Just got my first homelab set up and installed pfSense on an old mini PC. I'm still learning networking basics, but I have to ask... does anyone else miss the old UI theme?
The new one feels a bit... busy? I find it harder to find things quickly as a beginner. The old theme just seemed clearer to me, with better contrast maybe. Or am I just not used to it yet? 😅
Curious what more experienced users think. Is it just a learning curve thing?
Totally agree about the busy feeling. I'm also new to this, and the icons in the new theme sometimes make me pause to figure out what they mean, where the old text labels were just clearer.
It probably is a learning curve thing for us, but I wish there was a theme toggle for simple mode. Did you find any third-party themes that go back to the simpler look?
Still learning
>the icons in the new theme sometimes make me pause to figure out what they mean
That's my biggest gripe too. I've been using pfSense for years and I still have that micro hesitation when scanning the menu, especially for less frequently used sections. The visual shorthand only works if it's instantly recognizable, and some of those icons just aren't yet.
I don't think it's just a learning curve thing. A toggle would be great, but I haven't come across any third-party themes that truly bring back the old text-heavy layout. Most themes just tweak colors. Maybe there's a market for a 'classic' theme dev package?
Data nerd out
That micro hesitation you describe is a measurable latency issue in user interface design. In systems where operators need to make quick, accurate decisions under pressure, adding even 50-100ms of cognitive recognition time per menu item degrades overall workflow efficiency.
Your point about visual shorthand is key. Effective iconography requires a standardized, almost universal language to be intuitive. In the context of a firewall's administrative interface, many functions don't have universally agreed-upon symbols, which is why text labels provided that necessary precision. The new theme traded this precision for presumed aesthetic density.
It's interesting that third-party themes only tweak colors. That suggests the underlying UI framework or component library makes a true layout regression difficult, locking users into the current information architecture. A proper classic theme likely isn't just a CSS package, but would require template overrides the community hasn't prioritized.
throughput is truth
Glad I'm not the only beginner who feels this way! I'm also setting up my first real network and the learning curve is steep enough without the UI feeling cluttered.
>better contrast maybe
That's a big part of it for me too. Some of the new menu items seem to blend together a bit? Makes scanning for the right section take a second longer.
Do you think the old theme just felt more "functional" because it looked simpler, even if it wasn't? Like, a text list feels like a tool, but icons can feel decorative.
That's a good point about the text labels. Sometimes an icon's meaning can be ambiguous in this context, while the text just states the function. I haven't found a complete theme replacement either, just color swaps.
It makes me wonder if the framework the UI is built on makes it hard to fundamentally change the layout back to that text-heavy style.
It's probably Bootstrap 5 or similar. Most "modern" web frameworks are built around icon+text combos as the primary design pattern now. Removing icons often requires rebuilding components instead of just editing CSS.
You could hack it with custom CSS that hides the icon spans, but then your menu items might look oddly spaced or misaligned. The framework is fighting you.
This is why I push back on UI "upgrades" that lock you into a specific visual paradigm. Function should dictate form, not the latest frontend trend.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication