enabled. :D
Thank you!!!

[RoiJaune]

I upgraded to the Donation Edition hoping to get Dark Mode on Windows. I hope it will be implemented soon, and thank you for this amazing piece of software. Will make another donation when this is enabled. :D
Thank you!!!

Idem for me!
I'll be glad to make another donation as soon a dark mode is avalaible. Or...Being a graphic designer I propose to exchange logo, icons or splash screens for a dark mode! :)

[c0rupted]

I upgraded to the Donation Edition hoping to get Dark Mode on Windows. I hope it will be implemented soon, and thank you for this amazing piece of software. Will make another donation when this is enabled. :D
Thank you!!!

I wish the Donated Edition actually had a Dark Mode option. I donated as well, but still can't get dark mode on Windows platform.

It would be nice if the Site Admin/Dev would at least comment on all of this, and why exactly it is still lacking.

[Hersir]

To those in favour, it would be helpful to cast your vote here @ viewtopic.php?p=40199#p40199

[FreeFileLove]

I, too, would very much like to use FreeFileSync in dark mode. Literally all my other software supports dark mode.

Someone in the first page of this thread said that dark mode works in Linux. I'm using the Flatpak of FreeFileSync 13.4 on Linux Mint Cinnamon, but FreeFileSync is not dark themed. All other apps are, however. Have others somehow gotten this to work?

For me, dark theme is a health issue and a necessity.

[steve-lexx]

Hello.

I'm new to this forum.

Me and a friend use FreeFileSync for several years.

Here my friend is also interested in a “dark mode” of the
Windows version because he has problems with his eyes
and due to his eye disease, he can read “dark mode apps” much more better.

This would also be a good implementations for other people
with visual impairments.

I also prefer "dark mode apps"... Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.

This is also well proven by studies that "light font" on
"dark background" is much better for ergonomics and the eyes.
Better readability and not so quickly tiring and strenuous.

A user “customiable” of such a dark theme for the UI
would also be good. Cause just "white an bright font" on
a "dark black background" ist not in every case useful
for people with such eye diseases.

And I work with many people with eye diseases on computers.
In schools and a university ... Various visual impairments needs
special customized "Dark-Modes". This would be very useful.

So. We would also very much welcome such a “dark mode”
and I think many other people with diffrent eye diseases too.

Thanks
Steve

[moongate]

*bump* two more FFS updates have been released since I last checked on dark mode status. Dark Mode is not yet included in FFS. Yet it is one of the most requested, commented and viewed features in the forum.

[SonicRings]

"Dark Mode"? Dark mode of what? What do you mean? You haven't said anything about what you are referring to.

He posted on the FreeFileSync forum asking for a Dark Mode. Therefore, he was asking for a Dark Mode of FreeFileSync. What else could he possibly have been talking about?

+1 for dark mode, I'd love to keep the window open on my 3rd monitor but it is currently impossible with its light mode since it's needlessly blinding.

[Bl4ckspell]

+1 for dark mode

[qu1gon]

+1 for dark mode

And PLS bring back the Silent-Installation for the Donation Edition. Only need it for automatet Win Install Stick - do not isntall often so 20€ oder whats the "business" Version costs for me only for that feature ist to much "every year" - If ther will be one another method for private users to get the silent install feature back
it will be wellcome.

[blechinger]

Long-time donator! First time caller. +1 more for dark mode. :)

I'll echo what Steve said back in April and other users have mentioned before then: this is an accessibility concern. I appreciate the deep work done on FreeFileSync to make it the best-in-class program it is and that you won't compromise that. I also appreciate this isn't a small request and that Microsoft is... Well... Microsoft. Even so I'd argue dark mode is an important feature.

Would exposing the UI elements to users for configuration be a reasonable alternative? The community could then design and share themes.

Much love!

[user74581]

I was able to get freefilesync with a dark version with wsl/ubuntu on windows.
It's not like freefilesync was natively in dark, but you could have freefilesync in a windows window and with a dark theme.

freefilesync inside a windows window. Launched from wsl under windows ✅

wsl should be disponible for free for win10 and win11, even with windows home versions (no need a win pro version) https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/

Installation steps wsl/freefilesync
1. install wsl with powershell as admin :

wsl --install


2. restart pc
3. install freefilesync from a wsl terminal :
- launch a standard terminal from windows, like cmd
- type wsl in this cmd terminal. This should open a new wsl terminal.
-then try install freefilesync in your wsl :

sudo apt install wget tar


then

wget https://freefilesync.org/download/FreeFileSync_13.0_Linux.tar.gz -O freefilesync.tar.gz


tar -xzf freefilesync.tar.gz


cd FreeFileSync


./FreeFileSync


sudo ln -s "$(pwd)/FreeFileSync" /usr/local/bin/freefilesync


4. ensure you have a dark theme for wsl
maybe

sudo apt install gnome-themes-standard


export GTK_THEME=Adwaita:dark


from a wsl terminal this could be enough for have a dark theme

5. then you should be able to launch freefilesync by typing freefilesync, from wsl terminal and have freefilesync with a dark version, on windows
It's maybe not perfect cause it's not like you have freefilesync natively dark, but at least you have freefilesync dark, from win10 or win11

[user74581]

I realized that

tar -xzf freefilesync.tar.gz
cd FreeFileSync
./FreeFileSync
sudo ln -s "$(pwd)/FreeFileSync" /usr/local/bin/freefilesync


is not ok
instead this, use

sudo apt install freefilesync


With freefilesync downloaded with wget, then tar -xvf freefilesync.tar
, then chmod +x FreeFileSync_13.8_Install.run, then ./FreeFileSync_13.8_Install.run i had freefilesync version 13.8 but not a dark version. But with freefilesync installed with "sudo apt install freefilesync", i had version 13.3 with dark mode
(I couldn't edit my previous post, so I created this one.)

[Sander Bouwhuis]

This is one of the last applications with an old-fashioned 'stare at the sun on my 4k monitor' interface. How is there no dark mode?!?

[moongate]

For me the lack of this feature personally has
- the stare at the sun problem
- the inability to make use of energy saving and hardware conservation on oled

When I was running into this I consulted this forum to understand if it was just me.
Turned out the number of threads and posts make up the top contributions in this forum even outnumbering many bug threads.

So I started advertising for this feature request and had good conversations with the voluntary moderators about it.
Being a donor already I made a couple of extra contributions specifically stating they are for dark mode.

All of this not even triggered a reaction by the product owner.
A statement not leaving us in the dark along the lines of
- its technically complicated
- I don't have time at the moment but maybe later
- etc

would have been nice but did not appear.

Instead update after update followed concentrating on many things but not the most asked feature from the userbase.

For myself I made the decision to move on and find an alternative solution.

[xCSxXenon]

All of this not even triggered a reaction by the product owner.
A statement not leaving us in the dark along the lines of
- its technically complicated
- I don't have time at the moment but maybe later
- etc

would have been nice but did not appear.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I also really want dark mode. But literally in the earlier pages of this thread you replied to, the developer has shared exactly what you claim to be missing...

[moongate]

All of this not even triggered a reaction by the product owner.
A statement not leaving us in the dark along the lines of
- its technically complicated
- I don't have time at the moment but maybe later
- etc

would have been nice but did not appear.

Instead update after update followed concentrating on many things but not the most asked feature from the userbase.

I have to correct myself on my comment, specifically on the above portion.

@xCSxXenon: I knew we could count on you and I would've been disappointed otherwise. As always, thank you for your suppport.

You refreshing my memory made me realize that the site admin did indeed comment on the technical limitations of being able to implement dark mode into a WIN32 application (simplky following the OS theme seems to be a 64Bit only feature on purpose) and the additional challenges of making this a seemless experience across the other platforms FFS supports.

I get it know that as long as FSS will be 32bit it cannot simply follow the OS theme.
So the request is wrong.

When will FSS move to 64bit? :-P

[SonicRings]

Couldn't FFS also just include its own dark theme, or even let us customize the element colours ourselves? The Soulseek-qt client is 32-bit and allows you to customize any colours you want, resulting in us being able to set our own dark mode ourselves. Just because FFS cannot use the Windows theme doesn't mean it can't have a dark mode.

[Zenju]

dark.png (486.12 KiB) Viewed 27403 times

[SonicRings]

dark.png

Beautiful! How did you do it?

[Zenju]

It's a combination of the latest wxWidgets development snapshot, additional hacking of this code, and custom colors. Not exactly a simple solution, but it seems doable.