Dolphin: How can I override the new highlight color?

SherLock707 · August 17, 2025, 1:08pm

Since Dolphin 25.08.0-1, the file selection highlight color no longer respects my theme when running outside KDE Plasma.

Previously (pre-25.08), Dolphin would follow the Kvantum theme settings. Now, all colors from my Kvantum/qt6ct theme still work, except the highlight and active selection, which are always forced to Breeze’s default blue (#3daee9).

Is there any way to override Dolphin’s highlight color without running full KDE Plasma?

Now:

Before:

Things I’ve already tried:

Editing kdeglobals Colors:Selection and Colors:View sections
Restarting Dolphin after edits
Verifying with kreadconfig6 that the correct values are present

Result: No change. Dolphin keeps using Breeze’s default highlight color.

M.Karrde · August 17, 2025, 2:23pm

A user defined accent color in the system settings works for me.
But don’t know how different accent (in the settings) from highlight (in the config files?) is as I never have gone that deep into the files itself.

akselmo · August 17, 2025, 2:51pm

It should use the accent color of your system

SherLock707 · August 17, 2025, 2:53pm

I’m using it outside KDE plasma environment (Hyprland Arch), cannot use KDE system setting..

SherLock707 · August 17, 2025, 2:54pm

Can I define a accent colour in file like kdeglobals which Dolphin might pickup?

akselmo · August 17, 2025, 3:00pm

I am not 100% sure but it’s worth a try, try adding this to your kdeglobals file:

[General]
AccentColor=17,163,153

SherLock707 · August 17, 2025, 3:07pm

Thanks, I added this, didn’t have any effect.

[$Version]
update_info=filepicker.upd:filepicker-remove-old-previews-entry,fonts_global.upd:Fonts_Global,fonts_global_toolbar.upd:Fonts_Global_Toolbar,icons_remove_effects.upd:IconsRemoveEffects,kwin.upd:animation-speed,style_widgetstyle_default_breeze.upd:StyleWidgetStyleDefaultBreeze

[ColorEffects:Disabled]
ChangeSelectionColor=186,152,227
Color=56,56,56
ColorAmount=0
ColorEffect=0
ContrastAmount=0.65
ContrastEffect=1
Enable=
IntensityAmount=0.1
IntensityEffect=2

[ColorEffects:Inactive]
ChangeSelectionColor=true
Color=112,111,110
ColorAmount=0.025
ColorEffect=2
ContrastAmount=0.1
ContrastEffect=2
Enable=false
IntensityAmount=0
IntensityEffect=0

[Colors:Button]
BackgroundAlternate=205,181,234
BackgroundNormal=252,252,252
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
ForegroundLink=156,90,217
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Complementary]
BackgroundAlternate=27,30,32
BackgroundNormal=42,46,50
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=161,169,177
ForegroundLink=186,152,227
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=252,252,252
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Header]
BackgroundAlternate=239,240,241
BackgroundNormal=222,224,226
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
ForegroundLink=156,90,217
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Header][Inactive]
BackgroundAlternate=227,229,231
BackgroundNormal=239,240,241
DecorationFocus=61,174,233
DecorationHover=61,174,233
ForegroundActive=61,174,233
ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
ForegroundLink=41,128,185
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Selection]
BackgroundAlternate=206,182,235
BackgroundNormal=206,182,235
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=0,0,0
ForegroundLink=224,211,241
ForegroundNegative=176,55,69
ForegroundNeutral=198,92,0
ForegroundNormal=0,0,0
ForegroundPositive=23,104,57
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Tooltip]
BackgroundAlternate=239,240,241
BackgroundNormal=247,247,247
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
ForegroundLink=156,90,217
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:View]
BackgroundAlternate=247,247,247
BackgroundNormal=255,255,255
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
ForegroundLink=156,90,217
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Window]
BackgroundAlternate=227,229,231
BackgroundNormal=239,240,241
DecorationFocus=186,152,227
DecorationHover=186,152,227
ForegroundActive=186,152,227
ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
ForegroundLink=156,90,217
ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
ForegroundVisited=155,89,182

[Colors:Accent]
BackgroundNormal=186,152,227
ForegroundNormal=186,152,227
BackgroundAlternate=186,152,227

[DirSelect Dialog]
DirSelectDialog Size=1333,774

[General]
AccentColor=186,152,227
BrowserApplication=Brave-browser.desktop
ColorSchemeHash=080f3f8eac020ac566c252909d74ead45adfd52c
LastUsedCustomAccentColor=186,152,227
TerminalApplication=foot
fixed=JetBrainsMonoNL Nerd Font,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
font=Fira Sans,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
menuFont=Fira Sans,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
smallestReadableFont=Fira Sans,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0
toolBarFont=Fira Sans,10,-1,5,50,0,0,0,0,0

[Icons]
Theme=BeautyLine_pywal

[KDE]
LookAndFeelPackage=Dr460nized
ShowDeleteCommand=false
SingleClick=false
widgetStyle=kvantum-dark

[KFileDialog Settings]
Allow Expansion=false
Automatically select filename extension=true
Breadcrumb Navigation=false
Decoration position=2
LocationCombo Completionmode=5
PathCombo Completionmode=5
Preview Width=265
Show Bookmarks=false
Show Full Path=false
Show Inline Previews=true
Show Preview=true
Show Speedbar=true
Show hidden files=false
Sort by=Date
Sort directories first=true
Sort hidden files last=false
Sort reversed=true
Speedbar Width=197
View Style=Detail

[KShortcutsDialog Settings]
Dialog Size=600,480

[PreviewSettings]
EnableRemoteFolderThumbnail=false
MaximumRemoteSize=10485760

[WM]
activeBackground=227,229,231
activeBlend=227,229,231
activeFont=Fira Sans,10,-1,5,75,0,0,0,0,0,Bold
activeForeground=35,38,41
inactiveBackground=239,240,241
inactiveBlend=239,240,241
inactiveForeground=112,125,138

M.Karrde · August 17, 2025, 3:43pm

After changing my Accent color from “… of the Theme” to 190,190,190 I had this containing “Accent” in kdeglobals:

[General]
AccentColor=61,174,233
DeviceLedsAccentColored=false
LastUsedCustomAccentColor=190,190,190

Switching that back from “Custom” to the “Accent Color of the Theme” only removed

AccentColor=61,174,233

from the General section but had a big diff in numerous other color sections. Not sure why these are changed as well as I only changed the Accent Color forth and back in the settings nothing else.

@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@
 IntensityEffect=0
 
 [Colors:Button]
-BackgroundAlternate=117,196,237
+BackgroundAlternate=250,163,171
 BackgroundNormal=248,248,248
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
 ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
-ForegroundLink=45,127,170
+ForegroundLink=93,0,0
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
 ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@
 [Colors:Complementary]
 BackgroundAlternate=27,30,32
 BackgroundNormal=42,46,50
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
 ForegroundInactive=161,169,177
-ForegroundLink=61,174,233
+ForegroundLink=29,153,243
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
 ForegroundNormal=252,252,252
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@
 [Colors:Header]
 BackgroundAlternate=239,240,241
 BackgroundNormal=237,237,237
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
 ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
-ForegroundLink=45,127,170
+ForegroundLink=41,128,185
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
 ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
@@ -80,27 +80,27 @@
 ForegroundVisited=155,89,182
 
 [Colors:Selection]
-BackgroundAlternate=119,198,239
-BackgroundNormal=119,198,239
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
-ForegroundInactive=0,0,0
-ForegroundLink=183,220,251
+BackgroundAlternate=163,212,250
+BackgroundNormal=231,134,143
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
+ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
+ForegroundLink=93,0,0
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
-ForegroundNormal=0,0,0
+ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
 ForegroundPositive=39,174,96
 ForegroundVisited=155,89,182
 
 [Colors:Tooltip]
 BackgroundAlternate=239,240,241
 BackgroundNormal=248,248,248
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
 ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
-ForegroundLink=45,127,170
+ForegroundLink=93,0,0
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
 ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
@@ -110,11 +110,11 @@
 [Colors:View]
 BackgroundAlternate=247,247,247
 BackgroundNormal=255,255,255
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
 ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
-ForegroundLink=45,127,170
+ForegroundLink=93,0,0
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
 ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
@@ -124,11 +124,11 @@
 [Colors:Window]
 BackgroundAlternate=227,229,231
 BackgroundNormal=248,248,248
-DecorationFocus=61,174,233
-DecorationHover=61,174,233
-ForegroundActive=61,174,233
+DecorationFocus=227,0,22
+DecorationHover=227,0,22
+ForegroundActive=227,0,22
 ForegroundInactive=112,125,138
-ForegroundLink=45,127,170
+ForegroundLink=93,0,0
 ForegroundNegative=218,68,83
 ForegroundNeutral=246,116,0
 ForegroundNormal=35,38,41
@@ -141,7 +141,6 @@

Non of them contained 190,190,190 though. Seems a Hugh amount of automated calculating of other colors depending on the Accent color is going on here in the background for some reason.

SherLock707 · August 17, 2025, 4:11pm

I completely wiped my kdeglobals, Dolphin was looking messy as expected but this highlight/active/accent colour stayed same blue (the Breeze default)

my ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf has

[Appearance]
color_scheme_path=/home/itachi/.config/qt6ct/colors/cat_dak.conf
custom_palette=true
icon_theme=BeautyLine_pywal
standard_dialogs=default
style=kvantum-dark

Tweaking/wiping this only affected font in Dolphin..

jamesfrederik · November 26, 2025, 12:42pm

I’m on Pop_OS! Cosmic Beta using the Flatpak (Nightly).

Cosmic Store installs flatpaks locally, so I had to create a folder here :

~/.local/share/flatpak/app/org.kde.dolphin/x86_64/master/active/files/share/color-schemes

And then pick the color-scheme using Menu > Settings > Window Colour Scheme

I edited the colour-scheme using _systemsettings_ which was installed in a distrobox fedora 43 container, which changes the files in ~/.local/share/color-schemes

And then symlink the directory.

ln -s ~/.local/share/color-schemes ~/.local/share/flatpak/app/org.kde.dolphin/x86_64/master/active/files/share/color-schemes

Probably not the best way. Flatpak is quite a mess.