Users report a bug where administrators viewing other users’ interface preferences incorrectly see their own Theme and Color Palette settings instead of the target user’s. Additionally, attempts to change these specific settings on behalf of another user fail to apply, though changes to Mode and Text Size work correctly. tshenry outlines that this confusing UX prevents admins from successfully updating a user’s theme or palette. ToddZ adds that while Light and Dark mode settings can be changed for a user, the admin’s interface reverts to showing the admin’s own settings upon refresh. Moin suggests the issue with Text Size may be related to the “Make this the default text size on all my devices” browser setting, which might also affect how theme preferences are displayed. A fix for this issue is expected via pull request #37853 as noted by zogstrip.
I don’t believe this is a new bug, just one that hasn’t been problematic enough to get written up. Still, it’s a confusing UX for any admin attempting to make a theme change on behalf of another user.
I noticed this area being odd, too, but hadn’t written it up yet. My notes were slightly different – Light & Dark pallette settings could be changed, though never seen from admin’s side:
When viewed by an admin account, a user’s Color Palette Light mode and Dark mode settings always appear as the admin’s own settings, regardless of the user’s settings.
Admin can successfully issue a change of Light mode and Dark mode settings for a user – but on refresh, the controls on the admin’s side always revert to show admin’s settings.
Admin cannot successfully issue a change to the user’s Theme.
Changes to Mode and Text Size from either end work fine, and the display of current settings sync as expected.
I also noticed this for “text size”. It depends on which browser I use to look at the user’s profile. I use a smaller text size only in Firefox, so I didn’t use “Make this the default text size on all my devices”. And when I check the profiles with Firefox, everyone seems to be using “smaller” just like me. In Chrome, I can see the real text size preferences, so I guess not using “Make this the default text size on all my devices” is the reason why I always see my own preference.
I wonder if that option also influences which theme preferences you see.
